Lower Body Lift Fun!

[puddin 7]

Puddin, can you tell me what your recovery time is? Did you have to take 2 weeks off from work for the drains or more?

Julie, I took 1 week off work, but I think 2 weeks would have been better. I should be at work today, but really can't do it, so I'm working from home this week.

The drains I got removed today (10 minutes ago, actually), Yippeeeeeeee!!!

[juliegeraci 7]

That sounds about right. I was just curious because I'm going to have some type of plastic surgery when I meet goal. I can't go to work with tubing in me. You look great.

[puddin 7]

k, since I'm addicted to these before/afters. Here are some more for ya's. Keep in mind I'm still incredibly swollen!!! But no more cellulite on legs/sides/butt/anything!

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7518&stc=1&d=1169498594

[juliegeraci 7]

Wow, what a difference already. Just think how you will look after all the swelling goes down!

[puddin 7]

I love it, this thread is like my diary. Thanks for hangin on with me and my addiction with talking, talking, talking while I'm home recovering.

Okay, here's today's update. Got on the doc's scale: 160!!! He even told me I probably still have like 8 pounds of Fluid in me because I'm still freaking swollen. SOOOOO, I think once this swelling is gone, I'll be around 150 pounds. I'll probably up the ante again once I reach 150 to be 140 pounds, just because I'm freakin addicted to losing weight now, but I shouldn't go lower than that for my height. It wouldn't be healthy. Yay for surgical intervention!

[NewBeginnings2018 81]

Thanks for posting the pics puddin! You look amazing! I love your belly button - it's so cute! Everyone I've spoken to that has had a Tummy Tuck, etc has been THRILLED with the results and said it was the second best decision they made, the first being the band of course.

[kareyquilts 1]

Puddin: Your brave! Thanks for sharing your pics. You look fantastic! I hope to see even more when your swelling goes down. Thanks for allowing us on your journey! Way to go!

[She Smiles 2]

You are just going to keep on wowing us! I too can't wait to see what you look like with all the bandages and tubes gone! I just can't stop looking at the pics and the difference! Boy oh boy do I want a TT at least when I get to goal, I'm pretty sure I'm going to need it!

You are the bomb!!

[warmmorningsun 1]

Oh my freaking GOSH! that is so amazing. our height and starting weight are about the same and i'm just so excited to see what i might look like in about 100 lbs! awesome puddin!

[puddin 7]

Yup yup, Chrispy. I am ALREADY saying it's the best decision I've made. Best, $8,500 credit card purchase of my life LOL. You wouldn't believe the interest rates if you shop around. I got a 3.5% first-time purchase interest rate LOL. Suckers. jk

Aimee, and ALL y'all, you can do it for sure! Work your ass off and start saving that cash!

[lizrbit 0]

congratulations puddin! man i cant wait to see the results! its inspiring!

[lisanjason 0]

Puddin

I was given a compression a garment to wear,the day after my surgery and was told in 2 weeks I had to buy a tighter one and an even tighter one a few weeks after that.It's a compression garment that minimizes the swelling and helps the skin to re-adhere back to the muscle.You can read more about it on makemeheal.com look under compression garments,then under Tummy Tuck, even though we had more done than just a tummy tuck,same concept I guess.Don't you feel pain when you walk and your skin moves against the muscle? I had really sharp pains the first few weeks when I moved to much and when I got a tighter garment,it felt much better.

Congrats on fitting in the size 10's!! It's going to get even better,you'll see AND you'll keep your curves too! Like I said,I am now able to squeeze myself in a size 1 but I'm not a straight flat shaped size 1 like the pants look when you take them off the rack.I have hips and butt,just a flat stomach! I love it!! hehehehehehe!

PS Is there anyone I can email my before and after pics too and they can post them for me? Is that even possible?

Here's how I posted pics: I clicked on the "attach" icon then uploaded my photo. Then in the list of attachments, I clicked on my uploaded photo, copied the URL, then clicked on the "add photo" icon and pasted the URL of the attachment. That was probably the hard way to do it, but whatever. I WANT TO SEE YOUR BEFORE AND AFTER!!!

What exactly do you mean by "garment"? I only have to wear compression socks that go up to my thighs. Is there something else you have to wear after the drains come out??? My doc told me to stop wearing the girdle because it was causing a lack of blood flow to the bottom part of my stomach and it was causing bruising (you can see it in the photo).

Hey, I tried on some size 10 pants today and they FIT, even with my tubes inside of them! I can't believe how small I've gotten! As far as size goes, though. I really don't think I want to be smaller than an 8. I'm a woman with curves. I like curves! At a 6 the curves would be GONE!

[Kellie Reachell 0]

Puddin, you look fantastic!!!! Can I ask you what kind of workout did u start off with after you got your band? Thanks, Kellie

[puddin 7]

Puddin, you look fantastic!!!! Can I ask you what kind of workout did u start off with after you got your band? Thanks, Kellie

Hey Kellie

As far as what workout I did RIGHT after my band (about 2 weeks after I was banded), it was pretty much 30 minutes of elliptical. I hated it LOL! But I did it because I had to and my gym has TVs on every workout machine, so it made it easier. But as I progressed I learned more and more what I like and didn't like. Now, if it's too cold outside, I'll do 40 minutes on the treadmill and 20 minutes on the arc trainer. Otherwise I'll jog for an hour outside EVERY day. I also have a personal trainer that I work out with 3 times a week doing weight training/calisthenics. Because I'm a summer road biker, I need to keep myself in road bike shape, so I also have a spinning class 2 days a week. I NEVER miss some type of workout each day. I'll typically get in like 3 kinds of workouts a day by default LOL. I'm addicted now. Of course I'm not working out right now because of this surgery. But I'll be at it again in about a week and a half, I'm sure.

In the summertime I learned that I LOVE LOVE LOVE road biking, and joined a road biking club at the university I work for. I road biked everywhere I went... and I mean EVERYWHERE! Then I learned that I loved hiking. Since I live in Utah the mountains are RIGHT next to me, so I went hiking every day, too. About 5 months ago I learned that I just love soccer and volleyball, too, so I joined an indoor soccer league and volleyball league. I started to date a guy about 6 months ago who loved motorcross and ATVs, so I kinda got into that, too (which, believe it or not, can be a workout).

Now it's pretty easy to get that workout in each day because I know I love to jog outside. I look forward to it. And I LOVE the other sports I'm into. One guy I'm sorta dating right now is a runner and he'll run with me (albeit, I won't be able to run for another few weeks, though). Now I just WON'T date people who aren't incredibly physically active, because that's what I love to do and what I want in a partner.

But you know, you don't HAVE to do all that physical activity to lose your weight. I had my band loosened quite a bit and can eat just about as much as any other "normal" person so that I COULD keep up with all the physical activity. I find when my band is tighter I just don't have the energy to do all the activity I like.

Here's another thing (oh damn, you got me on a soapbox)... make SOME kind of physical goal! I'm not talking weight. For me, my friends who are active were going on an adventure trip to Guatemala in a year. I knew it would be very intense and I knew I'd have to get into some pretty good shape to be able to do it, but I friggin paid for it a YEAR in advance and then knew I had to get myself there. Guess what? I got myself there and I was in better cardio shape than most of the people there! I think it surprised them a bit because I was still like a size 14 or 16 at the time. But my size didn't matter, it was the cardio shape I was in.

Now I've started training for a triathalon in June, which I was supposed to do with my ex-boyfriend... but I'm still doing it. And even if he's there, I don't think I'll see him since there will be a lot competing and they separate the men and women. So no temptation, I think. But anyhow, it's another goal I HAVE to achieve. Even if you decide to just run a 5k, make that goal and GO FOR IT. Then pretty soon you'll up your goal to a 10k, then a half-marathon, then maybe a full-on marathon or WHATEVER!

This summer I organized a road bike trip to Spain (courtesy of another man I'm dating who's from Italy but loves Spain). SOOOOO.... anyone interested??? I'm serious about this! Who wants to road bike the coast of Spain?!! C'mon you guys!

[kareyquilts 1]

Puddin: Now I'm really inspired by your workout story! At 52, I'm been afraid to get a personal trainer. I've been exercising since July, and I guess I'm in better shape, but it's still hard and I still don't like it. I'll do the treadmill, elipitical and Water aerobics but everyday I have to talk myself into it. I know I need to start weight training... Anyway, you're an inspiration!