Fleur De Lis Girl- Looking For Normal - Raleigh, NC

I agonized over posting photos because there has been so much shame all my life about my body. I feel silly to tell you all that I am crying right now at the thought of people seeing them. I have been married for over twenty years to a wonderful, caring, supportive man who never has uttered a single negative word about my body and yet I have never stood in front of him naked for more than seconds until several weeks ago at the doctors office while the doctor took my measurements. To be honest I feel more shameful now nearly 100 pounds lighter than I did before because my heavier body had a rounder shape and did not hang in the manner it does now. I feel physically better but emotionally I am more ashamed. I decided to post the photos because of how brave all the rest of you are with sharing them and I have taken such great comfort in your stories and your photos and I feel that if there is someone else out there who will take comfort in mine and my journey than I owe that. So thank you to all you women who will never know how much your stories about your journey have helped me have courage to move forward with this surgery and helped me stand in my truth with a teeny tiny bit of courage. I don't know any of you but I feel tremendous love towards you all.

After a lifetime of being overweight - I have lost 97 pounds and now am moving forward and getting rid of the excess skin. Mother to four- a set of twins and an 8 pounder and the last one was 12 pounds and 25 inches long. I want to run without flapping and do yoga without having to tuck it in. The difference between my stomach size and my hips/leg size is 6 sizes and I look forward to them both being in the same area. I am not looking for a flat stomach - I guess I am just looking forward to feeling normal.