09-18-15: Day 3 - Getting out there

Today the very first thing was weight control.

I've lost somewhat about two kilos in three days, yay!

 

 

 

Then breakfast, with cheese again. Bah!

I just skipped the cheese slice.

 

Then waiting for some while, chatting with fellow patients...

 

At about nine, talking to Dr. Zuchristian.

Medically everything is pretty fine with me

("as it should be at your young age").

I told him about that I need more action with the therapies,

and he promised to have a look into that.

It's probably a data failure that I have so few therapies.

 

Then to the pool for aquagym,

today with little balls.

After that, my next fango,

but I could not relax as well as yesterday.

The radio was disturbing, especially the commercials.

 

Before lunch, I planned a visit to the hairdresser next Wednesday.

That messy purple hair will get a touch-up.

 

Lunch was tomato soup,

grilled vegetables, wild rice, half a tomato with a spoonful of cream,

and a fruit salad.

 

 

After lunch, Walking.

The Walking Group was over too soon for my taste,

and I had the rest of the afternoon off,

so I went walking in the park for an hour.

 

After my walk I had a delicious yogurt and

was working a bit on the tablet PC,

revising a novel.

 

 

Shock at the dinner table:

we got salad,

I got tofu and potatoes (the others got fish),

but we all got

A MINI TWIX!!!

No, no, no.

This can't be.

It wandered directly into my handbag.

It will survive the weekend and on Monday

I will put it right under the dietologist's nose and ask what this f*ck is about.

I want sugar withdrawal, not being spoiled! Haha!!

 

 

Now will spoil myself with a peach I have left over,

and listen to some radio in my super soft and comfy bed.

 

Tomorrow Saturday, still breakfast at 07:15.

I wouldn't get up so early on a weekend if the coffee wasn't good.



09-17-15: Day 2 - Pure Wellness

 

Today I had to get up real early to get my blood taken and do a sugar test.

I had to drink a large cup of glucose solution, baaaah!

Then wait two hours without eating or drinking, not even water.

Another needle into the fingertip, then finally breakfast. Coffeeeeeeee!!!!

 

After breakfast, aquagym.

Was fun.

 

 

For lunch I had a suuuuper tasty (although sugarfree)

strudel and cream dish with vanilla sauce.

That's austrian.

I love it.

 

 

After some information about the history of the resort and General FAQ,

 

I had my very first Parafango mud laid on my back.

Warm, smooth, just relaxing.

Almost slept in.

 

Then until dinner I had no further program and honestly,

got a bit bored.

Need to talk to Dr. Zuchristian so he'll give me more therapies.

 

Dinner was a salad.

 

I went to the pool afterwards and had an hour of swimming,

plus another half of just having fun in the water with the other patients.

 

 

Tomorrow weight control.

The scale is waiting.

09-16-15: Day 1 - Arriving

 

 

 

 

After a long, exhausting travel (train from Vorarlberg was late, then had to re-route via Wien Meidling - Baden - Alland), I've finally arrived at the Health Resort Alland.

It is beautiful!

All my fellow patients are very friendly and love a quick chat.

The receptionist and the nursing staff all seem very nice as well.

After a first talk about medicinal issues, the doctor who should make my treatment plan didn't have time yet, so first I got to my room to change out of the stinky travel clothes, sit a bit in the warm September sun, then lunch.

I hadn't had time yet to tell them my diet wishes, so I got the standard menu: soup with what seemed egg dough in it, goulash with pearl barley, banana yogurt. There was also a salad buffet and a table for tea and lemon juice. I took some juice, other than that I just had the soup, the barley and two or three minispoons of yogurt.

I'd have to tell them later I'm vegetarian.

After lunch, to the room to sort clothes into the wardrobe.

Then talking to the doctor. Dr. Zuchristian is a cheerful, very likable doc. While the dietologist put me up for a diet plan of 1.100 kcal, Dr. Zuchristian asked me about the planned exercise program and also ordered parafango. Yay! Never had that, but will see.

I'll have a daily treatment plan, which I will get every day at 17:00 for the next day. The times are to be kept under all circumstances. Tomorrow morning for example, first thing in the morning I have to give them my morning urine.

I also agreed to give them some extra blood for a study about obesity and health factors in the blood.

Today at 16:00 a tour of the house complex, in the beginning it can be very confusing. With time I will find my way through the resort, but in the meantime, I'll make quite some kilometres walking in the wrong direction. More weight loss! ;) :P

Treatment plan for tomorrow shows in have to get up early, have extensive medical analysis, late breakfast, aquafitness, and parafango. Looking forward to it!

Dinner was quite alright, but had an egg with it. I told the dietician I wanted no eggs.

 I hope they will respect my wishes.

Will be surfing the internet some while and then see if there's anyone in the recreation room.

Probably it'll not be long until I hit the hay; I'm damn tired from travelling here. Did not get a minute of proper sleep in the night train.



09-15-15: Going away to heal...

I'm going to three weeks of

 

rehabilitation and wellness

 

at a health resort

especially designed for

Diabetes and obesity...

 

 

 



09-14-15: And repeat...

And once you're done with all 18, 

repeat...

09-13-15: Purity...

"To establish order around oneself, 

helps to bring order within oneself."

(Mirra Alfassa)

As soon as I'm done packing my things for Alland, 

I need to tidy and clean my room, 

organize the not-packed clothes in my wardrobe, 

clean around the house...

busy Sunday, 

but I'll feel better afterwards when everything is done, 

and I'll be on the sofa tonight with my blanket, just feeling perfect!

09-12-15: Generosity...

Attended the birthday party of my former boss...

... such a generous and kind person. 

Thank you, Markus. 

And a colleague brought me home after the party. 

Thank you too, so much. 

09-11-15: Charity...

Charity.

I must admit I have a bit of a 

problem with this word. 

Not because I don't feel "charitable", 

but because giving charity - 

and thus, compassion - 

we often feel in the situation of

feeling pity for the person we're giving charity to. 

And pity, 

in my eyes, 

is a thing to be taken carefully, 

because it can paralyze

- and really, disable - 

the people we want to help.

By giving them pity, 

we are kind of belittling them, 

kind of saying

"I don't believe you could make it on your own". 

This is what I don't like about "charity". 

See, 

for some time now, 

I'm in a romantic relationship with a man who is almost entirely blind. 

It does get tough at times to be helpful without being patronizing. 

But I've found that it's all about 

LOVE, 

and a relationship based on 

support, empathy, and truth. 

Support ... offering a helping hand. We'll make this together. Count on me.

Empathy ... I refuse to suffer with you, but I feel for you and understand you. 

Truth ... Yes, things are as they are. We'll find practical solutions. 

And I think "charity" has to keep firm hold on these principles as well...

Americans remember 9/11 today. 

My heart goes out to all of you who have lost someone there. 

May they rest in peace. 

09-10-15: Magnanimity...

A big heart is ready

to accept...

to share...

to forgive...

09-09-15: Humanity...

Errare humanum est...

Maybe the greatest proof of my own 

"humanity"

is that I wanted to practise the "18 Ities", 

failed to continue after number 13, 

and took my failure as an excuse to not go on until half a year later...

... but here I am. 

Human. 

Humans make mistakes. 

Correcting them is human too. 

Thus giving hope that other humans can fail as well, 

and we won't care so much. 

Knowing our own mistakes.