Here I am at 1 year post op!! So happy! - Arlington Heights, IL

So many changes over the past year. My confidence is through the roof! That is huge! I started working part time, my work outs suffered and I put on some weight, but am back to my work outs and will post pics in about six months to show any changes! But as far as my recovery goes, I'm 95% done swelling. Dr. Placik told me I still have some swelling below my belly button, but everything is healing wonderfully! My scar is awesome, the sides are almost invisible! My belly button looks awesome. I'm so happy! I will tighten up my abs and drop the weight that I gained, (less than 10 lbs), and get some definition. I started getting some before working, but it is hidden again. Though the muscle is still tight underneath the thin layer of fat. The difference between now and before surgery is that I would have just kept going with the eating and bad habits. But I'm not going back! The worst thing I have to deal with now is itching from doing my "landscaping". I never did it before losing weight since I couldn't see it anyway! I am so happy I've done this and wish I would have lost the weight and had this done years ago, but I didn't and I'm happy that I did it now.

The biggest thing to keep in mind is that this is a huge change. You will feel awesome about yourself but things could change in your relationships. I have lost some friends over this and there are thoughts going through my head that I have to sort through! Because I feel awesome. I have no more pain or pins and needles. My tummy is numb around my belly button and probably will be for life, but it is a small price to pay.

My belly button looks awesome. There are a couple of small scars, but nothing compared to the long slot it used to be! As I massage the scars, they get smoother and smoother. You don't really notice them. I wore a bikini last year, but I plan on looking even better in one this year!

Okay, I haven't been the greatest with my eating or with my updating, but both are getting better! This has been my summer of getting out there and doing stuff! Now I'm back in the gym more and doing ab work, (and actually seeing results! Holey Moley!), and my food is falling into place. I have found that my weight has leveled out and I'm okay with where I'm at. I'm not disciplined or inclined enough to cut out all the bad stuff and have no body fat. Just not me, though I love the look of the fitness competitors! Want to be just about there, but not fully.

Anyway, my scars are fading nicely. I still have numbness at the bottom of my tummy, but it doesn't bother me, just feels a bit strange sometimes. Otherwise, I still have a tiny bit of tightness, but it stretches out and I'm a bit swollen, but it doesn't bother me.

I find that I walk around with my head up and with this air of confidence now. It's strange loving yourself when there was so much self hatred for so long! Sure, there are other parts of my body that bother me, but I just ignore them now. The major things have been changed and I'm almost through my second year of keeping my weight off, so I'm proud of myself and proud that I have gone through with these surgeries and that the outside matches the inside. I've accepted my happiness! I deserve it as do all of you who are doing what you need to do to love yourselves! We rock!

I will post pics soon, going to have the hubby take some so I can get them on here!

I've made it to the 6 month mark and I'm still very happy! Though as you may see from my pics, I would love to say I'm swollen, but I think it's some weight gain! I tend to eat when I'm stressed and I've had some stressful days/weeks, but I'm getting back on track now. One thing that directly relates to my surgery that has been stressful is dealing with the added attention and dealing with a hubby who was completely on board with the surgery, but who subconsciously sabotages me at just about every turn. It's very hard for me to say no to eating out, I love not having to cook, clean or worry about dinner! And he knows it. Plus I was making "shakes" for myself or eating lighter and I know it was driving him crazy that I wasn't making dinner for him too. (On a side note, neither of us work, so he can do for himself!). Anyway, so I've been dealing with this and other life events and I've been eating more and not exercising to my usual degree. (I'm also developing rotator cuff issues, so that's not helping), but I'm trying to get back on track, like I said.

Another thing to keep in mind when getting this surgery is that big changes are happening to your body. And your confidence level goes WAY up! And just because of that, you are more attractive! Though I'm still struggling with the "fat girl" image, I still realize I look a heck of a lot better then I did 6 months ago! It takes awhile to accept and to deal with the added attention you will get. (Mind you, I had BA also, so that is a huge difference! Barely a B cup to D's!, with a flatter tummy!). My mind tends to wander at times, though I would never act on it, but it's rather intimidating and empowering to know the power my body wields now! Slowly, I'm getting used to it.

A huge pro that I've noticed is the strength in my abs! I love that I can do things now that I couldn't do before. I've been doing Pilates type moves for my core and hopefully I will be released to do a bit more ab work after my appointment next Tuesday. I'm finding that my body is pretty amazing, though I have to quit abusing it quite so much. Bad food, alcohol and I've been smoking again, which I have to give up! It's a very love/hate relationship!

Have some vacations planned in the very near future. Going up to Wisconsin Dells this month and Las Vegas in September! I'm very excited! If I can think of anything else to add to this, I will do so. I just wanted to say something and download some pics. Not much change, though I feel bigger then in previous pics. Oh well!