23 posts tagged “familial hypercholesterolemia”
What a cold long weekend! The temperatures plummeted to such an extent that we pulled out the winter clothes and blankets. Winter arrived with a bang.
It was a good break from work nevertheless. Among other things, on Thursday we spent some time with Grant, a friend who lives in New Zealand. We were at university together - doing the same degree and living in the same residence, then we lived in the same commune in our fourth and final year, worked for the same newspaper in East London, and both moved to Johannesburg where we worked for the same newspaper group for a while. Then he moved to New Zealand in 2001. We met up with him in Benoni, where he and his family were staying with his parents-in-law. I believe they return to New Zealand on Thursday.
It was great to see him again, and for the minister of home affairs to meet him at last.
On the weight front, I lost just 0.2kg last week. I hope this means things are stabilising. Total mass is now 80.6kg.
All is well again, with the minister of home affairs having returned home on Friday afternoon from her trip to New Zealand, which she enjoyed immensely.
We spent the Freedom Day long weekend relaxing at home to give her a chance to recover from the travelling, but yesterday went out on another photographic expedition, this time to the Lion Park. I think we got some really decent photos. It was very much worth the visit. Not cheap though! Entry is R90 per adult if you self-drive through the park.
The photo here is not one of mine, but a stock photo. I have discovered that anyone can steal photos if I post them here on Vox, so I'll systematically remove all of mine. However, you can see my photos on my flickr page, which has some security features preventing photo theft.
The Saturday morning weigh-in recorded a 0.4kg gain to 80.8kg. At least it was not another loss like last week! I'd be quite happy if it were to settle here now.
The minister of home affairs departed for New Zealand last night - the plane was delayed, so she left only at 19h00. I miss her already - our house is not a home when she isn't here.
This morning I did the weekly weigh-in (table at the bottom of this post) and then went to the doctor at 08h00 for my next test. He confirmed that I had lost about 5kg, as well as 3cm around my waist. He also checked my eyes and glands, I assume to make sure that the weight loss is not related to anything untoward. Then it was off to the pathologist for blood tests, the result of which I'll find out about during the course of next week.
After some breakfast I went to a technology and gadget expo, but when I refused to let the security people put a sticker on my camera (as if!), I was denied entry. So much for that plan. So I rode out on the Hartebeespoort road to a country shop called Home of the Chicken Pie because I had heard that they sell a locally made root beer there.
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I love root beer, but it is not easy to get in this country. In any case, the shop does sell the stuff. It is made in KwaZulu-Natal. Naturally, I bought some. There is nothing like good root beer, and this was nothing like good root beer. It was probably one of the most vile beverages I have ever had the displeasure of tasting. South Africa cannot compete with America when it comes to root beer - the stuff tastes like petrol!
I got home just in time to receive a call from the minister, who had just checked into her hotel in Auckland (it was 22h45 there and 12h45 here). She had a good flight (via Sydney) and sounded very excited to be there. She departs for Palmerston North at 09h00 tomorrow morning, which will be 23h00 tonight, South African time.
I spent much of the afternoon in the garden - it has needed some work for a while now. With some of the rose bushes still in bloom despite winter knocking on the door, I did take the opportunity to take some photos, the results of which you can see on my flickr page. The plan for tomorrow is to continue working on the house. I'd like the study to be painted and some work done on the other rooms by the time the minister comes back home.
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
8 March: 81.7kg (0.1kg loss)
15 March: 81.1kg (0.6kg loss)
22 March: [no weigh-in]
29 March: 80.7kg (0.4kg loss since 15 March)
5 April: [no weigh-in]
12 April: 81.3kg (0.6 kg gain since 29 March)
19 April: 80.4kg (0.9kg loss)
Total loss: 5.3kg
Difference from target (82kg): -1.6kg
I should have been at the doctor's for my next round of text in the first week of March, but every time I want to make an appointment, something happens at work to prevent me. I wanted to go this afternoon, but now someone else is off work and I need to do her job. I am beginning to give up on the idea of returning to the doctor this year!
This past weekend I recorded my second gain since I started with the weight programme. I hope this means my weight is stabilising.
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
8 March: 81.7kg (0.1kg loss)
15 March: 81.1kg (0.6kg loss)
22 March: [no weigh-in]
29 March: 80.7kg (0.4kg loss since 15 March)
5 April: [no weigh-in]
12 April: 81.3kg (0.6kg gain since 29 March)
Total loss: 4.4kg
Difference from target (82kg): -0.7kg
After missing the weigh-in on the Easter weekend because of being down in Chintsa East, I weighed again this past Saturday morning, and it seems I am still shedding the kilos! I was supposed to get down to 82kg, so hopefully I stop losing soon.
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
8 March: 81.7kg (0.1kg loss)
15 March: 81.1kg (0.6kg loss)
22 March: [no weigh-in]
29 March: 80.7kg (0.4kg since 15 March)
Total loss: 5.0kg
Difference from target (82kg): -1.3kg
I am now close to the point where I'd actually like to stop losing weight now. I was supposed to get down to 82kg, and I am still losing! I thought last week it would stabilise, but I've lost another 0.6kg! I just hope the losses halt soon.
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
8 March: 81.7kg (0.1kg loss)
15 March: 81.1kg (0.6kg loss)
Total loss: 4.6kg
Difference from target (82kg): -0.9kg
I lost only 0.1kg last week, which means the losses are slowing down and my body is finding its level.
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
8 March: 81.7kg (0.1kg)
Total loss: 4kg
Difference from target (82kg): -0.3kg
It has become a bit of a tradition now to record my changing mass on this blog. It was good news this past Saturday morning - I passed through my target weight!
The target set by my doctor was 82kg (180.78lbs). On Saturday morning I weighed in at 81.8kg (180.34kg). Target achieved. Given my dietary changes, I shall probably lose a bit more, but it will probably even out pretty soon as the weekly losses are quite small now.
I am scheduled for another cholesterol test next week - I'll post the results as soon as I get them.
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
1 March: 81.8kg (0.3kg loss)
Total loss: 3.9kg
This Saturday morning's weigh-in showed that I lost 0.4kg, bringing me to within 100g of my target weight!
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February: 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February: 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
23 February: 82.1kg (0.4kg loss)
Total loss: 3.6kg
Still to lose: 0.1kg
On Saturday the minister of home affairs and I drove to the nearby Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens to do some photography. Rather thank take my own camera, I borrowed one from a friend at work. There are some photos on my Flickr page.
It was a beautiful morning, perfect for taking photos, although most of the flowers were not in bloom - it is heading for the winter season after all. We really should go again in October.
Saturday was also weigh-in day. I had expected to gain a little because of not being able to exercise as a result of the flu. But to my surprise I lost another 0.6kg. This means I now have just 0.5kg to go!
Weigh-in history so far:
5 January: 85.7kg
12 January: 84.5kg (1.2kg loss)
19 January: 84.7kg (0.2kg gain)
26 January: 84.1kg (0.6kg loss)
2 February: 83.9kg (0.2kg loss)
9 February 83.1kg (0.8kg loss)
16 February 82.5kg (0.6kg loss)
Total loss: 3.2kg
Still to lose: 0.5kg
On Sunday we had the longest blackout we have had since the power utility, Eskom, started its rolling blackout programme. We had no electricity for 10.5 hours!
