The Ugly Truth
Well I have been having some serious body image issues here of late. My skin is really bothering me and financially I do not see being able to have plastics for many years 
I have my good days in clothes but then there are those cute things that just don't look great because the tummy skin is too loose. I saw this adorbale sleeveless shirt yesterday and thought how cute would that be if I didn't have such ugly arms.
Right now my biggest issues is the skin on my inner thighs and the surrounding areas. It's just a mess. I think if only I had a knife!!! I'm hoping it will tone up a little bit with the right exercise or weight lifting, but there isn't a whole lot I can do about what is stretched out and discolored and never going back...
I get so angry at myself about what I have done my body. Anyone else in this boat? Also what keeps you from getting discouraged about the damage that is done with the skin? I wi**** was just easier then tens of thousands of dollars to fix it.
I'm doing my best to just deal with it now and remind myself I am only half way to goal. I just dont' want to continue to critcize myself, or feel gross and disgusting because of skin. I am actually more self conscious about my body with the loose skin than when my body was big and the skin was filled out. sigh...just another bump in the road along this trip called WLS.
Yet, things could be worse and I could be riding the wave I was last year at this time of a steady gain to the point I couldn't walk on my own two feet anymore.
This photo was taken about 3 weeks before surgery. My guestimated weight at the time was about 330 - this was at my work summer party and I was still eating for a family of four! I can't believe someone took this photo of me...in a swim suit yet!
Well so today I was cleaning out clothes and came across a much smaller swim suit and decided to try it on to see how I really looked. I mean before long it will be time to put one of these on but can actually bring myself to do it in public a the beach or the pool ?!?!? That remains to be seen right now.
These photos were taken Sunday 4/25 almost 8 months out from surgery...I still have a ways to go but i'm trying to look forward in a positive light! I'm my own worst enemy. I look at these photos and want to accept that I've come a long way since that previous photos but here I sit thinking ...hmmm that is just a pretty good mirror. I'll try again in a few months...the first step was putting on the suit and taking the photos AND being brave enough to post them here...a place I can thankfully be real with myself and everyone else!
I have my good days in clothes but then there are those cute things that just don't look great because the tummy skin is too loose. I saw this adorbale sleeveless shirt yesterday and thought how cute would that be if I didn't have such ugly arms.
Right now my biggest issues is the skin on my inner thighs and the surrounding areas. It's just a mess. I think if only I had a knife!!! I'm hoping it will tone up a little bit with the right exercise or weight lifting, but there isn't a whole lot I can do about what is stretched out and discolored and never going back...
I get so angry at myself about what I have done my body. Anyone else in this boat? Also what keeps you from getting discouraged about the damage that is done with the skin? I wi**** was just easier then tens of thousands of dollars to fix it.
I'm doing my best to just deal with it now and remind myself I am only half way to goal. I just dont' want to continue to critcize myself, or feel gross and disgusting because of skin. I am actually more self conscious about my body with the loose skin than when my body was big and the skin was filled out. sigh...just another bump in the road along this trip called WLS.
Yet, things could be worse and I could be riding the wave I was last year at this time of a steady gain to the point I couldn't walk on my own two feet anymore.
This photo was taken about 3 weeks before surgery. My guestimated weight at the time was about 330 - this was at my work summer party and I was still eating for a family of four! I can't believe someone took this photo of me...in a swim suit yet!
Well so today I was cleaning out clothes and came across a much smaller swim suit and decided to try it on to see how I really looked. I mean before long it will be time to put one of these on but can actually bring myself to do it in public a the beach or the pool ?!?!? That remains to be seen right now.
These photos were taken Sunday 4/25 almost 8 months out from surgery...I still have a ways to go but i'm trying to look forward in a positive light! I'm my own worst enemy. I look at these photos and want to accept that I've come a long way since that previous photos but here I sit thinking ...hmmm that is just a pretty good mirror. I'll try again in a few months...the first step was putting on the suit and taking the photos AND being brave enough to post them here...a place I can thankfully be real with myself and everyone else!
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Nikki, you are doing GREAT! 
What a difference in the before and now pics! Kudo's to you for for posting them!
I understand what you're saying. I'm noticing the skin flab already too (and the last time I lost 75 lbs I didn't have any... is it that we're losing too fast that we get the loose skin?) I will probably end up having some PS later down the road too, so I'll have to start saving now. Maybe put next years bonus and tax refund towards it too. We'll see how it goes. The sleevless shirts will have to wait for both of us, but eventually!
Keep on rocking your sleeve, Nikki!
What a difference in the before and now pics! Kudo's to you for for posting them! I understand what you're saying. I'm noticing the skin flab already too (and the last time I lost 75 lbs I didn't have any... is it that we're losing too fast that we get the loose skin?) I will probably end up having some PS later down the road too, so I'll have to start saving now. Maybe put next years bonus and tax refund towards it too. We'll see how it goes. The sleevless shirts will have to wait for both of us, but eventually!
Keep on rocking your sleeve, Nikki!
Mitzi
HW:287 SW:253 CW: 178 (75 lbs lost since surgery) GW: 165
Ticker reflects weight loss since start of WLS journey (April 2009):
"Every day, in every way, I'm getting better, Better & BETTER!" ~ José Silva
Nikki hon we all have this problem!! I love myself in clothes but take them off and YIKEES!!! The sagging skin is unbelieable, never in my life did I think about this part when I started this journey. I just thought...oh that won't be me. I feel like I've done a great job loosing weight but then when I put a pair of shorts on, it looks horrible, I see all this hanging skin and I think it looks worse than before when I had all the weight on. Sort of a catch 22 situation. I lift my arms and skin just hangs everywhere, I feel like a bat. I'm scared to death of plastic surgery, but I'm afraid that may be my only option in the end to looking and feeling semi decent.
You have come a LONG way, be proud!! And hang in there we all have body issues, and most likely we have them the rest of our life in one way or another....unfortunately.
You have come a LONG way, be proud!! And hang in there we all have body issues, and most likely we have them the rest of our life in one way or another....unfortunately.
Christy
Hey girl....WOW, What a difference!! Kudos to you for the weight you have lost!! I can definately tell that you are much smaller...
Girl, we are all having that problem with the sagging boobs, loose skin, and noticable stretch marks.....The best advice to you is start working out...even though that may not cure the sagging skin, but what it will do is tone you up and start adding muscle mass to your body so you won't look so flabby...Shoot, embrace those flabby arms (I call the loose skin on my arms Bye Bye Fat because when I lift my arms up the loose skin starts swinging back and fourth like its waving goodbye to someone....lol) I always had hudge arms and didn't care...yeah, I have a problem with my arms now that I am losing, but I am like its to hot to be wearing long sleeves and darn it if I want to look cute in that sleeveless shirt.then I am going to wear it ad keep it moving!!! LOL
I still have a lot of weight to go and once I reach my weight goal and decide to have a lift then I will, but right now my main focus is to keep toning up and losing weight....
Good Luck girl!!
Girl, we are all having that problem with the sagging boobs, loose skin, and noticable stretch marks.....The best advice to you is start working out...even though that may not cure the sagging skin, but what it will do is tone you up and start adding muscle mass to your body so you won't look so flabby...Shoot, embrace those flabby arms (I call the loose skin on my arms Bye Bye Fat because when I lift my arms up the loose skin starts swinging back and fourth like its waving goodbye to someone....lol) I always had hudge arms and didn't care...yeah, I have a problem with my arms now that I am losing, but I am like its to hot to be wearing long sleeves and darn it if I want to look cute in that sleeveless shirt.then I am going to wear it ad keep it moving!!! LOL
I still have a lot of weight to go and once I reach my weight goal and decide to have a lift then I will, but right now my main focus is to keep toning up and losing weight....
Good Luck girl!!
Let me FIRST start by reminding you how very BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE Nik!!! 
You have the most BEAUTIFUL features sweetheart!! You stand out in a crowd! Now with that aside dont stress over the skin......................it CAN be toned. If you get a personal trainer or you kick your own ass at the gym you CAN tone that skin up!! I am on the Plastics debate bus myself. MOST insurance now WILL COVER IT if it is due to rapid weight loss or weight loss surgery so PLEASE CALL YOURS TODAY!!!My inner thighs set me MENTAL so I want a spiral thighplasty BAD!!! So I am with you there but it shows how hard we have worked. For me to go from 311 to 153 in under 9 months was a SHOCK to my body so it left me with skin of a 90 year old woman lol WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT to some degree BUT you my dear are still GORGEOUS!!! LOVE YOURSELF!!!!
You have the most BEAUTIFUL features sweetheart!! You stand out in a crowd! Now with that aside dont stress over the skin......................it CAN be toned. If you get a personal trainer or you kick your own ass at the gym you CAN tone that skin up!! I am on the Plastics debate bus myself. MOST insurance now WILL COVER IT if it is due to rapid weight loss or weight loss surgery so PLEASE CALL YOURS TODAY!!!My inner thighs set me MENTAL so I want a spiral thighplasty BAD!!! So I am with you there but it shows how hard we have worked. For me to go from 311 to 153 in under 9 months was a SHOCK to my body so it left me with skin of a 90 year old woman lol WE ALL DEAL WITH THAT to some degree BUT you my dear are still GORGEOUS!!! LOVE YOURSELF!!!!
you're doing GREAT NIKKI! HUGE difference... you look GREAT...
I get the whole skin thing. In fact, I planned to blog about it today... the skin is horrible and I can't figure out how much more of me is fat and how much is skin... it looks like fat but it's NOT... compression garments are helping and working out is helping but there is only so much that can be done without the knife.
My thighs are horrid.
we won't discuss tripping over my boobs...
the belly just makes me cry...
what's really bad is my hubby pointed out that while I can't see it. the skin on my back is folding over itself and is really bad....
I'm looking at a body lift, a boob job and a thigh job...
i am gonna just let the arms and face go to pot...
have you tried long line compression garments... they sell some good ones at walmart and they are not too expensive. they are a PAIN to put on but they make a huge difference.....
I get the whole skin thing. In fact, I planned to blog about it today... the skin is horrible and I can't figure out how much more of me is fat and how much is skin... it looks like fat but it's NOT... compression garments are helping and working out is helping but there is only so much that can be done without the knife.
My thighs are horrid.
we won't discuss tripping over my boobs...
the belly just makes me cry...
what's really bad is my hubby pointed out that while I can't see it. the skin on my back is folding over itself and is really bad....
I'm looking at a body lift, a boob job and a thigh job...
i am gonna just let the arms and face go to pot...
have you tried long line compression garments... they sell some good ones at walmart and they are not too expensive. they are a PAIN to put on but they make a huge difference.....
Nessa
Ticker is from Day of Surgery.. weight goal is personal preference as I've MET my doctor's goal
--
HG/SW/CW/GW
286/253/150/151
Ticker is from Day of Surgery.. weight goal is personal preference as I've MET my doctor's goal
--
HG/SW/CW/GW
286/253/150/151
Girl, I totally get it. I really need to be fitted for a bra, but I'm too embarassed to get one of the sales people to measure me. I don't want them to see me with my shirt off. I've never worn sleeveless shirts, so that doesn't bother me too much, but I'm even self-conscious in short sleeve shirts. I'm scared to death of plastics, but I don't see any way around it if I ever want to feel comfortable in my own skin...or lack of skin. :) Just know you're not alone.
Thanks everyone for replying. All I can say is Thank God it's not the banana leaf and coconut shell days haha!
I knew skin would be an issue for me from the start. I already had gained and lost so muich in my life that certain areas were already a mess so I guess it's just my thighs that bother me the most right now. I do wish there would come a day you could see between them.
I'm not scared of plastics, I am just poor! I can only hope insurance pays for something but I'm not going to get worked up over something when I still have a ways to go. I feel like I need to buy Suzanne Summers thigh master and sit and work it all day at my desk hahah! I have to be very careful of certain weight bearing exercises and squats and lunges because my knees are terrible. The more weight I lost the worse they get. I feel like I need them roto-rootered to clean them up but thats just another surgery and more stress so I'm sucking that up right now. I have to get one thing at a time and Gall Bladder surgery is Friday of this week .
I need a vacation from myself! Anyone have a suggestion on that one? lol
I knew skin would be an issue for me from the start. I already had gained and lost so muich in my life that certain areas were already a mess so I guess it's just my thighs that bother me the most right now. I do wish there would come a day you could see between them.
I'm not scared of plastics, I am just poor! I can only hope insurance pays for something but I'm not going to get worked up over something when I still have a ways to go. I feel like I need to buy Suzanne Summers thigh master and sit and work it all day at my desk hahah! I have to be very careful of certain weight bearing exercises and squats and lunges because my knees are terrible. The more weight I lost the worse they get. I feel like I need them roto-rootered to clean them up but thats just another surgery and more stress so I'm sucking that up right now. I have to get one thing at a time and Gall Bladder surgery is Friday of this week .
I need a vacation from myself! Anyone have a suggestion on that one? lol
Some insurances will pay if you're having yeast or rashes from the excess skin, but it has to be well documented by your doctor. And... they don't do toning plastics, just basic removal of excess skin. (I don't know the medical jargon for all the PS types) But at least if they'll do part of it you might be able to pay a portion not the whole amount? Worth a try...???
Best wishes on your GB surgery and speedy recovery! Keep us posted how you're doing, ok?
As for the vacation... have you ever tried meditation? It's wonderfully relaxing! 10 minutes of meditation is like an hour nap!! And you can visualize yourself anywhere!!!! On a beach, the sun warming your skin and the sound of waves rythmically crashing on the shore. Or the mountains, the smell of clean fresh air and the sounds of birds and nothing else! Whatever your favorite relaxation spot you can visit at anytime while meditating!! Go to a bookstore and get a relaxation or new age music CD. And vacation anywhere.... anytime!
Best wishes on your GB surgery and speedy recovery! Keep us posted how you're doing, ok?
As for the vacation... have you ever tried meditation? It's wonderfully relaxing! 10 minutes of meditation is like an hour nap!! And you can visualize yourself anywhere!!!! On a beach, the sun warming your skin and the sound of waves rythmically crashing on the shore. Or the mountains, the smell of clean fresh air and the sounds of birds and nothing else! Whatever your favorite relaxation spot you can visit at anytime while meditating!! Go to a bookstore and get a relaxation or new age music CD. And vacation anywhere.... anytime!
Mitzi
HW:287 SW:253 CW: 178 (75 lbs lost since surgery) GW: 165
Ticker reflects weight loss since start of WLS journey (April 2009):
"Every day, in every way, I'm getting better, Better & BETTER!" ~ José Silva
Mitzi I think I am too ADD to meditate. I know that sounds crazy but I'm not a very relaxed person...as if you couldnt tell. Super hyper go go go until I fall out and fall over! I hope I can just rest and relax after GB surgery.
I do sometimes get skin infections under my tummy...it's gross. I do not get them as much since I lost weight ...good thing the tummy went down and shrunk up but it's definitely just a pile of jello!
I'm sure I will figure something out down the road when it's time!
I do sometimes get skin infections under my tummy...it's gross. I do not get them as much since I lost weight ...good thing the tummy went down and shrunk up but it's definitely just a pile of jello!
I'm sure I will figure something out down the road when it's time!
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