39yo Fit Mom, 5’3” 120lbs - Mommy Makeover TT W Small Vertical Scar and BL with Small BA

Had my 6 month check up and was cleared to stop taping 24/7. Still continuing with Silagen 2x/day and taping if working out or out in the sun (beach/pool), and daily breast massage. Even though the tape is for sensitive skin, my skin is over it and has been for quite some time! Lots of irritation and itching to the point where I often wondered if it was doing more harm than good. However, I love my surgeon’s results so I was determined to follow his protocol to ensure the best outcome. This journey has been a-lot harder than I ever thought. It’s definitely more of a marathon than a sprint. I’ve read and researched a lot of other’s progress and I’ve come to the determination that it’s not healthy to compare. I think I am a slow healer and will take the full year to recover. I am 80% back to normal functionality, but still can’t do any lower abs and don’t feel safe yet to do oblique work. Explosive movements like Burpees are still a no go and certain other high intensity exercises don’t feel right yet. I can do plenty, but am not where I was pre-surgery. My upper abdomen is starting to get some definition back, but no where like it used to be. Am I disappointed? Yes, but I am reminding myself that I’m still healing and need to be patient. My lower stomach is still quite swollen, numb and firm like a block (hard to see in pictures). I’m trying to reserve full judgment until I’m 1 year out. Do I think this procedure was still worth it and that my surgeon did an excellent job? Yes! I don’t have my hernia anymore, my core has been tightened and my loose skin is gone and my fake belly button turned out great (I was really worried about this). I think I just significantly underestimated the length of recovery and how being limited from my day to day routine would impact me. I am encouraged by my new freedom of not having to be taped 24/7 and with the little gains I am making each week. Can’t wait for these next 6 months to go by so that I can finally see the end result!!

Now that life is pretty much back to normal, time seems to be flying. I am no longer hyper focused on my recovery. To date, I’ve had a super clean diet, but this last week my 95/5 has become more of 50/50 (50% of the time clean eating and 50% junk eating). I feel like I can see it in my progress..or lack there of. We had a few kids birthday parties and that always details me. Don’t know why I just can’t say NO!! I am resolved to get back to 95% clean and hopefully see this residual swelling disappear. I have a few spitting stitches around my left nipple. PS says it’s normal. Whew..! I will let them be until I go back next week for my my 8wk check up. Since my last post I have Spun twice, ran 5 miles and did a shoulder workout. All have gone well!! Definitely have lost stamina and strength, but I know it will come back with time. I am back to work next week. Excited and nervous at the same time. Hope everyone is well!

I was cleared to workout at 6wkspo and went to the gym the very next day. My PS said the only thing off limits at this point is ab exercises. He said there is no lb limit for weights, but to just listen to my body. Prior to surgery I was running 1-2x/wk, teaching 2 Spin classes/wk and 2 Boot Camp classes/wk, plus training clients 10-15 hrs/wk. I have 2 more weeks before I plan to go back to work, so during this time my plan is to figure out what my body can sustain. I am not too worried about the training piece, but teaching is another thing. With all this in mind, my first workout was 1 hr long and started with the Stepmill. Normally, I would always do weights first, but since I haven’t done anything in 6 wks, I wanted to start with cardio and see how that went and allow my muscles to warm up a bit. I did 30 min on Stepmill at 2 levels below my normal. At first, I was surprised by how winded I felt. I wasn’t breathless, but definitely could feel my lack of stamina. For the last remaining 3 minutes I put it up to the level I would normally do. It was good. Definitely wouldn’t have been able to have done the full 30 minutes at that level, but felt good to end there. Next, I decided that I would continue to work my lower body, specifically my glutes. Since surgery, my butt has disappeared into the back of my legs :(. I wanted to keep it light so I did 4 sets of 20 reps of: weighted sumo squats (only used 1 12.5lb db and was able to have deep range of motion), elevated weighted bridges w/ 2 sec hold at top (used 2 5lb db) and unweighted donkey kicks SS with pulses. I had to be careful on how I got myself down to the ground for the bridges and rolled over for donkey kicks. I stretched my hamstrings for 2 min at the end. My legs were like jello! The next morning I could already feel the soreness. I am normally a second day soreness person, so this was a little surprising. At any rate, for my next workout, I decided to again start with cardio and did 30 min on the treadmill with it set on the highest incline. I had 5lb weights and alternated every minute of walking with and w/o the weights. My pace started pretty slow, but by the end I was up to 2.9 which was pretty good. I then went and did back for weights. I am not quite ready for shoulders as I haven’t really been fully extending my arms over head much. Back was good. Again, did half of what I normally do for weight, but felt good to stretch. Also, you use your abs a lot when you work your back. I could feel my abs working to stabilize my body and they felt good!! Interesting fact, my sweat production is like 60% less of what it normally is. I definitely am not working out as hard, but it’s still challenging. Hopefully, this doesn’t mean that my metabolism has significantly slowed down. Day 3 post release I thought I might try running, but my legs were pretty sore so I decided to clean my house from top to bottom (that’s exercise right??). Thus far my workout experience has been pretty humbling as it’s a fraction of what I’m used to, but I am trying to be careful and respect the healing process. I would hate to mess something up at this point. I am optimistic and know that this is just the beginning. I think I will try Spinning before running (less jarring on the body) and will try shoulders. May have to limit over head work, but we shall see! I am still taking my Omegas, Liposomal Turmeric, Bromelain, Vitamins C, D, and E. My diet is really clean..lots of water and antioxidant rich food to aid in recovery (berries of all kinds, spinach, kale, nuts, lean protein 4-5x/day, sweet potatoes and butternut squash). My PS said I could retire my faja/waist cincher. However, because of my job, I ordered a new compression garment that’s more like shape wear. I could have stuck with the faja, but that thing has so much boning in it that it would be uncomfortable for floor work when I am teaching and it also digs into the incisions under my breasts when seated and leaning forward (think seated spin bike position). Honestly, I am tired of shelling out money, but it’s worth the extra $20 at this point to be comfortable. So far, I really like the garment. I’ve worn it for both workouts and to sleep in. I will have to take a picture of it. Also, almost all of my old sports bras fit! Had to buy a few new real bras, but I live in sports bras, so I was more excited about this!! Happy healing to all!