Deciding on Reconstructive Surgery After Losing 165+ Pounds

In one of her most vulnerable videos, Carla shares the internal wrestling match that comes with deciding to pursue reconstructive surgery. After losing 165 pounds over 14 to 15 years, the last 40 pounds left her body "somewhat depleted, and with a lot of extra skin."

The decision wasn't made lightly. Carla has been debating with herself about how to handle the excess skin and the discomfort it brings. She's scheduled a consultation with a plastic surgeon for three procedures: a thigh lift, a tummy tuck, and breast augmentation.

The Honest Doubt

"Today's the first day that I'm really kind of, I don't know if having second thoughts is the right word, but a little unsure of myself," Carla confesses. After her appointment with the surgeon to go over everything, the reality of what "quite a big procedure" entails has set in.

Faith and the Decision

What sets Carla's story apart from many others is her thoughtful consideration of faith in the process. "The thing that I want to make sure of is that this is a godly decision that I'm making," she says. She's wrestled with the question honestly: is this vanity, or is this about well-being?

Her conclusion is clear: "I don't feel like I'm doing this to look better in a swimsuit, but I am doing it because the skin that I've been left with hangs down." It's about physical comfort, dignity, and being able to live fully in the body she's worked so hard to reclaim.

Blogging the Journey in Her 60s

Carla recognizes a gap in representation. "I see lots of blogging done by girls in their 30s and 40s, and my situation with being in my 60s is a little bit different." She's committed to documenting her experience specifically because women her age deserve to see someone like them going through this process — with all the real emotions, doubts, and decisions that come with it.

She plans to take photos where possible and blog about the entire journey, creating a resource that didn't exist when she was looking for one herself.

This kind of raw honesty is what makes Reality Fitness real. It's not about perfection — it's about the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path gets complicated.