2 weeks post mommy makeover

It's been 2 weeks now since going under the knife and it's amazing what a little time can do.  I went for my 2 week visit with the plastic surgeon yesterday and it looks like the scars are all healing very well and that the surgeries were a wild success...he actually told me he was "excited" to see my results.
That is the encouraging news.  Conversely, I was reminded that I still have a long way to go to be completely healed.  We ultimately compromised in the end that I would have 3 more weeks of wearing an abdominal binder and refraining from strenuous exercise.  I can start wearing normal bras in 2 weeks (as it is now I'm wearing a sports bra 24/7 which honestly isn't too bad) and if I must, I can start using a recumbent bicycle next week.  When the Dr. told me that the swelling in my abdomen would continue longer if I was overexerted too early I finally stopped and listened.  I hate having a swollen belly!  Every day it gets much better but I still have a minor pouch that is abnormal for me and has me very self aware.  So with that thought, I'm reserved to holding back on any serious exercising for a few more weeks.  Thankfully, next week we will have a mini vacation in San Antonio so I'll be occupied in other ways. Part of me is very irritated that I didn't plan better and do this surgery over the blazing hot summer when I wouldn't have minded having an excuse to not be running but honestly, wearing an abdominal binder in July would be awful.  So there is no easy answer to recovery.  I am very fortunate with my results, I really have very little pain any longer and am functioning well at this point.  I'm just damned impatient!

On another note, I owe my family a giant THANK YOU.  I've looked back on my posts the past two weeks and realize how selfish I've been.  My family has sacrificed a good deal for me; my husband took a week off work to care for the girls after my surgery. My daughters have put up with me being a little less than fun since I am unable to pick them up and hold them or doing anything physical with them. They've ignored my wardrobe of sweatpants (except my oldest daughter who has asked several times why I'm still wearing pajamas!) And they've even shown some morbid interest in the healing of the scar of my tummy.  I appreciate all that they've done for me and allowed of me especially during this time of something that is truly so unnecessary and self satisfying.  I love you guys!

Yoga Monday: Lotus Pose

Lotus Pose(Padmasana)

A simple pose this monday because that's about all I am able to do.  Nonetheless, this pose is very restoring and calming.

for more information on this pose visit here

Withdrawal

It has been 10 days since my last work out (a 5 mile run at a 7:50 pace) and I am antsy.  I know that I have another 2 1/2 weeks before I can really lace up my runners again and hit the ground and it might drive me mad.  Physically, I am in no way able to do any serious physical activity.  My stomach is still swollen at the incision point and my torso is bruised and battered. The muscles in my chest are finding their new arrangement and the ones in my abdomen are slowly coming back together.  Despite my physical pain my mind cannot seem to let go of the need for a solid cardiovascular work out. I'm trying to satiate my appetite by reading my favorite running blogs; skinnyrunner, therundown, thisrunnersfuel, runeatrepeat, runfastermommy but that just seems to get me twitching more.  I've started and finished another book this week, "Bared to You", something of the trashy sort and strikingly similar to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy.  I've also given into a little "retail therapy" and made some purchases for my spring running, post break wardrobe including a new pair of Pro Compression Marathon Socks priced at 50% right now on Leftlanesports.com, white Brooks  running shorts that'll be great with summer tanned legs, a running tank from Run Pretty Far, and even a new pair of pretty pink TOMS that were on sale this week on Zulily!  What in the world and I going to do with the upcoming weeks?  With any luck, I'll get some clearance next week from my Dr to do some light exercising(walking and other similar lame-o activities) that will at least give me reason to get out my tennis shoes and a pair of athletic  socks! Until then I'll continue to gorge on online shopping and silly stories.
If you have any suggestions please feel free to chime in!

On Week Post Mommy Makeover

It's now been 7 days since going under the knife and it seems like it's been an eternity.
I am still very sore and tender and sadly, my stomach is so swollen I look about 5 months pregnant!

Surgery went really well and was even a little shorter than anticipated.   What wasn't anticipated though was the extra stitching my ab muscles would need during surgery.  During all of my consultations my Dr told me that he thought my muscles were strong and all he'd need to clear away was the extra skin.  Well just before surgery when he was "marking me up" he told me that he was not 100% sure of my muscle tone and asked me if he should stitch them up when he got in there if they looked loose.  Well I of course said yes, because I want to look my best when this is all over but wow I was not expecting this amount of pain during my recovery.

Every day has gotten better and I knew that I would need 4 weeks of recovery time, but I never dreamed I would feel like I had just given birth.  Seriously my tummy is swollen and my breast are large, I keep expecting to hear an infant cry....oh wait, that's just me I hear crying.

In all honesty, I'm happy that I had the surgeries and I know in a couple more weeks I'll be excited.  My breasts turned out really well and they've been a breeze to recover from.  Every day my tummy gets a little smaller and I get a better view of what my profile will finally look like and it's exciting.  I'm off all the pain narcotics now and am emerging from my zombie-hood which feels nice.  I just need a little more patience.

I'm very worried about how weak my abs are going to be when I finally get to return to exercising but this will give me a new challenge, something I've been asking for!

Congrats to everyone who did the Austin Marathon last weekend, in my narcotic haze I was thinking of you and wishing I could've been there.  Next year.

Yoga Monday: Chaturanga

Four Legged Staff Pose (Chaturanga):

A lovely pose for strength and an important element in the Sun Salutations Flow

For more info on this pose go here

Happy Birthday & The Mommy Makeover

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Yesterday I celebrated my 32nd birthday .  Generally the age doesn't bother me, but I am certainly realizing I'm not in my 20's anymore.

I'm not much for big birthday parties or gifts but this year my husband gave me a non-forgetting day and a gift to last a lifetime......a mini tummy tuck & new boobs!

Yes that's right, I spent my birthday in the operating room getting a mommy makeover.
Why you may ask?  Well it all started with my 2nd c-section.  Sadly, the scar did not heal well at all and the scar tissue adhered to the underneath skin causing a "flap".  Super ugly.
Since I workout a lot and am in otherwise great condition I just couldn't get past the flappy skin on my gut.  So last spring I started meeting with surgeons and deciding what would be best for me.  While doing so I began to notice how deflated my breasts were and decided that if I was at all inclined it would make the most sense to do both surgery's together.
That brings us to the here and now; feeling very achy and sore and a little loopy from the meds.  But soon enough I hope to look even better than I did before the first pregnancy 4 years ago.

Yoga Monday : Plank Pose

Plank Pose:

As runners, the best muscles we can condition are our abdominals and this pose will do that.

for more info on this pose go here

What next? Need your help.

I've finished my biggest challenge to date, the 30k, and now I'm feeling lost.  I need a new challenge, a new race too look forward to.  I'm in a predicament because I will have to take 4 weeks off from any type of training between Feb 12th and March 12th due to an elective surgery(more to come).  I don't know how far back this break will take me in my fitness level so I'm not too sure what or when to race next.  I'd like to shoot for a half marathon before the summer hits here in central Texas and my long term sights are on a full marathon in the fall.  I think I'd  also like to sprinkle in some shorter races along the way because I like to cross the finish line first (yep, there's that competitive spirit).

What are you training for next?

Anyone know of any great races in Texas?

Morning fuel......

Yummmmm.  Just had a bowl of oatmeal with chia seeds and mini chocolate chips!  Nice way to fill up on a rainy morning.  Hope it clears before this morning's run.

Yoga Monday : Child's Pose

Child's Pose (Balasana):

This simple pose is so important.  It's a safe and comfortable rest place for your body during any workout and it's also awesome for relaxing the hip flexors.

for more information click here