Sweet Pee

I had a breast lift without implants too. After my breast lift, I remember it takes a little time for them to shape up and look normal. Be sure to express your concerns with your plastic surgeon.

Those words are SO TRUE!
When you start losing weight you are all overtaken by the numbers - When you get to your goal and look in the mirror and see an Alien in front of you - Skin hanging everywhere - It is like being an outcast all over again (Even if only to yourself) The joy of losing weight is tainted by the reality that you are STILL ABNORMAL.
Reconstructive surgery gave me a gift that nobody else could ever give to me. No amount of diamonds or jewels could give me that one thing I was always searching for, and eventually found.. I found........ MYSELF. The REAL me I never knew, or never truly knew...... Yeah I am covered in scars - They tell the story of the journey I have been on.... But - I actually do like my scars - We made friends. For without them - I would not be the Me I am today....
We may all go on with our lives, may never speak again - but we all hold one thing in common - Our Journeys are slightly different - But we all know how it feels to just wanna be...... ME (us)
Well done to everybody who has been on such a life changing and amazing journey!!

Thanks, erp!
It's a whole new world. I am amazed by how my body moves. Just really grateful.

Thank you! To build muscle you need to lift heavy, meaning you need to be able to lift a set where failure is anywhere between 8-10 reps. So if your doing alternating bicep curls, you need to find a weight that is light enough to curl, but heavy enough that you can't curl after 8-12 reps. That's called reaching failure. I've lost a lot of muscle strength through this process, so I'm able to do my first set of 10 reps with the 25 lb dumbbells, second set is about 8 reps until failure, and then the last set I'll go down to the 20's and get in 10-12 reps before failure. But you need to find a weight that works for you, even if it's a 10 lb weight or 60 lb weight!
Another key to building muscle is the rest time in between each set. Rests should only last about 30-60 seconds. If your lifting bench press, squat, or dead lift, you can rest anywhere between 90 and 120 seconds.
Another good tip is planning your workouts. You don't want to lift the same body part everyday. Plan it to where you workout each muscle only once a week. For example:
Day 1: chest and back
Day 2: quads, hams
Day 3: triceps and biceps
Day 4: shoulders and calves
You can change it up where you pair more muscle groups if you have less time during the week, or the opposite if you have more time. The reason you separate the muscle groups you workout and don't repeat them in the same week is so that you give your muscle time to repair. When you lift, you tear your muscle. That's why you feel sore. When that muscle heals, new muscle tissue forms, and thus you've gained muscle mass.
Another important element to that is getting your Protein in within 30 minutes post workout to aid in quicker muscle recovery. I also like to take amino acids before my workouts. I hope this helps. Good luck to you!

I love the way my breast lift turned out without implants. Beautiful and natural! I am sure y'all will agree my 32C is much better and beautiful than what I had before.
http://www.bariatricpal.com/gallery/member/116222-sweet-pee/

I'm not sure if anyone else struggles with this, but I REALLY do. I drive myself, and everyone I know, crazy with this question. I find myself asking strangers sometimes, if the conversations makes it's way there (which I know how to drive that, lol). So, that's what I'm doing here, too. Please don't judge me harshly
I wanted to be one of those people who set their goal and succeeded to get there. I find that I'm not one of them, and that magic number is elusive to me. So the commentary in my head goes like this, day after day, all day, every day:
- I haven't reached my goal....I'm going to have to DO something.....
- Maybe this is all I'll ever lose, and that's OK
- No, you had a goal, you can do it.....
- Well, you look good. You wear a size 10
- But I could wear a size 8! And, my BMI is still high. So I must be FAT.
- You aren't that fat, all your bones are sticking out and it hurts when you bump them.
- Well, maybe the weight would just come off my thighs, not where I'm already bony.
- That's just stupid, you never had thin thighs. Just be happy.
- Yes, that's right. I can be happy like this, my life is great. Just shift my goal a little, be realistic!
- But wait, AM I being realistic? Maybe I'm just giving myself an easy out.
- Yeah, you are just giving yourself permission to go into maintenance. After all with a BMI of 28, you are overweight. Better kick it up a notch.
And on, and on, and on. It's exhausting! So, am I fat?? It's not a rhetorical question. The surgeon says I'm good to go. The dietitian at my docs office says I'm not fat, and just go into maintenance. She said most people end up with a BMI around 28, and that it is successful. I'll be honest, I don't exercise, (bad knee) and I think that's one thing that I could do to impact it. Also, my calories creep up on the weekends, and I know that's also impacting it. So, maybe I could get there, but I've been on a plateau and I haven't lost in months, even when I was doing those things.
The real question is, am I fat? Not compared to the weight I was (I think people who know me always have that point of reference), but compared to normal people. How important is the number to all of you? Thanks for listening!

Sweats are my down fall also!! So so hard!! I'm hoping every day I cans get a little stronger !!!

I think someone said "HOLY HOTNESS!" and they are so right!!! you look amazing!!! How inspiring!!!

You really look great!!!!

I couldn't be happier with my new me:)
First picture - 06/01/2012
Second picture - 04-22-2014

Was this all one surgery? Just out of curiosity, how much did it cost you total?

I only cliked to see what's better than sex. lol Don't mind me...

Hello I myself have looked into having a Brazilian butt lift and Lipo once I lose a little bit more weight I already have seen two surgeons who told me that for the first three months of any extensive plastic surgery I would have to be at least 4 months most importantly you need to give your body time to heal. After having a lot of plastic surgery your swollen for several months and they don't recommend extensive workouts. I'm pretty sure that you're spending a good amount of money on having the procedures done you wouldn't want anything to go wrong. hope that helps

Not at first. Right after surgery, I had to force myself to eat. I can still remember my Dr G telling me over and over again "you must eat!" (Smile)
Later on, yes, I made sure to only feed my body with healthy foods to avoid weight gain. Also, with my tiny tummy and the compression garment on, it was hard to hold much food anyway. I knew it was more important for me to heal first before exercising.
9 months after my plastic surgery, on March 1, 2014, I ran my first 15K marathon. You see, exercise will always be available, but after plastic surgery, give your body time to heal. Trust me, time will pass, and you will be back to exercising in no time.
Sweet Pee

I feel 100% Ready for my boob job!

Clothes shopping today! Old Navy for some shorts and tanks. A couple pair of work pants. I'm now a medium shirt/tee/blouse/dress. Up from a small because of the implants. Bottom is small/x-small 2-4 at ON. Best part: no skin stuffing. No muffin top. This is how clothes are made to fit.
CrAZy.
Mind blown.

Not at first. Right after surgery, I had to force myself to eat. I can still remember my Dr G telling me over and over again "you must eat!" (Smile)
Later on, yes, I made sure to only feed my body with healthy foods to avoid weight gain. Also, with my tiny tummy and the compression garment on, it was hard to hold much food anyway. I knew it was more important for me to heal first before exercising.
9 months after my plastic surgery, on March 1, 2014, I ran my first 15K marathon. You see, exercise will always be available, but after plastic surgery, give your body time to heal. Trust me, time will pass, and you will be back to exercising in no time.
Sweet Pee

I had excellent results with Dr Victor Gutierrez. He also has several wonderful reviews on RealSelf.com
Here are some before and after pictures of my plastic surgery results.
http://www.bariatricpal.com/gallery/member/116222-sweet-pee/
Take care,
Sweet Pee

This is very true! I think I would wait until I have at least 2 children before I get any work done

You look GREAT!! Someone else mention you must have had a great surgeon. Heck yeah!!!! Dr G is the absolute best. (Smile) You look wonderful. Recovery takes so long, but it is worth all of the down time! Take care.
Happy Healing,
Sweet Pee

That tape is making a difference. Thanks to CBT again for the info.
Today's NSV: I painted my toe nails!! When I was obese, I could reach then but my pannus made doing my own pedicures a chore.
When I lost the weight, reaching my toes comfortably was difficult.. I could reach them but the pannus was in the way.
Today I painted my toenails without lifting my stomach up. Without reaching around. I feel whole again

Just know that this surgery has a long recovery. I am feeling better, but I am not myself yet. I am hoping to feel like myself in the next couple weeks. I am super happy with my Surgeon and my results. Have a Bless Day!!!

Light exercise after three weeks for me was impossible! I was still barely moving. I still needed help getting up, and doing simple things for myself. (Smile)I know everyone's healing time is different. Later, I forced myself to go slow, plus my plastic surgeon always told me to stay off my feet. The best advice ever!!!!

Light exercise after three weeks for me was impossible! I was still barely moving. I still needed help getting up, and doing simple things for myself. (Smile)I know everyone's healing time is different. Later, I forced myself to go slow, plus my plastic surgeon always told me to stay off my feet. The best advice ever!!!!

In the next couple of months I go in for my lift and reduction. I'm ready. Doc says I need 2 weeks off from work. Not sure when I can get that much time off again. Like to go back in a week. Since I got the LBL my back hurts worse than ever! I'm a DDD now like to go to a D or C