Flatmama's Routine

[flatmama]

Thanks Cat! I hope it continues too....really nervous it's going to go away now.

okay, so now my swelling it all gone...so that nice 1/2" I had is too, sort of back to normal....but now, I've shrunk also....I'm flatter than before. (These are losses from the original measurements, not the swelling ones) I've lost 1/2" from the fullest part, 1/4" loss across each breast and also 1/4" loss from nipple down (at least they are adjusting the same)......yeah, not what I was expected when the swelling went away. I'm hoping this is just the shrinking before growth? Please be that. I'm sure I'll rebound....still not the middle of my cycle for the 'official' monthly measurements. This is just an update as far as what's going on to whoever might actually be reading this!

[flatmama]

Well, I learned my herbs were better off where they were at. I was still having some pain but they were very light. Once I went back to before everything started coming stronger.

SO routine is like this now, similar to what it was before

Fenugreek 610mg 4x day (2 in morning, 1 afternoon, 1 evening-body seems to handle 2 in the morning better
Saw Palmetto 580 Mg 3x day
Wild Yam 400 mg 3x day
Fennel 450 mg 1x day
Flaxseed oil 1000mg 1x daily
vitamin C
Calcium plus D
Multi vitamin
B complex
Massage at night before bed

I think I've rebounded from the shrinking cuz they feel fuller. I don't think they are any bigger though. I'm not sure if they are really fuller though either....could be my mind playing tricks on me. They do feel less squishy so that's nice...still empty but they've been that way since I stopped nursing. Oh the things we do for our children.......
I'll be measuring in 4 days (day 14 of my cycle). I keep hoping for some growth but am reminding myself that I probably won't have any growth at least until next cycle....I can still hope though.
I hope my routine is right for me. As long as I'm getting sensation I don't need to ramp up right? Okay, just need to be patient and let it take the time it needs. I've noticed I've been having a hard time waiting to see some results. I understand this is a process though and not a miracle cure for a flat chest!! A girl can still dream of quick results!
I've been having alot of body aches lately and haven't been sleeping well at all. Not really sure what this has to do with, just thought I'd mention it in case somebody knows.

Please feel free to respond with any suggstions or comments if you want.
Happy growing *fingers crossed*

FM

[flatmama]

I've decided to get some Lipoderm-y after reading some stuff on this forum and searches. I think it could be helpful for me since I already exercise alot and can't give it up for BE. (I tried, just ended up really stressed out and obsessing about everything wrong with my body again) At least, if it works like it says, I'll use the extra fat from my stomach for energy instead of the other areas of my body, like my breasts where weight goes off first. If I'm wrong how this stuff works, please correct me.
I did find this forum about a side effect it had on some women, not really sure what to think about that.
www.mindandmuscle.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=21066
Anybody read this or have opinions on this? Sounds great for BE but not so fun. Probably not so safe either...worries me a bit about using the lipoderm but i'm going to start out really slow and low dose with the stuff. I do not think anyone should use lipoderm for the purpose listed in the forum...just thought I'd put it so if someone decides to use it like me they can do so with caution..

[flatmama]

I've been using the lipoderm-y for a couple of days...just once a day and only 2 squirts. Too early to tell if it's helping anything. Just got new measurements posted on stats page
beboard.proboards107.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Stats&thread=4039&page=1
It appears I've grown on the bottom of my breasts. Well, doesn't appear so much to me as it does on the measurements, although my breasts do feel fuller...and I swear I'm feeling more glandular tissue in there. (I have almost no fat in my breasts so you can feel everything)
The measurements are quite inteseresting...if you feel like it take a look. I'm still in utter shock that there's even a change. Maybe someone will just tell me I'm dreaming...or it's just temporary.

Quick question though...is there a particular time of the cycle that growth happens or can it be during anytime of it??

[flatmama]

I forgot to add, I'm breaking out like crazy now. My hair gets greasy alot faster and I sweat alot more, especially when I work out. I'm starting to get sleepy alot more again. It's getting hard to wake up in the morning before the kids and work out. The only sensations I'm having much lately are aches. I guess at least it's something. I'm going to wait and see what's going on and switch up herbs if I need to next cycle. I'll stick where I'm at until then.

Well, that's about it...oh yeah, and the lipoderm is crazy stuff. I can't believe it really works...the fat is 'squishy' where I apply it...and seems to be getting smaller but that'll probably take a couple of weeks to notice a significant difference. I'm going to stick to it for about 6 weeks and then take a break. I'll give updates on that too.

[flatmama]

I know...lots of posts here...but this one was just such a happy one for me!
My husband actually noticed!! He said he could tell and feel how the bottoms were getting bigger and could feel there was 'more' in the bottoms then the top. He actually knew what I was talking about. It was great. So yeah, guess that confirms it. If my husband can tell a difference then it's gotta be happening!!
Oh yeah, I've also been eating alot better and have been able to get more control of my sugar levels and I can now take my larger doses of Feungreek at night before I go to bed. I think it's helping too because when I wake up in the morning, they have that 'full' feeling like they did when I was breastfeeding. No milk though!!!

[flatmama]

I'm sure glad my husband noticed before they shrank again. Yeah, it's that time for me.
They are 'squishy' and feel smaller...well, less full. They still measure the same (actually 1/8" bigger nip. down to crease than my measurements last week), just feel empty. I looked back on a BE journal I'm keeping and found out that this correlates with the same time it happened to me last cycle. So yeah, 1 week before my period is 'squishy' stage. That's okay, since they grew this cycle...maybe that means I'm going to be growing again!! yay!!

I've also notice I'm getting a new crease on my left breast, the smaller one. It seems as it is filling in it is getting a new crease straight across from where the right one is at. It used to sit higher. My left breast looks alittle funny cuz it still has that other crease visible. It's starting to smooth out so no worries!!

I'm going to skip herbs on Day 1 of my next cycle since I did last time by complete accident but I guess it worked. I think I'm going to stick with the same doses at least one more cycle. I really don't know. I just don't want to stall out by ramping up too soon.

Wahaika, what do you think?? Should I increase doses or stick where I'm at?
Here's what I'm taking right now
Fenugreek 610 mg 4x day (2 @ night)
Wild Yam 400mg 3xday
Saw Palmetto 580 mg 3x day
Fennel 450mg 1x day (night)
Flaxseed Oil 1000mg 1x day (at night)
I've had less sensations this cycle then last but did have growth.
Thanks in advance!

[flatmama]

Just a bit more going on so updating..yeah, I'm probably getting annoying. So my breasts are still squishy but not smaller. I have the beginning of my next cycle-- today apparently! (ugh! 2 days early!) and I've started getting sore, not really bad but pretty sensitive. This is new to me. My breasts have never been that way before. I guess this is a good thing. I don't even remember having sore breast as a teenager either. Could explain why i just ended up as a little A!! I'm still using the lipoderm and loving it! I've started skin brushing the areas that I use it also. This seems to be a good combination. We'll see, but right now I'm loving it.

[flatmama]

yeah I know...more...
I am struggling a bit...seems I have lost touch, in a way of speaking, with my body! Ahh..just driving me crazy. I've been doing pretty decent, I think, getting a feel for what my body needs but this last little while I've been going crazy cuz I can't seem to figure it out now. I know something needs to be changed but I still haven't been able to figure out what. I think it might be my multivitamin.....but I don't know. Seems like such a small thing to be throwing me off! I am working on clearing my head and get more in-tune with my body's intuition right now. I think it's all the stress and stuff. My period coming a couple days early didn't help at all. Well, hopefully I can get this figured out here soon....I hate feeling 'thrown off'!
Anyone with tips to help clear my head??
Thanks!!

FM

[Wahaika]

Q-Tips?


Your postings on the 15th and the 4th do not say if you are doing any massage. Are you? If so, with what & how often?

Are you still using the supplements you mentioned on the 4th?

Can you describe what you mean by feeling thrown off? Do you mean "think" or "feel" or both? Try to describe it. If it is recent, it could also just be how the hormones affect you.

Have you considered a cup of bustea or fenu/fennel tea once per day?

Wahaika

[flatmama]

yeah, definitely need to try that Q-tip!

I'm sorry, yes I am doing massage. I end up doing a short one (like less than 5 minutes) after my shower with just cocoa butter (because I don't want to smell like maple syrup all day). I also massage at night with my lotion that has fenugreek and vitamin E oil added to it, followed by the cocoa butter and heat for I don't know....20 minutes or so. I had the lotion before the cocoa butter, that's new. I'm wanting to get fenugreek extract but I'm waiting for the lotion to be done...got maybe another week or so.

Yeah, my supplements are still the same.

I feel thrown off, just can't think straight or concentrate enough on anything, especially the BE stuff to figure out what to do with my routine..head feels really clouded. I've been really tired, feeling like I get stressed out easy..alot of that could be the hormones (not something I'm used to)...there's also been some extra stress this week. I haven't been feeling that many sensations any more. I have some aches every now and then but nothing like the first cycle. I think a big part of it is just everything going on lately. I did get some alone time today when the kids took their nap and that helped. I guess I haven't been doing that much lately. Probably need to do it more. The 26-day cycle this last time didn't really help out much either. Only minor cramps at least. (so far)

I have thought about getting some fenugreek tea....hadn't decided though. I'm worried about putting too much into my system and stalling out.

I think I will be changing my multi-vitamin. I switched up my exercise routine and feel like I need a better vitamin to keep up. I'm going to skip herbs tomorrow since I didn't expect to have 'Day 1' today!! At least I haven't lost any of my growth yet, just the fullness for awhile.

Okay, well I hope that explains stuff...probably not too well but just ask more quesitons if you need to, I'll do my best to answer.
(Did I mention I'm blonde?! I'm sure that really explains some stuff!! j/k! )
Thanks so much for all your help Wahaika!

[Wahaika]

What brand of multivitamin are you using?

Fenugreek lowers blood sugar. The cloudy thinking could be a diet imbalance along with everything else considered. Are you getting a balanced diet of protein, carbs, and good fats? (40%/30%/30%) What does your diet consist of?

[flatmama]

Just a brand from wal-mart...can't remember. I'll go look.......yeah, just the Spring Valley stuff from walmart. I'm wanting to find a multi-vitamin for my more 'active' exercising.

Actually my blood sugar has been okay. No headaches so it hasn't dropped, which is weird because usually I'm having migranes right now. As far as diet goes....I've been really bad at getting my protein..maybe too many carbs, fats okay. Lately my diet has been alot of dairy and fruit because that's all I want to eat (and bread). Yeah, seems like I need to work on my diet a bit more.

Wow, guess I really messed myself up this month!

[flatmama]

Ya know..I've been thinking...I'm starting to wonder if my less frequent sensations this last cycle were because of the different brand on fenugreek. When I bought that bottle my usual brand was all gone and I thought the other brand was just as good. Maybe it wasn't. Hm....I think I'm going to start the new bottle of my usual brand and see if that makes a difference.

As far as headaches go, I did end up getting 1 migrane. Just 1 isn't so bad for me though...1 day instead of 3. That's a good improvement.
I'm still looking for a new multi-vitamin. I will probably be getting some fenugreek extract and maybe some fenugreek tea this week. I'm thinking of increasing my dose of Fennel as well, and the Flaxseed Oil. I'm still not sure on that one...still kinda foggy but the protein packed meals these last couple of days have been starting to help. I've also been finding more time to relax and try to clear my head.

Wahaika, I'd aprreciate any input on what to do for my routine this month! Thanks so much for all the help you've been giving me. I really appreciate it.

FM

[Wahaika]

I would say get a good multivitamin from someplace like GNC that also has a good B complex.

Yep, brands of fenugreek are not all the same quality. Some are old, etc. I always suggest Greenbush. Nature's Way is also good.

Watch the diet also. You shouldn't go back to migranes if you are doing the same things. You could try EPO. It makes quite a difference sometimes.

Wahaika