7 weeks and 3 days - South Africa, ZA

So here we are at 7 weeks and a bit: I am back at the gym - though intermittently as my youngest is ill. That is fine. I've done a little light jogging, some cardio machines, some weights; I can start abdominals next week.
I stopped wearing my garments about a week ago: I couldn't bear it any more and my surgeon said 6-8 weeks so I did pretty good.
My tummy is better than it was before, but it's still full (but not saggy) and I've put on weight. I am craving sweet things.... so this is getting me down.
I know it's a roller coaster, and overall I am happy, but I wanted more - don't we all... and I feel I'm not getting a go at really looking after myself and getting to where I want to be - life and lack of time are getting in the way. I know I sound ungrateful but this is it at the moment.

Just over a month ago I had the op... and now I feel quite blase about it all... admittedly the first week to 10 days were hard, but everyday gets easier, and like so many others I'm glad I did it... but can't wait to be rid of compression garments and micropore.
In latest news, I bought a girdle type thing with hooks and eyes from Macom, medium - bit optimistic, it is tight and digs in a little... but feel I need it. Firstly my armpit to knee number is not as tight (I never thought I would see the day) - though it can be when I swell. It's not good under normal clothes, especially for work... so a couple of spanx, and the girdle. I feel whilst most items do squash you in, it's the tummy area that really needs it. The only strap one I can see is only available from the states... and would take quite a while to arrive. My surgeon suggests wearing CG for 6-8 weeks - and I'm nearly at 5 weeks - it would come post that time.
That said, I cannot imagine not wearing one at the moment. Previously I would never wear shapewear - I don't like feeling constricted - and like push up padded bras - I feel it is false advertising... but now.... I think I feel more confident in it. I guess there will be transition period to not wearing it that I will have to manage - and I think swelling will be a problem again.
Also, I bought some bras - 34D seems to work for me; I had wanted a C cup, but I can't complain - the puppies are pretty good and settling down nicely.
So today I have the Macom girdle, pants (yes, pants! on their own! not over CG or anything!) and a new bra - admittedly this one is a sports bra - zip up front - and I have some nice normal, slightly flash bras (ie not the plain black white t-shirt bras I normally go for) (even bought matching pants - now that is optimistic, as I have 'hungry bum' ie my cheeks munch them up and I spend most of my day dragging them out of my crack.
Update complete :-)

This time 4 weeks ago I was back on the ward, taking the pain medication and in wonder at it all. 4 weeks later life is pretty much back to normal, and I can't believe how the time has flown.
I don't have a sore back - though I don't think I am standing fully straight yet; when I really stretch out or up I can feel it pulling almost from the top of my thighs, in from my sides and up - it feels strange but good - and promising for when I can get back to the gym.
The only hindrance now is the garment - I am wearing Spanx for the daytime, or something similar - I have bought a few different things to wear under work clothes as the VPL at my knees, the catching on my trousers etc was getting to me. My garments can feel a bit big at times, but when I swell they can also feel tight. I guess it's the main way I can tell that I am swelling.
My boobs feel pretty good; I think my right one is going to take a little longer to settle - some movements of my arms etc make me more aware or think that I can feel the implant, that it is moving. My surgeon says it may be a bit of fluid built up around the implant but it should all settle. It's not sore so much as an odd sensation.
My periods are all over the place. I had the Marina installed (IUD) about 6 weeks before the op - since then I have had a period - then it started again shortly after the op - and now again: the first and last I think are normal, the other brought on by the op.
I am keen to get in to normal bras, but I think I may have to go buy some: I haven't bought any for ages, partly as I didn't want to spend the money knowing the op was coming, and partly because I wanted to wait anyway. Have the real 'before and after' experience. So I will venture forth this week I think - I'm tired of the non-underwired type - though I may eat those words once I get them on and find out it's sore on my incisions.
Today I bought surgical spirit - in a few days when I change my dressings I will try to remove some of the built up gunk / goo that has accumulated from the micropore tape. My wounds look pretty good - very fine and I think they will be hardly noticeable going forward.
How do I feel in myself though? I am glad I did it; I feel I look better naked for sure; not so sure I am feeling the love yet - I still feel tubby / big; I don't have the contours I imagined I might - though everyone is assuring me it is swelling. But overall I am much improved.
I am uploading pics from today - the 4 week milestone - but I think you will agree there is a difference from the before pics, but not so much since.
Hope everyone is doing well x