"AFTER" Photos..

Yesterday was a big day for me!  I posed nude for my "AFTER" photos with Dr. Forman. =)

As a reminder if you aren't aware.  In April 2009 I had a panniculectomy surgery.  You can google it for pics of you choose. =)  This removed the excess skin from my lower abdomen after my weight loss from a stomach reduction in May of 2000.  Having that removed reshaped my entire torso as well as it now allows me to be way more physically active than I was before... all of the progress posted here. =)

In preparation for my appointment, I wrote him a letter thanking him for his expert efforts and care of me during and post surgery.  I knew I wasn't going to be able to say what I wanted to say in a clear manner without bawling like a baby, and so it was easier to write it in a note. =)

The voices in my head were all chatty on the way over to my appointment:

Voice 1 - You know, think about all the times you came here to get dead skin cut off week after week.  Remember that time you went to his office and said, "I feel sad!" and he said, "Oh really.. you would have thought you would be showing off your new body to everyone by now and instead you have a huge gaping hole on the front of you.. you think you might feel sad?" All with his cutey cute Jason Bateman smile...

Voice 2 - He did up your pain meds and happy pills at that appointment and that certainly helped.

Voice 1 - I have come a really long way since then.  I am so grateful to have chosen to do this for myself. 

*tears start coming*

Voice 2 - Now WHY do the happy events in your life always make you cry?  This is a HAPPY event.. stop crying.  You are gonna be all puffy for your after photos.

Voice 1 - Maybe I cry because I don't think that I deserve this happiness.

Voice 2 - Well that is what you are gonna think now isn't it?  I don't really think that we are in a clear mental state right now to be making psychological assessments on the motivation of your tears.

Bottom line, this is a happy moment in your life.. be HAPPY for it rather than crying your way through it as though you don't deserve to be happy.

*Ok Voice 2 has a point I will have to consider again later, but for now I turn up Black Eyed Peas to drown out all of their voices*

Imma be takin them pics, lookin' all fly and shit
Imma be the flyest chick, so fly
Imma be spreadin' my wings
Imma be doin' my thang, do it, do it, okay


I get to the appointment and I am a few minutes early.  I end up waiting about 45 minutes in the lobby and during that time the voices in my head are all talking.. but I am trying to drown them out and just spend my time stretching.  I get so overzealous in my stretching I almost throw out a muscle area in my back.  Reeeeeeeeelax Lorelei. =)

I finally get in to see him and he is amazed at my progress - the food, the exercise, and my mental attitude.  We talk a little about what I have been doing, and what I can plan for in the future.  Then, for only the second time in my life, I pose naked for full body photos.  We look at my "BEFORE" photos again and it is really amazing the difference in my overall shape, my posture, my muscles. =)

It has been a long, but very successful journey since April of 2009.  I have learned so much about myself, my body, my health, my mind..  I am so grateful to have met Dr. Forman and made the choice for this surgery. 

As I have mentioned before I can't thank Kate or my hubby enough.  Months of taking on all of the household responsibilities, the work responsibilities and everything - PLUS taking care of me while I recovered.  I am forever grateful! =)

It changed my life! =)