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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'


4mths post TT & Breast Lift & 2 mths post Arm&Thigh...
on August 17, 2011 7:02 am
Yup - time is flying by and I'm almost 4 months post TT (with muscle repair) and breast lift and 2 months and 1 week post arm & thigh lift.  I've put some pics below to show how I look today - I'm very swollen in the pics (up about 2 inches on my waist and hips) - I took this pics just after I did a hard pilates reformer class this morning which makes me swell)

I was cleared for exercise last week and whilst I am delighted with this, I've found it harder to get back into than I had anticipated - though to be fair, I've not done any exercise (with the exception of walking) for 4 months now - so in reality I should have expected a slow start back - heh - you know I was soooo missing my exercise - I guess I forgot that I would lose fitness in the interim :-(  and I have to confess that I'm finding it really frustrating.

In the gym, I've lost quite a lot of my fitness and am having to go back to basics with my running (I've started the C25k programme again so that I can increase my running incrementally) and have had to reduce the amount that I'm lifting quite a lot.  At pilates - whilst my ab muscles are still strong, they are not as strong as they were prior to my surgery and I know that I'm not able to do some of the moves with as much control as I was able to do previously - plus I've had to modify some of the moves as I can feel my scars pulling which is uncomfortable - particularly in my thighs and arms.  I also get weird feelings with my ab muscles - they are numb so I can't always feel that I'm pulling my muscles in, plus then I can almost feel where he has done the muscle tightening - so it's a bit weird - I don't think I can 'pop' anything - but it still feels like I could explode and rip everything open (which would be somewhat unpleasant to say the least !).

Anyway - 'slow & steady wins the race' - so back to basics for me and then I can build up.  On the advice of my pilates trainer, I've decided to go to pilates mat classes for the next month so that I can concentrate on building my ab muscles and let the rest of my scars heal and stretch out a bit more before I go back to pilates reformer - which works on pulleys and weights.  I'm somewhat not pleased about this - as I worked really hard before my surgery to get to level 3 on the reformer (which is the top level my studio does) - but I know it's the right thing for the long term - so will swallow the advice and go back to basics (aaaarrrrggggghhhhh - frustrating).

On a positive note - I treated myself to some nice new gym kit - I got medium yoga pants & bra capris from Victoria's Secret (size Medium - yay !) and also some compression capri's and running tights from Fila which are great at giving support whilst you are swollen.  So whilst I hardly have any clothes that fits me - I have some great gym kit - well surely you've gotta look your best when you are your most sweaty !

Anyway here are the pics - I still have swollen thighs and am hoping these will shrink down a bit at the top, and also hoping that my arms will shrink down a bit - they still feel very swollen and delicate.  Whilst I don't have to wear my compression garments - I wear my sleeves when exercising and wear my shorts at night to reduce the swelling overnight.  I'm also still using the silicon strips and various lotions & potions on my scars - which are currently going through the 'red' healing phase !

PS - If you are considering surgery - you might want to ask for removal of the 'side bra fat' - which I still have & should have asked to get removed - I left it to my surgeon to decide if I needed it or not when he did my arm lift -after surgery he said not - to be fair it only shows when I  wear a bra - his answer - not to wear one ! (and to be fair I could do that now I have pert boobs!) and also note that a thigh lift doesn't reduce your saggy knees - so now I need a kneee lift (only joking !!)







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17 Months Post VSG Pics & EXERCISE post plastics -...
on August 11, 2011 8:22 am
Hey blog - here are my 17 month progress pics.  Down 140lbs since surgery and kinda at goal (read my previous post).  I had my VSG in March 2010 @ 299lbs & as of today amd @ 160lbs (okay actually only 139lbs down - but hey - call me out if you want to!).  I'm also 4 months post Tummy Tuck with muscle repair and breast lift, and 2 months post Arm & Thigh Lift.

The gym pics were taken this morning - day 3 of being cleared for exercise after my plastic surgery - YEAH - and coz I worked a bit too hard in the gym this morning (a 5k and some weights - oops sorry I got carried away !) I'm super swollen - but heh - it will get better.

PS if you don't have a full length miror - you can always cheat - elevator pics and sneaky gym pics are my new obsession ! (not been caught out yet - but I've had a few near misses !)

The pic on the far right is a reminder of how big my thighs were before losing weight (actually I'd already lost 40lbs - but it's the first shot of me in gym kit) and my thigh lift and how they are today - for some reason a few days ago I thought they were still too big and had a word about this with my surgeon - but you know what - the more I look at them - the more I LOVE THEM ! - and YES they are still swollen & bruised !

Oh yeah - the hairdresser today (who I've never met before) - told me that I had the wrong haircut and it didn't suit my slim face (yes he said slim !!) - he said that I had a cut suitable for someone with a rounder face (aka me 17 months ago !!) - and that he could give me a much more suitable cut which would flatter my features - so I've completely fallen for this line and am having a new haircut next week.  Mind you - he also said it would make me look in my late 20's/early 30's and make my husband very happy ! - given I'm 44 now - I'll take that as well - yes Mr Lebanese hairdresser - flattery for this chick - will get you everywhere !!! - THANK YOU !

LOVING MY SLEEVE !



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Body Composition & BMI - 17 month VSG update
on August 11, 2011 1:43 am
Earlier this week it was my 17 month surgerversary of my VSG and I'm maintaining between 160 and 164lbs which is great.  I still want to get to 159 - normal BMI - and 150 - which would be exactly half of me - but if I REALLY WANTED TO get to 159/155 - I would be there by now - so in a way these are 'head' rather than 'heart' numbers.  What do I mean by that ? - well - if you've read my blog before - you'll know that I have an internal debate with myself about what my goal weight should be as frankly I'm not a fan of BMI as it doesn't take into account body composition.

So here goes : I'm 5 foot 7 tall and started my weight loss journey at 299lbs

At the start of my weight loss journey I focussed on the loss of pounds and inches, but as I've got closer to the end of my journey I started focussing on the composition of my body as well as what the scales are saying.

I exercise a lot (pilates reformer, squash, running, gym, body combat, RPM) and have done since I had my sleeve and tracking composition helps to see what's going on and also to help with target weight loss.

I currently weigh 160 lbs which according to the BMI scale is 1lb away from the high end of normal BMI.  If you take a look at the BMI tables then the middle of the BMI range for my height is 141lbs.

So, ok - 159 seems doable, and 141 - wow lovely - I COULD be striving towards getting to 141 and working really hard to get there BUT and it's a big BUT - my body composition is as follows :

I have 131lbs of lean mass (muscles, bone, electrolytes and fluids) - assuming I maintain the lean mass (which is what I plan to do)

at 25% body fat (which is in the middle of the fat % range for a woman) - my idea weight is 131 + 33 = 163lbs,
at 30% (the higher end of the % fat range for a women ) my idea weight is 131 + 40 = 171lbs.
at 20% (the lower end of body fat for a women) then the weight is 131 +26 + 157lbs

Below 20% body fat you are starting to look at the kind of % body fat that athletes/body builders have.

It's unlikely that I'm ever going to get much below 157lbs (unless I seriously want to reduce body fat) as I have a significant amount of lean body mass.  If I maintain my lean mass then the middle of the BMI range of 141lbs - would mean that I would only have 10lbs of fat which is not healthy at all and I'm not sure would even be possible - the only way I could get there is to reduce my lean mass - muscles, bone, fluids or electrolytes - NO THANK YOU !

So I guess I'm saying that it's more than just the scales, particularly if you train a lot and are building muscle - hopefully the picture below helps to demonstrate this.

PS - a pound of fat and a pound of muscle weigh the same ! - but fat takes up 5x more space than muscle - hence how you can shape up and lose inches and not necessarily lose pounds !

I got my composition test done at a nutrition shop, I think in the US you also have the BodPod - or your personal trainer/gym should be able to help you work this out.

Debbie

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Exercise - post plastic surgery
on August 9, 2011 5:49 am
So I went to see my plastic surgeon yesterday as I had some more rogue stitches which needed to be removed & he CLEARED ME FOR EXERCISE !!! Yay - I have been so desperate to get back into the gym !

Good news, he also said I don't need to wear my compression garments anymore.  I was so pleased I took the shorts off in the office and refused to put them back on !  I am still wearing my sleeves as my arms are very numb and they don't feel right when the garments are not on yet.  I'll start weaning myself off of them slowly.

I did have a discussion with him about the size of my thighs after my thigh lift - he thinks my thighs are a great size and in proportion to my body - though I can't see that as I can still grab some skin & fat (but I think my head is not caught up with my body yet).  I'm not ungrateful for the work he's done - I guess I am so pleased with my breasts and tummy, it's difficult when you are not so pleased with the next stage.  To be honest I'm still swollen - but think I often forget this when I look in the mirror, I also have a selective memory about how bad I used to look and I do find it hard to see my true size - I've mentioned this in other posts before.  Anyway, on reflection and after looking at myself long & hard in a full length mirror (which does make a difference - we don't have any in the appt) - I think he is right and that my thighs are in proportion to the rest of me.  It's not the scars - I am more than happy with them, it's not the bruising and swelling from the hematoma as I know this will go - it's just the general size of my thighs which to me seem large - BUT I am wearing size 10/12 trousers so I know they are not large - just a bit of a head fug going on.

I'm still pushing and pulling the odd stitch out of my arms and legs - the disolvable stitches haven't all disolved and sometimes I need to push those out as they make my arms sore and they start pushing through my incision.  I'm also pulling out or trimming the odd black or blue stitch as they come to the surface - or get them dealt with by the surgeon if they are a bit stuck !

Anyway, today I went to the gym - I was surprised how much my fitness has slipped - but am sure that I will soon be able to work up to my previous levels.  I did some running (1.6k's, some X Trainer and some weights) generally I felt ok - but got tired quickly and could feel it pulling on the scars and also could feel a kind of numb/swelling (if that makes sense?) - I wasn't uncomfortable - just burned out a bit quicker than I thought I would.

I'm also starting back at pilates reformer classes tomorrow and RPM on Thursday which is great as I have really missed my classes, exercise buddies and routines - its also Ramadan here so no eating /drinking outside between sunrise & sunset - so it's good to have a purpose to go out (you can usually drink discreetly at exercises classes).

I also bought a new swimming costume today as I'm not yet brave enough to wear my new bikini - I got UK size 12 and it's too big !! - so think that the size 10 will be perfect - that's a US 6 - I know I've mentioned sizes before - but I still can't quite get my head around sizes !

So here's a reminder of my exercise journey in pics, including one today.  I can't believe what I looked like when I started exercising at 262lbs - and this was 37lbs lower than my starting weight !  (& NO that's not a burger bag in my hand in the first shot - though it does look like one ! - it's a bag from the organic shop).



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7 weeks post arm&thigh lift : hot in compression...
on August 6, 2011 1:57 am
Boy is it hot ! - I'm 7 weeks post arm and thigh lift plastic surgery (and 3 months post TT and breast lift) and I'm still in compression garments.  Today it's 122F outside which is fairly typical for this time of year - although it will get hotter - it's also very humid and dusty.

So I'm still following my surgeon's instructions of wearing compression leggings and sleeves 24/7 - initially he said do this for 1 month then move to 12 hours per day - but as I'm still swollen and suffering the after effects of the hematoma in my thigh he said to keep them on 24/7 for at least 2 months - basically he said the longer the better - as I have thin skin and the swelling could make the skin stretch.

So here I am - trying to be an expert in hiding my garments whilst still staying as cool as possible (see pics) - not cool as in trendy ! - just cool as in temperature - just in case you were wondering !!  By the way - I just realised that I don't have a full length mirror in the appt - so I've resorted to taking pictures in the lifts of my building !

You can see from the shots that my thigh is still swollen and bruised and my arms are also still swollen - maybe I'll sign up for some more lymphatic drainage sessions and see if that can help with the swelling - to be honest I'm slightly fed up as I thought this would have resolved itself by now.  In addition to the large hematoma I also developed a smaller swelling along the incision line of my leg this week which was drained - it looked like it was a rogue stitch pushing its way out - but it turned out to be some additional fluid which then built up along the scar line and burst causing my incision to open up a bit - but it's healing again now.  Not sure why it built up - but hopefully this will be the end of it.

In more positive news - just 1 more week until I'm cleared for exercise - YAY ! - I did go to the pool this week and did a very small swim and was shocked at how badly it pulled on my arms and thighs - so am guessing that my transition back to exercise is going to be a bit slower than I had hoped - no 10k in the next few weeks or so at least !!!  My pilates teacher said I'd have to go back to beginner classes for a while - and I agree that I should do this - although I worked so hard to go up to level 3 classes over the last year - never mind I know that I can work up to level 3 again soon.

In the meantime I've been researching and buying some new gym kit - I bought some great Fila resistance capris and running tights which have built in additional compression panels in the legs - they feel great and give my thighs more support - I should maybe look at getting a compression top also.  I'll definately be working out in my compression sleeves - I may hide them under a long sleeved top or just bit the bullet and wear them as is with a normal t-shirt over the top (see the pic) - to be honest I don't think the sleeves are too bad - I definately need to wear them as my arms still feel very swollen and numb.  I also invested in some new sports bras - 36B ! - tiny - I used to have to wear 2 x sports bras when I was running to keep the girls from bouncing everywhere and giving the locals and eye full ! - I'm hoping that my smaller breasts should be much more comfortable running and the lack of bat wings should help with air flow !

I also saw that spanx have released shape gymwear - www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2019445/Would-wear-shapewear-work-Spanx-launches-range-gym.html

Anyway - no pain - no gain, onwards and downwards and all that stuff !!



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