10 days to tummy tuck - one year after refeed - losings Diary

[losing]

Okay so I am starting a diary to motivate myself to achieve what I want from my life.....

I have done cohens last year and achieved 27 kilos weightloss - fantastic.

In the 6 months since I finished I have crept up outside where I swore I'd never go back to. But I am not going to beat myself up - this has now lead to the realisation that I have hormone problems and that in order to stop me putting on weight and to stop pimples all over my face I am going to have to look at this as a lifelong plan. I can't kid myself and think I can eat the way others do. I am just like someone who is glucose intolerent or lactose whatever. I cannot tolerate processed foods.

I have 70 odd days until I consult my plastic surgeon to fix the excess skin on my tummy which I loathe - and I want to loose 3.6kgs by then.That will put be back at 55kgs. I am not weighing my food but not eating anything that is not on cohens. And lets face it I know how much I am allowed to eat with my eyes closed after weighing food for so long. I know how great I will feel with a flat tummy and new breasts so i am doing everything I can to make it as good aas possible.

So I have started getting fit(opps big swear word for me)....

Today I have eaten right for 5 days and I RAN 1km on the treadmill.

To keep me honest each day I am going to update how far I have run and whether I stuck to eating and drinking well.

3.6 to go - I know I can do it.

Cheers
Losing

[lrn]

Ahh you will do it.... no probs!! It sounds like you are super motivated and I am hoping to be able to afford a tummy tuck when i am done, so I understand what you mean about flabby tummy... 55 kgs that sounds great. Good luck with your journey and I look forward to hearing more from you!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

[losing]

Thanks IRN

SO day two of my diary and I have been a good girl. Lost 100g last night. I can't help but weigh myself everyday.

Have eaten well and had my water and am going for a 1 hour walk tonight.

Only bad news is back to work tomorrow.

Cheers
Losing

[pandora]

Hi Losing and welcome! Just a question (dont answer if you dont want to!). Have you ALREADY seen a surgeon OR do you plan to see one in 70 days?

I am very interested in the whole subject of should i, shouldnt i - opt for surgery with whatever "belly" is left. I have ALWAYS wanted a flat tummy but never had one. Even when i was slim 20 yrs ago, i still had more a marilyn monroe-esque shape with a skinny waist and a neat but slightly round tum - which is out of fashion these days!

I am now going 4kg UNDER the low end of Cohen weight in an attempt to NUKE the last bit of belly flab! I once almost had surgery 6 yrs ago at 60kg (tummy tuck) - i was referred by my doc when i complained about no matter HOW much exercise i did, belly still there and he said "I see what you mean!!" Now i am 8kg lighter at 52kg on the scales and most of that belly has gone naturally, but i KNOW if it wasnt for my small tummy, i would not be attempting to lose any more weight! And, when i was in my 20's and slightly heavier than now, my body was much more toned and firm!

So Losing, i also notice you didnt have A LOT of weight to lose and i am interested in yr story, and your thoughts on this subject! I have wanted to ask you since yesterday but wasnt sure how to explain where i am coming from! I am delighted and supportive of you going ahead with yours but i realise you may be able to help me make sense of my situation also as you understand it. Am i being "vain" at 53yrs old and happily married or on the other hand, am i pushing my body for something that is no longer possible having had a baby at 42 years old! Pandora

I do have a friend from church who had a tummy tuck after losing 20kg - she is same height as me but weighs 6kg more. Another friend had lipo a few months back, she is "tiny" but said her tum had a bit extra! Not that anyone else thought so!

Also, anyone else got any thoughts on this delicate subject! Pandora

[losing]

Hi Pandora and thanks for your support.

I have had a number of problems over the years so I hope I don't bore you with a massive post to try and tell you about me.

When I was young I was a very tiny person. I hit 25 and hormone problems. I have Polycyctic Ovaries and was told would need assistance to have kids. Fortunately no assistance was required and I have two beautiful kids that are now in primary school. I got diabetes when pregnant and my son was 4.5kgs, and 57cms long. By the way I am really short (150cm). Both times I had a c/section. I have also had my gall bladder removed and as a mid 30's have a face full of pimples(unless I am doing cohens).

I never lost the weight with the kids and threw myself into their little lives. I never put myself first and put my head firmly in the sand about my weight. Then last year at a huge 78.8kgs and a BMI of 35 I went on Cohens. I had never thought I had willpower but never once deviated and in 7 months I got back to 53 kgs. I have put back on 5 so that's why I am here.

Of course I am left with a pouch on my belly that the skin is hust stretched and revolting. I look fine in a bra but take that off and I am flat. I have booked my surgery for May and in about 70 days I go to see the surgeon to get my tummy and breasts done. He has operated on people I know with glowing reports, so I very confident with his work. It is costing me about $15000 and at least a months holidays to recover, so it is not a decision I have made lightly. I kept telling myself that I couldn't justify it - everyone tells me that I look great (but they see me in clothes). And I do look great but as the months went by I found it harder to justify not having it done.

[font=Verdana]Am i being "vain" at 53yrs old and happily married or on the other hand, am i pushing my body for something that is no longer possible having had a baby at 42 years old! Pandora[/font]

TO answer this is NO WAY ARE YOU BEING VAIN. In clothes I assume my appearance change will not be that dramatic. It is for me, even though I am slim now I won't get out in togs because of my overhang. Your baby is 11 and if you feel that this would give you satifaction and confidence in situations then I bet your baby will only benefit from an even happier mom. I am very happily married as well and my hubby is so proud of me taking control of my life and supports my decision to remove the excess skin. I am not talking about fat that can be lost and loose tummy that exercise will help, this is loose and excess skin from being big and hanging over my scar.

You are a beautiful and youthful 53 year old and you are entitled to be happy and comfortable in your body. That is what cohens gave back to us, and if you need to fine tune it - then go for it. You have many years left in that body yet. We are not aiming for the body of a 20 year old, just to be the best we can at the age we are at, and for me a lot of it is confidence boosting as well. I am not a shy person - until it comes to the belly.

It will be a year since I lost weight when I have mine done. I hope to come in here and record how it all goes, you can ask me anything you want to know. My ticker says 3.5kgs to go but that is what I want to be to see the doctor. I would like to be 53kgs when I have it done.

Cohens is the best thing I ever did and I will be going to the GP to get my tests done on the fatty liver and pre diabetes that he is probably expecting me to still have. I don't anymore. He hasn't seen me at this weight yet.

I was a member of another forum the whole way through and the support that everyone gave each other is what got me here and slim.


Have a great day
Cheers
Losing

[pandora]

Thank you SO much for your candid and honest reply! It brings tears to my eyes as i KNOW at least some of what you feel! I also know i havent had all the other things that have happened to you and it certainly is "harder" to hide the small tummy left when we are shorties (I am 158cm) maybe if i was tall 170cm or so, it will all stretch out more evenly!

You say you never deviated for 7 months and got to 53kg and that was almost a year ago and you have only gained arounf 3.5kg so well done for that too! I am also pleased to hear you are waiting the year that Dr Cohen recommends BEFORE surgery. I am also like you and EVERYONE tells me how skinny i look but i have this small cushion on my abdomen and it has plagued me for years! I will definately wait until my one year is up tho (as you are doing) BEFORE making my final decision as 2kg more may just make all the difference! One reason i hesitate is my husband is NOT supportive (nor my family which is why i didnt have it done 6 yrs ago!), they think i am being vain or neurotic or something?!?!

I am glad you came on here Losing and that you have been so frank,honest and up front about your story as we all need to do what is right for US and our own precious bodies. I am also glad you intend to keep up your diary in the days leading up to yr ops and record how it all goes. Maybe a few months AFTER surgery you will be brave enough to post a picture of the new you! Of course that is a personal choice! And thanks again for bringing up a topic that has been nagging away at me!

I think the main distinction is, had i NOT had a child at 42 yrs old (skin has lost a lot of elasticity by then and doesnt bounce back!) - in your case children - our bodies would have bounced back in an entirely different way! Once that skin is stretched with a big baby, followed by a C- section or two, well it does make a huge difference! I would LOVE to have the belly and abs i had in my early 30's!

Thanks again Losing, at least i can now lighten up on my dilemna as of course since i am just completing Cohens, i do have almost a year before i need to make up my mind! And, i also do intend to post a bikini AFTER shot on here in a few weeks. And, i am sure i will look "fine" in it etc etc but i doubt i would ever wear a bikini in public again! A still photo is one thing, running around and jumping into a pool is a different story! Pandora

[losing]

Hi Pandora

Thanks so much. You have made me feel very welcome, and I look forward to seeing those bikini shots, which you will look fab in.

Well I didn't run yesterday as I had really sore legs but I was very good on food and water, especially because mum and friend came over and did scrapbooking and mum brought RUm balls - didn't have any.

Loss so far is 0.3kgs but I will get there.

Have a great day
Losing

[pandora]

Hi Losing and glad to hear it is all going well for you. I have copied and pasted the following excerpt from my dairy as it has come about as a result of our debate yesterday! Please remember that "my theory" is just that and does not take into account other medical issues etc. Of course you are doing the right thing for you. Meantime, as i have the time, i may as well see what happens!

"I am now 50.7kg which is the lightest i have EVER been on Cohens . And guess what? Some of you may have noticed i wrote in Losing's diary that i wonder if my belly really needs surgery, ie. is it just loose skin or is it just plain old FAT, FAT , FAT !

Well, lo and behold, this morning, it looks just like the 500 grams overnight has come OFF my belly! Must be just fat after all! My clothes are looser etc and i noticed in bed last night and this morning, my hip bones are sharp with my belly flat (that is lying down of course!)!

This is VERY good news! Yesterday, i also started thinking, i am the one who is always raving on about "Its the Mind over Matter that Matters" and i have even started writing stuff done as a draft for a book (even if it is just for my own journalling!).

Anyway, i thought, what a brilliant case in point for me to use my mind over matter theory to transform my belly from its ever reducing altho a tad soft NOW, to picture and bikini perfect WITHOUT exercise or surgery! Now that sounds like a wonderful challenge to prove how much my thoughts about say my belly, absolutely govern how it actually looks! And can i "love it off" rather than have it removed OR manically exercise it off?

I will take current weight and size BEFORE photos today to prove my point! After all, Dr Cohen says it takes one year for our bodies to readjust the body composition! I have mentioned John Gabriel's bk and CD on here (posting them to my friend Cohenite today!). He lost approx 100kg over 4 years and visualised his new body day and night. He lost the most of his weight in the last year AND he had no surgery and now has 6 pack abs (he now looks how he visualised himself to look)! That is where i got my inspiration. I may as well give it a go! Nothing to lose but fat! Pandora

[losing]

Hi Pandora

I'll be looking out for those photos - it will be interesting what happens in your experiment.

I haven't lost anymore so far - but that is okay - I know when I lost all the weight that the last 5 kilos were so slow, so hopefully next week I am down a little bit again and it all adds up.

I did have wine with friends on Friday night - so that probably slowed things up too..

Gotta go for a run today.

Cheers
Losing

[keels]

Hi Losing
I am about to start the cohens meal plan and looking forward to it, I have been for the blood tests but I think Dr Cohen is still on hols, I to have had c sections ( 3 ) but the first one they did was a emergency and they cut me from the belly button down, the other 2 cut across ( bikini line ) I have looked at getting a tummy and breast tuck ( and I mean breast tuck ) but I have 27kg to loose first , I have been told that short people loose it slower I am 4ft 11 in , I am looking forward to seeing your pics, good on you for doing this because as mothers we seem to put the family first and we forget about ourselves,
Keels

[Wendy9]

Hi Losing, good luck with reaching your goals!

[losing]

Hi Keels and Wendy9

Keels I totally undertand how you feel as I am also 4'11". Overall I lost at 1.4kgs per week, so don't be discouraged.

Also don't let others tell you that you don't need to lose the whole 27kgs as they don't realise what being short does to BMI.

Losing the weight before the surgery only means putting it off by about 18 months and I reckon it is so worth it - means you'll be slim and have a flat tummy.

Will keep you all posted and will put up photos for you - before cohens, after cohens and after surgery.

Keels you must be almost exactly where I was - 14 months ago. Just put your trust in the plan and it will work.

I am also looking into laser hair removal - Gosh a real extreme makeover.

CHeers
Losing

[FatCat]

Can't wait to hear how your op goes, I've been dreaming of the same for years (with several surgeons saved on my favourites!). I've heard the gutorectomy can be extremely painful in the early weeks of recovery as they stretch the skin/muscles so taught that you can't stand up straight, but that if you can stick with the rehab plan then it's VERY worth it.

Good luck, and I can't wait to hear it all.

[hexi2]

Hi Losing

I find it interesting reading your diary as it is a bit different to the others seeing you are considering surgery. I am a long way off goal but do wonder what the kangaroo pouch will do when I get to goal. I have had 2 c-sections with my babies and have a horrible loose, stretch marks belly. I really hope it goes but always wonder...

So I am really keen to see what you find out!

[losing]

Hi Hexi2

I have booked my GP appointment so that I can get my referral to the plastic surgeon. I'll let you know how that goes.

Hexi I have to be honest - my consultant said that I wouldn't have to resort to surgery, and according to a lot of people I could live with it the way it is. However, it is such a personal decision, and one I didn't think about until after I had lost weight. I never dared to think that I could weigh under 60kgs again, let alone think about a flat tummy. SO yes I would say a lot of ladies who have had c/sections end up with loose skin,it just depends on how it affects you and whether you are in the position and willing to opt for surgery.

And today, I booked into the Laser Hair Removal Clinic to get my underarms done, next TUesday. I am starting with the armpits and see if I am game enough to head south. I am going to be so embarassed - but it is something I think I want done.

Ate well today (still not showing on scales) and ran 1.3KLMS. Am not against having to weigh my food again but will give it two weeks of the way I am eating and if weight doesn't start to come off then I will start weighing.

Have a great day

Losing

[losing]

I just posted my before and after photos.

I haven't looked at the before one for a while, and I have to say that I am feeling some weird things.

SHame - at how big I let myself get.
Delight - at how I changed.
Inspiration - to never be like that again.

I should look at that photo more often to remind me of why I changed my life and how great that feels.

Cheers
Losing

[losing]

200grams down this morning - bringing me to 58.1kgs.

Slowly, slowly but this will just be enough to get me to where I want to be in 4 months.

This is a lifelong journey and I can't look at in terms of "when I am finished"- unless I like pimples on my face.

Have a great day

Losing

[keels]

Thanks losing for that, I will be starting around the 17th Jan ( birthday on 15 ) I have received the list of foods to eat and the menu planner, so slowly getting there, I am thinking about surgery in Thailand I have talked to afew ladies and they were more than happy, we have gone to Thailand for the dentist and that was great and worked out so cheap, we are going over there in June so I will check it out. I am really looking forward to seeing the photos you must be so excited !!!
Cheers Keely

[losing]

Hi there

I can't believe how many people are out there doing cohens, and updating their diaries. It's great. They only seem to advertise in magazines and instead of the AMA looking at providing free lap-banding - maybe they should make cohens free. Having said that, I do believe you have to "pay" in some way or I doubt my commitment would be so high - Anyway that's a whole political thread of its own.

I just did a 1.4klm run at 8kph. I hope to increase this by 100m each day and it hasn't been too bad so far. I have been sweating and this is not something that comes naturally to me. I always thought the words "run", "sweat" and 'heart-rate" were all swear words. There is 70 days before I see the surgeon so how many k's per day will I be running then. Okay I think it is 8.4klms.

Then another 70 odd days to surgery, so that's 15.4klms per day.OMG - can I really do that???????? I am gonna give it a good bash

By the time May comes around I would be able to run from my house to the Hospital - about 17klm. Somehow I think I might not be in that frame of mind that day. Mind you if I have sore leg muscles and feet at least I'd wake up on painkillers.

For anyone that likes cats - watch this video of a bobcat named "bob' - it is really cute to me as I have two ginger bobcats - one named bobcat and the other bobbie or little bob and big bob as we call them. Here is the link

http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=...5-cedf65835a40


Have a great day everyone.

[kase]

Hi losing,

what a great little clip... i love animals they enrich our lives.

like everyone else i appreciate you being so candidate about your story.

congratulations on the running - it takes a lot of commitment and self motivation to continue even when you chest hurts simply from drawing breath and every muscle is telling you to stop.