10/8/12; Columbus Day. He Discovered a New World and So Did I - Scottsdale, AZ

Made the final payment on the surgery this morning and got the email to update my review a few minutes after. Still happy with the surgery. Love how my scars are healing, very tight line, she did a great job with the closure. Tried on bikini bottoms yesterday and not only did I not cry, I actually bought them! I'll have to wear a tankini top to cover the scars but thats ok. Maybe if I get a spray tan they won't show. I've been back on my fitness and diet and the weight is going back in the right direction - DOWN! Finally! I still swell quite a bit by the end of the day but I was told to expect that for at least a year. I look fantastic every morning and bloated every night. Oh well, its better than it was. Still happy with my decision. Happier still that I am back on the losing track. Need to get back into the weight training. I had to take a break due to a personal issue with my previous trainer but I've been doing a Couch to 5K program. I've always been strong but I have never been a runner so this is an amazing achievement.

Wow, another month has passed already? I feel back to normal. I still have swell hell everyday. My scar is healing ok. Its higher than I would like it to be on the sides. It shows over my jeans sometimes. Hopefully that won'r matter as the scar lightens. One of my biggest pet peeves is that my pants never stay up anymore. My thighs are still fat so my jeans have to fit over them and then are too big around the waist. Even with a belt I'm constantly hiking them up. Perhaps once I love the weight in my thighs this will no longer be an issue. My workouts are back on track with just slightly modified ab work. I have had a lot of stress in my life and my eating is not as healthy as I would like. I have not lost the weight I should have if I had gone back to the lifestyle I was living prior to the surgery. I eat crap occasionally and I skip workouts. I think a lot of that has to do with my boyfriend moving in right before my surgery. It was a lot easier to eat the foods on my meal plan when I was the only one eating. And it was a lot easier to get out of bed at 4am when I was sleeping alone in that bed. Now, not as easy. Excuses. Need to re-focus!

Yesterday marks my 12th week PO. I swell a lot during the day still. I am out of my CG. I am back at the gym without restrictions. Cardio on the stairmaster and weight lifting, although due to 10 weeks away, my weights are noticeably lower. 100 daily crunches and leg lifts started last week and are no problem. Sleeping any which way I want. Seemingly no restrictions. Scars still flat, one side is pink, other side a bit darker red. Too much time off from the gym coupled with the holidays were not good to my weight/waist line. Back on track now and down 3 lbs since the New Year began. Going to get some better stretching in with some new yoga dvd's I got for X-Mas too.