kareyquilts

Drat those saggy necks! What I can eat on my diet: Breakfast: HCG injection, wuloong tea or yerba matte tea; snack: 1 apple, orange, 1c. strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries or 1/2 grapefruit; lunch and dinner- 4 oz. lean meat, 2 handfuls of salad and veggies. Everything needs to be eaten by 7 pm., No salad dressing only balsamic or apple cider vinegar. 2nd snack- same fruit. Supposedly the HCG makes you feel full and gives you a sense of well being. We'll see won't we? Not sure how to find a doc in your area. I think I googled, HCG diet and the city. That's where I would start. I'm very up for this and hope it works. If not, I'll just count calories and get my Body Bugg prescription working again!

Walked 3 miles today. Will go to pilates this afternoon. Today is my last day to fat load (yes you heard me right). Will have some ice cream. Gave myself another HCG injection. Tomorrow, I start the 500 calories a day for the next 30 days. UGG! More on than later! Ghost are you out there?

Becky: Thanks for the support. When I started back to exercise. I started with walking again. I was use to the elliptical for 45 minutes or walking 3 miles. I could barely walk 1 mile without a lot of fatique and discomfort. I'm not sure what you're doing for a compression garment, but I went to Make Me Heal and got some stage 2 garments and wore them expecially when I was exercising. It really helped with the stomach pain and swelling. I still wear a light panty girdle when I exercise. I just feel better. I'm four months out now and I'm totally back into all exercise, but I really had to ease back into it. I walked until I could do the 3 miles and then I started back on the elliptical. I did some restorative yoga. Then at about 2 months, I began a light weight training routine and pilates again. At first I was shocked at how hard everything was and at how much strength I had lost in such a short time. Pilates was especially hard (abs) and I sucked at it big time! I believe it was only a few weeks ago that I thought okay, I can see that I will get back to normal. This week I noticed that I had absolutely no pain when I did certain stretches that had been bothering me. My trainer was able to add 10 pounds to everything and I am back to what I was doing before the surgery. It took longer than I thought it should, but I'm older and even though I was determined, my body had its own ideas. I know I'm writing a book too. I guess I'm just letting you know that it does take time. You need to give yourself lots of TLC and credit for trying and permission to do just a little. It will get better, but with the healing, swelling, emotional issues, earth life, etc. It takes time. We can't all be like Frangi! A walk is the perfect place to start!

Julie: I've had the same fill level for quite a while and sometimes it feels too tight and sometimes not tight enough. I think that you just have to watch what you eat and hope that the band cooperates. It's a great tool sometimes and sometimes we have to be our own tool. I have found that exercise is my most constant weight loss ally. Mimin: Your weight gain does not sound healthy. Is that common with lipo? I thought most of my swelling was from the tt, but maybe the lipo was more of it than I thought. But girl, that is a lot of water weight! I think that Ghost had a similar problem. Why can't you use a diuretic? How about just drinking a lot of water with lemon in it or some naturally dieretic tea? When you get that water weight off you're going to show an awesome weight loss! Anyway, I think I would park myself at my doctors till he did something! The HCG diet is expensive (of course). The 40 day supply of the hormone was $210. The doctor's office over seeing the process for 45 days is about $525. It's kind of a rip off, but I'm willing. Let me be the guinea pig, while you recover, and let you now if it's worth it or not!

Julie: You're welcome to join in! What's your plan to lose the weight?

Well it's been a while since I checked in. Been on vacation and wore a bathing suit without too much trauma. Still need to get the backside done and the legs taken care of and would like to get my arms done too. I will post pictures soon. Feel bloated from my trip. I'm starting the push to get off the final 20 pounds. They just didn't come off after my surgeries. I'm back to exercising full strength and feeling much much better. Some of my fellow September bandsters are in the same boat and we've started a thread to challenge ourselves. If you can give us some encouragement, then please visit our new thread: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post904326 I really will post some pictures soon. Have a great July!

Okay, I'm going to be in a shameless plug for a new thread that my fellow September bandsters and I am starting for our final 20 pound weight loss countdown. We (I) need support, thoughts, well wishes etc. I'm starting a very strict program so I can get the last of the weight off. If you think you can cheer us on please visit us at: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post904326 Thanks!

Mimin: Sounds like you've got some serious swelling going on! Glad you're still on board. Well I went to a special diet center and decided to do the HCG diet for my last 20 pounds. The doctor said I was a good candidate. I gave myself my first injection today. For the first two days you fat load and then the third day starts a 500 calorie a day diet. Supposedly the HCG ( a pregnancy hormone) decreases your appetite and gives you a sense of well being. In a thirty day course most women average 20-22 pounds off and men lose 30 pounds. We will see. I'm hopeful and skeptical at the same time. Of course I will give you all the scoop on how I feel and do. Ghost and BJean, how are you doing?

Good to hear from you Neal. I was thinking just the other day that everyone in the Feb/March plastics group should check in with each other. I hope you'll post some pictures soon. Glad it wasn't too painful. I'm sure you'll be happy with the results! Congratulations on your public viewing. It is a moment of truth!

Salsa: Happy Birthday!

Dr. Schulman: If Smartlipo doesn't work for tightening the skin, are there any non-surgical procedures that help with loose skin?

LadyBug: My heart goes out to you and your brother. Sometimes life really does suck! My son is in his last year of medical school, I know there are ways to find surgeons who specialize in this kind of thing. If he can help in your search or we can do anything please pm and we'll help in anyway we can. I wish you the best.

Thanks for sharing your story. Great website. Makes me want to go to Mexico to get the rest of my stuff done! Looking forward to your new pictures. How are your arm scars doing? I want to have my arms done. Were they painful?

Karen: I'm told that the average amount of skin weight for a tummy tuck is 4 1/2 pounds, not sure what it would be for a lower body lift. Definetly don't get an unfill, but do it your meds in liquid form. I had a lot of swelling on my upper ab which put pressure on my band and got a pill stuck. I had to get an emergency unfill. If I get my back side done, I will not get an unfill, but I will get my meds in liquid form. Good luck!

Frangi: Love the breasts! You're results are amazing! It's totally normal to feel good one moment and rotten the next. I had lots of little pangs and twitches and at one point thought I might have pulled a muscle too. You probably need to slow down, just a mite! This was a major change and insult to your body and it needs to recover. Enjoy the excuse and the new body!

Salsa: Congratulations on your half marathon! Maybe you should have your leg looked at before your surgery? Don't want to rain on your parade, but it might be a good idea. You are truly mentally and physically tough! Way to go!

I know you'll do great on the marathon. I wouldn't have minded the extra scar either. You're going to look marvelous, darling, simply, marvelous!

Salsa: I'm so excited for you. I hope you also purchased a toliet seat riser? You are going to need it. I wish my doctor had done the ancho incision. I still have fat on my upper abs and I don't like it at all! My ps is going to do some lipo on it when I get to goal. Thanks for sharing the pictures! You will have a good recovery because of the great shape you're in. I think you should be in the hospital over night too, but you'll probably rest better in your own bed. Good luck with the marathon!

I lost 5 pounds of skin and 3 pounds of fat from lipo. That being said, I have only kept off a couple pounds. My ps said that is common. I had a unfill, because of some complications and decided that was a good time to have a hamburger and a rueben sandwich, since it had been so long since I could eat any of that stuff! Not a good plan. Oh well, I'm back on track now!

Okay, I've started a new thread on the At or Near Goal section. Here is the link: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f109/kareyquilts-mimin-ghost-bjean-final-push-67785/#post899279. On Monday, I'm going to start a new ticker with a weight loss countdown of some sort on it. I think we should all devise some sort of plan on how we plan on accomplishing our goals! I'm very excited about this. Looking in the mirror has me convinced that this what needs to happen. I'm tired of being so close!

HCG is a pregnancy hormone. I talked with my internist (not the weight loss doctor), who is very conservative and he didn't think it would hurt me for such a short time. I'm not sure I'm going to do it, but I am going to learn more and be evaluated. They figure out what percent fat you are, etc. We'll see. I'll do it the good old fashioned way if I get the hebegeebees at the meeting. I'll keep you posted. I just talked to my trainer and of course, he wasn't to keen on it. Said it wouldn't be enough calories for working out. I'll bring all this up at the meeting on Monday.

Dr. Schulman: Glad you had an opinion on SmartLipo! Thanks for your honesty and forthrightness. I do appreciate it. I will wait till I lose the last 20 and decide if I'll do the back side and maybe get some lipo or revision then if I need it. I've got an appointment with a doc to perhaps do the HCG diet, so I'll let you know my experience with it at any rate. Thanks again, what an asset you are to this forum!

Bjean: I'm so excited to have you join us. I always love your insights! I will add you to the thread and send a link, so be watching! September Bandsters: I am considering a very radical diet. I see a doctor (or quack) on Monday. It is the HCG diet. You get an injection of the HCG hormone every day and only eat 500 calories a day (all organic). I don't know a lot more about it until after I meet with the doctor on Monday. I kow that MD Diet is also promoting this diet. At first I thought, well anyone could loose one pound a day (that is the diet's claim) if they only eat 500 calories a day. Supposedly the HCG hormone does 2 things, curbs your appetite and burns Type 3 fat. Type 3 fat is the fat of obesity. The fat that enlarges and stays on the stomach, buttocks, hips and thighs. Type 1 fat is the fat around the body organs and Type 2 fat is a small store of fat that the body uses for instant energy. I had heard about the diet a while ago, but then I read about it in David Hurwitz's book, The Total Body Lift. He is a pioneer in bariatric surgery and body lifts. He said that he uses this diet in his clinic to get rapid weight loss for patients before lipo and some other procedures. Dr. Hurwitz said that the rapid weight loss and the targeting of the Type 3 fat helps to have less loose skin. The loose skin in weight loss is caused by a break down of the collagen and elastin and that this diet prevents that. I'm not sure if I can stick to this diet, they only let you do it for 30 to 45 day cycle and then maintance and then you can do another cycle. I'm going to find out more on Monday. Do you think I'm crazy to consider this? I won't stop exercising and I called and asked the doctor's nurse if I could still do this and do weight training, etc. She said I could. Anyway, I'll let you know what I decide. I talked to my son who is in his last year of medical school. He did some research on it and concluded that it is probably safe, but not sure if I have enough Type 3 fat anymore. He didn't think I should be on it longer than one round. Your thoughts would be appreciated. Not much longer and the weight loss challenge will begin!

Dr. Schulman: I believe in one of your posts you made a negative statement about laser lipo. I'm wondering why? I believe I read something to the effect that the body does not absorb the melted fat, as previously thought and so the procedure is not very effective. If a plastic surgeon uses smart lipo and sucks the fat out (can't remember the term, brain cramp), can the procedure be effective? I just ask, because I have some upper abodmen fat that I would like to have lipoed and the hype is that the smart lipo also tightens this skin. My tummy tuck is great, but I still have loose skin and a little fat on the upper abdomen. I am starting to loose weight again and hitting my exercise and diet hard. After I loose the last 20 pounds I know that the loose skin will be a little looser, the upper ab fat might be gone (who knows!), I really hate this area of my body always have. I suggested an anchor incision when I had my tt, but the doc didn't think it was necessary. Not sure how to proceed. Also, in David Hurwitz book on The Total Body Lift, he mentions that he puts his patients on the HCG diet before surgery to lose 20 to 50 pounds quickly, because it targets Type 3 fat and the rapid weight loss of this system does not cause as much loose skin. Have you heard of this? Do you think it is safe? Love your comments and insights.

Okay, I will start a thread on July 1st and send you both the links! It's going to be tough, there is the 4th of July and my birthday in July, but oh well. It's time!