Once I was at a plastic surgery meeting and I sat next to a gentleman who claimed he invented “the Mommy Makeover.” I really wanted to introduce him to my friend from childhood who claimed he invented the phrase “Whoever smelt it dealt it.”
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So what exactly is a mommy makeover?
Well, as we all know, pregnancy takes a HUGE toll on a woman’s body, and the more times you are pregnant, and the older you are when you are pregnant, the less that body will bounce back. You can end up with smaller sagging breasts, extra flaps of skin, serious stretch marks or that lower pooch that won’t ever go away, no matter how many sit-ups you do. Ladies- this is not your fault!
A mommy makeover is basically a timesaver- combining multiple procedures on one day so you can have a single recovery period. Of course having more than one type of surgery at the same time can make that single recovery a bit tougher, but let’s face it mamas, we are used to toughing it out!
The most common combination of procedures is breast implants to restore lost volume combined with a tummy tuck to tighten stretched out muscles and remove hanging skin. But really, you can choose whatever combination of procedures makes you feel good about you. Maybe you just need a mini tummy tuck to fix your diastasis. A breast lift or reduction instead of implants. Or maybe some Body-Tite to get rid of those stubborn inner thigh pockets, bra fat or muffin top that have crept up over the years. Perhaps you need a labiaplasty and haven’t felt comfortable talking about it before. You can do the combination that works for you as long as you are healthy and the total anesthesia time is reasonable.
Everyone has something that bugs them about their aging body, and sometimes changing that thing can help you remember how you felt back when you were just you and nobody was yelling “Mom! Mom! MOM!
Since I am a busy working mother of two, I like to save time whenever I can- here are my top timesaving tips….
1
Delegate, delegate, delegate! The easiest way to save time is to make someone else do it, and by someone else I mean my kids. A lot of mom blogs tell you to “save time” by packing your kids’ lunches the night before. This is not actually saving time- it’s just moving the lunch making to a different time. I make my kids pack their own lunch. They are 7 and 11 and they are more than capable of making a sandwich. Plus there is the added benefit that they can’t complain about the lunch that they in fact made. Same goes for laundry. Again- if they are smart enough to learn the rules to lacrosse or how to play Minecraft, they can put clothes and soap in a box and press Start.
2
Burn extra calories where you can. Now in my mind, it would be great to work out every day, but in real life, it just doesn’t happen. But, I am super fortunate to have a job where I am on my feet most of the day. Just by standing for 8 hours instead of sitting, you burn an additional 456 calories. That’s a whole cookie! Consider a standing desk and take the stairs instead of the elevator (wine with your cookie anyone?)
3
Cut the clutter. We all have way way way too much stuff! The less stuff you have- the less time you will spend cleaning it, organizing it, thinking about it. If there is even a question- just get rid of it! If this makes you nervous, try hiding it from yourself in a box for a while. If you haven’t gone to look for it in six months to a year donate it, sell it or throw it away!
4
Create lasting memories. If you are like me, you worry that your kids will end up in therapy because they will feel like you were never there for them. Good news! Memory is a really weird thing that doesn’t keep track of time very well. Think back to your memories of childhood- chances are that you only remember certain special moments or feelings- not the day in and day out of being a kid. If you create these special memories- your kids will feel your presence in their lives. And it doesn’t have to be a blow out vacation either- seize the chance to celebrate little things like half birthdays, or make up a silly family tradition like a special game in the car or a crazy dance to your favorite song. Kids love traditions- create your own and stop stressing about missing out on every moment of their day.
5
Find your true North. With everything that you do, it is easy to lose track of who you are and what and who are really important to you. Take the time to figure out what you are passionate about and concentrate on that. Whether it means spending time writing in a journal, saying the things you are grateful for to yourself before going to bed, or meditating in the middle of yoga class (I love the pose where you just lie there on the floor)- focus on the essential and let the rest go. I guarantee it will save you a ton of time!
Tip #1 is spot on!
Love this!