Year and a half and no regrets!

Had a friend about to get her TT and told her about the site so I thought I should update. I'm very pleased with the final outcome. I'm in my shed-the-winter-weight mode and my results would look a little better if I were down about 5 lbs. My only regret is maybe not getting a little flank lipo or just keeping my weight better in check year round as I tend to get a muffin top over my hips and flank that I didn't have before. It's like there is no where for the fat to go in front. That is a small thing though and looking back at my pre-TT pictures makes me very happy with where I am at now. When I ride my bike, my knees no longer hit my belly, I no longer get sweat marks under my belly and hips and am more confident with how I look. My core is so much stronger and when I go to Cross Fit I get compliments on how strong my abs are when we are doing planks and toes to bar exercises. I still haven't found the guts to wear a bikini in public, maybe this summer!

I've been so busy with a new job, family and just getting back to life. I had a down patch during the holidays. I had maintained my pre-TT weight up to the 6 weeks post and then started to gain when I couldn't get back to my usual routine of running, cycling and weights. I think I hit the weights too hard as well as the holiday treats! I started to wonder if I had done the right thing. Then as I was able to pick up on the running and had my dog ears taken care of at the end of February. I'm back to my usual routine now and the extra weight is coming off. I'm within 4-5 pounds of pre-TT weight and really starting to see some ab definition. I'm feeling really good with the exception of still having some minor swelling down around my T incision and still super tight in the same area. Every time I do abs I still get really sore, like out of proportion sore for what I do. Overall it's getting better and better. I just figured out yesterday that I could tolerate lying on my belly and am doing some stretching that way which helps a lot. I am still happy I did this but I think having a very clear idea that although you will improve dramatically, it may not be exactly the way you thought. For example, I now end up with fat depositing over my front hip bones very easily and have to watch this close. I don't get it down the middle so it can make for a muffin top in front really quick. I also think you have to realize that although you know you are trading off loose baggy skin and even a lot of stretch marks, you have a big scar. I felt like a patched up person for a while and had to come to terms with my new "Franken-belly." It is definitely not all roses. I'm in a really good place and seeing good results with hard work. One member got a lot of flack for posting her not so positive experience and I think its really important to think this through from every angle. Overall I'm really pleased and am off to go surf the web for some bikinis!

It's been a while since I've been on but between work, the holidays, getting back to life and no big changes I thought it wasn't really worth it. I saw my PS two weeks ago and have scheduled my scar revision for the "dog ears." You really can't see them in any of the pics but they have continued to hang around even as the swelling has gone down. Speaking of the swelling...I still have some that settles in low and along my incision especially if I am on my feet most of the day. Exercising now seems to actually help move it and running especially now is helping to stretch my belly out. It is still so stinking tight in the middle from the belly button down.

As far as the exercise goes I'm doing everything I was doing before except still not going 100% at abs as far as reps and weight go. One thing that's been bugging me is that I've gained some weight. Between hitting the weights more, too many holiday treats and not being able to do the amount of cardio I was pre-surgery for 6 weeks, 8 really, I've packed on a good 9 lbs. I'm very frustrated but am getting back on track and my goal is to be back to pre-surgery weight of 142 lbs by Feb 11 when I get my scar revision.

I'm still very pleased with my results and happy I did this. There have definitely been some ups and downs that I didn't expect through this process but all in all, I would do it again. I'm still finding myselft tugging at my exercise tops to pull them down to cover up the belly out of habit. I think that habit will take a while to get out of. It is still strange sometimes to get a glimpse of myselft with a flat tummy, realize it's me and smile. Happy healing to all!