I know I've been pretty scarce around these parts...there have been a plethora of reasons but the main one is pretty major...I have been thinking of the proper way to say this to you all but I'm just going to come right out and say it.
On Monday, 10 February, after thinking about it for months, I had liposuction of my thighs, hips and flanks...I wanted to have a tummy tuck as well but finances kept me from having both procedures.
Most of you know my history (for those who don't, just check my website and read my past posts here at 3FC) and know that this has been a lifelong journey for me. Bottom line is that even when I was on a comp diet last year (Camp Pam B) I still had pockets of fat on my thighs and hips. Y'all probably know this but fat cells - once they develop - are there to stay unless you have 'em sucked out. Last year when I went to a personal trainer and she tried to take my bodyfat percentage, she had a tough time getting a read on me - because (according to her) I had too much loose skin on my tummy (the 'pooch'). The plastic surgeon I went to for consult (as I stated at L&S) and who did the actual surgery, I trust implicitly - she is a Board-certified, Harvard and Stanford-trained surgeon with over 15 years of experience in plastic surgery. She also did my mother's breast reconstruction as well as my sister's breast lift five years ago - and my sister has NO visible scars now and is still quite happy with her results.
I really started thinking about this during the thread that started last summer here called "Questions about extra skin" (you can find it at http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...ght=Loose+Skin ).
Anyway, my doctor told me that those pockets of fat on my thighs - saddlebags and just over the knees, etc - might get smaller with diet and exercise but would never go away. I've also done quite a lot of research on my own of course - since I had never had "real" surgery before I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing and understood everything that I was getting into.
So for now, I'm not training - just resting and eating as healthy as I can. As soon as my doctor gives me the OK, I'm going to start my program again - I'm considering just doing a 12-week by the book BFL cycle just to get back in the swing of things. Surprisingly, I have felt very little pain - nothing that a Vicodin couldn't handle
The worst thing about this has been having to sleep on my back (I'm a side and tummy sleeper!) and sitting on the toilet. Oh, and no horseback riding! 
But most of the horses are in Scottsdale for the big Arabian Horse Show anyway (and doing quite well according to the results). Oh, and I do miss the gym but my legs are still pretty bruised but I can see them getting better looking each day I do want to say this: Plastic surgery is not a way to lose weight - and I would recommend that you get to your goal weight (or as close as you possibly can) and STAY at that weight for awhile before you consider having any kind of plastic surgery. Also, something I've learned over the past year - not everyone is going to have results like Pam B's. In fact, my surgeon says that she is VERY much the exception to the rule - most people who have lost a great deal of fat - especially if they've been battling fat most of their lives like I have - are going to have loose skin and deposits of fat cells.
On the Success forum, Meg (who had a lower body lift - which my surgeon said was not necessary in my case) wrote:
Quote:
I saw a plastic surgeon last September, who told me that what I thought was stubborn celluite was really just "an enormous amount" of skin that would not go away on its own, regardless of how long I waited. The consensus seems to be that the degree to which skin will tighten up after massive weight loss (that's what they call us) depends on 1. your age, 2. your genes 3. how much you have lost, and 4. how long you were overweight (recent obesity vs. lifelong). It is an individual thing and time will tell for you.
(oh the above thread is at: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...threadid=24374 )I saw a plastic surgeon last September, who told me that what I thought was stubborn celluite was really just "an enormous amount" of skin that would not go away on its own, regardless of how long I waited. The consensus seems to be that the degree to which skin will tighten up after massive weight loss (that's what they call us) depends on 1. your age, 2. your genes 3. how much you have lost, and 4. how long you were overweight (recent obesity vs. lifelong). It is an individual thing and time will tell for you.
Whew! I just wrote a book didn't I?
I'll check in a bit later - need to catch up on some posts...and have something to eat...feed the kitties...
but it was time for him to go back. Both of us have worked very hard and he has had an AMAZING recovery. 
my boobs were never going to improve from the 32 AAs they had become. I had very little discomfort, went right back to the gym, and have never ever regretted my decision. I am still a 34-36 B/C, and breastfed 2 more children successfully after my surgery. Also never have a problem working chest.
when they disappear into cyber space... So now I’ve learned my lesson and refuse to work and post for nothing. I now type my post on a document and then copy and paste it to the reply... and if I happened to loose it, well at least I still have it...
Welcome to our BFL world... and another Canuck BFLer is even better 
I have to tell you that your WW mind set will be difficult to reverse. I too am a WW lifetime member. When I used to go in and not loose weight I would be so discouraged... They kept telling me to stop the weight training...NOT!!!!! That ain’t gonna happen lady!! And most of the ladies weighing us were older women and they don’t believe in weight training. So now finally after being away from WW for almost 2 years now, my mind is changing and the scale is the least of my worries... Altho last week I was pretty annoyed with the scale when I slipped into my old habits and weighed myself... Those old habits are difficult to break!! And you’re absolutely right they will be the most rewarding 12 weeks of your life... Good luck to you, and post and journal along with us anytime, we’re here to answer your questions... BTW you did fine with your sups., but the protein powder don’t worry about that because real food is much more filling and stays with you much longer, IMO....
But, I don't think liposuction is even close to what he's done. When I get -- and stay -- at a good body fat %/weight, I'm definitely looking into getting a breast lift! I'm encouraged to hear your sister has had good results with that surgery. I hope your recovery goes really, really well. 