31, No Kids, Loose Skin After Weight Loss, Tummy Tuck with Lipo to Flanks, Breast Lift and Augmentation. Spokane, WA

I started putting on weight at about 7 years old and continued to gain until I was 14. After a certain point I was too embarrassed to weigh myself, even though I was the only one in the room. When I stopped weighing myself I was about 220 pounds and spilling out of size 16 clothes. At that time I was shorter than I am now, maybe 5' 2" and I had developed C-cup breasts.

I've always been good at sports and even at my heaviest I enjoyed playing softball and light activity like walking and golf. I grew up on military bases and always had a lot of freedom to roam. I was riding bikes all day, playing in the woods, and doing P.E. at school; but I was also going to McDonald's every day and buying myself 'treats.' I couldn't out exercise my appetite.

One day after school, at the start of the summer when I turned 15, I was sitting on the couch eating and I suddenly felt inspired to go for a walk. It was raining but I've always enjoyed walking in the rain so I grabbed an umbrella and went out the door. For whatever reason, partway through the walk, I decided to try running. I didn't make it very far before I had to stop and walk again, but I decided to try again the next day. I followed that pattern for months and also started doing mini-laps around my backyard. After I had worn a circular pattern in the grass my mother demanded that I run on the street instead. Eventually I was running 5 miles a day with a day off here and there. I discovered that I absolutely love running (I know that makes me weird to most people).

Over that summer I lost so much weight that I looked like a different person. In fact, most people who went to high school with me think that I transferred in at the start of sophomore year.

In college I got down near 120 pounds and was wearing a size 5 juniors. I was still running all the time but my diet was horrible and I was 'skinny-fat.' After I graduated I joined a local running club and I noticed that the fittest, healthiest looking people had some muscle and weren't just thin. So I joined a gym with my friends and started a weight lifting routine. I promptly gained 10 pounds and lost a few inches off my waist. A couple years later I worked with a personal trainer and gained 5 more pounds of muscle and lost two more inches off my waist. Don't ever skip weightlifting!

It's been years since then and I've gained more weight, but my measurements have stayed the same and I'm very happy with my appearance other than the extra skin. Losing the weight caused my breasts to shrink to a B or sometimes an A-cup depending on the bra. Now my weight hovers at around 140-145 and has been there for at least 3 years.

Going from over 220 to 120, then to 130 and now to 145 has done a number on my stomach and breasts, and I'm more than ready to not have to shift skin around when I put my clothes on. Yoga pants are awesome but it would be great to be comfortable in jeans one day.

My surgery is expe$$$ive. I'm going to be staying overnight and there will be a second surgeon to assist with the procedure.

Went to the pre-op today to make my final payment and go over any questions. I'm nervous but I feel like I've been nervous for months so it's just the new normal.

I've been working with Audrey and Kolbie in addition to Dr. Wheeler and they are both great.

When Kolbie measured me for the compression garment she said, "you're so tiny," and I had to laugh because she's right, I would consider myself a small person if it wasn't for the skin/fat rolls. I can't wait to stop pulling my workout pants up past my belly button to keep extra fluff from sticking out.

We discussed the implants and ultimately didn't make a choice about over or under the muscle, he'd prefer to decide during surgery so he can make the best choice for my body.

I had an option to get a prescription blood thinner to reduce the odds of clotting and I decided to take it. It increases the chances of there being blood around the incisions (more bleeding over all), which ups the odds for capsular contracture, but that won't kill me and a blood clot would. He also prescribed a stool softener that I will start taking a few days before. Plus the usual pain meds and an antibacterial soap for washing the week leading up to surgery.

After that I walked over to the lab a few blocks away to get blood work.

I can't believe it's only 22 days away!

Surgery is tomorrow at 9am. I went in this morning for markings and the permanent marker smell is already driving me crazy. We talked briefly about how low I want the scar for the TT to be (as low as possible), and also about the size of my areola, which I hadn't thought about and I don't really care. My belly button is pretty far off-center naturally, so I know to expect it to still be off-center when I'm all healed.

I think I'm nervous but it's hard to tell. I've done everything possible to prepare and I feel extremely ready, so I don't have anything to fret about. But there's a part of me that just wants to worry about something.

A few of our friends who are nurses have offered to stop by once a day to check on my incisions, make sure I'm handling the medication, and help me stay sanitary. My husband turned in paperwork today to get leave under FMLA to be with me full time for at least the first week or two.

I'm glad I'll be staying at the surgery center overnight because I have three little dogs who don't understand personal space and I know it's going to be hell trying to keep them from crawling all over me. I read someone's post that recommended keeping a pillow over your chest and stomach at all times in case of pouncing dogs. I will definitely be doing that since mine like to wake me up in the morning by standing on my chest.