It is possible to stay lean and in top shape during the holidays!
Off Season Booty, But On Target!
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Thinking of Having Breast Augmentation Surgery? – Part 2
I am devoting this blogpost to what to expect post-surgery at least through my own experience with breast augmentation surgery. Though recovery from breast augmentation surgery is relatively tolerable, you should know what to expect.
First of all, when the procedure is completed, you will be wheeled over to a recovery unit where you will come out of anesthesia. Some women may become very emotional or confused when coming out of anesthesia. What was strange about my experience coming out of anesthesia, other than the fact that it took me an unusually long time to come out of anesthesia, was that I was very chipper and even joked around with the nurses that it was time to party (what a goofball I was!). My friend Mara picked me up from the hospital and drove me home. Let me tell you, that car ride was the most painful one I have ever experienced as my very swollen and scalpel-assaulted chest bore the brunt of every single dip and bump in the road. I sat in the passenger’s seat wearing a support bra. Once home, I got in the habit of applying a sandwich of ice packs, one above my breasts and one below them, and began taking Vicodin three times a day to take the edge off the pain. Some women may experience full pain relief from their prescription pain meds, while others (like me) might only receive some relief.
Do not make the mistake of assuming that you are tough enough to take care of yourself immediately post-surgery. I am tough and I work out regularly, but I was not prepared for the need for complete assistance in sitting up in bed from a supine position. This went on for four days. I was very sore and had to stay home for three days before I felt strong enough to return to work. I also had to apply the ice pack sandwich constantly for those first three days and was constantly alarmed by the fact that my new breasts sat so high on my chest that they abutted my clavicles. It was truly bizarre. As the days and weeks passed, my newly augmented chest began to relax and settle and the feeling that my skin and muscles were stretched to the hilt began to subside.
In addition to the constant pain which I experienced over the first two weeks following surgery, I experienced “zingers”. Women may not be aware of zingers but they should be if they are preparing to go under the knife. Zingers feel like sudden electric jolts which are felt at the nipple and which I imagine are akin to getting electrocuted. They are strange but a direct result of local nerve damage which occurs as a result of the surgery. This will also subside over time so don’t be alarmed!
After two weeks I was allowed to return to lower body weight training and after four weeks I was allowed to hit my upper body workouts. To this day, however (and it has been almost ten years since I had my surgery), I cannot do heavy chest workouts and experience lateral movement of the implants when I work my chest. This movement makes my boyfriend laugh and I can honestly say that I don’t blame him for laughing!
I have never had a single regret about having had the surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Thinking of Having Breast Augmentation Surgery? – Part 1
Breast augmentation surgery has steadily increased in popularity over the last decade and has become the most common cosmetic surgery procedure performed in the United States, with over 300,000 women undergoing the procedure annually. However, despite its popularity, breast augmentation surgery does carry some risks and maintenance issues which must be taken into consideration when trying to decide on whether to go under the knife. In order to ensure that you make an informed decision, here are the factors you should consider.
COST: Though costs vary depending on what region you reside in, which surgeon you select and what type of implant you choose, you can expect to spend anywhere from $4,5o0 to $10,000. Saline implant surgeries are less costly due to the fact that the incision site is smaller, the surgery is somewhat less involved, and the implant material uses less silicone. Just as a side note, ALL implants have silicone since the capsule in which the implant material sits is composed of silicone.
IMPLANT TYPE: Two different substances are used to fill an implant shell: saline and silicone. Some women opt for saline because they fear rupture and leakage of silicone. Others will turn to silicone because it has a more natural look and feel. There is a newer cohesive gel silicone implant that if ruptured will not leak, thus providing an additional option for women. There are also different shapes of implants such as round, round high profile, and teardrop. Discuss options with your surgeon to determine the best type for you.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Surgery for breast augmentation takes between one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. The vast majority of women go home a few hours after the procedure with prescription pain medication and aftercare instructions. Incisions can be made around your nipples, at the fold of the breasts, in the underarms or at your navel. The implant is inserted into a soft tissue pocket either above or beneath your chest muscle, then the area is closed up with sutures.
After the surgery you may have drainage tubes, an elastic bandage and/or a bra to wear for several days. You should also expect to take it easy for several weeks following surgery so that you can heal optimally. Swelling and tenderness are to be expected for up to two weeks following surgery.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS: As with any surgery, breast augmentation surgery is not without risks. Some of those risks include: pain, changes in nipple sensation, bleeding, infection, scarring, capsular contracture, asymmetry. Over time, implants may also leak or rupture.
MAINTENANCE: Breast implants tend to have an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years and should be replaced as the risk of leakage increases over time.
WHAT SIZE TO CHOOSE?: When choosing a size of implant, make sure you choose one that will look proportionate to your frame. In most cases the surgeon will be able to determine what size is most appropriate for you. Whatever you do, please do not give into peer pressure or get a size that your significant other wants you to get when you do not feel comfortable with that size. Remember that you are the one who has to live with your decision 24 hours a day, so you should be happy with the end result.
FIGURE OUT WHY YOU WANT THEM: I have heard women say that they want to get their breasts done because they believe the procedure will somehow change their lives. I have heard other women say they want to please their men more and have been pressured by their men to have the procedure done. If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, make sure you are doing it because YOU WANT IT. Don’t do it to please your man or to “fit in” more with societal pressures.
When I decided to have breast augmentation surgery in 2003, I truly did it for myself. I was going through a divorce and felt it was a great time to do something I had always wanted to do. I chose the date of my surgery, the size I wanted, and the incision site. I was tired of not being able to wear certain styles of clothing and figured that having the surgery would give me the fashion accessories I had always wanted. I had a very positive attitude about the whole thing and never had any doubt or fear about the procedure. In other words, I had a very healthy attitude about having breast augmentation surgery.
It is VERY important for a woman to have a healthy mental attitude about having cosmetic surgery of ANY kind, whether it be breast augmentation, a neck lift, lid lift, nose job, tummy tuck, etc. Make sure to gather information, make informed decisions, and undergo procedures only if you understand that while they may boost your self-confidence, you must already be secure within yourself.
1st Place Finish at IFBB North American 3 Years in a Row!
2010, 2011, 2012
Another Great Post from Siouxcountry.com! Comparison Booty Shots From 2009 and 2012
PROGRESS!
Masters bikini competitor Stacey Naito didn’t place at her first National show in 2009. Three years later she looked her best at the 2012 IFBB North American where she placed 7th in her open class and won her masters class! Well done Stacey! Her page……… Stacey Naito National NPC Bikini Champion ………More before and after photos on…….. Siouxcountry.com
Photo credit: Dan Ray / RXMuscle.com — with Stacey Naito.
It’s Not About The Trophies…
This was posted by SiouxCountry.com yesterday!! WHOOT WHOOT!!
AWESOME! Stacey Naito in her mid 40s has been competing in bikini at the National level for a few years. At 46 years young she looked her best yet at the 2012 IFBB North American. Placing 7th out of 30 women in her open class & 1st in her masters class! Her page……….. Stacey Naito National NPC Bikini Champion …..More photos of women that compete on…… Siouxcountry.com Photo credit: Dan Ray / RXMuscle.com — with Stacey Naito.
On your timeline · 
FitnessX June 2012 Cover and Feature Article…My First Cover, At Age 45!
Feature Article is on pages 26 through 29. Please visit http://issuu.com/billybow/docs/fitnessxmag-june2012 to access the digital copy for FREE!
From Year Two of Competing (2010)
I love the sass I threw out in this image! Taken at the NPC USA’s, July 2010
Men’s Physique: The Ideal Physique Reborn
It was a brilliant move on the part of the NPC and IFBB to establish new competitive divisions within the last four years, as it expanded the competitor pool and boosted the appeal of stepping on the competitive stage. However, each new division has gone through growing pains as the judges have struggled to establish specific criteria with respect to ideal proportions and muscularity. The added fact that some individuals have stepped onstage with little to no prep has confused some competitors with respect to what is expected within a division.
As an NPC Bikini competitor I have seen the Bikini Division undergo countless permutations since its inception in 2009. Personally, I have been told to become softer, lose mass, increase mass, stop working my abs, resume working my abs, etc., as the division’s standards went through their permutations. This year it seems that the burgeoning Bikini Division along with the recent crop of IFBB Bikini Pros has propelled the division to an ideal which appears to reward a slightly higher degree of muscularity. To some extent it seems that this is the direction in which Men’s Physique is travelling. However, there are a number of Men’s Physique competitors who without question had previously competed in Bodybuilding (as is the case with some former Figure competitors who have since made the transition to Bikini) and who are currently being penalized for having more muscle mass. Certainly there must be some clear distinction between each division, but the degree of subjectivity which enters a competition can make determining class winners a somewhat tricky undertaking.
Now that Men’s Physique is in its second year, with a growing list of IFBB Pros who have graced the stage with such status, the confusion about what judges are looking for seems to have lessened somewhat. Clearly an excessive degree of muscle mass is not being rewarded, and instead a well-conditioned, highly sculpted frame with an appreciable V-taper and deep abdominal crosscuts is the most highly sought ideal. It seems apparent that the well-conditioned “fitness model” look, perhaps with slightly more muscle mass in the pecs, delts and abs, has defined Men’s Physique and that those who ride the fine line between this division and Bodybuilding are being advised to deflate somewhat. This being said, being ripped on competition day is acceptable provided a competitor is not beefy or thick-waisted. There has also been considerable discussion regarding the lack of focus on the lower extremities and the assumption that quad development is of no importance since any quad sweep or hamstring development is completely covered by the regulation board shorts which are worn.
There has been an interesting parallel between the comparison of Men’s Physique to Bodybuilding versus comparisons of the Bikini division to other women’s divisions. With the exception of the deeply cut abs in Men’s Physique competitors, muscle separation is generally frowned upon in both Bikini and Men’s Physique. In addition, neither Men’s Physique athletes nor Bikini athletes are meant to sport an extreme degree of muscle mass. After all, both of these divisions are meant to celebrate the ideal bodies one could imagine emerging from the ocean on a balmy beach day, with tiny waistlines on both genders, broad shoulders and chests with chiseled abs on the men, and perky posteriors and shapely legs on the ladies. These ideals are generally considered more appealing and more attainable to the average person, and as a result, have contributed greatly to the surge in popularity of both divisions.
The Men’s Physique division is still the new kid on the block and will endure more growing pains as the division’s pro ranks increase. However, as with all other divisions, the competitors who rise to the top will help to define the aesthetic ideal, hopefully bringing about more consistency within the division. It is a very exciting time.
