Healing Beyond the Scale

Hi Facebook ❤️

I’m sharing this update with a really full heart… because if I’m being honest, I’m struggling a little more than I expected.

Physically, I have made progress. There are parts of me that are healing, parts of me that feel stronger, and moments where I can finally see the light at the end of this recovery tunnel.

But there’s also a wound that isn’t healing well, and today I’m heading into an appointment with my surgeon to have it assessed again.

And I’m not going to sugarcoat it — I feel scared.

I’m nervous about what they’re going to say.
I’m nervous about what the next step might be.
I’m nervous that today could bring more treatment, more discomfort, more waiting, or news I’m not emotionally prepared for.

I think the hardest part is that at week 6, you want to feel like you should be “past it.”
Like you should be getting back to normal.
But healing doesn’t care about timelines… and it definitely doesn’t follow the rules we try to set for it.

This recovery has humbled me in ways I didn’t expect.

It’s reminded me that even though I’ve done hard things before — losing 163 pounds, rebuilding my health, pushing through the gym when I didn’t feel like it, staying consistent when it would’ve been easier to quit — this is a different kind of hard.

This is the kind of hard where you can’t hustle your way through it.
You can’t “push harder” and fix it.
You just have to wait… trust… and surrender to the process.

And that’s tough for me.

Today I’m walking into that office trying to hold onto hope, but also carrying a lot of fear.
Because the truth is… I’ve come so far, and the thought of complications or setbacks feels heavy.

But I’m still here.
Still showing up.
Still fighting for my healing — even when I’m tired.

If you believe in prayer, I would truly appreciate it today.
If you believe in good energy, send it my way.
If you’ve been through this kind of recovery, remind me I’m not alone.

I’ll update you all once I know more. 💛

Thank you for being in this space with me.
Thank you for holding me up when I feel shaky.
This journey is real — and so is the healing.

✨Healing Update✨

I wanted to share a quick update on my recovery journey today. I've been diligently following the new wound care treatment plan that Dr. Young provided, and I’ve even connected with a friend who is a wound care nurse practitioner for some valuable advice.

I’m happy to report that things are looking up! As of Wednesday, I sent a picture to Dr. Young, and he expressed happiness with the progress we've been monitoring closely. The wound seems to be shrinking in size, which is very promising!

I’ll be sending another picture to him on Monday to keep him updated. It feels great to see improvement, and I’m grateful for the support and knowledge I've gained from both my medical team and friends.

Thank you all for your continued encouragement! 🤍

✨Week 3 Post-Op — Breast Mastopexy/Back Lift Journey ✨

First of all, thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on me during recovery! It Is truly overwhelming to feel so much support from all of you!

Healing Beyond the Scale family… this week has been a lot. Three weeks post-op and I’m sitting in that weird space between gratitude and fear, hope and uncertainty.

I had my 3 week follow-up with Dr. Young, and overall, he’s pleased with how my body is healing—which I’m deeply thankful for. But there’s also some concern for wound healing on my right ni**le, tissue necrosis was mentioned as a possibility. Hearing that hit me harder than I expected. It’s scary to realize how fragile healing really is, how much is out of my control, and how much patience this process demands. He reassured me that It wasnt caused by anything I did or didnt do, this Is one of those risks we talked about during the consultation. You know, those rare events they have to warn you about 🙄

We’ve changed my wound care plan to help improve blood flow and encourage the wound to heal. I’ll be sending weekly photos to the office so they can keep a close eye on things. I go back mid-February, and until then, I’m choosing to trust the process… even when my anxiety tries to take over.

The good news? My back scars look amazing, and I’ve been cleared to slowly begin lifting weights again. No jumping, no running, no upper body work yet. But I can lift 5–10 pounds, and honestly, that feels like a small victory I’m holding onto tightly. Right now, movement looks like at-home workouts with Thomas, listening to my body instead of pushing it durng Snowpocolypse 2026 😂

This season of healing is humbling. I’m focusing on nourishing my body, resting when I want to rush, and reminding myself that recovery isn’t linear—and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be progress.

I’m so grateful for this community, for the support, the messages, the prayers, and the reminders that I’m not walking this alone. Thank you for holding space for me while I heal—physically and emotionally. 🤍

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to my weekly engagement list! 🎉

Angie M Woodward, Brittany Snow, Amanda Smith

🤍Let’s Talk About Incisions & Healing🤍

I want to take a moment to talk openly about the incisions I have and why they exist — because so many of us carry scars that are misunderstood, minimized, or never explained fully.

My surgery involved multiple incision patterns, each chosen intentionally to address excess skin, tissue, and long-term physical discomfort — not vanity, not shortcuts, and not failure.

✨ Here’s a simple breakdown:

🤍Around the ni**le (Periar**lar)
This circular incision allows the ni**le to be resized and repositioned into a more natural, supported place after tissue removal.

🤍Vertical incision (Lollipop)
This runs from the bottom of the ar**la down to the breast crease and helps lift, shape, and support the breast.

🤍Horizontal incision (Inframammary crease)
This incision sits in the natural fold under the breast and connects with the vertical incision, forming what’s often called an anchor or inverted T. It allows for significant reshaping and removal of excess tissue.

🤍Extension toward the armpit (Axillary area)
This addresses excess skin and tissue that can extend into the “side boob” or armpit area — something many bodies carry but rarely see discussed.

🤍Upper back / bra-strap area incision
This curved incision across the upper back targets excess skin that sits where bra straps usually dig in — an area that can cause pain, rashes, and daily discomfort.

🧠 Why I’m sharing this:
Because scars are not shameful.
Because healing isn’t linear.
Because our bodies tell stories — of survival, relief, and reclaiming comfort.

This group exists to remind us that healing goes far beyond the number on a scale. It includes pain relief, mobility, self-trust, and learning to see our bodies with compassion instead of judgment.

If you have scars — visible or invisible — you belong here.
If you’re curious, scared, healing, or just learning — you belong here.

💬 If you feel comfortable, you’re welcome to share:
What part of your healing journey do you wish people understood better?

You are not alone.
You are not “too much.”
And your body deserves care. 🤍

I have had several people message me to ask why I chose the bariatric procedure that I did. There are several options, each with their own risks and benefits.

I chose gastric bypass because I had a significant amount of weight to lose, and based on both data and medical guidance, it offered the highest potential for meaningful, lasting weight loss.

My gastric bypass was performed on May 25th, 2023 by Dr. Toledo at Arkansas Heart Hospital.

This decision wasn’t about shortcuts. It was about survival, quality of life, and giving my body the TOOL it needed when everything else had already been tried.

Bariatric surgery doesn’t replace the work—it creates the space for the work to finally matter. It still requires healing, accountability, nourishment, movement, and mental growth. Surgery was not the end of my journey—it was the beginning of learning how to truly care for myself.

If you’re considering bariatric surgery, know this:
There is no “one-size-fits-all.” There is only what’s right for you—and you deserve care without shame.
_____________

There are several types of bariatric (weight loss) surgeries, and one of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that there’s a “best” or “easy” option. The truth is—the best surgery is the one that fits your body, health history, and goals.

Here’s a brief overview of the most common bariatric procedures:

▫️ Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
A portion of the stomach is removed, creating a smaller stomach that limits food intake and reduces hunger hormones. This option works well for many people but offers moderate weight loss compared to other procedures.

▫️ Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y)
The stomach is reduced and rerouted to bypass part of the small intestine. This leads to restriction, hormonal changes, and some malabsorption, making it the procedure associated with the greatest and most sustained weight loss, especially for those with significant excess weight or metabolic disease.

▫️ Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS)
A more complex procedure combining a sleeve with significant intestinal bypass. It offers very high weight loss potential but requires strict lifelong nutritional monitoring.

▫️ Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap Band)
A band is placed around the stomach to limit intake. This option is far less common today due to lower long-term success rates and higher complication risks.

Ultimately , you’ll work with your surgeon to discuss the different procedures and deckde which one is best for your body and goals.

Back in the gym.

Yesterday marked a milestone I’ve been quietly working toward for a couple of weeks.

It looked different than before—and that’s okay.
3-lb weights.
Lower body and core focus.
Intentional movement.
Listening closely to my body instead of pushing past it.

I forgot to take a picture yesterday, but this morning I snapped one with my biggest supporter by my side. Having my husband there is a reminder that I’m never doing this alone—even when the journey feels deeply personal. Thank you Thomas for being by my side through every step of this journey!

I’m incredibly grateful for my gym family. From helping me set up equipment when bending and lifting aren’t options yet, to instructors who take the time to find thoughtful, safe modifications that still allow me to move and feel strong—this space feels like community, not just a gym.

This season isn’t about intensity or PRs.
It’s about rebuilding trust with my body.
It’s about showing up gently.
It’s about honoring healing while still choosing movement.

Progress doesn’t always look loud.
Sometimes it looks like showing up anyway. 💪✨

Yesterday , a friend from the gym stopped me and thanked me for my transparency through this journey.

She told me that watching me share the hard parts—the recovery, the vulnerability, the truth—meant something to her. That it helped. That it mattered.

And I wasn’t prepared for how deeply that landed.

I sat there overwhelmed, tears welling up, because this road has been long. And for a long time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to let anyone see it. There is so much shame wrapped around obesity—so much silence, judgment, and internalized blame. Even after losing the weight, that shame doesn’t automatically disappear. It lingers quietly, telling you to stay small, stay quiet, don’t draw attention.

Choosing to share this process felt risky. Exposing. Uncomfortable.

But in that moment, I felt something else too—honor. Gratitude. And a quiet pride—not the loud, ego-driven kind, but the kind that comes from surviving something hard and standing in your truth anyway.

There is pride in losing this much weight. Pride in showing up day after day. Pride in healing publicly when it would be easier to hide. And pride in knowing that my story—my body, my scars, my honesty—might give someone else permission to believe change is possible.

This journey was never just about a body.
It’s about healing shame.
It’s about reclaiming dignity.
It’s about becoming visible after years of trying not to be.

If my transparency helps even one person feel less alone, then every uncomfortable moment has been worth it.

Healing beyond the scale means realizing that our stories—when shared bravely—can become someone else’s lifeline.

🤍