blackcatsandbaddecisions

Last weekend I was in a larger city and I went to some stores that I’ve heard of but never shopped in, because we don’t have them in my city. It was nice to know that all these upscale and trendy stores carry my size and I would look good in them. Now the problem is that they are too expensive for me. 😅. I guess I’ll keep buying stuff off of poshmark anyway.

I ended up waiting almost two years from when I first reached out to my center, because of concerns about complications if I went a self pay route. I could for sure have written a check but I wanted the additional peace of mind. I was really annoyed at first about the waiting period and hoops I had to jump through to get qualified but in retrospect I’m glad I had them. I ended up losing weight prior to surgery, which helped me get ready for the lifestyle change and be more prepared for recovery, and I had enough time to be certain over and over that I was making the right call.

I understand once a decision is made that it is frustrating to wait, but honestly if you have the option to get insurance to pay I’d always go that route. Also glad I didn’t fork out the cash for self pay because 2 years post op I ended up using those funds for skin removal, haha.

So before surgery i was 317lb and i am 5'4 so i am a short guy and so i was very wide. My old pants size 54 which i could never find anywhere. No store carried them unless i went to a special big and tall store. So i normally wore elastic shorts. It was very frustrating when i needed to buy dressy clothes or even anything to go out in. Now i am at 230lb and my pants size is now 42. Which i can easily find everywhere. I went shopping today and bought some new stuff and was excited when i went to the fitting room and the size 42 fit perfect and my shirt size which was almost 4XL. I was 3XL but stretching it because no one sold 4XL. and now XL shirts fit me.
Today i am going to see my best friend who i have not seen since before surgery so she can see the difference lol.

Yep, did it all in one go. I’m not gonna lie and say recovery was easy but I was able to go back to work at 2 weeks and as of 3 weeks I’m able to get back to my Peloton rides and a lighter version of my exercise routine. I had about 5 lbs of skin removed over all.

I added carbs in during puree stage... mashed potato. I decided i'm not going to cut out carbs. The way i see it is this: If you can't see yourself cutting certains foods out and sustaining it forever don't bother. The amount of people i've seen who have rebounded and gained a lot of weight back is a result of being way too restictive. Ofcourse the carbs i choose now are whole grain or are cooked healthier and significantly smaller serving. After loosing over 130 pounds i figured i must be doing something right.

Yep, did it all in one go. I’m not gonna lie and say recovery was easy but I was able to go back to work at 2 weeks and as of 3 weeks I’m able to get back to my Peloton rides and a lighter version of my exercise routine. I had about 5 lbs of skin removed over all.

Three weeks today! Still dealing with the abdomen drain hole not fully closed, left arm numbness and swelling. The swelling is on my forearm so I kind of look like popeye especially since my upper arm is smaller now. Speaking of swelling, still super swollen especially as the day goes on. I knew this happened post op but I don’t think I really understood how much swelling was happening or how uncomfortable it was. Also hard to see real results when you’re puffed up like a Water balloon. Not having pants fit was kind of alarming for me- I know it’s probably just the swelling but I can’t help but be worried that I’m bigger now.

One week appointment went very well. I got three out of four drains removed, and potentially getting the fourth drain removed on Friday if I can keep my output below 20 each day. They took all the tape off of the incisions, which wasn’t very painful but did it feel weird. When they were taking stitches out of my bellybutton I could feel clearly that they were touching the skin on the side of my abdomen, despite the fact that that skin is now in the center of my stomach. I think I am going to need to reroute some nerves or some thing. Ha!

Due to the fact that there was so much loose skin on my upper body, they ended up actually having to do an upper body lift at the same time. So my incisions run all the way from my elbows through my under arms and underneath my boobs. I am happy with this, because I had such trouble with skin spilling out in my under arm area that I really was concerned if they left any skin there what it was going to look like a postop. It’s probably going to be a longer recovery because of the additional area, but I am OK with that. Still not in any significant pain, although riding to and from the appointment and getting the tape and drains out absolutely tuckered me out for the day yesterday. I guess it’s hard to judge how much energy you have when you were spending all day and a recliner watching an old season of project runway. My left arm is still significantly swollen, and missing some feeling on the lower bottom part of my arm. Hoping that resolves once the swelling goes down, whenever that is.

Mine was a new wardrobe…and a tummy tuck/breast lift/arm lift. 3.5 weeks post op!

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.

So I know this is “exercise” but it’s actually quite fun and engaging too, I bought an echelon bike and I take peloton classes with it. I find that the time zips by because the instructors are chatty, the music selection is good and it has a lot of variety. Plus the echelon bike is like 1/4 the cost of a peloton.

And for those who said they want to start running, I would have bet that mega millions jackpot I would never be able to run a mile in my life, but I bought a used treadmill off Craigslist and downloaded the couch to 5k app last year. Now I run at least 2-3 miles every day and have run in 5ks getting my time down to sub 28 minutes. It’s possible, even in your 40s and beyond!

175 lbs down. Work outfits, and swimsuits.

I am in a marena girdle right now. Great quality and fits much better than the one my surgeon gave me. I am taller with a long torso and I was having trouble getting one to cover all my areas of swelling. I bought mine used off of poshmark for a big savings. I got the one that has hooks and zippers up to braline and short length legs. I just ordered a second one so I don’t have to rush to wash this one each night. I had a fleur de lis, arm lift, and breast lift.

You are amazing! I also took up running post sleeve (not nearly to the level you have, I’m more of a 5k runner) but I’m so grateful to this surgery for letting me discover that exercise doesn’t have to be a punishment.

Also forgot to mention for reference, I did not have any liposuction, and the doctor said she would check to see if I needed muscle repair but I did not need any. I have no idea how I managed to go through two pregnancies and two C-sections and be that overweight for so many years without separating those muscles, but I managed it. I am very tall with a long torso so maybe that helped? Who knows. I’m just grateful because I am sure that helped post op. Also forgot to mention when the tape came off saw incisions for first time. Yikes, I am kind of Frankenstein’s monster right now. Still feeling good about the procedures and experience though.

Surgery was one year ago today. Down 170.4 lbs, weighed in this morning at 168.6. 24 BMI.

Also forgot to mention for reference, I did not have any liposuction, and the doctor said she would check to see if I needed muscle repair but I did not need any. I have no idea how I managed to go through two pregnancies and two C-sections and be that overweight for so many years without separating those muscles, but I managed it. I am very tall with a long torso so maybe that helped? Who knows. I’m just grateful because I am sure that helped post op. Also forgot to mention when the tape came off saw incisions for first time. Yikes, I am kind of Frankenstein’s monster right now. Still feeling good about the procedures and experience though.

One week appointment went very well. I got three out of four drains removed, and potentially getting the fourth drain removed on Friday if I can keep my output below 20 each day. They took all the tape off of the incisions, which wasn’t very painful but did it feel weird. When they were taking stitches out of my bellybutton I could feel clearly that they were touching the skin on the side of my abdomen, despite the fact that that skin is now in the center of my stomach. I think I am going to need to reroute some nerves or some thing. Ha!

Due to the fact that there was so much loose skin on my upper body, they ended up actually having to do an upper body lift at the same time. So my incisions run all the way from my elbows through my under arms and underneath my boobs. I am happy with this, because I had such trouble with skin spilling out in my under arm area that I really was concerned if they left any skin there what it was going to look like a postop. It’s probably going to be a longer recovery because of the additional area, but I am OK with that. Still not in any significant pain, although riding to and from the appointment and getting the tape and drains out absolutely tuckered me out for the day yesterday. I guess it’s hard to judge how much energy you have when you were spending all day and a recliner watching an old season of project runway. My left arm is still significantly swollen, and missing some feeling on the lower bottom part of my arm. Hoping that resolves once the swelling goes down, whenever that is.

I am out of surgery! Total nerve wracking, spent all last week concerned 😟 was making a huge mistake. They removed over 5 lbs. currently staying overnight (surgery center can do 23 hour care) and so grateful I picked the center that had that. Nurses are the kindest that I’ve ever experienced, such a good experience. Not in a ton of pain really, but just more stinging and uncomfortable. i made it, it’s done!

Well of course he’s happy with how things are now, he isn’t doing any work and has no responsibilities and somebody else is taking care of everything for him. If somebody is not providing emotional financial or household support, it’s really kind of a struggle to figure out what exactly it is that they are doing.

Sorry, I would love to say something reassuring and inspirational here, but I am of the opinion that grown able-bodied adults all need to pull their own weight in life, be that childcare, household, earning money, etc. It really seems like he’s taking advantage of you.

@SleeveDiva2022 with weight loss improving your health and you gaining self esteem with each pound shed, he knows that he won't have a shot at maintaining his lazy life when you finally say enough is enough. And when you start getting attention from other men, ones that might bring more to the table than he does, he knows it's a matter of time before you take a stand for yourself.
Best wishes!

DTMFA

Well of course he’s happy with how things are now, he isn’t doing any work and has no responsibilities and somebody else is taking care of everything for him. If somebody is not providing emotional financial or household support, it’s really kind of a struggle to figure out what exactly it is that they are doing.

Sorry, I would love to say something reassuring and inspirational here, but I am of the opinion that grown able-bodied adults all need to pull their own weight in life, be that childcare, household, earning money, etc. It really seems like he’s taking advantage of you.

Update- drains suck. Very annoying. One arm is super swollen and I am having trouble with that. Tummy Tuck surprisingly the easiest to deal with. Haven’t needed pain meds for a few days so that’s nice. Will see how all is going at Wednesday post op.

I am out of surgery! Total nerve wracking, spent all last week concerned 😟 was making a huge mistake. They removed over 5 lbs. currently staying overnight (surgery center can do 23 hour care) and so grateful I picked the center that had that. Nurses are the kindest that I’ve ever experienced, such a good experience. Not in a ton of pain really, but just more stinging and uncomfortable. i made it, it’s done!