A long time ago I was thinking I might start a VSG blog. I thought I'd write about my experiences and my amusing every little thing I thought about while losing weight, but over the months I changed my mind. First of all, I'd probably be banned by the vsg doctors for my stubborn insistence on refusing to eat 800 calories of pure Protein per day and second of all, I've got lots of emotional baggage other people may or may not have; which makes me like a really bad cheerleader and mostly sore loser -- even though I am at a new low today of 194.5.
When I thought I would start this blog, I had something in mind to write about because I knew it would get people to come -- because everyone wants to know something I already know about one particular thing.
I know how to lose lots of weight and not have your skin sagging off your body like a spent balloon.
The reason I know is because I did intense research on this when I lost 135 pounds on a lowcarb diet. I actually lost that weight *faster* than I'm losing this time around -- I have *already* done the nine hundred calorie pure Protein anorectic diet and it took me...let's see...about half the time it took me this time to take off a hundred pounds.
Anyway, problem was that after going through all of that I had a stomach that actually looked like a second butt. You who have lost a hundred pounds really fast and have checked out what your belly button looks like lately know what I am talking about.
There was no way I was getting a Tummy Tuck back then -- I couldn't afford it and it seemed hugely drastic to me at the time. To tell you the truth, getting your skin razored off your body for some reasonstill seems drastic to me, and I have had my stomach cut out.
So this is what I know about attacking your saggy bits. I know it works; I'm doing it myself, and even though my skin is a little loose in places I don't have serious problems. I don't have a dreaded "pannus"; my arm skin is not falling down like a saggy stocking. So if you don't want a second surgery, can't afford a second surgery, and are willing to spend a little time and some money, here are my suggestions.
1. Dry skin brushing.
There are several published methods on the internet that you can buy that will tell you how to do this. If you don't want to buy them, then this is the upshot. You need a good skin brush with tough natural bristles that are going to hold up. This one is my favorite because it's got a nice paddle action to it and a good strong handle and no this is not an Amazon affiliate link:
http://www.amazon.co...30481589&sr=1-2
You do this before your shower or at night or whenever but once a day, no more, no less. Again, there are programs you can buy with DVD's and stuff, but the basic way to brush is:
Start at the bottom of you. Brush upwards, thirty times; each side of your calf, each side of your thigh, etc.; each butt cheek, and the dreaded stomach area -- firm upward strokes. Then go to the top of you and brush downwards; each side of your arm and your chest area. The point is to "brush all toxins towards your heart." The reason you do this is because you're stimulating the lymph in your body through the lymphatic system which has to go through your heart to get processed and eliminated.
2. If you want more help, look into Carole Maggio's No-Lipo Lipo system, which costs some money but actually does work if you work it. Her program takes dry skin brushing to a higher level by incorporating a fat-busting self massage protocol and skin conditioning system.
3. Topical exfoliation.
You can do this several ways, but the easiest is to go to Skinbiology.com and buy their "skin tightening" protocol which includes several choices of natural acids to take off the top layer of skin so you can work through to the lower layers.
4. Copper Peptides.
Skinbiology.com.
After you do your dry skin brushing and take your shower; apply an appropriate strength copper peptide to the affected area. You can do this with extreme success at the lower belly and on the insides of your upper arms especially.
5. Pilates
When cosmetic surgeons do tummy tucks, one of their primary concerns is the fact that the recti muscle -- the one that holds the lower girdle of your organs in place -- has split apart due to the extreme pressure of obesity on those muscles. That's why it's major surgery -- they're not just slicing some skin out and stretching it back into place; they're actually repairing the muscle by stitching it back together across the expanse of your lower abdomen.
Pilates can repair that muscle. It's not because Pilates emphasizes "core work" -- it's because it realigns the whole body and *then* works the core -- in time, just like physical therapy, these muscles strengthen and move back into position.
6. Dot Laser Therapy ( or Fraxel, with reservations)
The basic strategy behind skin rejuvenation through laser is controlled injury. When the skin is injured, it makes new collagen; this increases elasticity and you snap back. I know dot laser works because I've had it -- but the issue here is really the expense. Treating your belly is a *large* area and you could run into about the same money as your tummy tuck with varying results. But if you're not interested in getting cut open, you will see a result from either of these.
7. Exercise the wattle.
Here is an exercise I've been doing to minimize the wattle where my double chin used to be:
Lie on your bed backwards with your head hanging off the edge, Lift your head so it is parallel to the floor. Hold for twenty counts. Drop your head. Lift again for another twenty count. Do that three times. On the last one -- lift for twenty, turn to the right for twenty, then to the left for twenty. Do this once or twice a day.
8. DMAE for small areas.
DMAE tightens skin, but it's expensive and there is a whole issue -- listen to me now, don't get the stuff from Walgreens -- with making sure that the DMAE is *active* and deliverable to your skin. Perricone makes one and Skinbiology does too. Another option is to make your own -- you can dissolve DMAE capsules in olive oil and slather it on your neck, under your arms, inner thighs -- etc -- and get a therapeutic result. If it's not fresh or deliverable,though, what you're going to get is sort of forty dollars you spent on a nicely scented type of Vaseline.
9. Slow down.
If you're very overweight and you've just gotten weight loss surgery, chances are the first one hundred pounds are going to run screaming off of you and you will be left with the aftermath. But after that -- slow down. *Most* people have great elasticity in their skin even into their late fifties, and your skin needs time to adjust. If you're in your first year of a massive weight loss, don't assume that hangy stuff is going to be there forever. It probably won't be. What it needs is time. The rule of thumb is one year per one hundred pounds.
10. Lose more weight.
A lot of people complaining about saggy skin are really complaining about extra fat. Let me put it this way: At 175 -- a reasonable amount for my 5 foot 10 frame -- I was still bothered by bits of myself that had shapeless, untaut attributes. At 158 this was not the case at all. You might still need to drop another ten or twenty pounds for the "skin" you're upset about to go away. Fat will fill out the least taut parts of you and that might be part of the problem.
11. Time and time again.
If you are not 100 years old, and you have lost somewhere near 100 pounds, your skin is actively trying to contain your internal catastrophe. It is spending 24 hours a day calculating and responding, trying accommodate and contain you. If you have lost 100 pounds and you have had weight loss surgery, that is one hundred pounds that is never coming back and that means your outermost layer has to adjust to this new reality. Six months is all it takes to convince it that there is a reason to shrink. One yea\r is enough to tell it you are now less massive perpetually than you used to be. In a year you might see straight up miracles you never expected. Don't go cutting on all this biological genius prematurely. What if you save ten thousand dollars by just hanging back and waiting to see how your brilliant body responds to being half of itself?
Think about this logically. You are an amoeba, pretty much. Your skin is the membrane that separates you from the environment. If you take away certain stressors over time; the membrane is going to behave intelligently and differently. Don't underestimate it. Work with it. And wait.
And I have faced and come to grips with a lot of situations in my life. I found out who my friends really were. I see the true status of my relationships, ALL OF THEM.
I also decided not to pursue nurse anesthesia school. I decided to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering. I have had tremendous changes in my personality. Or is it that I now released my self-imposed inhibitions? Down 95lb and lovin' it. This wouldn't have been possible this soon without the Sleeve. I feel like I gave myself an extension on life. One that was never there at 440lb. I have a ways to go but at this point I know it's actually possible to get there. I spent so many years dreaming of a life of health and personal satisfaction but now it's a reality that I can see coming.
I love myself more and it shows in my outward behavior and appearance. I am very excited every day. I look forward to being a PhD and doing something to help advance mankind. This is the destiny I was hoping for. The future once a pipe dream. I am here to make some sort of change to help not just myself.
I thank the following:
Francis W Teng, MD
the members of VST
family and friends that supported me
I now have a vital tool to help regain my path in life....
I'm 2 months out and I'm not quite where I want to be but thank God I'm not where I used to be. I'm making progress and wanted to share a couple of pics below. The night before surgery and last night.
Good luck to you! My surgery is the same day as yours! I too was pushed up from march to feb 13th. Got a two week prep so felt so rushed, but I'm very ready! Good luck again and please share and keep in touch.
So I had my pre op today with Dr Fedorka @ Kaiser So Cal. He scheduled me for suregery on Monday Feb 13th 3pm!! In 6 days!!! I guess there was a cancellation otherwise it would've been 2/23/12.
Funny thing is my surgery will be at the hospital I was born at . It was a new begininng then and it'll be a new one now, 37yrs later. I'm extremely excited, but very nervous about the surgery it's self. I've never had surgery before and the last time I was in a hospital was when I had my son 19yrs ago. ha ha
So we'll see how it goes I'm staying prayed up about it. It is very encouraging to read all the stories and expierences on this website. There is so much information and encouragement for everyone. Although I do not post often I'll be sure to do more going forward.
My stats...5'6 1/2 305lbs tdy but not for long =)
So I had my pre op today with Dr Fedorka @ Kaiser So Cal. He scheduled me for suregery on Monday Feb 13th 3pm!! In 6 days!!! I guess there was a cancellation otherwise it would've been 2/23/12.
Funny thing is my surgery will be at the hospital I was born at . It was a new begininng then and it'll be a new one now, 37yrs later. I'm extremely excited, but very nervous about the surgery it's self. I've never had surgery before and the last time I was in a hospital was when I had my son 19yrs ago. ha ha
So we'll see how it goes I'm staying prayed up about it. It is very encouraging to read all the stories and expierences on this website. There is so much information and encouragement for everyone. Although I do not post often I'll be sure to do more going forward.
My stats...5'6 1/2 305lbs tdy but not for long =)
LBoogie617 got a reaction from tybeeanna in Finally Ready! Coming To Join The Loser's Bench! Surgery 2/13
LBoogie617 got a reaction from shrinkydinkme in Ur Girl Got Her Date!
LBoogie617 got a reaction from AllForMy4 in Surgery Is Scheduled! Woot Woot! Sorry,haven't Been On In Forever!
LBoogie617 got a reaction from Paola in I Have A Date, I Have A Date! Thank You Jesus =)