2 years later …. love my results!

I started my journey almost 14 years ago. I had just finished my engineering degree, and I guess through the stress and sedentary lifestyle I led I had ballooned to over 250lbs. My convocation dress was a size 22, and when I looked at the photos, I knew I had to make a change. I was always a heavy girl, and loved to eat. I started WW and lost 50lbs pretty quickly, and kept it off for quite a number of years. I thought I looked pretty good, and convinced myself that I would always weigh heavy so I settled into this weight for quite a while.

I moved to Calgary a few years later and met my future husband, who loved me at the size I was (about a 16). I started commuting for work up to Fort McMurray, and yoyo'd in weight up to 240 (damn camp food!!!), then worked my butt off to get down to 190 for our wedding, then back up to almost 270lbs during my pregnancy with my first son!!! When he was 9 months I went to see a Madonna concert and vowed not to wear a maternity outfit so I went shopping and had to buy a size 20! This was my second ureka moment! I also had more motivation this time, my son! I hated seeing photos of us together and started omitting myself in them. I hated that I didn't want to be in photos with my precious baby boy :(

I didn't return to WW but I started a simple eating routine, sort of 'eating clean' when I omitted all processed foods. I also started running, and was hooked!!!! I did my first half marathon just weeks before I got pregnant with my second son. Vowing not to let pregnancy affect my health, I only gained a modest 25lbs, and now that he is 10 months old I am at my lightest weight ever, just under 160lbs!!! (I am 5'9"). I hope to get down to between 150 and 155 before the surgery.

I booked my consult 9 months ago, and will be seeing a surgeon in Edmonton. We are currently in the moving process to Calgary, so in hind site I wish I had sought out a surgeon there but I am not willing to start this process from scratch. I hope that he is worth the drive!!! I am lucky in that we have a nanny coming as I return to work in July and I am hopeful that I will have extra help from her during my recovery. The office said he books surgery in a short time frame after the consult so I would expect to be getting it done in the fall. OMG I can't wait!!!

The surgery:

TT - The tummy tuck is a non-negotiable. I always carried weight right in front - boobs and belly. I was up to a size 40H at one point, and had a waist circumference of over 50 inches!!! Of course my legs stayed fairly slim, but they are still showing the signs of me being heavier for most of my life.

BR/BL/BA - I was also thinking I would need a BR, as I was consistently wearing a 36FF for the last few years. But with the last weight loss round, I am down to a 34D, but crinkled and saggy. So now I am thinking a lift is enough. I am afraid of flat bottomed boobs that I have seen in some after photos. I will talk to my surgeoun about it, and hopefully he makes some suggestions. I always cursed my large breasts, but as they sort of defined me I feel lost without some extra oomph there! So a BA is not out of the question. Any advice here would be greatly appreciated!!!

LIPO - I also think I MAY get some lipo of the flanks, I am a muffin top girl and find keeping my pants up a daily struggle. Again, hope my surgeoun can talk me through what will give me the best results.

I plan on taking some before photos today, so I will post some. Thanks to all the ladies before me for posting their stories. It inspires and educates all of us taking first steps before surgery!!

Kate