36, Single Mom of 2, Yogi Who is Ready to Love Myself.

Here we are! 12 weeks (3 Months PO)! Still swelling, still working out 6 days a week and still loving my new body! Still not stepping on the scale, so I’m not sure if I’ve lost any weight with all of my cardio and weightlifting, and I really don’t care, because I’m just...happy.
At 12 weeks I finally stepped back on my yoga mat for a flow class and it felt great! All of the weightlifting I’ve done has built strength that was so apparent in my yoga practice. A couple of moves (cobra,any other heart openers) are a little uncomfortable, and I need to drop to my knees when transitioning from cobra to down dog...that movement is just a little uncomfortable. The point is though, things are getting back to normal, a new normal.
In other news I bought my first ever bikini that I may never have the courage to wear, but I bought it nonetheless. I also bought some smaller pants because all of mine were just all around too big!
I’m just going to keep on healing! I can’t wait to not live in a constant state of swollen!

Well, here we are, 2 Months (Or 9 weeks) later and still wearing the same bra and underwear set!! (I’m a sucker for good comparison pics!) Here are a few of my observations.
1. I seem to be in a constant swollen state, even here in the photos this morning. I haven’t been wearing any compression for a couple of weeks (ever), and so I think this is playing into the never ending swell. It’s still pretty firm underneath the incision area as well. I think it’s a little different from the beginning though in that it’s not super painful or uncomfortable...it just is. I seem to swell worse when working out, but I figure I’m going to swell either way so to the gym I go!
2. Negative body image is such a hard thing to escape! I swear, I need to get on here more often and read my pre-surgery posts and look at those pictures because it reminds me how far I’ve come. It’s amazing how quickly that can be forgotten! It allows me to embrace where I am today, even if I’m still not the “ideal” body type.
3. I have been working out like never before and loving it!! I’m doing about 35 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of lifting a day usually 6 days a week and I think I’m addicted to it! I still haven’t done core work or jumped back into yoga, but I think my body is almost ready. I am hoping one day I see a difference in the rest of my body from all of this effort (without surgery!) I do find though that I swell during and after each workout and I am increasingly numb at that time too, which I find rather funny.
4. At the end of each day, I still have some tightness and discomfort. I’m not sure if it’s from sneezing a bunch lately, or just how active I’ve been, but my body is generally ready for bed when it’s time. I am able to sleep on my sides, though not on my belly just yet. I can lie on my belly again just fine and even do some light stretching on it, but sleeping on it just doesn’t feel good yet. Somehow, I think this surgery has made me a back sleeper!
5. I haven’t done any scar therapy, and I’m not sure I will. I really don’t mind my scar, and my understanding of scar therapy is that it just gets you to it’s final look sooner. I am particularly weird about chemicals in and on my body, so I will occasionally do vitamin E, but that’s about it. I think Dr. Wolfe did a beautiful incision on me and in time it will fade.
So, that’s it for now!! I really can’t wait to see what my “finished product” looks like, but until then, I’ll be here enjoying what I’ve never had before and working towards improvements in the gym!! Operation confidence is underway...I’ve got to start dating again at some point!!

Hey ladies - I’m officially 8 weeks today...but I didn’t do pictures for a few reasons. I haven’t been wearing any binder or compression since Friday including during workouts and I’m so swollen! Even in the mornings and also, I plan to take this to monthly updates (if anyone has even made it this far into my posts) so that means photos are coming in a week anyway!
I have had a few milestones at my eight weeks that I think are worth sharing as well which are; I ran today for the first time since my surgery! It was just week 1 day 1 of 5k program, but I did it! I did 1 minute intervals of walking and running and it felt great! I have also been lifting weights for about 3 weeks now and while I spend most of my days sore, it feels pretty amazing. I figure, I’m going to swell if I workout or not, so I might as well work out! I have also been taking baths almost every night, just because I finally can. It’s glorious to lay there with a body I’m excited about!
Things that still hurt - sneezing multiple times a day. (This may not hurt if I was still wearing compression?) Also, my hips seem increasingly sore (like bruised...thanks lipo?) sometimes wearing jeans all day can start to irritate my belly. Im still incredibly numb and I’ve noticed that after a workout the numbing sensation is a little more intense.
All of this to say...I love my new body, all of this was absolutely worth it and the best is still yet to come!!