Well on my way to recovering...

Hi all, just wanted to update as to how my recovery is going since i have been out of the loop. I am almost 2 weeks post op and the swelling is subsiding slowly. I had a full tummy tuck with muscle repair only. My upper stomach is pretty tight and not swollen anymore, its just above the incision that is pretty swollen. I didn’t expect to be so swollen after my TT procedure, but it could last 3-6 months to see some what of final results. I have been eating pineapple as suggested by others (contains Bromelian) which helps with the recovery and swelling. I’m also taking my vitamin C along with my multi vitamin, gotta stay healthy. I have been eating 90% clean since being home and have shed 3 lbs since then (almost a pound of skin removed if you are curious). Its really hard to eat 100% clean when i'm mostly at home and sometimes yes i do want some comfort food and give in at times although in moderation.

I also got to try on my bikini bottoms and my comp suit bottom and they fit just right! There were a few i will not be able to wear, but that is ok. My husband was nice enough to let me order 2 new bikinis from VS and hopefully they will fit. I have been lounging around in sweats since the surgery as my jeans are not fitting right now and i don’t want anything constricting around my waist.Got to be comfortable.
I should be able to go to the gym in 2 weeks and do light cardio, but lifting has to wait until another 2-4 weeks after that and then it will be light weights. Oh boy, going to have fun doing that. Ego killer..lol. Gotta follow the rules though. I refuse to pick up the pink dumbbells I’m already checking out some new gym gear kind of a present to me getting back at the gym. I love the BEBE sport stuff!

I go back to the doc on Tuesday for a check up, it will be nice to get out. I haven’t really been out of the house too much since the surgery and getting cabin fever! It hurts a bit to sit for long periods of time as well as laying around so i make my rounds around the house with my 2 yr old. I have even started cooking some dinners and started doing light housework. Just trying to get back to somewhat normal. My daughter does keep me busy during the week though…lol. Need to slow my roll. We both get bored so we head outside to play a bit and she loves to feed the doggies. I can tell though she misses the gym daycare, everyone just about knows her there since i stay a good bit when i was working out. Just about everyone knows us at the gym. Sort of a celebrity status…hehe. Alright, that is all i got. Wish me well and thanks for reading!

Bikini season is upon us!

Yep, its almost that time again. I'm already checking out some new bikinis :D This is going to be the best bikini season yet! I SO love the beach and then also a new tummy and all :) Also i just changed my diet to shed a good 10-15lbs (i want to weigh around 125lbs), not sure how realistic that is during my 6 weeks of recovery time, but i got to keep my diet clean and allow my weekly cheat meal anyways. Anyone have any other suggestions for some cute bikinis that won't break the bank? I found these that i really liked, the yellow one is too cute!

Surgery went well!

Just wanted to update everyone that all is ok and i'm home recovering. I had a great experience with the surgeon and the staff was excellent! I couldn't have been treated better. Today i went for a follow up and the surgeon says everything looks awesome. I got to see my new smaller belly button :) They said they took about 14 oz of skin or fat, i can't remember since i was out of it, my sister was there with me and taking care of me yesterday. They usually do lipo if needed in the stomach area to make it smooth, but the doc said i didn't have much so he said i didn't even need it. NICE! I'm excited to see what the final end result will be, i'm not expecting perfection, but its got to be better than what it was. The pic above are the last pics with the old tummy :) Pics hide stuff ;) Now i can be super confident when i go to the beach and won't worry about overhang when i wear my cute jeans. Counting down the weeks when i will be able to workout (light cardio) which will be 4 weeks. Lifting should commence in 6 weeks depending on how i heal and even then it will probably be light lifting. Trying to follow the docs orders 100% :)

Tomorrow is the BIG day!

I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow and if you have been following my blog you know what surgery i'm getting ;) Mommy makeover - tummy tuck! I'm looking forward to it and excited yet a little scared. Please say a prayer for me that everything will be ok. The first week should be pretty rough so don't know if i will be on the computer, just depends on how i feel. I will try to keep my blog updated soon to let everyone know how it went and share some pics later on. Surgery is at 7:30am tomorrow and will probably last around 2 hours. My sister is going to be with me all day tomorrow, thank God for a great sister :) She is awesome!

MAKING SOME GAINS, OH YEAH!!!

Just wanted to share my progress since being on Scivation's CHA modified diet

Differences noticed - quads are getting better and yes i'm flexing in that first set of pics. I think it really depends on what i eat to really make them pop. Leaner, not sure...seems like the veins are showing up more on the first set of pics. Need to work on my posing as you can see. I get practice taking the progress pics though. My very first pics for Scivation i was obviously leaner since i just got done doing a comp so i won't post those Lord knows i don't want to be skinny like i was at my first comp. I was just looking back at those pics and thinking "what the heck was i thinking competing looking like that!" LOL. Each comp should bring a better physique so you see why my i want to give my body more time to build. Still lots of symmetry to work on. Please give me some honest feedback, i won't bite I am definitely pushing A LOT more weight than i ever have since joining Team Scivation. I stay pretty active too, you have to with 4 kids and a husband. The CHA diet has been pretty point on since the holidays have passed so there is no problem there.

The first set of pics were taken on 12/8 and that was a hellacious month as i was adjusting to the CHA and not being very strict (holidays). I didn't think i would ever get adjusted and was about to KICK the CHA to the curb. I was being a big baby. I then later on (without me asking) got switched over to the modified CHA to where i could have startchy carbs on M1, M2, and M3. The pics show 8 weeks worth of progress. I really did want those shoulders to have grown some more.

Some stats:

12/8/09 weight (first set of pics): 139lbs

2/3/09 weight (current progress pics): 139.5lbs (1 inch off waist, 1/2 inch lost on hips, 1/2 inch increase on chest, funny quads and calves are the same in measurements)

When i first started with Scivation, my weight was 136lbs. My waist measurements are the same as now, quads are an inch bigger now, hips an inch bigger, chest a half inch bigger, and calves a half inch bigger. Oh yeah, started off with shoulder measurements of 39.5 and now its 42 inches around. I took my BF measurements and came up with around 14% which is hard to believe. I am retaking it next week per Derek/Scivation trainer. I pinched the 3 sites as hard as i could to get a reading. My digital Accumeasure calipers average out the pinches.

So this is what i have now :) Training is going AWESOME and the diet is SPOT ON. I get a weekly cheat so i'm hitting the sushi this week :D Thanks for reading and commenting ;)

Ms. Future FITNESS/DIVA!!

My daughter Vanessa. I was doing some plyometric stuff and she wanted to join along. I had no idea she took this video. I saw it and thought it was the cutest thing. This is my daughter that loves healthy food, can you tell? She used to always want some of my tilapia meals when i was dieting down. Too funny. Sorry its kind of dark, the lighting was not great.

Holding off from doing the June competitions and mommy makeover

I have decided to hold off from doing any competitions in June or anytime soon. I have given this some thought and have discussed it with my husband. I have high standards this time around, i want to bring up my upper body the way i want and have better overall conditioning. A year should do the trick hopefully. I will know when its "GO" time. I want to be COMPETITION when i get on that stage and not have a doubt in my mind. Not necessarily win (although that would be NICE!), but have a high ranking and be proud that my hard work came through. I want to shine on stage and be proud. I love competing and just the journey you go through to make it to that stage is something that is so different from anything i have done and very rewarding to me. Is it a struggle with a family? YES! Is it worth it? YES IT IS! Is it easy? NO NO NO! If you love a challenge and something to look back onto and say YES I DID IT and have some cool stories and pics to share..something that many do NOT do and go for it. I was unique in that way then do something like this. I don't mean necessarily in bodybuilding for someone, but just something unique and mind blowing ;)

On another note, i have also decided to go ahead with the surgery i discussed in my earlier blog. yes, the tummy tuck. After contemplating on it and researching it deeply, i have decided that i do want it done. I want to feel better about myself and think i deserve this after having 4 kids. I want to feel confident in my clothes and walking on the beach without worrying about all the stretch marks and loose skin that plague my stomach. So many reasons, i really want to do this for ME. I know its costly and all, but hey i only get to live once and there are risks to everything in life. Also in my current situation, this opportunity will not come up again anytime soon. My husband supports my decision although at first he was not sure about it. He realizes now that it really bothers me and that nothing will help it. I was going to make a video or post pictures of the REAL stomach i have so you guys can see what i'm talking about but to be honest i'm EMBARRASSED. This pic i posted is a older pic when i was prepping for my last comp and trying out some Jantana so it just makes the stretch marks look worse. I am just praying that this is the right decision for me and that the surgery will go by smoothly. Like i said before, i wasn't going to rush into the surgery until knowing for sure that

1. Loose skin is not going anywhere even after maintaining weight/good body fat for over 2 years has not helped.
   
2. Stretch marks remedies have all failed.
   
3. Done having kids.

SO yeah, this is it! Mommy makeover and being REBORN :) I know everyone will not agree with this decision, but in the end is what is going to make ME happy. I have yet to schedule the procedure. I have consulted with 2 surgeons so far, going to consult with a few more before making a final choice. I want to have this done next month.