Lipedema Rebel

Yesterday, I shared a carousel about the importance of tracking progress when living with lipedema.

Today, I want to go one step further.

Monitoring progress is not about vanity.

It’s not about chasing perfection.

And it’s not about becoming obsessed with numbers.

Photographs and body measurements provide objective information that can help us better understand what is happening over time.

They can support conversations with surgeons, physiotherapists, lymphatic therapists and other healthcare professionals.

They can also become valuable documentation when communicating with insurance companies.

Our impressions matter.

But impressions alone are not always enough.

Data and visual documentation help create a clearer picture of our journey.

That is why I continue to document my own progress.

📖 In my latest article, I explain why photographs and measurements have become an important part of my lipedema journey.

Read the full article at:
www.lipedema-rebel.com

Recently, I came across a healthcare professional discussing lipedema who suggested that before-and-after photos are little more than a trend.

I respectfully disagree.

After three lipedema surgeries in twelve months, I have learned that documentation is one of the most valuable tools a woman can have.

How can you objectively evaluate progress if you don’t collect objective data?

How do you know whether a treatment is helping?

How do you compare your condition over time?

How do you discuss your evolution with your surgeon, physiotherapist, lymphatic therapist or insurance company?

There is a reason why surgeons take photographs before and after surgery.

There is a reason why physiotherapists record measurements.

Not because of vanity.

Because documentation matters.

Photos, measurements and personal observations create a more complete picture of your journey than the scale alone ever can.

Living with lipedema requires more than simply following treatments.

It requires understanding your body, monitoring changes, recognising patterns and making informed decisions based on real information.

This is exactly why I created the guide:

How To Measure Your Legs With Lipedema™

A practical resource designed to help women document their journey, track their progress and build a personal record that can support discussions with healthcare professionals throughout the years.

Download the guide via the link in bio in section Essential Resources.

In 2023, I was living with undiagnosed stage 3 lipedema.

Pain, heaviness, swelling and limited mobility had become part of my everyday life.

In 2024, I finally received a diagnosis. For the first time, I understood what was happening to my body.

Since then, I have undergone three lipedema surgeries with , alongside physiotherapy, lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, movement, and nutritional support.

Today, more than 18 litres of diseased fat have been removed, and my journey continues.

But this transformation was never only about appearance.

•It was about reclaiming mobility.
•It was about reducing pain.
•It was about regaining confidence in my body.
And it was about discovering how much preparation, consistency and support truly matter.

This experience is also why I created Lipedema Rebel.

To share what I have learned.
To help other women feel less alone.
And to turn lived experience into practical support.

💜 The journey continues.

June is Lipedema Awareness Month.

But awareness alone is not enough.

Over the past months, I have spoken with many women who felt overwhelmed by the same questions: How do I prepare for surgery? What should I ask my surgeon? How can I better organize my recovery?

That is why I decided to turn awareness into action.

I have created and made available two free practical guides designed to help women navigate their lipedema journey with greater confidence and preparation.

In my new article, I share why I created these resources and how practical support can make a real difference.

Read the full article on www.lipedema-rebel.com

💜 June is Lipedema Awareness Month.

Over the past year, I have undergone three lipedema surgeries, more than 18 liters of diseased fat have been removed, and my journey is still ongoing.

This month, I will continue sharing the lessons, challenges, setbacks, and progress that have shaped my experience living with lipedema.

To begin this month, I published a new article on the Rebel Journal:

✨ “June Is Lipedema Awareness Month — And I’ll Continue Sharing What This Journey Has Taught Me”

If you’re living with lipedema, preparing for surgery, recovering, or simply looking to better understand this condition, I hope my story helps you feel less alone.

🔗 Read the article on www.lipedema-rebel.com

A friend once told me:

“But you don’t look like you’re in pain…”

And that’s exactly the problem with invisible illnesses.

Lipedema is often described through visible symptoms.

But many women live with something that cannot always be seen: pain.

Not just heaviness.
Not just swelling.

Pain when walking.
Pain when standing.
Pain when exercising.
Pain when touched.

Because it cannot always be seen, many women spend years being misunderstood, dismissed, or told that what they are experiencing is “normal.”

It isn’t.

Pain associated with lipedema is real.

As awareness grows, so should compassion.

💜 Be kind to women with lipedema.

Even if you cannot see their pain, they may be living with it every day.