I have officially stopped the Zerona treatments. My counselor reacted the way I expected her to: she called me and kept me on the phone for almost 15 minutes talking and talking about allll the positive sides of Zerona but mostly she was worried about my walking away from the $1800 I had spent on it. Yes, $1800 is a LOT of money for a LOT of people but for me it just isn't thank goodness. Besides, I have had more expensive lessons in life (my marriage, for one) and I would rather walk away with my pocketbook smaller than my emotions worse for the wear.
In the end I have not only heard but have read repeatedly how this is an FDA approved laser! FDA, FDA, FDA... over and over and over. Look people, the FDA also approved such diet items as phentermine and Qnexa- both being linked to HORRIBLE side effects. They have approved a LOT of drugs that have horrible side effects BUT have proven to help more than they harm. Puleeaasssse do not tout to me the FDA approval of something as a basis for your argument to make me change my mind. I simply am not that easy to sway.
As I have said before I believe Zerona did bring some great changes to my life and I was clearly ready to make them. I highly doubt I will get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 130 lbs in my lifetime, though you never know as that is only 60 lbs from where I am now... but I have made huge changes that are benefitting my life and the lives of my children by quitting my drinking and helping lower my blood sugars. We all go on hikes in the wilderness across the street from where we live and enjoy each other's company. I am far less moody because I don't have the alcohol downer in me (I am not an angry or mean drunk, but I am quick to react and have a shorter fuse for sure).
I'm certainly not working out for 3 hours a day like some people do in order to reach weight loss goals quickly, but I know I am getting better and better as I have, two days in a row, not only walked my 2 miles on the treadmill but also walked Mr. Puppy another mile and a half in the afternoon. He is exhausted (I actually had to carry him for a bit at the end of the first day) and I am definitely proud of myself for getting the extra mileage in.
I am happy for those who have had success with Zerona but I am of the full belief that they have achieved that because of the diet and exercise they have taken on. I really have no explanation for those who lost inches during the FDA trials who claim they didn't change their diet nor did they exercise at all and didn't take the Curva- well then why do all the patients now have to do all those things? I think, and I could be wrong, that the people involved in the trial definitely changed their eating and exercising at the bequest of the doctors conducting the trials telling them they will see better results if they do that 'on the side'. Yes, I am suggesting those in charge of wanting Zerona approved LIED to the FDA and had the people undergoing treatments also changing their habits in order to get the approval. That's my opinion and you can take it for what it's worth or walk away.
I just hope people take VERY careful consideration when looking into using the Zerona laser.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
6th Zerona treatment
I am becoming a bit discouraged, folks. It has been the typical time most people use the Zerona laser and I haven't seen one bit of change. Not one.
I don't understand what more I need to change. I have stopped drinking (that, right there, has to be 300 to 400 calories a day gone), I have cut out 90% of my bread intake (I still have the occasional skinny bagel or tortilla), I have a protein shake 5 mornings out of the week as a breakfast... I have upped my water intake adding at least another 32 oz per day ( I was already drinking more than 70 oz, not counting my iced tea that I have also upped), I have denied myself things like hamburgers and ribs at dinners and stuck with soup and salads. I have stopped my late-night eating that I usually indulged in because my inhibitions were down due to the drinking... Added to that I am sitting under a laser that is supposedly zapping fat cells as I lie there 'resting'. AND I am on a dose of niacin - thanks to Curva- that seems absolutely insane; I was wondering why I was so broken out (not only my face but my BACK. I have zits ALL OVER my back like I have NEVER had them before. They hurt and it is gross) and apparently Curva and the combo of shit in it can cause people to break out. Good to know!
My counselor continues to mention that I will probably need to come back in for another 12 sessions after this one. That won't happen. In fact, I am planning on calling her later and be honest with her about stopping the treatment. Especially after what happened yesterday.
They moved the laser to the doctors office. I was hopeful for more privacy and a bigger room. I got the bigger room, but the table shrunk. It is shaky and awkward and uncomfortable. For some reason she thinks that if I want my bra-area fat to shrink, I need to have it all rolled up and in order to do that she has to place these rolled up towels under my sides while my arms are pushed down at my sides, which is IM-POSS-IBLE. I can not, on this table, put my arms down with the way she has my fat rolled out from under me. I did the best I could but by 10 minutes in my hands were falling asleep from the way they were having to stay in the air. Same thing when I turned onto my stomach. It was actually painful and I was relieved when it was all over.
Besides that? I was fucking FREEZING!!! The room was blasted with cold air the entire time and when she came in to flip me I complained mentioning that I normally don't get cold AT ALL (because I don't) but that my fingers and toes felt like they were frozen thru and I was literally shivering I was so cold. She managed to wrangle up a teeny tiny heater that did absolutely nothing and covered my lower legs with my own shirt. Thanks. *sigh*
I think I will just continue on in the way I have been going because, as I have said before, at the very least I have kicked my excessive drinking habit and I have started a very healthy habit of getting a 2 mile/day walk in 5 to 6 days a week which is up from 2, MAYBE 3 at my best. I know eventually I will find the combo that will help me drop a dress size or two but who knows when that will happen? I just know Zerona isn't the solution that will help me get anywhere near that.
I don't understand what more I need to change. I have stopped drinking (that, right there, has to be 300 to 400 calories a day gone), I have cut out 90% of my bread intake (I still have the occasional skinny bagel or tortilla), I have a protein shake 5 mornings out of the week as a breakfast... I have upped my water intake adding at least another 32 oz per day ( I was already drinking more than 70 oz, not counting my iced tea that I have also upped), I have denied myself things like hamburgers and ribs at dinners and stuck with soup and salads. I have stopped my late-night eating that I usually indulged in because my inhibitions were down due to the drinking... Added to that I am sitting under a laser that is supposedly zapping fat cells as I lie there 'resting'. AND I am on a dose of niacin - thanks to Curva- that seems absolutely insane; I was wondering why I was so broken out (not only my face but my BACK. I have zits ALL OVER my back like I have NEVER had them before. They hurt and it is gross) and apparently Curva and the combo of shit in it can cause people to break out. Good to know!
My counselor continues to mention that I will probably need to come back in for another 12 sessions after this one. That won't happen. In fact, I am planning on calling her later and be honest with her about stopping the treatment. Especially after what happened yesterday.
They moved the laser to the doctors office. I was hopeful for more privacy and a bigger room. I got the bigger room, but the table shrunk. It is shaky and awkward and uncomfortable. For some reason she thinks that if I want my bra-area fat to shrink, I need to have it all rolled up and in order to do that she has to place these rolled up towels under my sides while my arms are pushed down at my sides, which is IM-POSS-IBLE. I can not, on this table, put my arms down with the way she has my fat rolled out from under me. I did the best I could but by 10 minutes in my hands were falling asleep from the way they were having to stay in the air. Same thing when I turned onto my stomach. It was actually painful and I was relieved when it was all over.
Besides that? I was fucking FREEZING!!! The room was blasted with cold air the entire time and when she came in to flip me I complained mentioning that I normally don't get cold AT ALL (because I don't) but that my fingers and toes felt like they were frozen thru and I was literally shivering I was so cold. She managed to wrangle up a teeny tiny heater that did absolutely nothing and covered my lower legs with my own shirt. Thanks. *sigh*
I think I will just continue on in the way I have been going because, as I have said before, at the very least I have kicked my excessive drinking habit and I have started a very healthy habit of getting a 2 mile/day walk in 5 to 6 days a week which is up from 2, MAYBE 3 at my best. I know eventually I will find the combo that will help me drop a dress size or two but who knows when that will happen? I just know Zerona isn't the solution that will help me get anywhere near that.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Zerona and blood sugar improvement
Here I am again- two times in one day! Look, I am seeing a LOT of people touting the lowering of their blood sugar when they used Zerona and the doctors are literally allowing Zerona to take the credit- this REALLY pisses me off. There is no way a laser is going to magically lower your blood sugar. The better blood sugars are caused by 3 things:
1. EXERCISE. (duh) Seriously? Even if you are doing 10 to 15 minutes a day on a treadmill your blood sugars are going to improve nominally. If you are doing what I am doing which is 30 to 50 minutes a day? They are going to be the best sugars you have seen in yeaaarrrrs. I mean, how is this NOT common sense to anyone?
2. Improved diet. If you are following 'protocol' with your Zerona treatment you WILL see blood sugar improvement because you are eating healthier and watching fat as well as drinking a ton of water which is one of the standard treatments for hyperglycemia if you have ever been hospitalized for extremely high blood sugars (which I have not)- they treat it with both insulin AND massive amounts of fluids.
3. Water. As I mentioned above, water will help flush ANY crap out of you and that includes excess sugars in your blood. It's not FAST, but it is a catalyst in getting your blood sugars lower in a nominal way.
I really hope people find my blog somehow in their searching for Zerona advice for this specific post. I know both the doctor AND the person who is my counselor, for lack of better words, brought up the fact that they saw better blood sugars and a1C's and chalk that up to the Zerona itself but can't quite explain why that would be. I plan on telling them exactly why that is when I get the chance. They HAVE to stop saying the Zerona itself has anything to do with it.
To be completely candid, I was an idiot and didn't even THINK there was a diet or exercise program required to go along with this until I sat down with the doctor. As others have said out there they find this is a great 'kick start' for some of us who are so overweight, and it HAS been. As soon as I balance out the blood sugar issues I am confident I will see not only some shrinking but also more weight loss, but I am starting to understand it will more than likely have nothing to do with a laser zapping fat cells.
1. EXERCISE. (duh) Seriously? Even if you are doing 10 to 15 minutes a day on a treadmill your blood sugars are going to improve nominally. If you are doing what I am doing which is 30 to 50 minutes a day? They are going to be the best sugars you have seen in yeaaarrrrs. I mean, how is this NOT common sense to anyone?
2. Improved diet. If you are following 'protocol' with your Zerona treatment you WILL see blood sugar improvement because you are eating healthier and watching fat as well as drinking a ton of water which is one of the standard treatments for hyperglycemia if you have ever been hospitalized for extremely high blood sugars (which I have not)- they treat it with both insulin AND massive amounts of fluids.
3. Water. As I mentioned above, water will help flush ANY crap out of you and that includes excess sugars in your blood. It's not FAST, but it is a catalyst in getting your blood sugars lower in a nominal way.
I really hope people find my blog somehow in their searching for Zerona advice for this specific post. I know both the doctor AND the person who is my counselor, for lack of better words, brought up the fact that they saw better blood sugars and a1C's and chalk that up to the Zerona itself but can't quite explain why that would be. I plan on telling them exactly why that is when I get the chance. They HAVE to stop saying the Zerona itself has anything to do with it.
To be completely candid, I was an idiot and didn't even THINK there was a diet or exercise program required to go along with this until I sat down with the doctor. As others have said out there they find this is a great 'kick start' for some of us who are so overweight, and it HAS been. As soon as I balance out the blood sugar issues I am confident I will see not only some shrinking but also more weight loss, but I am starting to understand it will more than likely have nothing to do with a laser zapping fat cells.
Half way point
Today will be my 6th Zerona treatment. I have to be honest here, I am feeling a bit taken for a ride as I have seen not ONE BIT of shrinkage. I know they say you have to wait until the end- which is fine- but I am the type of person that needs to see even a teeny tiny bit of something happening to keep the motivation going. I think the hardest part is how active I have been, how committed I am to the exercising every single day and even THAT isn't providing any results for me. It can be additionally difficult for those of us who have to adjust insulin to meet the daily needs so I have had a LOOOOOT of lows, which means I need to cover it by eating and I am traditionally the type to over-treat. Which is no excuse, but it makes it more of a trial for me is all.
Feeling a bit deflated but not in a good way, folks...
Feeling a bit deflated but not in a good way, folks...
Friday, March 16, 2012
Second treatment day with more details fo what to expect
Today was my second treatment and though I know I won't be updating anyone regarding any inches lost or that I feel different I did kind of want to vent about my experience today. (I will go into treatment details at the end of my rant. You can skip to the * to see my details.)
The location I am getting this done in happens to be at a pilates studio... I signed up thinking it was at a doctors office in my town but that apparently changed at some point and though I have been told they plan on going back to the doctors office, for now I have to drive a significant distance and be treated in a little room off a hallway. Like, they can't even open the door the entire way because the laser is in the way. It's only 40 minutes out of my completely open schedule and I like driving and listening to music, so the distance isn't the BIGGEST issue. The room itself is getting a bit uncomfy especially since I am pretty much laying on a table naked for everyone to see every time they open the door.
When I got there the other day the woman who treats me was finishing up a pilates class so it popped into my mind that hopefully someone changed the sheet on the 'bed' I would be on? I wasn't sure. I didn't really look because it was my first time and I was all excited/nervous. Today I looked and sure enough there were long black hairs (thank goodness for small favors!) all around the pillow area and around where the person's upper torso would have been laying. I was skeeved to say the least but when I tried to find my girl she wasn't outside the door. I just flipped the sheet myself and tried to think happy, skinny thoughts.
During the treatment I like the light to be off. It should be a relaxing, quiet experience for me, you know? Besides, with it dark I can see when the laser turns off so I know when it's time to flip or time to leave. In the second 20-minute-session the light suddenly flipped on and I was a bit curious as it seemed way too early for it to be done. Sure enough about a minute later a girl comes in apologizing saying she needed to find something. She proceeded to look through the three cupboards above my head, one of them being directly over the space I was occupying, which required her to lean on me a LOT. Here I am practically topless (I am focusing on my upper body as my lower body actually looks pretty good) and she is all leaning on me. Not too comfy, I must admit. It was over in a moment and she left then turned the light out for my last few minutes of quiet laser time.
I ended up searching through the cupboards myself once everything was over and I was dressed, looking for the sheet stash. I found it but am unimpressed and have decided I will be bringing my own sheet from now on. I can handle the complete no-modesty expectation they seem to have, it is only a few weeks of my time after all and if someone wants to see my 200 lb's laying naked on a table, so be it. But I need to know I am resting comfortably in a space that is MY OWN for that short time span, right?
*Ok, so here is a bit of what you can expect: Hopefully you are being put into a room where there is more privacy than not, but either way during your first treatment you will need to get down to your skivies. What you see in my 'before' photos is what I wore for mine. The person treating you will measure you mostly on your torso, hips and thighs but they may take your arms too since they have had people losing inches there as well, I hear. My girls didn't take pics, as I said before, but your person may want to since you sign a waiver for it anyway.
Next you will choose to do either your front or back first, but you have to do 20 minutes on each. You have to find a comfy place for your arms as for the next 20 minutes they will be up by your head no matter what.
If you are focusing on your mid section down to your thighs, you need to wear some thong underpants as this laser needs skin contact only, NO FABRIC ALLOWED. I didn't know this the first time but also meant to only focus on my uppder body anyway but for some reason I felt uncomfortable bringing it up during my first treatment. I made sure to tell her today, though. Which means I have to take my bra off (or most of it anyway) so the laser can get to those rolling areas. Awesome.
Again, I really don't care if anyone sees me naked, but there is absolutely no regard for privacy it seems- not even a curtain, which seems simple to me but aaannnywaayyy.
My main point is the laser needs laser-to-skin contact. So check your modesty at the door, folks.
So far, I haven't felt anything that I can tell - no pain, no itching, no vibrating, no throbbing... the only reason I know there is a laser on me is I can see the glow in the dark and if you so much as move you'll probably touch it if they get it close enough to you.
Monday is my next treatment- I'll update you on my weekend progress then. =)
The location I am getting this done in happens to be at a pilates studio... I signed up thinking it was at a doctors office in my town but that apparently changed at some point and though I have been told they plan on going back to the doctors office, for now I have to drive a significant distance and be treated in a little room off a hallway. Like, they can't even open the door the entire way because the laser is in the way. It's only 40 minutes out of my completely open schedule and I like driving and listening to music, so the distance isn't the BIGGEST issue. The room itself is getting a bit uncomfy especially since I am pretty much laying on a table naked for everyone to see every time they open the door.
When I got there the other day the woman who treats me was finishing up a pilates class so it popped into my mind that hopefully someone changed the sheet on the 'bed' I would be on? I wasn't sure. I didn't really look because it was my first time and I was all excited/nervous. Today I looked and sure enough there were long black hairs (thank goodness for small favors!) all around the pillow area and around where the person's upper torso would have been laying. I was skeeved to say the least but when I tried to find my girl she wasn't outside the door. I just flipped the sheet myself and tried to think happy, skinny thoughts.
During the treatment I like the light to be off. It should be a relaxing, quiet experience for me, you know? Besides, with it dark I can see when the laser turns off so I know when it's time to flip or time to leave. In the second 20-minute-session the light suddenly flipped on and I was a bit curious as it seemed way too early for it to be done. Sure enough about a minute later a girl comes in apologizing saying she needed to find something. She proceeded to look through the three cupboards above my head, one of them being directly over the space I was occupying, which required her to lean on me a LOT. Here I am practically topless (I am focusing on my upper body as my lower body actually looks pretty good) and she is all leaning on me. Not too comfy, I must admit. It was over in a moment and she left then turned the light out for my last few minutes of quiet laser time.
I ended up searching through the cupboards myself once everything was over and I was dressed, looking for the sheet stash. I found it but am unimpressed and have decided I will be bringing my own sheet from now on. I can handle the complete no-modesty expectation they seem to have, it is only a few weeks of my time after all and if someone wants to see my 200 lb's laying naked on a table, so be it. But I need to know I am resting comfortably in a space that is MY OWN for that short time span, right?
*Ok, so here is a bit of what you can expect: Hopefully you are being put into a room where there is more privacy than not, but either way during your first treatment you will need to get down to your skivies. What you see in my 'before' photos is what I wore for mine. The person treating you will measure you mostly on your torso, hips and thighs but they may take your arms too since they have had people losing inches there as well, I hear. My girls didn't take pics, as I said before, but your person may want to since you sign a waiver for it anyway.
Next you will choose to do either your front or back first, but you have to do 20 minutes on each. You have to find a comfy place for your arms as for the next 20 minutes they will be up by your head no matter what.
If you are focusing on your mid section down to your thighs, you need to wear some thong underpants as this laser needs skin contact only, NO FABRIC ALLOWED. I didn't know this the first time but also meant to only focus on my uppder body anyway but for some reason I felt uncomfortable bringing it up during my first treatment. I made sure to tell her today, though. Which means I have to take my bra off (or most of it anyway) so the laser can get to those rolling areas. Awesome.
Again, I really don't care if anyone sees me naked, but there is absolutely no regard for privacy it seems- not even a curtain, which seems simple to me but aaannnywaayyy.
My main point is the laser needs laser-to-skin contact. So check your modesty at the door, folks.
So far, I haven't felt anything that I can tell - no pain, no itching, no vibrating, no throbbing... the only reason I know there is a laser on me is I can see the glow in the dark and if you so much as move you'll probably touch it if they get it close enough to you.
Monday is my next treatment- I'll update you on my weekend progress then. =)
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Starting Zerona (with before photos- maybe NOT work friendly!)
I have officially been fat for 7 years now. I never really struggled with my weight until sometime in 2007 when I became so ill I was basically bedridden for almost 3 months. At the time I was relatively active and didn't need to do anything more than walk a few miles 3 times a week to keep up a size 6/8 figure. Sure, I could have lost another 10 pounds to REALLY be in my prime zone, but that illness hit and I was down- and the decline just came so easily.
Fast forward to now where I am a size 16/18, weigh in at 199 and have an enormous stomach and breasts. I am planning on having my breasts reduced because the weigh-down is killing my shoulders and the spot on my back right between my shoulder blades. I am strong, I am pretty healthy, but I am fat and trying to lose this weight has been a year-long battle.
Also, I have had type I diabetes for over 31 years.
Approximately a year ago I made an amazing discovery called The Perfect Workout. I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my lower legs and could find no answer other than I had become so fat they couldn't move me very far without my resting for short periods. Add to that my lower back and core being ridiculously weak I couldn't even do a sink of dishes without being in agony half way through and I was ready for some help. Somehow I fell across an add for TPW and called immediately to see what they could do for me. Slowly but surely my strength came back and I could stand for longer and longer periods of time. I was able to get on the treadmill and go first a half mile then a mile and more without stopping (previous to the workouts I had to stop every quarter mile or less to wait for the severe lower leg cramping to ease up so I would be able to walk again). Doing the dishes and vacuuming became easier and easier. I went to TPW 2 times / week for 6 months, then eased back for my budget's sake to once / week. I have now signed up for my third 6 month package and don't see any reason to really ever stop for as long as I can afford to keep doing it.
This has helped tremendously in giving me great strength and endurance however my weight has changed very little- really I've only lost about 12 pounds since starting with them. I recognize my diet isn't as solid as it could be and I had a terrible red wine habit, so in prep for my breast reduction I decided to look into maybe some lipo, but that seemed rather drastic. Out of nowhere I happened across a commercial for Zerona. It looked too good to be true but I decided to check into it anyway. It isn't like I have an extra $3k sitting around waiting for me to throw it away, but then, what if? I looked it up and so far I have seen about a 60/40 split in percentage of those who have tried it with 60% being dissatisfied but 40% being happy. Out of those who have had good results I noticed they were all a little on the heavier side. Those who are already a size 6 looking to be a size 2? You probably aren't going to get the same results as someone like me, and this only took me a few minutes to figure out.
The doctor confirmed I was on the very tip top of their approval scale, which probably meant I was way over it but she would check my blood results and decide from there. Things turned out well so I started on the Curva and a detox-type diet for the week preceding my first treatment. The detox diet was simply a suggestion from the lovely woman I would be meeting with 3 x's a week for the next few weeks but it was great for me: a smoothie made with protien powder, almond milk and some frozen berries for breakfast, some almonds and a small piece of fruit for snack (as I write this I have finished my snack almonds and am noshing on an asian pear) , a raw veggie lunch (I just did spinach, that cole slaw salad sold in the produce section, cucumber, tomatoes, mushrooms and maybe red onion if I had some around with some oil and vinegar), another almond/fruit snack before dinner and maybe chicken or fish but preferably tofu or more veggies for dinner and then a pre-bedtime snack of some oatmeal or something. So, basically no caffiene and no alcohol and cut out as much fat as possible.
On day two of Curva my stomach had a bad reaction to, I believe, the niacin and I was in the bathroom almost allll day long with terrible diarrhea but after that day? Not much to report outside of the occasional bout of heartburn. I do not experience the flushing they say you may have in taking such doses of the stuff, so I count myself lucky there as I HATE that feeling.
Yesterday I went in for my very first Zerona treatment. I chose the 12 sessions for $1800 and am hopeful that this will sincerely kick-start something very positive for myself and anyone who comes across this blog. I opted not to have my pics taken, just measurements. I will post those at a later date but have my own before pics that I will post at the bottom of this so you can see where I am starting. I know my chest measured at around 39" and my waist was at about 44". My right thigh was 25 1/2" and my left one was a full inch smaller: 24 1/2". I'm pretty sure my hips measured at the same as my waist or around there... and like I said, I weigh in at 199 right now. HOWEVER! Zerona is very clear this is NOT a 'weight loss' program it is an 'inches lost' program, but for those of us who have been indulging in a few too many hamburgers, burritos and ribs can most definitely lose some weight following what they call the "Protocal" required with the treatments. Essentially, you have to cut out all alcohol and caffeine and only eat healthy fats and complex carbs, drink half your weight in water/day AND get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. ANYONE following that is bound to lose a little weight, if not a lot.
I was surprised at how easy itw as for me to cut out alcohol (I was a 3 glasses-to-one-bottle-a-night girl, folks) and caffeine as well. I already drink a TON of water so that was easy. I don't know if it is the motivation of hoping this works but I have had no trouble getting on the treadmill for 50 minutes a day (that's what it takes me to walk 3 miles) whereas I was being a good girls if I did it 2 to 3 times/week before this.
CLEARLY making some lifestyle changes is what is paramount to this laser working. I can't say what will happen to me through this month-long journey but I am crossing my fingers it is better than nothing. They 'guarantee' 3 inches lost if you do everything by the book and I am happy to say I have no reason NOT to. My particular doctor found that the 4th week is when the results REALLY are apparent so I will have to be patient I suppose.
Fast forward to now where I am a size 16/18, weigh in at 199 and have an enormous stomach and breasts. I am planning on having my breasts reduced because the weigh-down is killing my shoulders and the spot on my back right between my shoulder blades. I am strong, I am pretty healthy, but I am fat and trying to lose this weight has been a year-long battle.
Also, I have had type I diabetes for over 31 years.
Approximately a year ago I made an amazing discovery called The Perfect Workout. I was trying to figure out what was wrong with my lower legs and could find no answer other than I had become so fat they couldn't move me very far without my resting for short periods. Add to that my lower back and core being ridiculously weak I couldn't even do a sink of dishes without being in agony half way through and I was ready for some help. Somehow I fell across an add for TPW and called immediately to see what they could do for me. Slowly but surely my strength came back and I could stand for longer and longer periods of time. I was able to get on the treadmill and go first a half mile then a mile and more without stopping (previous to the workouts I had to stop every quarter mile or less to wait for the severe lower leg cramping to ease up so I would be able to walk again). Doing the dishes and vacuuming became easier and easier. I went to TPW 2 times / week for 6 months, then eased back for my budget's sake to once / week. I have now signed up for my third 6 month package and don't see any reason to really ever stop for as long as I can afford to keep doing it.
This has helped tremendously in giving me great strength and endurance however my weight has changed very little- really I've only lost about 12 pounds since starting with them. I recognize my diet isn't as solid as it could be and I had a terrible red wine habit, so in prep for my breast reduction I decided to look into maybe some lipo, but that seemed rather drastic. Out of nowhere I happened across a commercial for Zerona. It looked too good to be true but I decided to check into it anyway. It isn't like I have an extra $3k sitting around waiting for me to throw it away, but then, what if? I looked it up and so far I have seen about a 60/40 split in percentage of those who have tried it with 60% being dissatisfied but 40% being happy. Out of those who have had good results I noticed they were all a little on the heavier side. Those who are already a size 6 looking to be a size 2? You probably aren't going to get the same results as someone like me, and this only took me a few minutes to figure out.
The doctor confirmed I was on the very tip top of their approval scale, which probably meant I was way over it but she would check my blood results and decide from there. Things turned out well so I started on the Curva and a detox-type diet for the week preceding my first treatment. The detox diet was simply a suggestion from the lovely woman I would be meeting with 3 x's a week for the next few weeks but it was great for me: a smoothie made with protien powder, almond milk and some frozen berries for breakfast, some almonds and a small piece of fruit for snack (as I write this I have finished my snack almonds and am noshing on an asian pear) , a raw veggie lunch (I just did spinach, that cole slaw salad sold in the produce section, cucumber, tomatoes, mushrooms and maybe red onion if I had some around with some oil and vinegar), another almond/fruit snack before dinner and maybe chicken or fish but preferably tofu or more veggies for dinner and then a pre-bedtime snack of some oatmeal or something. So, basically no caffiene and no alcohol and cut out as much fat as possible.
On day two of Curva my stomach had a bad reaction to, I believe, the niacin and I was in the bathroom almost allll day long with terrible diarrhea but after that day? Not much to report outside of the occasional bout of heartburn. I do not experience the flushing they say you may have in taking such doses of the stuff, so I count myself lucky there as I HATE that feeling.
Yesterday I went in for my very first Zerona treatment. I chose the 12 sessions for $1800 and am hopeful that this will sincerely kick-start something very positive for myself and anyone who comes across this blog. I opted not to have my pics taken, just measurements. I will post those at a later date but have my own before pics that I will post at the bottom of this so you can see where I am starting. I know my chest measured at around 39" and my waist was at about 44". My right thigh was 25 1/2" and my left one was a full inch smaller: 24 1/2". I'm pretty sure my hips measured at the same as my waist or around there... and like I said, I weigh in at 199 right now. HOWEVER! Zerona is very clear this is NOT a 'weight loss' program it is an 'inches lost' program, but for those of us who have been indulging in a few too many hamburgers, burritos and ribs can most definitely lose some weight following what they call the "Protocal" required with the treatments. Essentially, you have to cut out all alcohol and caffeine and only eat healthy fats and complex carbs, drink half your weight in water/day AND get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. ANYONE following that is bound to lose a little weight, if not a lot.
I was surprised at how easy itw as for me to cut out alcohol (I was a 3 glasses-to-one-bottle-a-night girl, folks) and caffeine as well. I already drink a TON of water so that was easy. I don't know if it is the motivation of hoping this works but I have had no trouble getting on the treadmill for 50 minutes a day (that's what it takes me to walk 3 miles) whereas I was being a good girls if I did it 2 to 3 times/week before this.
CLEARLY making some lifestyle changes is what is paramount to this laser working. I can't say what will happen to me through this month-long journey but I am crossing my fingers it is better than nothing. They 'guarantee' 3 inches lost if you do everything by the book and I am happy to say I have no reason NOT to. My particular doctor found that the 4th week is when the results REALLY are apparent so I will have to be patient I suppose.
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