CowgirlJane

I recently started the laser hair removal process to make a more normal shape. My "hair zone" got stretched out (note to self - don't ever get to twice your normal size again, k?) What I know about this is finding a GOOD place is key. I had some chin stubble removed with laser years ago and it never really fully worked - it reduced it, but 6 treatments later and it was still an issue. I am going to a place affiliated with my surgical center and WOW the removal is excellent so far. I realize that laser is sorta semi-permanent, meaning I may need "touch ups" in the future but I am so thrilled with results so far. I decided that even if I have to go in 1-2X a year for touch ups, it is really worth it. I am having chin, underarms and pubic zone done and it is reasonable considering the tradeoffs with waxing. (Oh, I have almost zero underarm hair but what little I do have is difficult to shave 100% complete due to the contour change that happened with plastics/arm lift. That is the only reason I am doing underarms because I was tired of the little fu manchu underarm mustauche...haha)

You probably cant see it from your phone. You miss alot of content on this site from a mobile device... however, if you can use a normal browser.... scroll down and look on the right side.

It must drive people crazy to even make these recommendations...LOL I have a sis who is a self professed health food nut but she is obese. All the gluten free, organic, no GMO, yadda yadda yadda does no good if you top it off with a bag of (gluten free) chips or a huge bowl of organic ice cream. I was raised on a farm and I remember my mom being bewildered how anyone could say eggs were unhealthy. She had spent her whole life eating fresh farm raised (we now call it free range) eggs and she had very low cholesterol. It was the beginning of my suspicion about some of this. Even as I read the updated recommendations, I found it interesting that they jumped to blaming dairy. Okay, I kind of blame MILK (not dairy specifically milk) because it was designed to fatten little calves into huge animals very quickly - and appears to have that same effect on me. However, i would expect the article to blame the real culprits - doritos, crackers, pastries, fast food, greasy pizzas, bar food, junky low quality food as a general catagory! I believe that real food (ie not processed) grown and prepared in high quality environments are the fuel our bodies need. The nutrition guidelines get very specific... don't eat too many eggs or whatever but it is like stomping on ants while the elephants escape out through the front gate. The main point is eating wholesome foods in rational (not obscene) quantities and generally avoiding the total CRAP that is contained in aisle after aisle at the grocery and is served in every drive through.... I bet if we could fix two key problems our obesity crisis would begin to improve 1. better quality of food considered the normal (this means that McD doesn't set the standard!) 2. rational quantities based on your physical needs become the normal rather than the idea that more is better. This means that middle aged women can't eat like teenage boys - duh!

Your post made me laugh... I do think this could be a song...

I had a lapband from 2001 to 2011. I honestly had problems from practically the very beginning, but when I moved back to the USA in 2002 and couldn't find a good doctor to take me on, I went into shame mode. My #1 advice for someone who has "failed" at weight loss surgery is to seek help like you are doing. You do feel ashamed, failed and all that stuff - but that is wrong thinking. Right thinking is that you have a life threatening condition (obesity) and the treatment path you started down is not working right now. What can be done? It removes alot of the guilt, blame and other useless thoughts around this. If I had not been so ashamed, I would have looked for someone to help me figure out what to do many many many years earlier. Who knows what would have happened, but I promised myself when I revised to the sleeve that I would not accept this self blame again. If I have problems with my sleeve... I run, not walk, back to my bariatric center. That only happened once in the last 3 years and it wasn't really sleeve related but it was good to know they were so supportive of me.

It has been awhile since I have posted this link. It is really worth reading to understand "why" this is happening. http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.php The vast majority of us that are currently at goal went through the same thing and in hindsight, none of this matters - it is just part of the process. Keep working your plan and you will get to your goals.

One of the techniques I still use is appetizer size utinsels and little teaplates to eat from. It is amazing how much easier it is to convince my brain I have just eaten a feast when food is "presented" this way. I was warned early on that the two biggest issues over the long run are 1. going back to large portions - essentially getting in the habit of seeking "full" rather than "no longer hungry" and 2. grazing - snacking. When I am dying to snack, I have blueberries - fresh ones. And here is the trick - eat them one at a time. Even I get bored with that and suddenly don't want to snack...haha. BTW, I do eat all sorts of foods, enjoy a nice light restaurant meal etc so I don't want to make it sound like I live some sort of self deprivation but it is more using these little tricks so that MOST of the time I am eating in the way I want. Thanks for the supplement reminders, recently I realized I have been slacking so been working to get back on track with my Calcium especially - but all of them really. I HATE those dang pills but I do find that taking them pretty much kills any urge to snack. I take calcium citrate so they are effective without food. My blood work hasn't been checked in about 9 months, but my Iron is always good so knock on wood on that one!

It will work.

TaDa - my first multiquote post!!! Kelly, I don't think we discussed braces here, but my friend Theo is something of an expert. He sent me a link on a bunch of them which I can hopefully type in correctly. mykneestretches.com/best-knee-brace-reviews knee-pain-explained.com/knee-brace.html My conclusiion is that for 20-30 bucks you can get a good brace. Most people like the ones that are "wrap" style and that is what I have. Mueller is a good brand that they sell at say walgreens I am thinking of buying a higher end one (from Amazon) to have "just in case" hiking gives me any grief this summer. I As best I can tell, the higher end ones are more comfortable and perhaps more designed for specific activties. I value my active lifestyle and have every intention of continuing it. i do not have daily pain on my knees, I just know they are damaged and like I said I tweaked the right one doing a stupid zumba class (my foot caught on the rubber floor and put lateral torque on it). It's better now... but... I have tried various supplements for joint issues and never noticed a difference - I think I have a bottle of the Osteo Biflix in my cabinet right now in fact. I just recall that Coops posted about a supplement that made a difference for her husband and he has quite serious knee issues so thought I would give it a go, but I had never heard of it so when I went back to find it I couldn't remember enough to find it even! Oh Denise... what a nightmare. Infections are bad stuff. I had a bone infection as a child - it was in my clavicle. It made for a very sick kid but I DID make a complete recovery (eventually) without surgery. In fact, it was a "one last try" at antibiotics before surgery because my mother was horrified at the size of the scar it would leave on a girls body.and she knew they could not afford plastic surgery to fix it I was taken out of school for about 3 months, put on heavy duty antibiotics and had to rest and sleep alot. It was hellish, but thank you mom - this was better than surgery. I am sparing you some of the details as I don't want to frighten you - but it was a tough recovery and I was sick for a long time before it was finally beaten permanently. I am sure your daughter has told you this, but given that you are fighting an infection, do everything you can to fuel your body for the fight. Worry less about your weight and more about healthy fuel (ie no junk, but eat more healthy whole foods). I would keep the protein up too. Don't worry about working out or any of that - to me you are still in recovery mode from a major insult to the body and do what you can to bolster yourself up. It is really hard since you are very stressed by it, but I think alot of positive healing visualizations and stuff like that can really help too. I believe so strongly in the power of the mind to either lift us up or bog us down... Hang in there - keep us posted on what they are doing next. Oh, and textiles can make interesting wall adornment if they fit the style of your home. I have also used paint techniques like having an accent wall or something like that. Now these days, it is my lack of interest in it all that is the problem.

My knee was injured when I was obese. I have managed to workout pretty successfully without re injuring it, but I side stepped wrong during a low impact zumba class. It is fine now, just needed a few weeks of rest. The kickboxing doesn't not seem to aggravate it - but i wear a brace as a precaution. My elbow is repetitive motion issue - from shoveling horse manure (a great low impact workout by the way!). I moved my horses to a pals house so I can actually rest it!

V Day is in some ways a "Hallmark" holiday. I think it puts alot of pressure on people - especially women people - to have a "love" and reminds you when you don't. Your longing is genuine, but it isn't really about Valentines day, it is a longing for a meaningful and soul touching love in your life. I wish for it too. I won't settle though... as the country western song goes "I'd rather have nothing than a whole lotta something I don't need" I am going on on V Day - one of the ladies is going through a divorce so single and NOT looking. One of the ladies is in a serious relationship with one of my best guy friends, but he is working. I am truly single and looking but that night out is more about that we love life, love our friends and love having fun. We can do this as pals and have a great time! For this year, consider finding something to do that is an expression of self love and acceptance. That is good "inner work" for a pre op and will help you down the road.

I didn't grow up in a family that "did things" like skiing. We worked. We had a farm, were quite poor etc. Then, due to obesity and family committments - I never really did alot of this stuff as a young adult either. I date now and I often get questioned because I am starting up stuff that most people my age have the good sense to be reducing/stopping doing (skiing!, steep hikes etc). In the last two years I have been learning to ski, shoot a gun, hike difficult hikes, kayak, other boating, swing dancing, etc. I am hoping to take a try at golf and take more dancing lessons this year. I just want to try things, and maybe get to a basic skill level. This year I am also planning on doing some "adventure travel" and will try zip lining and the things that go with that. I am taking advantage of the freedom that being single gives me to sample some of the things obesity cheated me out of! And dang, yes, MA has the snow this year! We normally have snow in the mountains but it has been super mild and warm so the skiing is awful here this season.

What i want to find is a good local PS who understands my goals. I don't have deep wrinkles (yet) and even my extra chin skin isn't too bad considering how fat my face used to be. What I could use are some fillers right now... and looking for an "aging gracefully" plan. Like, there will be the right moment to consider a facelift or other procedure. I want to do things that make sense. Example, I have somewhat "hooded" eyelids and one is worse than the other. I also have puffy under eyes which is getting worse and not helped by sleep. That puffy under the eye probably makes me look my age more than anything (and when it is well camouflauged many assume I am 10-15 years younger than my real age of 50). Well, when is the right time to consider addressing these surgically so I get good natural results? It probably sounds frivolous to some, and all my friends think I look amazing the way I am (thank you - I feel amazing!) but I lost decades of "looks" to this nasty disease of obesity and I want to make the most of what I gots! Anyway, my worst issues were body skin and having taken care of that 16 months ago I am now thinking about face work but feel very uneducated and haven't really grasped the options, what makes sense - basically how to be a savvy consumer.

Where did you self educate on face work? Real self?

I don't think any of this is caused by a surgeon. It just happens sometimes and too much activity increased risk. Anyway some Dr s. Patients have complications too and I hear about them on our Facebook group. They always recover fine...just takes time. You all know that. It is more words of caution to others that the internal healing post major reconstructive surgery is much bigger than what you see on the surface. Reduce risk of swelling,wound issues etc by not pushing activity too soon.

Single. Me and 2 other cowgirls are going dancing!!!

I am 3+ years from revision and it was the best decision EVER. I am maintaining at half my former weight!

When I first read this - I laughed and then as I was reading alot of the comments about being "visible" and "noticed by men" it sort of hit me that this isn't really a joke. I am over it now, BUT, 1-2 years ago I felt vulnerable, exposed, and on some level unsafe. I don't think I consciously ever considered the funny remark from facebook but I now know it was a factor. After losing weight, I came to realize one of the events in my life that ensured I would imprison myself in obesity happened when I was 17 - I was held hostage for a day, raped and terrorized by a mentally ill man twice my age who was obsessively stalking me. I never even considered that event influenced me until something happened to make me think of it again after all these years. Then, I started thinking about so many decisions I made (mostly relationship and lifestyle related) that were very much about being safe/secure/invisible. As the fat suit got smaller, I became more and more anxious about this stuff - talk about unresolved emotional issues! You know, until about 2 years ago, I never told a soul about what happened to me - not even a counselor I saw for 2 years - how is that for living in shame? Anyway, I have been at goal for a few years and feel pretty comfortable in my body these days. My advice to all that worry about "being noticed" - pay attention to this emotion but realize that it will pass and that extreme sense of being watched, stared at etc will go away. I am quite sure that the reason I could not handle being thin in my early 20s is that I felt panicked about being so vulnerable because it is true A) fewer people want to kidnap a fat girl and Fat girls ARE harder to kidnap...haha You just try to pick up my 300# ass and toss me like a ragdoll! I do get "looked at" now but don't feel the least bit threatened anymore - and that took some time, effort and facing some bad old memories. It is very freeing to not feel this fear anymore.

Crud - must have been Coop. There are only a handful of us here, you think i could remember! sorry I saw my doctor for another topic and I discussed "joint health" with her. She is always pushing herbal remedies that i dont think work - but what is clear that my body is complaining about the high activity levels. I am paying attention, pacing myself, listening to my body but I am not willing to sit down and stop playing hard! I worry of doing like Irene where she blew her knees out doing Insanity and other ridiculously joint pounding workouts a few years ago. That was one of the key things that led her to regaining from what I gather so I am really aware.... So, going to physical therapy to get some biomecanical advice, think I will try the knee miracle drug that helps Coops hubby so much. #1 thing is to avoid personal trainers who have all watched one too many episodes of biggest loser and think you only "gain when there is pain". I am still ticked off at that gym and that trainer... grrr Kickboxing is going fine, I am very fatigued from it, but with the brace on my knee is not more sore due to it. i suspect very soon I wont need the brace. I will be wearing a very aggressive brace next time I go skiing (if we ever get decent snow this winter!)

I am learning to downhill ski and havent been cross country in years. unfortunately, I picked the year that the mountains near seattle have no snow. so my plans have been dashed so far by weather! Anyway, excellent workout and isnt it wonderful to be able to do this stuff now???

i discovered Ross Dress for Less instead.

Update on my kickboxing - I have only gone a few times so far because I hurt my knee doing zumba of all things! Anyway, knee is better and so I am building up. I started with 2X a week on the kickboxing and this week I am shooting for 3X. I bought a groupon so my goal is to use them all up in Feb and then join monthly in March. Here is what is kicking my butt - lots of people share a bag/stand and when I do it is a reasonable workout. Most of the time I find myself on my own since I am the newbie and I get an off the hook intense exercise because during the "bag work" I don't get to even catch my breath. I love it - but it is off the hook intense. So the problem I had yesterday was I had undereaten on carbs especially and barely made it through. I was overly hungry afterwards. I think I need to have a carb snack before the workout to prevent this. ( I was just at the doc and they were wowed by my heart rate of 59 and that was after walking around and just sitting down so not a true at rest rate. I love high intensity workouts and I believe that really contributes to aerobic capacity). Anyway.. cautiously optimistic about getting more definition and lowering bodyfat %

I mean at a gym that REALLY does this - gloves and all? I am curious if you got good fitness results - they claim it really reduces body fat as it is quite intense. What joints stress or other "physical issues" should a middle aged woman worry about? Background - I am at goal, pretty fit and active but looking for something new and intense but i do have some physical issues etc so can't run which is what I really want to do!

spaceprincess - I suspect the stalls you got during weight loss phase was Water retention. When you exercise, the muscles hang onto water. I exercised through the whole weight loss phase and over time, it evens out and doesn't cause stalls - it is really the starting up is when you see it. I think you should take lumpy out of your name.

Our bodies are so mysterious and I don't think it is quite as simple as calories in = calories out. Having said that, I am skeptical of starvation mode. About 10 months ago, I went through a rough patch and just stopped eating (not intentional, I just could not eat due to emotional upset). I had been at goal for over a year and yet I lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks and kept it off for quite a while. It was not a good thing, I didn't look or feel good - but surely, eating close to zero while remaining active - I lost weight. I am better now. I just started kickboxing which is very intense. I made a mistake yesterday and didnt have enough carbs/calories in me so barely made it through the high energy portion. Usually exercise depresses my appetite, but an hour after class I was off the hook hungry. I think I need to eat more, early in the day on kickboxing days since it is very high intensity. I agree with the advice you have gotten to log your food - every bite - and really see what you are eating from a calorie/carb/protein point of view. I can visualize undereating causing a weight loss stall, but i can't visualize it causing a 15 pound fat gain. Of course, the bariatric world is full of mysteries...