iamsoworthit

I may have had more anxiety! ! when my surgeon had me standing to mark me with his lines I almost passed out and had to sit. I was so embarrassed I did that but he said it is common. Beth you'll do great! Stay strong!!

It is sooooo worth it!! I had mine on 11/19/14 and go back to work next week. The recovery is rough but I had instant gratification. I had my husband take a picture of me in the post anesthesia care unit when the we're checking my dressings and I cried not from pain but seeing a flat tummy for the first time since puberty. My lbl changed my body so much it's amazing. I went from a 6 petite to a zero or two petite. Even my bra band changed. I love my new little body and buying clothes and cute panties has been a blast. I won't lie and tell you it's easy but nothing worth having is. Remember to up your protein, rest, walk as much as you can and you'll do great. Over Christmas I wasn't eating and did way too much and ended up with a small tear on my right hip that got infected. It is much better but just remember healing takes time. Oh and because I wasn't eating enough I lost too much weight. When I got to 109 I realized I needed to up my calories. I am back up to 114 and maintaining there but eating 300 more healthy calories than I was pretty surgery. The lbl must have improved my metabolism temporarily because I sure as heck haven't worked out like I was before. I am walking 12 thousand steps a day and hope to get released for my workouts again next week. You've got this!!!!!!

I was super blessed and my insurance paid for my lower body lift. They never pay and I was shocked when I got approved because even my surgeon said he couldn't remember the last one he got approved. He took 7 lbs of skin off and my little tiny waist and cute lifted fanny makes me happy. I bought all new lingerie, small in panties and 32 DD in bra. I'm thrilled with my new shape. I had a breast reduction in my 20s so I am lucky they are still in ok shape. My thighs aren't perfect but I can live with that and my arms never got fat. Lol. Plastics changed my life. I love buying clothes now and dreaded it even when I was at goal because the skin in my abdomen and back looked like an inner tube. Now I am flat with a cute lifted tush. Over the moon!

I bought two beautiful leather skirts in 2 petite the week after my surgery 50% off from talbots. When they came in they felt really tight so I returned them and got a 4 petite. It's now been 5 weeks and my swelling is way down. I tried them back on today and the 4 is too big. Makes me sad that they have to go back again but I am not going to pay to alter them. I should have stuck with my gut on the 2. On a positive note, the double zero lucky brand jeans look smoking hot on my new tiny body. I can't get over the difference 7 lbs made in clothing size. I was an 8 or 6 petite before my lbl.

I am doing much better. Trying to get to 100%. I was in great shape before but have lost some muscle since. Lower body lifts are no joke. Lol

Glad to see you back, Mel! I am not a huge fan of the new app either but need the support. Maintaining is very important I think even more than losing to be honest. glad you are doing the Disney run!!

I had metabolic syndrome and was pretty diabetic and that played a huge role in my decision too. Plus with my issues with the band I didn't ever even consider sleeve. No regrets from me but it is a very personal decision. I firmly believe when you've made your decision you'll know it's right because you'll be at peace. Best of luck!

Oh I meant to ask, what is your weight down to? If I recall we are the same height 5'2" right? I am down to 110 and feel too small right now. I want to put 5 lbs on and am hoping once I can start lifting weights again I can build back up. It is funny how 5 lbs makes all the difference between feeling thin to feeling gaunt. My eyes were always big but now they look huge.

Yay I am glad we are connected! Sorry you are feeling so badly. Get a lot of rest and fluids. I am still not 100% so I completely understand. I am going to wait another week before I go back to work. My job is very mentally challenging and I don't feel up to a full day yet. My surgeon suggested an extra week because of the infection I am getting over, plus he knows how hard my job is as I have managed projects for him in the past at Mayo. Feel better and we can both get active when we feel up to it.

I too had the lap and in 2008. The first two years were wonderful and I got as low has 185. I too am 5'2" and a petite female, in other words I was far never big boned. In 2012 I finally admitted to having some serious issues with my band; reflux, heartburn, not eating until 4 in the afternoon because my band had to warm up. It was two years of hell for me. I finally went in and had an egd and found out I had intestinal metaplasia, caused from the reflux and heartburn caused from the band. I decided then and there to have it taken out. My surgeon advised me that revisions are more complicated but I was an excellent candidate. I was revised to RNY on June 12, 2013. I weighed 218 on the day of surgery. I hit my goal weight in the summer of 2014 and had a circumferential lower body lift at the beginning of November. I feel fantastic, am holding steady at 110 to 112 and now have the figure I felt I always should have had. I eat sensibly, exercise and take my vitamins daily. I bought jeans last week at lucky brand and got size double zero. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be that tiny. I look normal and healthy and when I look at pictures of myself at my highest weight of 270 size 24 I can't believe it's me. Anyone starting this journey know it isn't easy but it can be done. I wasn't a fast loser but I worked the process every single day. Good luck!

That actually makes sense to me. Fat stores estrogen so getting rid of it evens out hormones. I can say my burn rate is up and I'm not even working out righr now. I need to maintain so I am slowly upping my calories to get to that zone.

A friend of mine had frozen shoulder and she said it was very painful. She had to have surgery and do physical therapy but doing much better now. You should get in and see if it is something like that. I haven't been to the gym in two months due to this surgery and feel like I have to start completely over building muscle. It is more my legs than anything. I am allowed to start lightly next week. Nothing too heavy for the first few weeks. I was such a gym rat and now I feel like I will be considered part of the resolution crowd. Lol. Oh well I know my patterns, once I get back to work I'll get back on routine. If you do decide to use your fitbit again, let me know.

I just sent you a request, hopefully I did it correctly. I am still trying to figure all of the features out. Right now I am not doing much due to my recovery but plan to use this as a tool for maintenance. My new year's resolution this year is to maintain my healthy lifestyle, focus on me and my relationships and encourage myself to follow my dreams. First time in over 30 years losing weight wasn't on the list.

I got a fitbit for Christmas. While I am pretty active and dedicated to my healthy lifestyle I wanted one. Anyone on here use one and want to be friends on the fitbit site?

Buying size double zero lucky jeans and not caring how expensive they are.

I had the drop too! I don't want to lose any more because I am 110 now. I don't want to go below 110 so I am playing with my calories on my fitness pal to fine my maintain zone. My Dr took 6.8 lbs of skin so I've lost that plus 7 more lbs since my 11/19 circumferential body lift. Loving being an extra small and hearing how tiny I am but wow, men are a bit predatory with a cute body. Wasn't prepared for that and am happily married to the love of my life. I guess my pretty face" finally has a pretty ass, legs and stomach to match. Lol!! The attention is bizarre sometimes...

Kristi I hear you about the gym. I am not allowed to go back until mid January and hate how out of shape I already feel. I had a little setback with my lower body lift. I got a small infection this week. I am almost 5 weeks out so shows me how long this surgery takes to heal.

Three weeks might be tough. I didn't get all my drains out until after week three. I am over 4 now and still not completely recovered. I need to call on Monday because an incision on my right hip split about 3/4th of an inch and may show signs of infection. I am going back in 2 more weeks and am glad I took all of it now. This is the hardest but most rewarding surgery I have ever had. I still wear my compression garments and the swelling looks so much better and the scale says I'm at 113 but when I saw my Dr on tuesday he said I still had a little more to go. I am over 40 but was in excellent shape before this surgery but still shocked at how wiped out I am at the end of the day. I still take pain meds at night because of my right hip too. If your job isn't rough it might be ok. I just know I couldn't have gone back at three but my job is very mentally challenging and my brain just wasn't working 100% at that point. Keep me updated and I wish you well! I am thrilled with the results and buying clothes I never in a million years could have before. I don't mean to scare you but I thought I was tough as I've had multiple surgeries including a breathing reduction in the past. All were a breeze except this one. But again, the reward outweighs the pain. Weird but true.

Good for you! Turbo kick sounds fun too! Is it like a kick boxing class? I used to take one at the ymca and loved it.

It is nice not worrying about gaining. I feel so good right now. I bought my first pair of lucky jeans today. They are expensive but I felt confident knowing I am committed to maintaining this healthy lifestyle. It feels great walking into stores and not having people look at me like what are you doing in here? I have been a bit out of control shopping but darn my whole life I bought simply because it fit. Now I buy what I love.

Yesterday was my weigh in day. I still weigh once a week. I was 113 and for the first time in my life worried about losing too much. I don't want to go under 110 so I think I may need to up my calories a bit. Anyone who thinks this journey is easy is delusional. I hope all my junies are doing well!!

I had a lower body lift, not a panniculectomy exactly 3 weeks ago. I am doing well but recovery is no joke. I swell a lot throughout the day putting on as much as 4 lbs of water. I still get tired in the middle of the day. I am thrilled with the results and bought new panties yesterday to treat myself. Size 5 bikini. They looked so tiny but they fit. I am off from work another 4 weeks and am glad I took that time off to recover. It is a hard surgery but the results are wonderful. You'll love how you look after your panniculectomy.

I always wanted a really nice leather jacket when I hit goal. I had my circumferential body lift 2.5 weeks ago and last night ordered a beautiful black leather skirt in 2 petite from talbots. I have black to the knee high heel boots that are leather. I still haven't found the perfect jacket but I am a classic ann Taylor kind of girl. Right now motorcycle jackets are more in style and I like clean, tailored looks. I'm thrilled with my skirt purchase. It will look beautiful with a cashmere sweater or a pretty silk blouse. 2 petite (sigh)...

I just called and we are giving the drains another day at least. the output is just a little less than 30 ml and my Dr doesn't like pulling them when they are still giving this much off.

I am 2 weeks out from my lower body lift. I still have two of the four drains in and hope the last two come out this week. I am doing pretty well. The surgery was tough, pain is no joke but so worth it!! My body looks so different. My surgeon did a beautiful job. He took off 6.8 lbs and gave me a cute tushy transferring some of the fat there so my butt wouldn't be so flat. I don't ever remember being this tiny. I have been 116 all week so I think that will be my new baseline. I can't wait to go shopping for pants and skirts. Before the surgery I was a 8 petite on the bottom. Guessing by how I look I'd say I am a 2 petite on bottom now just like top. Now when people say how tiny I am I believe them.