Items for Surgery and Healing

As I mentioned in my previous blog I am boob obsessed! In fact I think I have been obsessed with boobs all my life! You can ask any of my close family members and friends that I constantly ask if they will give me their boobs.  In being obsessed, I have done a ton of research.  I could probably write my own book on this topic.  Anyhoo, I have looked up all the items I think I will need for my surgery and to make things easier and more comfortable for me after surgery.  

Let's start with one thing...or a few things that I won't be needing....a million 34A super padded bras!

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with all of these!

Now on to what I will need!

My sisterger made the comment that she is so excited because now I can be like all the Real Housewives of (Insert City) in having my boob job.  To complete the look I just had to get a zip up hoodie outfit to wear to my surgery.  It is only fitting that it comes from Victoria's Secret!

I picked these up 2 weeks ago for just a few bucks at the Commissary.  I started taking them every morning so that they can be in my system good for after surgery.  Vitamin C helps to support the immune system.  I will be taking these maybe a few weeks/months post-op as well.  I want to give my body the best chance of healing greatly!

After my pre-op appt I went to Wal-mart to get a few more items.  I picked up some gel ice packs to help with bruising and swelling post-op.  The antibacterial soap is to clean my body with pre and post op to make sure that my incisions stay clean.  I also got one more front closure sports bra for $9.99.  This one I got in a 34 and it has clamps instead of a zipper.  I will put this bra with the other two for my PS to decide which one will fit the best.  Even if this bra is not put on me after the surgery, I think it will still be very comfortable and helpful in case the zipper bras irritate me.

I found these super cute pj's at Wal-mart as well.  The Mickey Mouse bottoms were $7.99 and the tank top was $3.88.  I am hoping that I will be able to wear a tank top within my week of recovery.  I really wanted to have cute pj's to lounge around the house in!

Yesterday I got this bed table tray from Bed Bath and Beyond for $14.99.  I originally ordered a really nice one that matches my bedroom furniture from Amazon, but it came unassembled and was not like the product I ordered, so I sent it back.  I figured this simple table will do for now.  I just wanted to have something to of course put my laptop (and food on) while I continue to write this blog to document my journey through recovery.

I got a body pillow and cover from Target both for $9.99 each.  I read that at least for the first week I would need to sleep propped up, so I wanted to have as many comfy pillows as possible surrounding me on my bed.

I was instructed to bring my own front closure sports bra to the surgery.  My Mom is a hair stylist at a department store called Belk's, so I asked her to look for the bras there for me.  I saw a lot of videos where girls had a difficult time finding the bras and said that they were easier to find in department stores.  I had looked myself at a few local places but the bras came in cup sizes and I won't know my cup size for awhile.  My Mom picked me up a Large and a Medium bra so that I could take both in and the PS could determine which one will fit.  Both bras were on sale and came up to be $30 total.  I think they were close to $50 regularly a piece.

At this point, I feel that I am well prepared! Now I just want it over with!

Change of Plans and Pre-Op Appt

Yes, once again I had to change the date of my surgery!  This time it was not because of my dog, but because of the Army.  I originally rescheduled my date to March 25, 2014, so that if anything went wrong in the grand scheme of life in general, my husband would be home to help and handle things.  His return date to home changed several times.  Finally he got a return date for right around the time of my surgery.  I did not want to have to worry about homecoming and preparing for surgery.  I also didn't want to be healing right when he would come home.  I decided not to postpone my surgery to April due to us pre-planning family activities and trips that I expected to be healed for.  My only option was to have it earlier.  I was more than happy with this because at that point I was just ready to have the surgery done!  I changed my surgery date to Tuesday March 11, 2014.

Boob Job Humor. Picture from Pinterest

On Monday, March 3, 2014, I went for my pre-op appointment.  I first met with the Patient Advisor (PA) and she went over a lot of paperwork with me.  She explained the procedure again, and all of the do's and don'ts.  My surgery will be at an outpatient surgery center.  She went over in depth the possible risks and complications and how they are handled.  I was able to ask her a lot of questions.  I was really concerned about healing.  I want to do everything to promote the best healing for my body.  She assured me that considering I have had two c-sections, this surgery will be easier to recover from.  That made me feel better considering my husband won't be here to help out.  I have an awesome crew of friends that are going to be helping the kids and I out.

Previously, on the phone, I discussed with the PA that I was thinking about changing my size.  I have watched probably thousands of you tube videos of other girls' journey and a lot of them talked about making sure you chose the right size.  It was common for women to wish they had gone bigger.  I kept thinking about this and decided if I'm paying all this money, and is going to go through with this, I might as well "go big or go home".  I am just kidding! No I do not want to look like a porn star, but I do want to look like a girl with a nice rack!

The PA first had me to get undressed, and my PS (plastic surgeon) came in to see me again.  He measured me again and determined that due to my frame and current breast tissue, that the largest he could fill me is to 375 cc's.  I thought this was perfect because that is exactly what I wanted.  In reality I was only going up 25 cc's from what I originally chose.  Originally I chose 325 cc's but the PS would automatically insert a 350 cc implant because when you go under the muscle you lose volume so you get filled 25 cc's higher than what you chose to achieve the look you want.  So him filling me to 375 cc's would give me the look of the 350 cc's that I had tried on before.  Yes the ones I thought were too big.  I think at that time I was trying to be very modest.  At this point I am boob obsessed and modesty has been thrown out the window!  I tried on the 375 cc's and I felt they looked "ginormous" on me.  I think this is solely because I have never had boobs in my life so anything looks big on me, to me.  I did like how they made me look slimmer and finally proportioned my hips and thighs out.  I have always felt larger than I am due to me being bottom heavy.  Now I feel like my body will be balanced out.  I didn't feel that I looked that bottom heavy anymore.  I loved what I saw!

I was also given my prescriptions at this appointment.  My PS does not usually prescribe an antibiotic, but did so with no problems when I requested it.  I saw that a lot of other girls were prescribed an antibiotic just to ward off any infections, so I asked for the same to be safe than sorry.  Besides the antibiotic I was also prescribed:

Percocet (for pain)
Ambien (for sleeping)
Motrin (for pain, swelling, and bruising)
Zofran (for nausea)

The appointment ended with the PA taking pictures of my old boobs.  My husband asked if I was going to take my own pictures of my old boobs.  No thanks! I do not want pictures of them! I don't want to look at them now!  After my photo shoot, I had to fork over the most money I have ever spent at one time on myself.  I wanted to cringe at the number, but felt good that for once in my life I was doing something for myself!  Go me!

My surgery is a week away and I am of course screaming with excitement, but also a ball of nerves!  After paying for my surgery I now feel like, "OMG I really have to go through with this now!".  "I can't believe I am going to do this!"

Eating Clean

So by now you have probably heard me and a million other healthnuts say all the time that the key to our success is EATING CLEAN!  Well I'm sure your next question is, "What the heck is eating clean?" Does it mean like washing your foods?  Does it mean making sure you are clean when you eat your foods?  Well as usual, I got you covered!

Eating Clean in a nutshell is simply not eating processed foods.  Eating foods in it's most wholesome and natural form.  If it has a ton of ingredients and has to go through a factory to get to your table, then don't eat it.  Now there are a few exceptions we will discuss later.  To break it down for you, think about an apple.  When you look on the label for an apple the ingredient list will only say "apple".  Nothing is added to it.  That's what clean eating is all about.  Now not every single piece of food you put in your mouth will have just one ingredient, but that is the idea.  You can consume food with more than one ingredient as long as you can pronounce it and there isn't a laundry list of ingredients after it.  Also you want to watch out for all those nasty chemicals as well.  So for example, right now as I type this, I am eating some chips.  Arrggggg shock factor!  Yes I am addicted to chips and really try to wean myself off of those Lays Kettle Cooked Salt & Vinegar chips, but guys the struggle is real!  Anyway, I bought some today by a brand called Good Healthy Natural Foods and the ingredients are simply: potatoes, olive oil, and sea salt!  Not an ideal snack for on the regular, but way better than what Lays has to offer.

So why eat clean?  Believe it or not, our bodies are designed to recognize foods in their natural state...not chips.  When we put clean foods in our bodies, our bodies immediately recognize it and get rid of it, as it should.  When we put processed foods in our bodies, our bodies may get rid of some of it, but hold onto the rest to store as fat.

What are the benefits of eating clean? Why eat clean?  I have tried many diets and tricks to lose weight and none of them worked.  Counting calories surely gave me more anxiety than helping me.  I found that eating clean was the only thing that has worked to help me lose weight and to be able to keep it off.  Now I am not a 100% clean eater natzi, but I do try to keep it 90/10 clean.  The benefits I have seen and many others have experienced are listed below:
 1.  More energy
 2.  Clearer skin
 3.  Healthier teeth
 4.  Strong healthy hair and nails
 5.  Natural Detox
 6.  Lean physique
 7.  Increased metabolism
 8.  Good health
 9.  Regularity
10. Stable moods

What are the basics of eating clean?

eatcleandiet.com

That about sums up what eating clean is all about.  I recommend reading more information on it especially some of the books by the Eat Clean Queen, Tosca Reno!  I have read several of her books and some many times over, and have learned everything that I need to know about eating clean.  Her website and books offer a ton of information and tips on eating clean.

Tosca Reno

I don't know about you, but I want to be half this fabulous in my 40's and 50's.

Need a list of foods to eat? Check out this eat clean grocery list below:

I hope this helps you understand what clean eating is all about, and it's not about eating what you want while cleaning your house!  I will say again that I do not eat clean 100% of the time.  Shout out to all of you that can, but I will tend to go a bit cray cray if I tried that.  I have found a healthy balance for myself and my family in eating clean MOST of the time and enjoying indulges in moderation.  Try it out and see what works best for you!

Refrigerator Oatmeal

Too busy to make breakfast? Well, that's not an excuse any more.  By now we all know that breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day!  It breaks the fast from nighttime to morning.  Breakfast is important in losing weight and speeding up your metabolism.  So now that you have the facts, skipping breakfast is not an option anymore, and I've got you covered!  

Refrigerator oatmeal is quick, easy, and healthy.  You can make up a few jars Sunday night and have breakfast on the go at your hands each morning.  

Here is what you need:
Mason Jars
Dry uncooked quick cooking oatmeal
Cinnamon
Vanilla Extract
Sweetner of choice (I like Truvia)
Protein Powder of choice
Milk of choice (I like almond milk)
Fresh or Frozen Fruit

Check out my video below from my you tube channel Fitnaturalbelle to see how to get your morning started right!

This quick breakfast is healthy, satisfying, and yummy! No you don't have to warm it up, trust me it tastes great cold. Just try it...you may like it! 

My at Home Essentials for Weightloss

Well it's a new year and of course a new YOU!  So why not start your New Year off with reading this blog that could possibly help with your 2014 resolution!!! One of the top resolutions on most people's list is of course to lose weight.  Perhaps it could be to get healthier, start exercising, or even eat better.  Well your girl has got you covered!  In this post I will discuss some of the products I have accumulated around my house that have been instrumental in me losing some weight that I hope never to find again!

I have said before that abs are made in the kitchen!  You can't out exercise a bad diet.  So quite naturally let's start in the kitchen.

1.  Ziploc Sectional Containers-Target/Amazon $4-6
If you follow other healthnuts on Instagram I am sure you are aware of these bad boys!  They are sectional containers which are great for meal prepping!  You make a few healthy meals for the week and then pre-package them for easy grab and go daily.  I don't always have time to meal prep in advance so I do so nightly.  This makes it easy for me to package my breakfast, lunch, and snacks to take to work.  The good thing is I am more likely to eat what I brought in each container than derail from my diet.  Yes I work with some lovely folks that love to make, bake, and bring in treats every day!  Temptation is real folks, but I just stuff my face with what's in my containers so I have no room for anything else.  I also use these containers to package my daughter's healthy lunches.

2.  Water Bottle-Walmart, Target, etc
Water is key to losing weight and being healthy.  It is often difficult to get in enough water daily, but I have found these water bottles to help with that.  The green one is a Brita filter one and holds 20oz.  I contantly refill it and guzzle.  The pink one is 32 oz and I like to use it to infuse my water with fruits and mints.  Doing this little trick helps me to get a lot of my water in take for the day.  I usually drink about two of the pink bottles and two or more of the green one.

3.  Coffee Pot
Coffee to lose weight? Well I have read several articles that tell you it's fine and others that say it inhibits weight loss.  I for one don't rely on coffee to help me to lose weight.  I do enjoy a cup of joe every now and then, but this coffee pot is used to boil hot water.  I love to have hot water readily available to make my teas in the morning.  I also use it to make oatmeal.  I find that I grab for it more than you would think on a daily basis.

4.  Ziploc Steamer Bags-Walmart/Target $3-4
Losing weight is not about going on fad and crash diets.  It's not about eliminating most food groups.  All you really need to do is eat lots of veggies!  That of course can get boring, so steaming them is one way to spice them up.  Who wants to go through the process of setting up a steamer and waiting..waiting...waiting.  Not this girl!  These steamer bags are easy to use.  You just put your veggies in the bag with whatever seasoning and/or oils, pop it in the microwave, and in a few minutes wahla!  Part of dinner is served!  This works for my family, but maybe not for those of you avoiding microwaves.  This is also great for steaming veggies to make them easier to puree for recipes and soups. Note: I don't use the microwave for cooking daily.

5.  George Foreman Grill-Walmart $60
I had a smaller one of these that are great for single serve items, but thanks to the Army movers, it broke.  SO this summer I bought a big one to be able to grill a lot of food at one time to have to eat off of most of the week.  That's a busy mommy tip thrown in there for ya!  I use this baby to grill veggies (grill those first) and meats to last for a few meals for the week.  It cuts the fat, comes out tasting great, and I have healthy meals at my disposal.

6.  Nutribullet-Target $100
I have had this nutribullet for over a year now.  Check out my you tube channel FitNaturalBelle on YouTube
for a full Nutribullet review and  recipes.  As I mentioned, I have had this nutribullet for over a year now and it still works great.  I use it daily for everything such as smoothies, juices, purees, soups, hummus, food processing, etc.  When I say I use it multiple times a day for EVERYTHING, I do mean everything...even making deep conditioner for my hair!  The nutribullet has been great in helping me to make quick and easy meals and snacks to lose weight and be healthy.

Moving on to the living room....

7.  Dumbbells
LADIES...lifting weights will not make you look like a man!  Don't be afraid of the weights. Strength training is key in your workout if you are trying to lose weight.  You build muscle, burn fat, and get a leaner toned look.  I have dumbbells that I have gotten from Target, Walmart, and Bed Bath Beyond for different prices.  I did not buy all of these at once.  Take your time in accumulating different sizes.  I currently have 3, 5, 8 and 10lbs.  I would like to eventually add 15, 20 and 25 to my collection.  I have a lot of workout dvds that incorporate strength training, but I also love to use them when I just want to come up with my own workout.

8.  Workout Dvds
If you are going to have dumbbells, then you need some workout dvds!  I don't have the time or childcare to go to the gym.  I have to rely on workout dvds.  I have found these to be more effective in me losing weight than when I was going to the gym.  Some of the dvds I listed have given me great results.  If you are short on time there are a ton of dvds that are 10, 20, 30 minutes!  We all got time for that!

9.  Magazines
I know I know, we are in the technology day and age where we rarely buy CDs, magazines, newspapers, etc.  Well I'm still a bit old fashion and can't resist buying a good old magazine.  I actually subscribe to several health and fitness magazines.  I find that reading them and looking at the visuals help to continually motivate me to stay on track.  They are also filled with great info and recipes.  Just pop it in your bag and pull it out any time.  I even cut out some of the workouts, recipes, and motivational articles to paste in my fitness journal.

10.  Eat Clean Diet Books
I am a big Tosca Reno fan.  She writes the Eat Clean Diet books.  I have read most of her books and love them all.  The few that I own, I have read several times and is always using the tips and meal plans.  Tosca Reno breaks it down on how to eat clean and what it really is.  Having a good diet is really what will help you to lose weight.  In order to do so, you have to educate yourself and have tools in your toolbox.  Tools such as healthy recipe options so that you don't get bored.  You also need a blueprint or a meal plan to get you on track!  These books have all of that and more.  So check them out! Yes you can get them at your local library...wait am I the only one still using the library too?