blackcatsandbaddecisions

175 lbs down. Work outfits, and swimsuits.

175 lbs down. Work outfits, and swimsuits.

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

Last few years I was able to get through the Pacific Northwest winters with basically a glorified hoodie. This year I actually bought a winter coat- in a size medium! Losing 172 lbs means a lot of insulation is gone.

Oh man I just realized the other day I don’t have to rock to the side to get my seatbelt fastened anymore. There’s just room! And I don’t have to be concerned anymore that when I pull it out to buckle that I’ll hit the extension limit and have it lock up, and have to try again.

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

Oh man I just realized the other day I don’t have to rock to the side to get my seatbelt fastened anymore. There’s just room! And I don’t have to be concerned anymore that when I pull it out to buckle that I’ll hit the extension limit and have it lock up, and have to try again.

Yesss, getting rid of bra extenders is amazing!

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

The ring size thing is crazy. I’m back in my wedding ring set that I haven’t worn in a decade now. It is an amazing feeling, I always felt so terrible that I had this beautiful and sentimental set of rings that I barely got to wear because I gained weight so quickly and couldn’t fit into them anymore.

I’m so glad I was too lazy and stubborn to get them resized because they fit perfectly again. It’s like a little victory every time I look down and see them on my hand.

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

A few years back my (then) 3 year old son would go crazy every time this ad for a local weight loss clinic came on TV and yell “mama, mama, mama!” When the before weight loss woman was shown. Sigh. He was honestly excited to see “mama” on TV.

Oh man I just realized the other day I don’t have to rock to the side to get my seatbelt fastened anymore. There’s just room! And I don’t have to be concerned anymore that when I pull it out to buckle that I’ll hit the extension limit and have it lock up, and have to try again.

The ring size thing is crazy. I’m back in my wedding ring set that I haven’t worn in a decade now. It is an amazing feeling, I always felt so terrible that I had this beautiful and sentimental set of rings that I barely got to wear because I gained weight so quickly and couldn’t fit into them anymore.

I’m so glad I was too lazy and stubborn to get them resized because they fit perfectly again. It’s like a little victory every time I look down and see them on my hand.

Yesss, getting rid of bra extenders is amazing!

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

Second quote Dr baltrusch, Portland. Also super nice, was concerned about a male surgeon but he put me at ease immediately. Took plenty of time as well. He could only do arm lift and fdl tuck at same time- sounds like he is a bit slower, he’s a newer surgeon so I’m assuming that’s why.
Fdl: 8360
Arm lift:6050
Anesthesia:2077
Facility: 3200
Total 19907

Ok! I’m back and I have costs for anyone interested!
Dr. Streu, Portland. Super nice, took her time. I liked her and she says she has a lot of experience with things like this (175 plus weight loss). Recommended a fleurdelis, I have a lot of upper stomach skin. Can combine an arm lift, breast lift, and fdl tuck in one procedure. Would do a 23 hr stay at the surgery center. Drains are a must. Boo.
Fdl cost: 11,179
Breast lift: 6270
Arms: 3987
Facility fees and anesthesia 2600 and 1541, plus 725 for overnight stay
Some discounts for multiple procedures
Total cost 24,470

Well, doesn’t look like anyone had suggestions thus far so I’ll just update my own thread 😜. I contacted Dr. Hayes and Dr. Waldorf, both in Portland, OR to see about setting up consult appointments. Both had good reviews but we will have to see how initial appointments go. My list of what to ask is:
1. Costs, and what are reasonable combinations of surgeries?
2. I have a lot of loose skin on the upper abdomen, would a traditional Tummy Tuck address this or is there another option?
3. I’ve read about drainless tummy tucks and I’d have a strong preference for that (don’t know why but drains really freak me out), is that a possibility and why/why not.
4. As a “far down the wishlist” idea, addressing the sad state of my cleavage post children and 175 lb weight loss would be nice. I don’t think I want implants but would like to hear a surgeons thoughts.

If anyone else has any thoughts, let me know! My dream is to get consults with both on the same day (morning, afternoon) so I can take one trip. I know both surgeons are quite popular however so I may be a long time out, and coordinating like that may be a long shot but a girl can dream.

I am looking into this as well as my second plastic surgery, but more of a finish since I had a fleur de lis Tummy Tuck already. Love the results of that, but where it stops on my hips I have sagging hips and we won’t talk about the backside..😅 I am thinking of combining with a thigh lift as well. Let me know if you end up doing this surgery, because I’m interested!

I love these lists! I’m still 52 lbs from goal, but so far I have a whole list:
1. Not feeling like I have to rush home to get into pajamas because it’s the only thing that doesn’t feel like it’s strangling me. Bras just fit better when you arent as fat, who knew.
2. Chairs! Chairs with arms! Flimsy looking chairs! Patio chairs!
3. So much variety in clothes, and I can wear styles I like instead of huge frumpy cardigans over everything. I can thrift now, and shop in pretty much any store.
4. I feel like I have energy and interest in doing things again. I don’t just want to hide out at home and eat all weekend long.
5. Not being terrified of running into someone I knew 10+ years ago in public because of how fat I’d gotten.
6. I can go up the stairs and not die. I can exercise and not feel like I might die. Amazing.
7. I wore a pair of shorts yesterday and they weren’t Bermuda length! And my thighs didn’t start a small fire.
8. I like my facial features so much better now. My eyes look bigger, my jawline actually exists, and I look more like myself.
9. At my heaviest my arms stuck out weird because of the fat, and my legs were always at a weird angle because of fat as well. I can rest my arms by my sides and stand with my feet together.

Let’s see if this pic will upload… me waiting to run this last weekend.

Thought I’d check in…a bit over two years out and I’m consistently holding at 155. Part of the additional loss is I had five pounds of skin removed, with a full fleur de lis Tummy Tuck, arm lift and breast lift in late August. I’m fully recovered and rand a 5k this weekend with my best time yet.
So two years later, still the best decision I ever made. Being a thin person was a dream to me that I actually get to live…it’s amazing.

I am getting a fleur de lis Tummy Tuck, arm lift, and breast lift (no augmentation). Paying 24k out of pocket in Portland, Oregon. I’ll update as I get closer to the day of surgery!