Author: cbrinson12

Meet my friend Linda.  One of the many blessings of having lipedema is all the friends I’ve met along the way.  Linda just finished her procedures with Dr. Emer.  Watch her video.

9/6/15 – So the BF and I are in San Fran today. We ate dinner in China Town, hoofed up Lombard Street, and walked back to the hotel. If you’ve never been to Lombard Street it’s like hiking a mountain. I did get winded and had to stop a few times. I can tell you pre-surgery I wouldn’t have made it. I’m back to the room and my feet only barely hurt. And walked close to 8.5 miles today… It’s amazing the things I can do post-surgery!

Pre-surgery I wouldn’t have “allowed” anyone to take a full body shot of me.  Today, I encourage all full body shots!

Today is ‪#‎GivingTuesday‬. I’m supporting Fat Disorders Research Society to help fund research and education for diagnosing lipedema and other fat disorders. All donations received today and throughout the month of December are generously matched. Please donate today at http://www.fatdisorders.org/about-fdrs/donate-to

8/14/15 – Today was the first day I taught a full day workshop since liposuction. I was on my feet for over 7 hours. Pre-lipo and pre-Paleo diet, my feet would be on fire, my back would hurt, my body ache. When it was over, I would waddle to dinner, take my shoes off, wimper a bit, then waddle back to my hotel room, run hot water over my feet, usually take a bath, and pass out since I was so lethargic. I would have trouble waking up the next morning since I was so wiped out. This all but went away when I shifted to a Paleo diet! Today, my feet barely hurt and I even had enough energy to go join some folks for drinks after dinner (in 6 years of doing this, I had never not gone back to my room after dinner.) Fast forward, after surgery… No pain, no aches, no lethargic feeling after teaching. And I hadn’t exactly been Paleo the week leading into the workshop.  Another surgery success!

Sorry I have gotten so far behind in my updates!  I went to Beverly Hills on July 22 and got to take some before and after photos.  Here are some PG-13 versions:

I am astounded by my results.  I can stare at these photos for hours (not in a egotistical way, but more in a holy crap, that’s really my body way).   The cosmetic results have far exceeded my expectations.  I’ll update more later on all the non-cosmetic benefits.

No trip to see Dr. Emer is complete without a selfie!

Check out my friend Crystal’s blog!

Making Lippy Friends Across the World and Why I Started Blogging About My Lipedema and Liposuction Journey! (stats update).

June 14

Was able to climb some stairs without excruciating pain in my knees. First day walking without compression. Still feels weird but getting there! (pardon the mess… My donation bags lining my hall!)

June 13

I can’t believe I am sharing this publicly… When I had surgery a few years ago, I made them write my weight on paper and not say it out loud in front of my boyfriend.  It’s no secret I’m a “big girl,” but only from the waist down.

I should share that lipedema fat cannot be lost with diet or exercise.  For years, I would count calories and nothing. I wouldn’t lose a single pound.  I got very discouraged.  At many points in my life, I figured if I can’t lose weight, I might as well eat what I want and be fat and happy.  My weight gain wasn’t gradual.  It was always in 20 pound increments all the sudden.  And then I would maintain that weight for years.

[Now I know it isn’t caloric restriction that is important for people with lipedema but rather the kinds of food.  An anti-inflammatory way of eating (like Paleo) is essential.  I was eating Lean Cuisines, drinking diet coke, booze and 100-calorie snack packs.  My calories were fine, my nutrition was awful.  And no, I wasn’t gouging in the closet either.]

To add insult to injury, about five years ago I was misdiagnosed with hyperthyroidism and put on medication to slow down my thyroid.  I even questioned the doctor as typically hyperthyroidism is found in skinny people.  I would expected hypo but not hyper.  I gained 40 pounds in 6 weeks.   It was awful.  I have not been able to lose the weight.

My high was 238 (did I say that out loud?!) I lost 15 pounds through hCG a year and half ago.  And before you jump  into the “that’s quackery” bandwagon, I did this through a very well respected physician and nutritionist who modified the program to be healthy.  I detoxed before starting and my fat loading wasn’t oreos and fried chicken but rather avocados, nuts and other healthy fats.  Check out this article:  http://wholehealthchicago.com/2012/08/27/the-hcg-diet-actually-works/

I maintained the weight loss for a year and half through a mostly Paleo way of eating (I would lose 5 pounds while eating Paleo… Could gain it back when I fell off the wagon, that pesky inflammation that lipedema feeds off.)

Going into surgery, I weighed 220.  I immediately lost 15 pounds (Dr. Jason Joel Emer took out ALOT during those 3 surgeries). And even with traveling, feeling sick, and more cheat days than I should, I’ve lost an additional 5 pounds. I know I am one of the lucky ones and am extremely grateful.

Even better than the scale is that nothing fits!  Happy dance!!!

Whew!  That was a hard post to write!

June 8 – From sunny Florida to beautiful (but not nearly as warm) Vermont.  Came up a day early to cross another state off my list.  I now have 1 more state to go and I will have visited all 50.  Which state?  Alaska!

June 6

I’m in St. Petersburg to teach at the Florida Orthopaedic Society and decide to make a weekend of it!

No compression, in a swimsuit, laying out by the pool. Almost 5 weeks since last surgery!  And yes, I’m wearing sunscreen.  Elta MD is perhaps the best sunscreen I’ve ever used!  Check it out at http://eltamd.com/product/uv-clear-broad-spectrum-spf-46/