[mochaccino]

Soon it'll be time to test my hormones, unless this cycle ends up being extremely long. I've heard that day 3 is the best day to test estrogen and that it's best to test progesterone 7 days after ovulation according to BBT (usually day 21). Is that right or should I do it differently? At least if I do it on those 2 days I'll be able to compare my levels to exact ranges for those specific days. The ranges are easy to find. That should be a hell of a lot more useful than comparing my hormone levels to a range that encompasses the whole cycle. I have no idea how to find exact ranges for other cycle days.

Are those really the best testing days for my purposes? I really hope I'm allowed to split up my Dr.Lee hormone kit into pieces. If not, than this question is moot.

[mochaccino]

Got my Corset today!!! I'll be posting pics later... but not of my naked stomach. I know, I know. Sorry, but I'm just so ashamed of my pooch I'm buying some cheap home gym equipment this week, and a bunch of my family members are gonna be working out with me and keeping me accountable (I hope). After a month or two of dedicated exercise I might actually be willing to post pics of my nude tummy.

[mochaccino]

Oh noooos!! The bottom of the corset sticks out like crazy! It's not a mistake in the construction. The corset itself is perfect, and awesome, and I love it . This is only happening because of my big ole pooch that I always have even though I'm not overweight. I was well aware that a corset would severely exaggerate my pooch, but I thought I was okay with looking a little strange. Originally, I wanted to lose weight before starting to waist train, because I knew this would happen, but I was tired of waiting for the perfect moment to begin. My biggest problem, when it comes to being fitted for a corset, is that I have a very short torso and huge thighs (which I made sure the corsetier knew). That means that the bottom of my corset had to be built to stop about two thirds of the way down my pooch area in order to keep the hard edge from cutting into my thighs when I sit. That means that not only does my tummy bulge out (which is annoying, but tolerable), the bottom part of the corset that sits over the lower half of my stomach juts out at a sharp angle and is EXTREMELY obvious.

I prepared for the arrival of my corset by buying a ton of loose shirts, but this lumpy, ribbed bulge is clearly visible even under a HUGE batwing top. I'm gonna go buy some high wasted jeans and a tight belt to put on over it. Hopefully the jeans will cover up the lower edge of the corset just enough to make it wearable in public. If not, I'm going to have to wear it only when I'm alone at home, at least until I loose some weight. Then again, I'm not sure if it will fit me once I loose this pooch. It has a slightly odd shape that looks a bit like it was built for a women who's at least 3 months pregnant, and that's exactly what I look like right now. Ughh

On the upside, I admit that the pressure is very uncomfortable, but believe it or not, it doesn't actually hurt AT ALL. It may sound strange, but for the time being, I'm feeling a massive amount of pressure without any actual pain whatsoever. My ribs and the tops of my hips do not hurt at all. I can tell that there's no way that pinched nerves are going to be an issue. I actually owned a pair of Spanx at one point (just regular normal Spanx) that produced a lot less pressure, but were very painful. Much, much more painful than this corset. The biggest discomfort by far is the itching. It itches like crazy just under the waistband where it's tightest. Luckily I know from my multiple short term bouts with the noogleberry that my body always responds to unexpected extreme pressure with intense itching that just won't quit. After around 3 days of getting back into it, my brain always realizes that nothing terribly itchy is actually going on, and the itching disappears completely.

[mochaccino]

Corset pic:



You can't really tell how much it's bulging in this pic, but there's no way I'm posting a side view pic that would prove it Next time I'll buy a corset that doesn't have that weird point at the top. The point looks great on some people, but it just hits at an odd spot for me

[Babakins]

Oh Mocha! It looks gorgeous on you, where is this pooch?! I know what you mean about the torso issue, mine is short too. I think the fact it is comfy is great at least you can get the upper torso going and that might shift how the corset sits over time.

I remember when I had mine I was tightening unevenly and eventually it all tightened up and the flare at the bottom tightened up.

[mochaccino]

Thanks Babakins! I just realized I forgot to post my waist measurement with and without the corset.

Natural waist: 28.5
Corset waist: 27

1 1/2" reduction isn't much, but it's a start. This just goes to show how much difference an inch makes.

[mochaccino]

I was able to wear my corset for 9 1/2 hours yesterday before I started to get actual pains, and then I took it off. I think I would have been able to wear it even longer if it weren't for the fact that I sat in a super uncomfortable position for a long time even though I knew I should stop. I was reclining in a scrunched up position. Apparently they are not kidding when they say you should always sit upright in a straight backed chair while getting used to your corset. Anyway I think 9 1/2 hours is still pretty good for my first day. I also realized that I was wearing it too far up on my chest. I yanked it down further and the pointy bit between my boobs landed further down and looked a lot less ridiculous, but I'm still getting a corset without a point next time

More importantly, this is the 43rd day of my cycle! A while ago, Isabelle was keeping track of the length of the cycles of women who used PM. Apparently the most stretched out cycle she was personally aware of at that time was 42 days. I didn't think I would be the one to break that record

[AbiDrew85]

More importantly, this is the 43rd day of my cycle! A while ago, Isabelle was keeping track of the length of the cycles of women who used PM. Apparently the most stretched out cycle she was personally aware of at that time was 42 days. I didn't think I would be the one to break that record

That is weird! Are you sure you didn't somehow manage to just completely stop your cycle?

[mochaccino]

That is weird! Are you sure you didn't somehow manage to just completely stop your cycle?

Probably, but it'll restart on it's own eventually, and I'm pretty sure there's no reason to think that it will take as long as two full normall cycles (56 days). I sure hope not, but that's only because I'm impatient to start BE again.

[Helena St]

I kind of wonder with PM if it just delays ovulation until your body has downregulated enough to actually ovulate, so maybe it isnt a good idea to take it so long? You dont want your body to get numb to the effects. Of course some people may permanently delay the period I guess.

I notice each time I ramp up after about 4 days the pains will go away.