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  • Username: zzroged
  • Location: Du, United Arab Emirates
  • Member Since: 2/11/2010
  • BMI: 25.1
  • Post Op
  • Surgery Type: VSG (03/09/10)
Before & After

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Goals

reach a weight in the normal BMI range and have tons o' plastic surgery

3 People
 in progress, 
1 Person
 achieved this

lose 125 lbs

18 People
 in progress, 
8 People
 achieved this

Complete a Boot Camp Programme

1 Person
 in progress, 
0 People
 achieved this

Complete a Half-Marathon

73 People
 in progress, 
24 People
 achieved this

run a 10km Road Race

2 People
 in progress, 
2 People
 achieved this
View Other Goals
Latest Surgery Support Comments

  • Comment by elledavis on 7/23/11 7:13 am
    Hi Deb, I just saw you info and I can relate to your story. I have had G-By pass and have lost 147 pds. Its funny the way some of my firends who have weight problems look at me now. They seem to be jealous. I get new clothes and not a word is mentioned that they like them, but when I was fat and bought something new a comment was made then. Good job on your success. Its funny that your living in Dubai, I have a son and daughter living in Dubai. I was wondering where you had your surgery and I see that you are having thigh and arm tuck and that is what I need to have. Its very expensive in Canada and I am wondering if your having this done in Dubai and what the cost is? Maybe when I come for vacation there I might check into it. It is really hard to find a good surgeon. O would love to see the before and after shots of what they do. I am a visual type of person. I am interested in how will the scars look. For me I don't heal the best and I would feel not so good if the scars are bad. I would love to stay in touch with you. I am very new to this sight. Actually today is the first time I am writing on it. I just got the news letter. Keep in touch with me. My email address is ellen_140@hotmail.co m. Good luck with your next surgery. Hope to talk to you soon.
  • Comment by KarrieMassotti on 3/8/10 4:43 pm
    Congrats on your new life. Praying for a fantastic, quick surgery and speedy and easy recovery.
Click here for the surgery support page
Fat Girl Slim - my Journey
The ramblings of a 'formerly fat girl'


16 Months Post VSG - Typical Day of Food
on July 26, 2011 10:17 pm
I thought I'd share with you a typical day's worth of food.  I'm in the maintenance phase of my journey and recovering from 2 rounds of plastic surgery so am eating for nutrition and healing.  I'm able to maintain my weight within a 3lb range at the moment with no exercise - although I will start this again soon when I'm cleared to do so.

This comes out at about 1300 cals, 116g protein, 87g carbs, 55g fat

The majority of my carbs are from milk/yogurt and fruit/veg and from my bran buds. I hardly ever eat carbs in any other form eg muffins, bread etc

I still weigh my protein portions and eat protein first
I eat off of side plates (and always will)
I often use smaller cutlery - eg cake size
I log my food on myfitnesspal.com about once a week just to keep an eye on things
I weigh daily
I eat regularly - typically 3 meals and 3 snacks
I drink at least 120oz of water per day - often more

If I'm really trying to pack in the protein, I would add a protein shake or a protein drink (Isopure) to add 25g or 40g or protein for about an extra 110 to 160 cals - but I prefer to get my protein and cals in by eating rather than drinking if possible (having said that I LOVE my latte - it's my daily treat !)


11 comments | Leave a comment.

TT & Breast Lift -3 months out - Arm&Thigh Lift - 6...
on July 26, 2011 7:03 am
On Sunday it was 3 months after my Tummy Tuck with muscle repair and breast lift followed 7 weeks later by a medial thigh lift and arm lift.

The tummy and breasts are great - I'm now working on scar management - using silicon strips and contractubex gel plus some arnica oil.   I'm not suffering any swelling at all that I can notice, although this could be slightly disguised as I am still wearing a compression garment for my thighs - so maybe it's masking any tummy swelling.

My arms and thighs are healing nicely considering I'm so early out.  I still have a large lump in my right thigh which is the result of the hematoma which was drained but now needs to be readsorbed by the body which I think will take some time.  The scar has finally closed up on my thigh after I popped some stiches as a result of the hematoma.

My arms are healing nicely - though they do keep spitting out bits of stitches from time to time - which is a bit irrating - but I can live with.

I was finally cleared for driving after the thigh/arm lift and drove yesterday for the first time - driving is not too bad - but I can certainly feel it later in the day as my arms/legs swell up and get tight - no biggie - it's all part of the healing process - not helped by the fact that it was 122F yesterday so it was HOT !

I'm still in compression sleeves and leggings 24/7 - the surgeon said the longer I can keep them on the better - particularly as the skin in the arms/legs is quite thin and prone to stretching whilst it's still swollen.  Whilst they are a pain to wear I'll follow his instructions as he's my expert in this.  So I'm planning on another 3 - 4 weeks in 24/7 compression then I'll move it down to 12 hours per day so so.  I have invested in some compression exercise capris which I think will provide some well needed support too.

So, finally no more dressings to change - just manual lymphatic drainage massages to my arms and legs which I can do myself and plenty of scar massage for all of my scars plus silicon strips overnight which is totally doable.

Hopefully I'm cleared for exercise mid Aug - I can't wait - counting down the days !

Clothes wise - I've bought a few new smaller bras (36C) and panties (size 6) and am wearing trousers in size 6 and tops in either size 6 or 8 - AMAZING !!  I feel the need to go on a shopping spree but will wait for a while as I know I am still swollen and have a way to go yet - UNBELIEVABLE !!

Food wise - am concentrating on protein and having some carbs - eg Allbran, Wholewheat toast etc - maintaining between 160lbs - 163lbs - but I want to get to 159lbs so need to work on this - albeit it's not urgent I need to make sure my body has enough nutrients to repair itself.

Anyway here are some progress pics.









11 comments | Leave a comment.

When does the head catch up with the body after WL?
on July 18, 2011 11:08 pm
I read a post on a UK weight loss forum titled Body dysmorphia which I could really relate to - here's a few words from some of the comments which really stood out to me :

* I know that the trousers I bought this week are a 12 and probably a little loose - I know that my size 14s are too big.
* What I can't do is see myself as a smaller person.            
* I still think of myself as fat.
* Do you think it might just be a consequence of losing weight so quickly after a lifetime of being fat?
* Will I adjust eventually?
* I can not hold up an item of clothing and guess whether or not it will fit, and constantly try on a few sizes too big.

Here's a link to the site, if you want to read more : www.wlsinfo.org.uk/forums/showthread.php

I guess I wondering when my head will catch up with my body so that I don't relate so much to the comments above.

I KNOW :
I've lost 139lbs
Reduced my BMI from 46 to 25.1 and am so nearly normal on the BMI scale - 1lb away 
I've gone from a clothes size UK 24 to UK 10 (US 20 to US 6)
I've reduced my body fat from 49% to 22%

I CAN SEE :
That I've toned up and I can certainly see that I am smaller than I did when I started
That the excess skin and fat are no longer there (I've just had plastic surgery)
I have shape and curves and definition

I CAN FEEL :
That I'm smaller, leaner, more agile, more sexy
That I'm fitter NOT fatter

BUT what I struggle to see and am coming to terms with is how I am in comparison with friends and others - I still see myself as being bigger than them, even though I'm now smaller than some of them and the same size as others - it's weird isn't it?  My context is all changed.

Here's a few examples of what I mean :

I met my pilates teacher the other day whom i've not seen since before my plastic surgery, she commented on how great I look and then asked what size clothes I am wearing - I told her UK 10/12 and she said "that's the same as me" - and I was astounded - because I would never have thought that and that's not what I see - I still see me as much larger than her !

Gok Wan presenter of How to Look Good Naked www.channel4.com/programmes/how-to-look-good-naked  is really good at helping women come to terms with accepting their body shape and I really recommend taking a look at his show and/or reading his books.

I've just had a thigh lift and my still swollen thighs are 22 1/2 inches (they started at 31 inches before I had my sleeve) and I keep looking at them trying to decide if the surgeon did enough work, are they too big, are they in proportion to my body etc ...

So here's a perfect example of what Gok does to help put things in perspective (this one is specifically focused on a lady who thinks she has large thighs www.howcast.com/videos/337234-How-To-Look-Good-Naked-Line-Up-Of-Thighs.  I can relate to this one in particular, but thanks to Gok I've just realised that my thighs are now average for the UK and am getting some more perspective on this. 

He does lots of different comparisons of different body issues and almost every single time the person with the 'issue' puts themselves completely at the wrong place in the line up and they have to re-evaulate their perspective when they are told where they really are - so I guess what I'm saying is - I'm not alone in this head/body catch up journey - it happens to us all.

But when does it all join up? and when does our head perspective catch up with our body? 

I'm not too sure - but what I know is that I didn't gain the weight as quickly as I've lost it and undergone my transformation - so I should expect my head to take a while to catch up.  After all in just 16 months I've achieved a lot and have undergone rapid adjustment.

The one phrase which really stuck a chord with me from the UK posting is this one

* I think it's just adjustment though, because I am really happy with my size and shape now.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE STARTED TO REMIND OURSELVES JUST HOW FAR WE'VE COME

I Love my Sleeve !


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No exercise = frustrated ! & The 4 Hour Body
on July 16, 2011 9:45 pm
Mmmm - I guess this is a new area for me - I'm officially frustrated at not being able to exercise !  NEVER did I think that a 'formerly fattie' (aka ME !) - would be complaining about lack of exercise - but there you have it - it's true !

I've had two sets of plastic surgery - TT with muscle repair and breast lift 2 1/2 months ago and an inner thigh lift and arm lift 5 weeks ago.  My surgeon is very strict on resuming exercise after surgery and has a 2 month block - so by the time I'm cleared for exercise from the second round of surgery it will be almost 5 months since I've been able to exercise and I normally would exercise at least 5 days a week.

So - technically I'm cleared now for exercise of my abdominal muscles - but have you ever tried to exercise your tummy without using your arms and legs ? slightly difficult if not near impossible !! I guess I didn't think that through when I was staging my surgeries - but I guess it would be difficult to stage tummy and thighs together as there are opposing forces with the surgeries - and also I don't think that I would fancy having the two surgeries together - particularly as I'm going through a tough recovery with my thighs.  Seriously the arms and breast are such a walk in the park compared to the thigh lift !

(I am walking - but having to restrict this to indoor walking in the malls as it's really hot here and I'm still wearing compression garments -making it hotter - and I still have healing incisions on my thighs so have to go careful - and frankly walking doesn't do it for me - I like to get hot & sweaty and get my heart rate really high - and walking doesn't do this for me anymore)

I guess I'm frustrated as :

a) I'm really missing exercise - I miss the physical exertion and the routine
b) I miss the fantastic feel good feeling that I get when I've finished
c) I'm losing muscle definition in my arms, legs and abs - something which I worked really hard to get through a heap of exercise
d) I'm missing the sense of achievement at challenging my body to do more - higher intensity/lift heavier weight/run faster/run further etc

So there you have it - I'm missing exercise and am becoming body vane !  

I guess as I've got slimmer and fitter I have become much more aware of my body shape and composition - and was beginning to like how I looked in the mirror (with the exception of the fat and excess skin which I've now dealt with).  I liked the muscle tone and definition I was beginning to shape - and whilst I know the muscles are still there - they are not as defined - HOWEVER - I know they'll come back when I'm cleared for exercise - so I'll just have to be patient and wait up for being cleared in approx 1 months time.  In the meantime I'll spend some time doing research on new exercise routines and planning a programme to get me running again and how to improve my timing for the next 1/2 marathon I've entered in Feb next year.

I'm also reading Tim Ferris - the 4 Hour Body www.fourhourbody.com/ which is quite interesting - see the strapline below !

An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman



4 comments | Leave a comment.

VSG Dumping - Yuck and my new 'ultimate goal'
on July 15, 2011 2:27 am
Urrrgh - I feel so ill - and all because of a little bit of peanut butter !

I just had some peanut butter and then OMG have I dumped on it - you know the feeling - sweating, clammy, feeling sick, feeling tired - yuck.  The peanut butter - which I thought would be a nice treat today - is now in the bin as it makes me feel yuck.  I thought that my dumping days were over - but oh no they are not ! - just goes to show that sleevie is in charge and not me !

Early on in my weight loss journey I dumped on syrup and have avoided syrup since then which is no bad thing - but I seem to be ok on sugar in other forms - albeit I eat in moderation eg 1/2 a muffin, 1/2 a scone etc.   But today, 16 months out, for some reason peanut butter has not gone down well even though I've had it before and been ok on it - so I've decided to avoid it going forward - not such a bad thing as peanut butter is always a bit moreish to me - and anyway- who can stop at a tablespoon full of deliciousness? and the calories are always really high.

Anyway, I'm just 1lb away from goal and peanut butter isn't going to help me get there.

How come 1 lb seems so near and yet so far away ?  Anyway - I'm going to commit here - publicly - to avoid peanut butter and all non veg/fruit/dairy carbs until I get to my normal BMI goal (1lb away) and until I reach my "ultimate goal" - half of the highest weight I've ever been - which is just 6lbs away.

I know the last 6lbs are going to be hard - after all I'm not exercising at all at the moment due to my recent plastic surgery, and the last few pounds are always the hardest - but here goes nothing - I WILL GET THERE and am going to target getting these last 6lbs off by the end of Aug.

Wish me Luck !
Debbie

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