Hello

Hey family. I am sorry I'm been MIA from the board. I'm just trying to adapt to the new single life here in SC. I'm still looking for a job and that alone has stressed me out. Jobs are not as easy to find like they are in the city! Please cross your fingers for me! The hardest part of being home is living with my mother. She is not very accepting of me and every now and then she has rude comment to throw at me. I really believe in respecting your parents but I truly don't know how much more I can take of of her. Does anyone else have parents that don't agree with their lifestyle or am I the only one? It seems like all my friends parents are pretty cool about it. Why do I have to be the one stuck with the crazy lady?? Dating has been FUN,FUN,FUN. It's amazing how much attention I get when I go to the club. At 450 lbs., nobody would even look at me. Now at 188 wearing a size 12, I get hit on all the time. It's got me feeling a little ****y Who else is feeling a little ****y now days?? Last week when i got in a size 12 jeans, I looked in the mirror and thought "damn, i look good". see.. i told you that i was ****y!! I met someone that I've been spending a lot of time with and we really are clicking BUT we both just got out of a relationship so we are just hanging out, getting to know eachother and going with the flow slowly!!! I still think about my ex from time to time and still get mad when I think about how she threw away 6 1/2 years but I'm getting over it! Ok so my issue... The skin!! I have lost 262 lbs. total so the skin is hanging all over the place especially between the thighs! My boobs are little and long! I know your thinking that is TMI but I'm sorry. Thats the only way to describe them! (sorry boys) Is there anyone here single and dating and worry about someone seeing all the skin?? Do you just tell them or what?? Me and my friend haven't done anything but everytime we are together and she wants to put her arm around me or my waist, I'm wondering if she can feel the loose skin. Maybe I'm beign too hard on myself?? Watcha think?? So that's my story!! Come tell me how your doing! How's your weight loss? Having any issues?? Come check in and brag about your size like I did. I miss your guys and appreciate the support, Kay

Well I started at 264 and I'm now 134 at 11 months out. I reached my goal although I think I am gonna try for another 10 pounds to see how i feel. I wear a size 5 young miss pant/ 4 womens.. some 3's depending on the cut... My shirts are med and in young miss large. I have some skin issues as I have lost 130 pounds. I work out a lot so my muscles kind of help hide it a bit. the tummy although by most standards is not to bad but i think is terrible. The boos.. they just disappeared one day.. so I will be ordering some of those soon. I have been in a commited relationship for about 17 years. There are many problems we are working on including a separation a year ago but things are getting better. We have 4 adopted children together. She has always been athletic and skinny. After my injury I wasnt able to do that and gained weight. now that I am healthy again we are doing more together. As far as sexual.. NOTHING IS HAPPENING THERE. I have tried numerous times to get something started and she just says it's her. I think she just didnt have that attraction back than and now it is uncomfortable going back to that.. I am ashamed of my body and do keep her from seeing it. I wish my tummy looked better even though she says she loved me when I was big and now that I am small..

Kay, Girl are you trying to say you're bringing back ? I feel you with the Mother thing -- must be a southern tradition or something. My Mother is not accepting; however, since she met my partner a couple of years ago I think she's a little bit more -- unworried. But from time to time she'll say something and I just move around it. Easy for me to do because she lives in Louisiana and I live in Maryland. You're living with your Mother and she probably feels that she can talk you out of it. Now on the job tip --have you ever considered working from home. Good Morning America often speaks with a lady named Tory Johnson who started her own business and has checked out some legit companies that employ people to work from home. One thing shes says is that a work from home business should never be asking you for money -- as many of those spam work from home emails do. Anyway -- check out this link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/TakeControlOfYourLife/story?id=2621388&page=1 and about half way down the article she lists a few companies that hire people full-time to work from home. You could work from home and save money to get your own crib. Next week I go to a 8 AM to 4:30 schedule and will have my evenings free -- I might look into one of these positions. Let me know how you come out!

Hey You sound so much like me. All I can say is take things slow and think about decisions you make. I am single and dating and do worry about people seeing my skin. I will tell you that someone has seen all my skin and has been very accepting of it. I am very honest about what I have had done. The people that have seen it have basically been like so what. So try not to worry too much. I know it is hard, but if this woman really likes you she will accept all of you hon. Take care Erin

Girl ... welcome back!! Great to hear from you! I'm feeling you in regards to the skin thing ... especially the loose thighs and sagging boobs. I'm not single, but I'm also stressing about all the loose skin. I don't feel sexy at all. I have a PS consult on June 28. Looking forward to that! I've lost 100 lbs. and I'm a size 14.

Special K, How awesome for you that you've lost all that weight--and YOU DO LOOK GOOD! Don't let your mom make you feel bad about your lifestyle...you've already lived with all that extra weight pulling you down and making you feel bad...it's time to feel good without her getting in your way!! AND you can tell her I said that! But, I do know what it's like dealing with a difficult mom. After 8 years, mine is STILL coming to terms with me being gay. I have to hand it to her though she has come a long way. It's a silent (and sometimes not so silent) struggle. It took me forever to get my mother to TRY and understand that my partner is my wife JUST LIKE my dad is her husband. She might of had an "a-ha' moment about this not too long ago. But I know my mother disapproves and will always disapprove of me in her core...I say that's too bad for her. That's a lot of time and energy for someone to spend disapproving of someone they love when they can spend time loving and letting be. The skin thing...well I really don't know here...I'm waiting to have surgery myself. I might consider getting a nip or a tuck there just so it would make ME feel better, but I would never do it for someone else...I'd have to say that if your girl is turned off then you can show her something else...the door. Let us know what happens! PS-I'm so happy for this board...I had no idea that there was a LBGT board on this thing!!!

Hi Kay! Glad to hear that you are getting yourself together on your new life path. I was wondering how you were doing. =) Congrats on getting out into the dating scene and having a good time! Sometimes we forget that we are allowed to just go out and have fun and we dont always have to be looking for a lifetime commitment at every turn! About parents...just keep reminding yourself that your situation is only temporay, you dont have to live with her forever, AND, yes, I think a large majority of us have parents who are less than 100% supportive about our "lifestlye choices" (as they may call it). Nothing we can do but make the choices that are going to make US happy in the long run. Try not to let it stress you out...you need to focus on your own well being right now! I agree with Jen up there about the skin...if someone you choose to be that intimate with is so petty as to have an issue with the way your body looks, show her sorry a$$ the door!! You worked your booty off to lose the weight and make yourself a better stronger person, if that is not the most important thing to any woman you might be "dating" then you can do better!!! Anyhow...my $.02. *hugs* Take care of yourself!!! Shells

OMG ladies, This is exactly why I love yall so much! The support from you guys is amazing. I appreciate each and every one of you to the fullest. Thanks for all your comments, suggestions and advice. Yesterday the temp agency called me to work at a job today and tomorrow so that's what I'll be doing. When I got home from working, I noticed 2 Dr. offices called me for interviews next week. Thanks again Kay

Good luck with your interviews next week, let us know!

I have a mother just like you and throw in a older sister into the mix with mine! Don't be ashamed of your body! Skin or no skin you are a gorgeous woman! If you are going to be intimate with someone let them know you have the battle wounds of losing weight. Good luck on your interviews and know that we are keeping you in our thoughts.