MimIN

Hey Karey! I am jumping in a little late but thought I'd share my experience. After my first ps (breast aug) I was not too bad, I knew I wanted atleast a TT at some point but I was still losing at that time. Since my LBL in Nov I have been a nutcase. I was very unsatisfied with the results and in the meantime found other things to pick at. I am overly critical of every facet of my body and it really does mess with the head. I could rationalize that I do infact look great compared to pre-band but I was still unhappy and did not know how to embrace and love me for who I am. I haven't mastered that yet but I hope to! I fear I have been sucked into the PS blackhole. I am just about 5 months post op and I have booked another surgery that will be part 1 of 2. After that is complete I know I want my arms done and I really want botox/juviderm but fear even starting it because I know I will become obsessive about that too. Although I do not have a lot of advice I totally understand where you are. I think councelling is a very personal choice and not for everyone. I found a councellor that is a band patient and has gone through much of what I have and more for that matter. It helps to know that she does understand and has the inside scoop.

Hi all! It has been far too long since I have been on this forum. How is everyone?!? Life continues to be hectic and crazy over here but I am rolling with it. I had a big suprise a few weeks ago, I am now engaged! So onto wedding planning:) I hope all are well, I miss you gals!

Hey Karey! I know exactly where you are and what you are going through, I was the first in line at my own pity party. I think it is normal to have waves of emotions. I was quite depressed for awhile afterward and still have moments of it when I look at myself and don't see what I had hoped for. I also hated having to rely on other's help, I am very independant and having someone help me with simple things like bathing was the pits but it does get better and easier, I promise! I was slower than most getting back into routine but now a little more than 3 months post op I am back in full swing with exercise. We're here for you, keep that beautiful smile going, even if it hurts!

Karey, you look fantastic AND smiling! I am so glad all went well!

Karey, I understand how nerve-wracking it is pre-surgery but I just know you are going to do wonderfully! Before you know it, it will all be over and you will be running around in a cute little bikini;) I will be thinking of you and will pop over to your thread!

KAREY, I wanted to wish you the best of luck tomorrow!!! Are you excited? I missed last week but I am down 2lbs since the last report. Apparently I am going down at a fairly steady 1lb a week.

Hi ladies! I am late as usual, I am down 1lb this week.

Spin was AWESOME. I finally feel like I am getting back to where I was before surgery. I am feeling pretty good! I can't wait for the day that weight loss is no longer a goal, haha! Does seem surreal though doesn't it! I am excited for you and it is natural to want to chicken out, if you weren't worried I'd wonder! haha.

Hi Nonad! I have called Dr. Ortiz for support but usually when I think I broke something, haha. I called his cell phone twice and he answered both times, once was at some god aweful hour like 2am (11pm his time) and he's always been awesome. I have not been back to him for fills though, I go to a Dr that is somewhat local to me, Dr Curry in Cincinnati who is equally as great. I have had a lot of fills, so many I have lost track and I am sorry you were given the wrong information about fills but glad to hear you are back on track! My best advice is to journal everything you eat and hold yourself accountable. Do any kind of exercise you can and as often as you can; and keep up on your adjustments. If you are feeling hungry all the time more than likely you need an adjustment. And finally, a good support group is key; I don't know what I would have done without the support I have found here on LBT. Like Karey and Ghost said my tracker is for my current goal. I at one time was down 100lbs but since my lower body lift I am up 17lbs from my pre-LBL weight and now trying to get rid of it!

Hey Karey! Exercise is going really well, I am exercising in some capacity every day. I am going to try spinning tonight, I think I'm ready to get back into it... if not well I will sneak out, haha. Your big day is soon! Are you excited?

I miss the old days when I could lose 5lbs a week! I am down 1lb....

I have lurked through all the threads for as long as I have been a member here and found great inspiration from all you lovely ladies and gents. With encouragement from Kareyquilts I am starting a new thread about my LBL. Tomorrow is the day and I am freaking out. Up until this point I was pretty calm and collected. I am no stranger to surgery and have had some plastics already (breast augmentation 3/07 and lipo pre-band) I usually know what to expect but this is unchartered territory! I am 5'9'', currently 163lbs and look like I'm wearing a potato sack from chest down. I have waited for this day since well before I was banded and although I feel sick to my stomach with worry I am excited that all the hard work is paying off. Never in a million years did I think this day would actually come, very surreal I have all my meds lined up, comfy clothes laid out so they are easy for my boyfriend to find (lord forbid he have to venture into the closet - he'd get lost;) ) I have my dogs looked after, food bought and prepared, a landry list of people that will be helping over the next few weeks but somehow I feel like I am forgetting something. So although this post is somewhat disconnected, it is how my brain is running at the moment, million miles a minute in a million directions. If anyone has any words of advice they would be greatly appriciated!! ***head spinning***

Hi Tami! I have always had the low profile port so did not have to deal with getting a replacement. Will your band doctor order the port for your surgeon? My surgeon did move my port, as the abdominal muscles were tightened if it were to remain in the original position it would have folded under. I reall do not like the new placement but I am getting use to it (much higher than it was). I don't know if I have regrets exactly but I wonder if I would have achieved close to the same results with an extended tummy tuck rather than the full lower body lift. Although it may have been totally different if I had done a medial thigh lift with the lower body lift. I am very happy with my tummy and actually my butt too, since gravity has set in I do have a butt, just MUCH smaller than it use to be. I HATE how my thighs still look and that really was the whole selling point on the lower body lift - the improvement on the thighs. My surgeon insists I am still very swollen in my thighs and has referred me to a facility that treats localized swelling to try and help reduce it, I haven't gone yet. So although right now I could say yes, there is some regret I really don't know for sure. It was a lot of pain and a long road of recovery but it does look better every day! Miriam

Hi All! I am sorry I have not updated this thread! I had a bit of a rough go with an infection post surgery but after a couple rounds of anti-biotics it slowly went away. It did slow down my healing processes quite a bit. I also had a couple places where the incision had opened and had to deal with that, but that too has passed:) Today I feel pretty good, I still have a fair bit of swelling but it gets better as time goes on. I am back exercising and feeling a lot better all the way around. I still haven't dropped any sizes, but I remain hopeful!

I am sooo sorry I fell off the map for a bit! I went to Las Vegas last week (FUN!!) and then full force into a huge globalwide project at work when I got back, I have been running non stop! I lost nothing last week and this week I am down 1lb. It seems so hard to lose anymore! I am back ontrack with my eating and although work is consuming me I am making it down to the corporate gym daily for atleast a half hour of cardio and if I can find the time I am doing more. Karey: I am a slight exception to the rule with the breast implants, I went VERY large (900ccs each) and I did notice the weight but mine weigh a little over 2lbs a piece. I am now use to it and no longer get backaches but I know a few women that went with 3-400cc implants and didn't feel the weight at all! I also never had large breasts to speak of so I never knew what it was like to have something there and could have been a contributing factor as well. Foofy: You are so sweet! I am sorry I have not kept that thread upto date, I will go post an update right now!

Hi Ladies! Well I have no loss to report this week but also no gain! I *FINALLY* got clearance to go back to the gym but only light to moderate cardio. I am pushing it a little and have been running but at a slow clip. It feels great to be back at the gym! Karey: I know I could not have gone to PR after 5 weeks but I experienced a few complications although the problems were not with my tummy but my backside/hip. Had I not had a full lower lift or the infection I probably could. After two weeks or so the abs didn't hurt too bad,just felt like I had done 1000 situps;)

Karey you are too cute! It's normal to panick a little. My best advice is to keep your expectations as 'realistic' as possible. I let myself down because my expectations were unrealistic, I really thought I'd be 'perfect' after this surgery and I have learned that it is BETTER but not perfect. I watched a Maury episode Monday on extreme plastic surgery and there were women on there that had spent a heck of a lot of money on surgery, one was over 500k and another over 100k and they still are not happy. I don't want to be that person!

Hey Karey! Relax and don't worry about it. Don't expect to go down 2 pant sizes out of the gate, it takes time. The swelling does add water weight and they say it can take upto a year and sometimes longer before the final result. Everyone is different though! I am glad I did it even with all the complications, tears and frustrations!

No I have not gone down any sizes unless you count getting back into my clothes, lol. At one point in time after surgery my waist was measuring 36"! Now it measures 30" first thing in the morning when the swelling is not as bad but day end I am pretty round. My swelling is out of control BUT it is better today then it was 5 weeks ago, I guess patience is required whether I like it or not:mad:

3lbs Karey, WOOHOO!!! :cool: I've been waiting for my pants size to drop but man alive it's taking forever! I am swollen right up today, some days are worse than others. One of these days it will stop (I HOPE!) I am going to Las Vegas Jan 25th, I want to lose 5 more lbs by then!

Tami: Funny that is exactly what I was going to do if my incision was high. I love Kat from Miami/LA Ink and totally was going to go to her to giv me a kick ass tattoo, lol. Well I am down 3lbs, I wish it were more but I'll take it! I am still fighting these stupid incisions as they want to open back up so I am still not exercising like I should:(

Ghost: You are not alone baby! I'm right here with you. I am very ashamed of the gain and that I can't seem to get back on track. I need to find the motivation from somewhere but I am just so tired all the time - more excuses! I got a fill on Saturday and that is helping but now getting my head back to where it needs to be. 1.5 years ago being where I am today seemed impossible to obtain and now I'm even more critical of myself than Iwas when I was heavy. Those tapes sound cool, think they come on CD? (I don't have a toddler's cassette player! ) Tami: You have been a machine since the beginning, I know you'll be chomping at the bit to get back into the gym and I bet up and running well before expected. You continue to be an inspiration. Size 6! WOW! Karey: I missed your questions! I am back at work, don't tell anyone but I am glad to be back.The infection appears to be gone so FINALLY my surgeon closed my butt wounds that had split open week 2. With the incision being so low it ran the risk of poor circulation and pulling apart - and with my continued luck that is exactly what happened to me. I am still a non-smoker but continue to be a bitch, lol. My poor boyfriend has been a trooper through all of this and has been my punching bag, I couldn't have done any of this without him.

I'm here! I am up 2lbs:( I am eating well but I'm really not exercising much yet. I walk, that's about it. I renewed my bodybugg subscription and started using it again, I'm keeping my calories down but I am not yet meeting my calories burned goal. Friday will be 6 weeks since surgery and by all rights I should be able to start working out again...HOWEVER I just had my butt repaired today (sounds so strange!) and I'm afraid to rip stitches... so we will see! Congrats Karey on the loss! WOOHOO! Ghost: I do think surgery throws a wrench in our routines. It's so easy to go back to old habits when you have an excuse. I feel like a cow, my clothes are finally starting to fit again but I had some idealistic fantasy that I'd be atleast a size down by now, instead I'm 20lbs heavier. Tami: You are a brave brave woman! I was such a baby after my two separate surgeries, heck I'm still being a baby lol! I want a medial thigh lift really bad, my surgeon said it would take care of the remainder looseness and cellulite in my thighs but at this point in the game I'm just not ready to go back under the knife. Maybe in another 6 months to a year, we'll see.

Happy new year everyone! I'm starting this challenge off at 179lbs, hope to get back down into the 150s by the end of this! I am not cleared to exercise yet:( I have been walking my dogs, not a real cardio workout but atleast it's getting me moving again!

Picking a gym can be difficult! I am currently a member of 3, I am *that* indicisive! Lifetime is by far my favorite but it is far from my house so I don't get there as often as I'd like and it's expensive. I'm also a member of my office gym (nominal yearly fee) and a small no frills gym down the street from my house. For me convienience is key, although I love Lifetime I usually go to the no frills gym but will not cancel lifetime because I do go to classes 1 to 2 times a week and SOMEDAY I will start getting up in the morning and go to the 5:15am spin class:heh: