Ok, so I'm a 5'4 ,136lb working mum, I train 5-6 days a week & like doing half marathons :) if only my pooch didn't drive me crazy when I ran ( I wear good compression sports clothes now!) . I always had a little pot belly as a teen and with a 70lb weight gain in my first pregnancy ( lost it all & some more) & thankfully only a 15lb gain with my 2nd & final pregnancy; both babies 10lbs+,my stomach is not what it used to be. The stretch marks don't phase me, but the jelly belly is too much! Even my kids think it's hilarious to grab it & give it a stretch! ( can't wait for their faces when there isn't a belly to grab!) so , after seeing a PS a few months ago that I deeply respect (& his office Nurse was excellent), I am booked in for TT on 4th Dec, 153 days to go I think!!! I have a few running races to keep my mind on training before I join the flat side, I would ideally like to drop 10lbs just to be my 'best self', but I do find it hard to drop weight when I train a lot & gain muscle quite readily. The count down is on! Updated on 16 Jul 2014: Just working on my fitness at the moment, I went overseas for a holiday in June & gained a few LB's (gone now after much work!) due to being out of my exercise regime & all the good food Europe has to offer! Would still like to drop 8-10LBs pre surgery & think 140 days is a reasonable enough time frame. Was shopping with a friend the other day & she asked why I didn't buy any new clothes, I couldn't really tell her I didn't want to buy new things until after my surgery as I'm keeping it fairly quiet, even though I have a significant Diastasis that needs to be fixed,I know some narrow minded people will think it's for purely aesthetic reasons, not the case, this is about me getting my body & confidence back. My elderly God mother says she thinks it's great I'm getting it taken care of & after 7 large babies (her last one born in 1962!) she wished she'd got it done back then! Updated on 3 Aug 2014: Just decided today is the day I start to shift some lbs before surgery; myself & various family members have had flu & chest infections over the past month ( it's winter here in Aus) so my fitness has gone by the wayside (& I feel flabby after not getting much exercise grr!). I've decided that 120lbs/54kg is my goal, the slimmest I've ever been was about 125lb & i liked the way I looked. Hopefully 1+ lbs a week before surgery ( nice& slow!) is the goal. I've started getting a few supplies in before the big date & gradually filling up the freezer with home made food so life is easier for my family when I'm convalescing. That's the good thing about having a little while before surgery to get prepared, but the wait for change sure is psychologically hard. Updated on 7 Sep 2014: Had another month of myself & the kids being unwell ( flu & sinusitis :() so really only the last week have I been able to do much in the way of 'proper' exercise , but now it is Spring here in Australia so the weather is starting to fine up & getting outdoors to run has been more appealing! Not many other changes really, just been really busy & the days seem to be flying over (at last!) I've started to get a few supplies in ( will post a picture) & it's all starting to get more real! I really am not going to miss 'Bertha' (my tummy lol!) she needs to get out of my life soon!:) happy healing to those that have had their surgery & to those out there waiting, hang in there, better days will be here soon! Updated on 7 Oct 2014: Hey there lovely Real Selfers! I tried to update a few days ago with no success so here I am again! It's been another busy month for me, another overseas trip (which sabotaged my couple of Kg weight loss but that's going going gone now thankfully!) but the fact that my count down ticker said '59' days to go when I got back from holidays gave me the psychological jolt I needed! Sometimes you just have to be ready mentally for change & because I've had so much time to prepare I've been on & off the wagon & now it's time to get serious ladies! I've only got myself to be accountable to, I figure if I'm going through thousands of dollars of painful surgery, I need to be my best & fittest self prior to the big day,& my hernia definitely gives me more grief when I'm carrying an extra few Kg's :( So,I've submitted my hospital forms, I pay the Anaesthetist & Surgeon 3weeks before the surgery date & things are looking organised so far! I just need to stay well & truly on the clean eating band wagon, I've done it before & I can do it again, I'm not even over weight but this time last year I felt better in my own skin, let's see how it goes x Updated on 11 Nov 2014: Hello lovely RealSelfers! This has been another stressful month, luckily no one at home has been sick with cold/flu/etc but I think the last few months has taken it's toll on my poor brain,I've also been working lots of hours ( trying to save for my sick leave from work) & working out heaps so I'm going to take it down a gear in a week or so when I go on annual leave from work, I'll have two weeks off prior to surgery where I'll be able to tie up loose ends at home and really focus on my children & myself, gosh being a woman is hard! Haha On a more up beat note I am so ready for this now!!! My body is as good as it's going to get & my mind has been ready for ages anyway, I haven't lost much weight as I thought but I'm 135lb & the most toned I've been for a long time, I feel happy & confident about the procedure. I paid the surgeon today & that's a great feeling to have that money out of my account, it kind of locks it all in for me!:) I have most things that I need for the post op time, I've nearly filled up the freezer with home cooked hearty (low sodium) meals;my parents are coming from overseas to stay for a week post op & that will be amazing, will take the pressure off my husband who works 16+hours a day (self employed), So for now, I know I'm going to have a busy 3 weeks and I feel organised, g-d willing!just need a good de-stress next Thursday when I go on leave. Updated on 27 Nov 2014: Hello lovely people of RS! I cannot believe it's less than a week til TT/Muscle& Hernia repair , it's been a long time coming & I simply cannot wait! I'm all organised now, at least I think I am!ive dropped more lbs in the last fortnight ( excitement, stress, nerves?) than I have in the last 5 months! Not ideal to lose quickly I know, but I can't seem to eat much & Im so busy with my kids & family visiting from overseas there's not much time for rest! Im still working out most days & toning up as I know that this time next week I won't be able to work out like a demon! I've got my mom and dad here & they'll be taking me for my surgery(4hour drive away) we expect to be away for 5 nights. It's dawning on me that I'm going to miss my kids so much!! Feeling very emotional. Good luck all prospective RealSelfers!!! Updated on 2 Dec 2014: I've driven 4 hours today to get to the city where I will have my op tomorrow morning, admission time is 7.30am sharp! Feeling tense at the moment due to marital problems and it's stressing me to the max! I'm usually fairly level headed but I totally don't need this drama right now. Going out for a 'light' dinner tonight with one of my friends and then hopefully an early night, haha we'll see about that! Sleep has not been my best friend of late, I've been chasing it but it's got a habit of running away from me! All packed for the hospital, had a bikini and full leg wax, used my Chlorhexidine wash and will repeat the wash tomorrow on admission, breathe in, breathe out! Will keep you posted lovely people of real self world, stay well xx Updated on 3 Dec 2014: Hello REal selfers, Well today has been amazing, it goes a little something like this; 1) present to hospital admissions at 7.20am sign forms , say goodbye to mom and dad ( need the first 24 hours alone!) 2) get taken up to ward by a nice young nurse, makes me feel totally at ease . 3) shown to room, instructed to use Chlorhexidine wash and change into gown 4) Surgeon visits to say hello, doesn't mark me til I'm in theatre 5) Anaesthetist visits and she's very thorough and super keen to make sure I don't have any Post Operative nausea and vomiting ( had it really bad once ewww still haunts me!) 6) up to theatre, slide across to operating table, Cannula inserted and boom! Next thing I know I'm in recovery, desperately trying to open my eyes to check out what's happening. 7) back to ward, Iv fluids running and a Fentanyl PCA pump, bliss! Jut taking edge off the pain I've managed to eat lightly and have two cups of tea ( my favourite drink!) My afternoon nurse is an older nurse and very motherly, gives me a post op wash and I feel good again. Spoke to my kids on the phone, I can relax as they are happy and very chatty, I on the other hand is quite dosile! Binder comes off tomorrow, tried to sneak a peek before no such luck! I get to shower tomorrow too and the dressing gets changed. Waiting to see surgeon this evening so he can tell me all the details Hope you're all well xx Updated on 4 Dec 2014: Had a sleep from 10.20pm til 4.30am, had an Ativan to settle & that did the trick. Moving around much more easily than I ever thought! The nurse said I looked like I was going to run marathon haha. Had my fentanyl pca and Iv fluids taken down and had the best showe ever and feel strong but a little tired too. My surgeon said I have some pleating on my belly due to the way the fat has been removed but it should smooth out with time Updated on 5 Dec 2014: Had another glorious nights sleep, learning to sleep on my back with pillows bunched under my knees is going quite well. Pain is well controlled on the Endone (Morphine) & Celebrex ( Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory) I've been taking my own Bromelain and ArginAid which is meant to be awesome for wound healing ( the Arginine anyway, the Bromelain more so for bruising). Still haven't had a bowel action for 3 days but I'm not uncomfortable & I'm being a good girl & taking the stool softeners that the nurse recommends. I have no complaints so far, I'm trying to enjoy the peace & quiet as I know I'll be home in a few days & it will be noisey! Can't wait to see my babies though, we've 'face timed' a lot but it's not the same as getting a proper snuggle. Time for morning tea and another snooze!' Take care all [RS bleep] Updated on 6 Dec 2014: Updated on 7 Dec 2014: First day back home, oh my goodness I feel like my children have grown up in the 5days I've been away, my other half has done a great job looking after the house and kids whilst I've been away. I admit it didn't take me long to start folding washing and chopping vegetables ( silly silly!) but my Dad ordered me to go and rest, sensible man! So I've had a bit of rest time since being home, it's hard not to just take over again and I need to give myself a break , the swelling is bad today because I've probably done too much, the pain is at its worst too as I've taken myself off the morphine ( will see how I go!) just don't want to rely on the hard stuff if I can cope on paracetamol and Celebrex ( high pain threshold , was the same when I had my babies I didn't need much). Wound is feeling tight and itchy ( all to be expected) very little ooze, belly button is slightly tender but putting antibiotic/steroidal cream on that my surgeon prescribed. Thanking myself on a daily basis for being fit pre surgery as it's helped me with getting on my feet a lot more quickly I think, strong arms and legs mean you don't have to try and work those just sewn back together abs when getting up. also having a drain less Abdominoplasty has been great, I love my PS! Updated on 9 Dec 2014: Had a really good nights sleep ( in my own bed with a STACK of pillows, I tell you it's a military operation getting comfortable!:) I think the 5mg Oxycodone & Paracetamol (Tylenol) & Celecoxib & Ativan did the trick! I wasn't taking any chances after having a horrendous coughing fit the night before & feeling like I was being stabbed in the stomach & choking all at once! Anyway, it's good to be home, trying light duties, doing a few dishes here, stacking the dishwasher , looking at the vacuum cleaner & simply wishing it would start up all by itself .... My Mum and Dad fly back to UK today so ive been sad, crying hurt so I soon had to stop that ! Not fair I can't even have a proper cry with out pain getting in the way! Having some down time today, my youngest is sick (AGAIN- daycare kids pick up everything) with cough/cold/ conjunctivitis so he's having some time at my in laws ( they really are awesome to me) last thing I need is all those bugs making me sick too. I feel for him though because all he wants to do is cuddle his Momma. Swelling not so bad yet but it is only 9.40am, i hope all you RealSelfers are well pre and post op. Xx Updated on 10 Dec 2014: Today I had a wound check with my GP- my PS is 4 hours away so we agreed my 1week follow up would be done by my family Dr and the 3 month post op I would make the trip to see the PS. Anyway, the Dr took down the dressing and said the scar was healing well, BUT there was a 3cm area of infection on the suture line, a bit disappointing but at least it's been picked up now &'I've got a weeks course of Antibiotics, will check in next week with the progress. Take care all xx Updated on 18 Dec 2014: Hello lovely RealSelfer's! Well what a difference a week makes!! I can honestly say that physically, I am feeling a lot better, I've cut down my Oxycodone dose ( gradually weaning off, not good to come off abruptly) still taking Celecoxib (Celebrex) twice a day to keep the pain level bearable. Doing a bit more around the house, feeling stronger, but know I have to still take it fairly easy. I have had a few tears this week, my wound infection is worse & the antibiotic I was on was not the right one, so I've seen a different Dr & he swabbed it & I should get the results tomorrow, my Dr was concerned it might be a hospital acquired infection like MRSA, so please keep everything crossed for me that it's not :( Apart from the areas of infection, the rest of the wound looks good! I've stopped wearing my binder at night and can sleep on my left side ( I have ALWAYS slept on my right side but the big Hernia repair was on the right ventral area so that is still too sore to sleep on). Swelling- I go well all day wearing the binder or panty girdle, then by 5pm it looks like I've gained 5lbs! Swell hell ladies! It all goes down by the morning; I'm really looking forward to doing some exercise in the next few weeks, need to get some endorphins pumping! I think that's all for now, I hope you're all going well xx Updated on 30 Dec 2014: Hello lovelies! Sorry I didn't get around to updating last week, Christmas got in the way! I hope you all had a great break. It's New Years Eve here in Australia & I can feel 2015 is going to be a good year! Ok so this is how I'm going; 1) wound infection has finally cleared ( hooray!) the bug was in fact a perfectly 'harmless' skin flora ( of my own) that happens to cause havoc when it enters a wound. 2) I have done some treadmill walks (6Kph for 30mins) & some gentle outdoors walks, man it feels good to stretch those legs!! I do get a dragging feeling in the hernia repair area if I over do it exercise wise! I'm also back to doing most of my own housework (occasionally need help with the heavier stuff, totally not worth getting injured!) 3) I'm off the pain killers, & it's no co incidence i can feel a stretching pain in the suture line, but I've been using Palmers Skin therapy oil to soften it all up, I smell like a delicious chocolate pudding!! Haha. 4) I am sick of wearing the binders/ panty girdle/ spanx ( I have four different options to suit the cut of outfits etc) but figure it's only another 8weeks to go, then I'll follow up with my Surgeon. So that's about it ladies, I hope you're all well & ready to get stuck into 2015!! Updated on 7 Jan 2015: Hello lovely RealSelfers! How're you all going? Gee 5 weeks! Feels like 5 months!!'I think because so much changes so quickly in a short time & with being busy as it's Summer holidays here ( weird having Summer holidays in January right?? I am from the Northern Hemisphere originally so my seasons are all back to front here in Aus) & my kids are off school and daycare so, I've had a lot on my plate. I go back to work Monday week ( yey!) & I think I'll be strong enough for it, I just have to be sensible and not attempt to do things that are too heavy. I've been walking most days from 30-60 mins, did some hill walks on the weekend and I had muscle pain and cramps in my calves for days!! Actually felt good as it's muscles that are being 'awakened'! Haha I can't wait to get working out again properly, 1more week until vigorous exercise is permitted (& common sense too) I need to get toned up again and Shred!!!;) so excited to work on my new abs. I've been off the pain killers now for a couple of weeks, with the exception of Ibuprofen when I have a head ache, the hernia repair site is definitely still tender and stomping down hills is a no no ( really pulls on my stomach muscles). So I've signed up for three running races, a 5k at the start of March, a 12.5k in the middle of March and a 26k in September, how awesome it will be to run without the flapping around of my old gut!! Wooohoooo! Time to buy some new running shoes.... Updated on 7 Jan 2015: Updated on 15 Jan 2015: Hello lovely RealSelfers! I hope this post finds you well on your journeys! Well yesterday marked 6 weeks post op 'vigorous exercise allowed' had it marked on my calendar!! I went to the gym and did a RPM/Spin class with one of my friends and I loved every minute! I've been doing some training on the Eliptical machine I have at home (30 mins at a time at half the intensity of my previously 'easy' work out setting) since week 5, and walking a lot since week 3, so my aerobic capacity isn't too shoddy!! I did really have to fight the urge not to go crazy and over do it, I'm a real exercise endorphin chaser and I can really push my limits, but now is not the time (darn!). Nice and slowly.... On that note, I cannot wait to train my abs! They are still tender , so imagine any ab work is months and months away. Incision site, smooth and a little keloid in places, I plan to get it tattooed over as soon as the plastic surgeon allows, I reckon about 9months to a year. Still using palmers skin therapy oil- love love love ! Had a girls night out last weekend which included dinner at an Italian, whoa I cannot eat much anymore! Stomach muscles are so tight my stomach says ' hey lady I'm full!' Which is brilliant. Anyway, after the Italian we had a few drinks and a dance and my stomach muscles did start to tire! Still wore my CG ( gut sucker is what I really think it is!)under my dress, I think I'm getting used to it now. I go back to work on 19th and I am so excited ( I must be mad!) but I had two weeks annual leave prior to my 6 weeks off for my hernia/Diastasis repair. Time to get back to nursing people instead of me being the patient! speak soon everyone! Xx Updated on 12 Feb 2015: Hello there lovely RealSelfer's :) It's been a while since my last post as I've had a few major stresses in my life (still ongoing but getting more manageable) & with the summer holidays being over ( Australia) & my kids going back to school it has been so hectic! I have also started a second job which is still in nursing but a totally different specialty , so my brain is being challenged (in a good way!) & I'm loving the new learning experience! Anyway back to the reason I'm here! 10 weeks & 1day post op, I really cannot believe it, it feels like so much longer to me! It feels like recovery took forever in the first few weeks with the wound infection, then boom! Back to normal life! I'm working out 5 days a week, would be more but I literally cannot fit it in with work and family commitments, also I'm still building up my stamina which is slightly annoying as my mind wants to work out longer than my body is capable of! I'm getting the tone back in my legs and I'm thrilled, they seemed to turn jelly like after 3 weeks post op, I like having definition in my body! I have 29 days left to train for this 12k trail run I've signed up for, I i hope the tummy muscles hold up well! I only wear my compression garment for working out now as we've had some really hot days and to be honest, I'm sick of wearing it! I see the surgeon in about 4 weeks, very much looking forward to seeing him & seeing what he thinks of my progress, I have a little bit of skin that gets puffy looking near my sternum, I don't know whether it's my natural stomach shape or some excess skin, I suppose the surgeon will answer that for me! I hope you're all doing well and taking care of yourselves! [RS bleep] Updated on 19 May 2015: Hello , I hope you're all well, it has been a huge gap since I last posted, life seems to have happened!! But I thought I should get around to updating. Still really happy with my TT results! Still can't quite believe that it is the real me, my brain hasn't caught up with the physical change yet. I haven't gone back into my exercise as aggressively as I would have liked because of being so busy with family & work, & I've had this damn Bronchitis for three weeks which is just clearing now but I do still feel wheezey, my problem is just the frustration really, I want to get out there and get on but my lungs won't let me. I saw my surgeon for my first post op review in March and he was very pleased with the results! He told me at the appointment that he was also retiring! So I won't be seeing him for any further follow ups! Anyway, my next goal is to tighten my tummy muscles and get in great shape again, it will be hard as the days are long and cold now we're into Autumn here in Australia... But I will give it a good go! Updated on 19 Aug 2015: Hello lovely Real Selfer's! Where has the time gone? 9 months post op and I feel almost like my old self again . My family and I have had a tough time this year for many reasons ( including bad health & marital issues) but I've been strong & pushed on through the adversity, during this time, my exercise has been minimal as is my appetite & im down to 120lbs , not really happy about it as I have lost my great muscle definition & need to work on getting it back, all in good time. I'm still thrilled with my TT results & love being able to wear my clothes without the feeling of a saggy pooch tummy getting in the way! I've even gained two tattoos ( that are actually meaningful and that's s gift to myself after all these months of hard times) Anyway, time again to get fit, it's nearly Australian Spring here, bring on the outdoor exercise & sunshine!!
