Tummy Tuck 4 Me, Transformation 4 My Husband, Too (new pics) - Phoenix, AZ

April 16, 2013

Hi PSM! It sounds like you're still happy and healthy. I am no longer actively bleeding from the proctitis, due to the medication, but I hope it lasts. Everything else is great here :).

April 17, 2013

Hi TwoPlusOne - 1. I've missed you! Glad to know you are better! 2. I've been working on a theory about why I've gotten eczema at 49. Tell me what you think. I'm wondering if it might be related to consuming too many Omega 6 pro-inflammatory oils in foods I eat at vegan restaurants. In the past year I stopped taking Omega-3's which diminish inflammation. If I was being good (no oil) as I should be I shouldn't be consuming either. But I'm thinking the 6's without the 3's might be the cause of my new skin inflammation (eczema). The eczema goes away when I stop eating potatoes and oranges but I wonder if too much Omega 6 might be contrbuting to this mild inflammatory response. Oh, only have eczema on the naughty finger of my left hand so it's not too bad. But I'm like why eczma for the first time at 49? Any advice or thoughts? 2. For now I've stopped eating potatoes and oranges which I was eating a lot of in the past year. This is a change for me so I cut those foods first and it seems to be helping but I wonder if my essential fat ration being off might also be part of the prob. 3. My belly button is still swelling. Especially after Bikram. My docs nurse tells me this normal but I don;'t want to miss the window for revision if I need it. Do you have any plans for revision? What is the expense involved?

April 17, 2013

I think it's a definite possibility. While I would say good riddance to the potatoes, I'd start supplementing with the 3s again, or take a good vegan DHA+EPA supplement (if you know the Omega-3 works for uou, I'd stick to that. Reintroduce oranges again at 1 month and check for a reaction. Stop eating out so much if it interferes with what you know you need to be doing, or find someplace that will cater to your needs. I do still experience localized swelling, without lipo. My dog ears will require revision, which I'll get done before the end of the year, sometime. It involves the cost of getting to TX and back, transportation from and to the airport, and overnight stay if the timing doesn't workout. The revision is complementary. Typing on an iPhone is hard! Hope this is legible:)

April 17, 2013

Great info! Everyone should see Forks Over Knives! AND People really need to know what is going on in our country too about business' influence on the information we have been taught about food. (Ask Oprah. You cannot say anything bad about the industry.) Eating real good plant based food can cure most illnesses.

April 17, 2013

Preach it FitChick45! Yes, it's the docs who speak against meat and dairy have an uphill battle but thank goodness they are sharing the truth and giving people an option other then meds, living with illness and a life long pill habit (bp meds, diabetes meds, cholesterol meds, mental health drugs, etc.). If some ladies aren't totally into their health or they don't understand the science maybe they care about our environment and animal cruelty. If that the case they should read "Diet for a New America" or "The Food Revolution" both by John Robbins (whose father founded Baskin & Robbins). You are right, eating plant based can cure many illnesses. For instance, right now I'm helping a friend avoid gall bladder surgery. Going low fat plant based as suggested by John McDougall, MD inhs book "Digestive Tune-Up" looks like it will preserve her gall bladder. It's an organ important to digestion that we should do our best to keep. Don't think most docs tell patients the side effects of gall bladder removal. Many docs also don't know or accept that a change in eating can keep a patient from needing surgery (not in the financial interest of gastro surgeons). Have you met TwoPlusOne on RS yet? Look her up. She's a plant strong eater, too!

April 17, 2013

Dr. Esselstyn said, "Some people think eating plant strong is extreme. I think having your chest cut wide open and having a vein from your leg sewn onto your heart is extreme.". (Omg... I could bring up so many things.) I hope your friend gets better soon!

April 17, 2013

Exactlly, FitChick45! And you know what, that leg vein does not act the same as the ones in your heart. It's crazy to me that people choose bypass and stents over dietary change. And note I did not say a diet. When you eat plant strong the right way you can eat as much as you want. There is no hunger. I remember doing Jenny Craig in 1994....now that was hard. The hunger was overpowering. I did one other diet in 2006 or 7, LA Weight Loss. I was starved and miserable on that diet too and eventually gave it up. Diets are hard and cannot be sustained long term so we gain the weight back. Eating plant strong is a new way of eating that is not about denial or eating less. You just eat good food the way God made it. It takes some a bit to get used to it. But eventually people feel so good and love the food so much they wonder how they ever ate any other way. Plant strong eating is the easy solution. Heart surgery and meds, sticking yourself with a needle and taking diabetes meds, being dependent on laxatives, taking the muscle damaging cholesterol meds, becoming impotent cause you take BP meds.....now that's hard. About my friend...her gall bladder pain is already gone. If she sticks with the McDougall low fat starch based eating chances are good she won't need to get her gall bladder removed. So far so good!

April 17, 2013

Now I am reading The Paradigm Diet. Explains alot! Everything makes sense. I think I eat too much wheat. Am only 50% thru. Another good read by a good doc.

joyce57133

April 17, 2013

I want to do this vegan thing, what's a good site or things to start with

April 17, 2013

Hi joyce57133 - I'm happy for you. It will change your life and your health for the better. The best way to start is to watch Forks Over Knives on Netflix and then get the books I listed above from the library or Amazon.com. If you can only afford one book, the book to get depends on your health concerns. Do you just want to be thinner? Do you need to lower your bp and cholesterol? Are you a pre-diabetic? Do you have digestive problems...colitis, constipation, irritable bowl, gall stones? Do you you have arthritis? Are you an athlete who wants to improve your athletic performance? Do you have a child with or do you have asthma or allergies? Does your teen have acne? Do you have a spouse with prostate cancer? Do you or a friend have breast cancer? Buying the books above or borrowing them from the library is a good start along with watching Forks Over Knives. If you have a specific problem to fix let me know and I'll point you in the direction of a doc and a book that can help. Note that all of the docs mentioned above have webs site you will find by searching Google.

April 17, 2013

Definately watch forks over knives! It answers the big question WHY eat this way. And just so you know it is NOT one of those documentaries that shows animal abuse. It is very tastefully done and explains alot! As far as your diet. Start out slow or go all in! You have to figure out what foods you like most for meals and get in the habit of choosing them. Eating out can be discouraging unless you live in a good area that has lots of vegan foods. (I have to go out of town.). Good luck! Its totally worth it!

DominicanaNYCNJRedhead

April 17, 2013

your spouse and you together, great pix! he look great at mid 50s.and your blk push up bra, do the trick imo, i love it and your flat sexxi stomach look awesome chica! Love reading about your chloresterol dropping,that is a great thing and BPressure etc. such a great read tonight,and again you look great! sexxi! i can't wait! adios ~CertifiedSexxxiFlatStomach2013~

October 21, 2013

PSM, where are you?! How are you doing?! I miss you, and I want to know how everything is going!

UPDATED FROM PlantStrongMom

7 months post

Hi Ladies - Hope you are all recovering well....

PlantStrongMomApril 16, 2013

Hi Ladies -

Hope you are all recovering well. FitChick45 and I were talking on here about the wonders of plant strong eating for overall good health and weight loss. I thought posting a picture of my husband might encourage her husband.

So, please see a new pic above of my husband and how eating plant strong has changed his physique. His boss told him he looks younger which a great thing to hear for a man who is 56.

I've lost 20 pounds in the past year and my husband has lost weight, too eating a plant strong diet. Plus, unlike low carb eating (which over taxes the kidneys, makes the body acidic, raises cholesterol and BP), plant strong eating makes you healthy on the outside AND inside. Dr. Atkins, the father of low carb dieting, was fat and died of heart disease.

My cholesterol used to be 198 and now it's 124. My BP used to run 140/90 and this morning it was 108/69. I wake each morining without an alarm clock and have plenty of energy during the day without ever needing caffeine.

For anyone reading this who is open to learning more about losing weight AND getting healthier may I suggest the following books and movie. You can also search YouTube for videos by the esteemed docs mentioned below.

1. "Forks Over Knives", a movie available on Netflix.
2. "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, the Jacob Gould Schumann Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. The NYT refers to "The China Study" as the grand prix of nutritional studies.
3. "Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes" by Neal Barnard, MD. He is the founding president of the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine.
4. "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Caldwell Esseltsyn, MD (Yale and Skull and Bones) of The Cleveland Clinic. This book infulenced former President Clinton to change his eating.
5. "The Starch Solution" by John McDougall, MD. At age 18, Dr. McDougall suffered a massive stroke which he attributed to his high animal product diet. I lost 20 pounds, changed my bp and bloodwork for the good and have tons of energy thanks to Dr. McDougall (see www.drmcdougall.com).

I pray that some of you reading this will take a look at the info above as I know you and your families will be blessed by it. I am grateful to you ladies for encouraging me and sharing your surgery stories. Thank you!

Replies (0)

UPDATED FROM PlantStrongMom

4 months post

Went to the dentist this past Tuesday and he told...

PlantStrongMomJanuary 17, 2013

Went to the dentist this past Tuesday and he told me I was looking younger. I said I'd lost weight. I didn't mention the TT but I am sure that's why I look younger...no more hanging, protruding, mommy tummy!

Have you ladies heard that, too? That you look younger.

Replies (5)

wrknonit

January 17, 2013

You look so good I can just hope I will look just as good...this recovery is rough and can really play mind games to some!!

January 17, 2013

It might also be an aura about you--that you feel better about yourself--and that people interpret that as you looking younger (less worried/stressed). Still, what with the looking for a job thing, that'd be amazing if you're looking less stressed!! Good job :D.

BuffyR

January 17, 2013

Great compliment, I also thing feeling younger and healthy ads confidence which shines thru, you look great and we know your secret!

Lotus5

January 17, 2013

Fabulous review and results!

April 13, 2013

Hi plantstrongmom! Wish i had seen your profile earlier! You have some funny comments (16 &pregnant, and the restaurant tummy pouch story) they made me laugh! I too am plant strong and swear it has helped. I was surrounded by people with bad colds and flu just before my surgery date and didnt get sick! I thought for sure i would (especially after my hairdresser hacked all over for an hour)! I also didnt have any problem with constipation. Took some Colace after 3 days just to be sure. Only took it for that one day. And my weight hasnt gone up either! Well, I just wanted to say hello to a fellow Vegan! You look amazing! Hurray for you!

April 16, 2013

Nice to hear from you FitChick45. Sorry it took me so long to respond. Yes, I attribute my speedy and excellent healing to being plant strong. It's hard for me to read that some women are eating low carb before their surgery. Low carb makes the body sick and acidic. I don't get why people still follow low carb. Dr. Atkins was fat and died of heart disease. Why does anyone follow his advice or the advice of diets based on his (South Beach). Before I saw the light I tried South Beach. It made me break out terribly....but that's what meat and dairy consumption does. Re; constipation....I had it bad at first but managed it with Dulcolax. I might have been more of a pain med taker then you were. I'm going to check out your page now. Thanks for getting in touch!

April 16, 2013

April 16, 2013

I know what you mean when you see what some people think is healthy to eat. I tend to read ALOT about the subject and wish I knew what I know now a long time ago. Our society has been brainwashed to eat meat and dairy. I am currently reading The Paradigm Diet. I don't lecture people about it because they already think I am crazy. I just try to lead by example. Even my husband has opened his eyes but he still has a way to go! I am only 2weeks po and am wearing my preop skinny jeans! My diet has definitely helped!

April 16, 2013

Oops, my first post did post. I thought it had been lost so I wrote another one. Re: your hubby....not sure what he looks like but I will post a photo of my hubby on my page and you can show your hubby what plant strong eating did for my husband. It may encourage him.