Waited So Long for This - It is Time!

For so many years I have dreamed about getting a tummy tuck and lipo for my ever-drooping fat apron and my bookshelf hips. I have lost weight, gained weight back, lost it again - only to gain it back. I've been financially ready, and then didn't have the time and visa-versa. A million things have stood in my way. Not this time! I've lost almost 70 pounds, and I may not be at my goal weight yet, but the stars have aligned and I'm going to do this! I'm 57 years old, 5'7", and as of this morning 183 pounds. My highest weight was 247 (although I think it was actually higher, but I didn't weigh myself). I have been on a doctor's weight loss plan since June of 2017, but the real reason I've lost weight and am 100% confident about my future loss is that I was diagnosed with celiac disease and when I joined the doctor's weight loss program - which was low carb, I just decided it was time to change my eating once and for all. The first couple of months were hard, but now I'm sailing through this. It's kind of "Grain Brain", Bright Line Eating, Paleo, quasi-Keto, and Whole30 meshed together. All I know is I feel great. I wish I had the time to lose the last 30-40 before surgery, but for lots of reasons, I've decided to do it now. I'll lose the remaining pounds and hopefully my skin won't loosen up too much. Dr. Gayoso felt that my excess weight was fairly localized to my fat apron and hips, and I should be ok losing the rest of the weight after surgery. He also told me about a "reverse" tummy tuck - which is pulling from under the breast - since I'm having a breast lift later this year. But one of the most exciting things from my pre-op appointment last week (after the nearly unbearable embarrassment of posing nude with the doctor and my husband in the same room) was an amazing suggestion by Dr. Gayoso. He was saying he was going to remove the fat (lipo) at the top of my butt to give it more shape. I said "I wish you could put in the bottom of my butt since I have such a flat ass - it would be nice to finally have a butt". He said "let's do it!". I was confused and I said "do you mean a BBL?" and he said - "well yes, but it's not really a lift, it's just a fat transfer, and we'll have more than enough to transfer. Do you want to do it?" I was shocked for a nanosecond, and I quickly glanced at my husband with a giant smile on my face, and I said "YES, Let's do it". Because he was already doing the lipo, and I'm obviously already paying for the surgery center and anesthesia, it made the additional cost only $1200. Imagine! I was hoping just to be able to fit into normal-sized clothes without being embarrassed, and now I may actually have a body I'm not ashamed of in the light of day! I was SOOO excited by this turn of events.
So I'm comfortable with my decision. But now the clock is ticking, and I just want to lose as much weight as I can in the next couple of weeks, and get in all the exercise I can since I know I'll be sidelined for at least 3 months after the surgery. I'm just so excited... and so very scared all at the same time. But I'm ready!!

Hard to believe I’m saying this, but I’m incredibly lucky that I’m so busy at work trying to prepare for taking a few weeks off that I haven’t had any time to really process this super big surgery in front of me. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks purchasing all the supplies that I need to make this go as easy as possible. I’m not really afraid of the pain, but I’d like to be prepared just in case. And since I’m getting a tummy tuck, lipo, and a BBL on Friday, I’m trying to get products that will help me accommodate my front and back at the same time. I took the advice of other women on this site, and I purchased a raised toilet seat, BBL pillow, a walker, body pillow, and rented a power lift recliner for the next month. My prescriptions are all filled, I have my arnica tea, arnica cream, lipo foam, and compression socks. My big sister arrives in two days, since she’ll be taking care of me post-surgery. I’m so OCD, so I’m hoping that all of my ducks are in a row, and this will go smoothly. This reminds me of being pregnant and going into nesting mode-LOL! I’m just cleaning, organizing, shopping, and hoping for the best! If I get any spare time before Friday, I’ll post some “before” photos from when I was much heavier that I am now. It really helps me focus on why I’m doing this when I see those. Hopefully it will provide a gauge for those that are following my story.

Today’s the day! I’m also posting a couple of photos from about 75 pounds ago :-)