So what's wrong? Why am I looking for A Happier me?
It's a couple of physical things. First is something that has bothered me since my childhood, my teeth. I have a overbite, aka an overjet with a large gap. And two, I'm overweight at my heaviest 215lbs. Sure, its not extreme but at 5'5" for my BMI I am considered - Obese.
So where do I begin? I begin with Invisalign.
I like to get advice from others and if I don't know anyone personally, I often look to www.yelp.com. Yelpers seemed to really like David Galler, so I decided I'd get a consultaion with him. At the consultation I was told I could have my desired smile with 10 months of treatment. That's 10 months of wearing aligners (clear plastic trays) for 22 hours a day for a whopping $5,300. That is considerable more than traditional braces but I've tried traditional braces, well they only lasted for 2 months, inside my lip was sore and often cut from the metal attachments to my teeth. I've been warned that invisalign is not pain free but I am ready for it.
The molds have been made for the aligners which I'm told will take 3 weeks to be ready. Making the molds was interesting. Some blue goo is put on my teeth and then some blue goo is put in a tray. Then that tray is put in my mouth and held in place by the doctors hand, hmm, how does one breathe then without gagging. Through your nose...slowly; in and out, slowly. There are also a bunch or pictures and a panoramic x-ray.
So I will not see Dr. Galler again until March 2nd at 4:30 PM. He's advised me to eat a big meal because it may be painful after the aligners are on for the very first time. I'm actually excited to get this process started. I can't even imagine my smile with teeth lined up and no gap.
Weight-loss is the next struggle.
It starts with food. I have a weakness for cakes and pastries. I cook and bake at home, including my own bread, but I have to slow that down immediately. A lot of healthy diet suggest, small frequent feedings, 5 to six meals per day and I'm trying. Starting with oatmeal for breakfast, followed by fruit and yogurt, a good lunch another snack post lunch and then dinner. The eating smaller portions I can deal with. What I'm having a difficulty with is exercise. I don't like it, but I must. I have the Wii and the WiiFit, exercise DVDs Turbo Jam by Chalene Johnson; 30 day shred from Jillian Michaels, a few Yoga DVDs and trainer for my bicycle so that I can ride inside. But none of these gets used regularly. The trainer is louder than I thought, but with ear buds, that shouldn't stop me. So I will commit to exercising at least three times a week. And will only have dessert twice a week until the cravings go away.
