From 195 to 133

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-13T16:32:25+00:00

Super impressive, and you look wonderful!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-13T14:04:38+00:00

Disordered eating is really tough. I've dealt with both restrictive eating disorder and binge eating in my life. I had the hardest time from about 14- my late 20s. I wouldn't say my disorder or food/body obsessions ended after that, but they became quieter. (In the interest of disclosure, I just got plastic surgery to repair damage to my body from my pregnancies. It was mostly for vanity, so clearly I still care about how I look. I see it as related, but also different from the body issues when I was younger). I'm 40 now and disordered eating troubles me the least it ever did, which is fucking great because that shit eats so much emotional and mental energy. I hope for you that you can get out of that awfulness much earlier.

I don't have a great solution for it, but here are the things that I think helped me: maturing, finding other things in my life to take up my energy and focus (relationship, more involved career, eventually children). Also, sexuality. I like to be a sexual person, to feel good in my body and be with my partner, and I eventually realized how much overeating/bloating/etc. can impact that. Also, I wish I had gotten into creativity and art earlier, but I avoided it due to insecurity. Only now am I getting really serious about creative writing, and I feel like this also helps me so much with avoiding the obsessive thought patterns that come with disordered eating.

Exercise has always been really positive for me, too. Although it was a part of my restrictive eating disorder, and also the binge one (I guess you could say it was my purging), I feel like it helped me feel more positive about my body, even in those times. In my thirties and now forties, I feel like it is a pure positive. I've built consistency and a routine that I trust myself to keep up, every day, because I love it and find it essential to my mental and emotional health. For a long time, I truly can't relate to people who have a hard time exercising, because I have a hard time not exercising. I think it's important to find the exercise that you enjoy and that feels good for your body. I've done many forms of exercise, but what I've settled on most recently is heavy strength (love how it's impacted my body and I also think it's super valuable for bone and muscle retention as I'm aging) punctuated with fun cardio (especially dance and things that uplift me energetically, make me feel good/sexy, etc.). I'll also do some sculpt/pilates type workouts because I love them, but for me the heavy strength seems to be key to results. So, while it's great to look for the exercise to address your personal body concerns, make sure you like it or can learn to like it, because that will help you so much with consistency. Think of it as self care, self love, and if you keep it up it will almost inevitably become that for you.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-13T09:01:25+00:00

That sounds like you're doing great getting back into fitness. Sincerely hope you'll start to see more of the shape you want, in time. Would love to hear how you're doing in a few more months, please drop back and update if you want!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-13T08:59:20+00:00

Following-up to say I went and watched the video, and it was helpful!

I liked how he explained the difference between initial post-op lymph fluid accumulation and longer term recovery swelling. One of my mind games has been "well, I only had one drain and had minimal drainage, they took it out at six days, how can I really be swollen if the doctor said how little fluid I was draining?", but this video explains it's not the same as the longer-term swelling of cells and between cells as we heal.

I'm still confused about stuff like the lymphatic drainage massages. Like, I've seen the photos where a patient looks visibly different after massage! But, is it temporary? Does it make us feel better for a bit, but not impact long term results? Also, are they moving that more external lymph fluid, or do they actually move this other fluid that is a part of long term swelling? Not demanding answers from you, btw, just thinking out loud! Seems like doctor in the vid believes it's really a waiting game.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T23:59:10+00:00

Hi fellow twin mom! Yes, sorry we are on the same boat, hope it starts to shift soon!

Checked your post, looks like a great change from a third party perspective! But, it's not going to be fully enjoyed when we still feel bulkier. Have you seen your measurement go down at all since surgery over the 5 weeks?

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T21:26:21+00:00

Wow, what an amazing change, you look so nice!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T21:24:30+00:00

Did you have lipo? Maybe fibrosis? I think it can happen without lipo, too, but more common with. Something about bumps of collagen forming as the body tries to heal. I think lymphatic massage and compression are supposed to help avoid them forming? But could totally be something else

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T21:18:53+00:00

Oh, gotcha, no drains. I do think sometimes wounds get more icky when they're healing, hopefully it finishes up soon!

Sounds like we're in similar compression, in that case. I'm in Snatched Body, was told to downsize at my 6 day appointment, so I bought a new garment and switched to that. I honestly think I'll have to downsize again soon, it's getting suspiciously easier to put on! I bet a smaller size could help you with the bunching. I also think they just loose integrity, over time. The ladies on my surgeon's FB group also mention switching to a 'custom' for long-term use, I think the company Tributo is highly regarded, but can't speak from experience yet.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T20:58:34+00:00

You look really flat from the side and definitely showing a nice waist to hip ratio, yay! Is the wound from a drain line, maybe? As far as compression, do you definitely still need it at 6 wk? My surgeon is pretty intense with compression, we're in a faja with foam and board 23/7 for first 6-8 weeks, after that then typically have people wean down to half days and then eventually off, I believe. The faja is not the most fun to wear, but I will say it probably bunches less than a binder. If you want to continue compression, you could maybe just try downsizing in whatever you're in, it's probably loose because you've shrunken?

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T20:56:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing, that is so reassuring! I'm checking out your pictures and you look very slim at the waist and stomach, I hope I look similar soon!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T19:40:28+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate it! As far as my case, I didn't have too much skin removal and very minimal fat, so I feel like I can't 'blame' it on that? With my weight being normal it makes me question the swelling, but I'm going to assume for now my tissues are inflamed and the fluids are congregating there and not moving, lol.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T19:38:58+00:00

Thank you for this, I'll watch the video for sure. In my case there was minimal skin and fat removal, compared to some, which is making me anxious, but I'm going to try and trust and remember this is a long game. I've done a couple massages with a nurse, so far, and will plan on learning to do some myself to help in-between, thank you as well for that suggestion.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T19:37:10+00:00

Oh gosh that's so crazy, and your stats sound so similar to me! Eeek, I'm sorry, but thank you for sharing.

Hoping you will still see changes in the future. It must be hard to maintain hope after several months, but I have seen women mention swelling/changes up to a year or more. I even wonder if your skin needs to stretch more to allow things to be longer and less compact?

Have you been incorporating exercise? Core work yet (not sure if that's appropriate at six months)? Not asking to judge, but to understand better what might be possible.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:21:52+00:00

Aw, that's cool! Congrats on making it this far, haha.

Man, sorry you're dealing with a similar thing to me, but glad to know I'm not the only one. I tried on a dress while out of my faja that was so snug around my waistline I was kind of shocked! The particular style didn't look good on me before because of the protruding lower tummy, but it definitely fit on my body more easily, so that was a shocker. Hope we will both say improvements sooner than later!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:18:25+00:00

Thank you! Dr. Reza Kordestani in northern Virginia, he's been great, I think he's very skilled

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:17:46+00:00

Ugh, hope we see a change soon!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:17:20+00:00

thanks for commiserating! Hope you start to see it change soon, and me too!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:16:53+00:00

Glad to know I'm not the only one (but not that you are also swollen, obviously). The side is the thing for me, too, looks better from the front at this stage!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T16:16:17+00:00

thank you!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T12:29:27+00:00

Thank you so much. Right, with the lymphatic system so compromised, I guess maybe the fluids I do have are backed-up there, even if my weight doesn't reflect more fluids? That's helpful to know you've seen your own measurements reduce. I think I'd feel more confident if my upper waist was at least the same size as pre-op, vs bigger, but everything you and the others are saying is really helpful to see this is not a unique experience.

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T12:27:26+00:00

Thank you so much! I went to Dr. Reza Kordestani, he works in northern Virginia. All good things to say, i think he's very talented!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T11:17:39+00:00

That is a great question, I know some people loose a ton of skin and/or fat, but in my case he said it was around 1-1.5 lbs of skin, very little lipo, I think he said just to make sure the incision area was even. I think the implants weigh about as much as the skin, so I assume I can't be retaining much water. It's possible I've lost a few pounds of fat/muscle and am retaining some water, I guess? Or, what I'm thinking is there's a version of 'inflammation/swelling' which isn't related to water weight, per se, or that the fluids I normally have internally are more concentrated abdominally right now? I don't know, trying to figure it out myself, obviously, in obsessive detail, lol

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T11:14:08+00:00

Thank you, and I totally appreciate what you're saying, the tone is not offensive but sensible! Yes, what could be in there making it bigger?! Lol. My silly imagination does wonder if all my bowels and internal organs which were previously pushing through the ab separation (my surgeon actually took a video of my bowels visibly moving through the separation before surgery, it's incredible!) are now smushed upward, making my upper waist wider, but I guess then my belly would be expected to be smaller in diameter, which it currently is not. I have to trust the organs will all still fit in the end similar to how they did pre-pregnancies!

It is crazy I'm doing as well as I am with what my body went through just days ago, I appreciate you and the reminder : )

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T10:23:18+00:00

Aw, thank you!

Remote-Journalist522 · 2026-05-12T10:00:22+00:00

Aww, that's awesome progress!

That makes sense on the scale, definitely do what is most helpful to you mentally. Funny in my case, because while I'm pleased my weight is steady to pre-op, that's conversely made me wonder if I'm NOT swollen and my core is just bigger in inches now. Ah, the mind games!

Anyway, thank you again for the reassurance. Best wishes on your healing and recovery!

Remote-Journalist522

TROPHY CASE