/bvgc

Wow! I've been a member for years and FINALLY now I can share my journey! I've suffered from stretch marks and raisin belly since my 1st child, 7 years ago. It devastated me because my body is my temple and my passion is dance. I felt I had no chance against any female competition with a stomach or FEET like mine! It was embarrassing.

I was born with a bunion on both feet (This is the bravest I've felt in a LONG TIME: to finally say that to the world, WOOHSA!) and the more I wore heels the worse they got they got. I went to fashion school where I studied fashion design and heels are our life!! But i completely regret that mindset bc my bunion got so bad they became painful And it ruined all my shoes???? I didn't let that stop me from Dancing tho! Hell nobody had to see my feet, Lol! I danced my as off and was good at it. UNTIL I got pregnant..(damn it is what I thought - I knew I had to slow down).

After having my beautiful 8lb baby boy my life changed! I became a mom and my passion to dance had to sit on the back burner.

That was 7 years ago; Another kid later (who is 2) I feel like it's time for mommy to get her groove back!

*Just some photos of my family in 2012*

I went hard in the gym every week. Losing weight and eating cleaner but my pouch was not going anywhere. My back was getting worse bc of the DR. I never used to have pain in my lower back and; because I had no support in my lower abdomen from the front, whenever I bent down for too long it would get painful.

I would lay flat on the floor hoping and praying the gap in my ab muscles were closer and I was disappointed every time. SMH So I started to wear a waist trainer, use 'It Works' wraps to help pull my pouch in but they were just temporary fixes. I needed a TT and I need it now!

Fast forward! I finally had surgery on my left foot to remove the bunion last year. What a change in my life that made. I went from the exercising machine to a splint, then cast, then boot, then surgical show for 12 weeks! It slowed me all the way down, but i was ecstatic to have one foot looking normal. The hardest part was trying to keep up with my 2 boys on one foot. Thank God for a supporting husband.

Slowly but surely momma was going to get her groove back for sure. Just had to be patient..those were my thoughts. Pics below of my before and after left foot [(OMG)] and my wrinkly raisin like belly.