I've not had a bath...

since before surgery. No, really I've only taken showers. Why do I mention this?

I realized this today as I was giving my bathroom a major overhaul. I cleaned out the drawers. You know the ones with makeup over 3 years old, lipsticks that make me look like a cheap ***** but looked good under Macy's lights, and almost empty bottles of lotion that are clogged and beyond repair, and hundreds (yes I exaggerate for effect) of tiny samples of every product on the market which promises to tighten pores, cleans, and purify. I organized it all, tossed a bunch and then proceeded to scrub the hell out of my tub. 

What I realized in all this mahem is that I want to start taking better care of my skin. I've been so focused on weight loss and now exercise and been losing all this weight and hating the skin; all the loose, flabby, sharpei skin. And that just ain't right, friends.

I am of the belief that my body respond to how I feel about it and what I give it. If I give it the right amount of food and the right kind it will shed excess fat. If I exercise it, it will grow more muscle. If I give it what it needs, it will give me what I need. If I hate it, it will not love me back.

So I'm making a commitment to love my skin just as it is. True I may cut a great deal of it away if I can ever afford it... but for now it is what it is. I am going to bathe it in wonderful smelling bath salts and bubbles - with candlelight. I am going to use my favorite lotions on it. I am going to exfoliate my feet and do my nails and toenails. Hey, I can now comfortably reach my toes, why shouldn't I return the favor?

After my shower today (I'm saving he long hot bath for tonight), I found a bottle of wonderful lotion, expensive, that had been a gift a while back. I used it and while I was rubbing into my very loose skin, I was realizing what a healing feeling it was to just appreciate what is.

I don't think any of this is going to "tighten" my skin but I think it will slowly work on changing my perception and that's good enough for me.

Thi****s a note with me as I was standing in Costco tonight looking at the miracle elixers that promise to tighten my skin for forty bucks.   My skin is younger than some, but still has been fat!  I am not looking forward to the saggies.  So far so good but boy is it a fear!  I agree with you, its a state of mind.  I think I will try and like it from now on....

Gawds I wish those miracle elixers worked. I do find there are some good products out there for the face but nothing seems to help the T&A. And at my age, there is nothing but the qualified surgeon's knife that is going to solve my sags.

But if that doesn't happen and even in the meantime, I have to live with the skin and why deprive it... it's inconsistent with the whole package of what I'm trying to do.

I'm glad you were able to do this while you're young. I think it makes a big difference.

you know, I still not have had a bath only for fear I won't fit in my tub LOL  Although I'm like you, I do need to take better care of my skin.....as saggy as it is, I've already had two rounds of photos for my doctor to look at to start building a case for plastic surgery although it's probably a couple years out.  It just seems that if i turn the right way I get a nasty rash LOL  Actually after all my workouts I get one.......it's like my skin is just permanently red.  I own stock in gold bond powder LOL

So with the complications with your skin does that mean that insurance will pay for your plastics? That would be amazing. I'm saving my pennies because I don't have a case.

Another good thing for chafing is corn starch. Use a large makeup brush to apply it. It works really well and is all natural and very cheap.

I also found that it becomes a sacred thing to buy a wonderful, more expensive lotion to use only after baths. A way to shift my consciousness about how I feel about my body and especially my skin. Kinda of an "I'm worth it." statement.

My insurance paid for a panniculectomy. I don't know if you know the difference between a panni and tummy tuck (you probably do) but a panni just removes the bottom "apron" of skin. There was no flattening or tightening of my tummy involved. I was told by the surgeon that most insurances don't think of a panni as a cosmetic procedure.

She removed 4 lbs. of skin and even though my stomach is NOT flat ..or perfect...my "apron" did hang low and completely covered a certain area. Now I feel so much cleaner down below and our sex life is better 

Just a suggestion for anyone wanting some skin removal but can't afford it.

I have a small apron but not enough to qualify for insurance to pay for anything. I only had 112 pounds total to lose and my fat distribution was very even over my body. I had very large bust and hips and I did carry quite a lot of weight up front but not enough. What I really want is a lower body lift, boob job, arms and inner thighs done. Interestingly, most of all I want my face done... face lift, brow lift and eyes and neck. I think I could seriously become a PS junkie... good thing I don't have the money for any of it. LOL

The last time I had a bath was a couple years ago ....and I remember filling the tub and thinking I really needed to just RELAX. Oh how wrong I was. I got in, sat down, and the water went pouring out of the tub. Not a little ...but a lot!!! 

Now you got me thinking! I could really go for a bath these days and I think I just might!!

It's stuff like this that I seriously forget about. And then someone reminds and I think "hey I can do this now".

When I was I big I had a "fat towel" that I used after every shower (washed it of course lol) but it was a white over sized beach towel. It was the only thing that wrapped around me. Now I can grab any standard size bath towel and it FITS!!! 

I also paint my toe nails now too ...another neglected body part because if I even tried to reach it hurt like hell.

Your posts get me thinking all positive. A warm, fuzzy feeling.

Thanks

I totally get this. I was amazed just a while back when I wrapped a regular-sized towel around me and it tucked and it stayed!  And it looked kinda hot! hehe

Last night in the bath, I was able to sit with my knees under my chin and working on the cuticles of my toes. There was a time, not that long ago, that was not anywhere close to possible.

I also like to light candles and put them on the corners of the tub and turn out the lights. It just creates a world apart and sometimes that's just what we need.

I have an entire drawer of wonderful bath salts, scrubs, oils, milks and bubbles that I'm getting reaquainted with. I got most of them the first time I'd lost weight (about 50% of what I've now lost) and haven't used any of them since I gained it all back.

I'm very olfractory-oriented. Last night I was remembering the last time I'd used this particular bath salt and the memory brought up the fear of repeating the weight gain cycle. I just tried to relax into it and allow those fears to melt away. Ironically, I had also used the last of those salts. Maybe that was the purpose of THAT ritual.

Since I'm Aaron's "girl," hope you don't mind me chiming in here. 

First of all, if for no other reason than the wonderful feeling that comes from it, you SHOULD pamper yourself!!!  When I take care of my outside, I feel SOOOO much better on the inside.  There's nothing like indulging in a bubble bath, shaving and moisturing my legs (okay, so I HATE shaving my legs), and then giving myself a mani and a pedi.  I can do just as good a job, if not better, than the pricey salons!!

I, too, hope to eventually say goodbye to some excess skin, but in the meantime, it's going to be the softest, best-smelling skin I can afford!!!  LOL!!!!

As far as helping the appearance and elasticity - Olay Quench for Extremely Dry Skin is the BEST stuff I've found.  The feeling lasts forever and the smell is awesome!!!  And the Olay Body Ribbons (pink) rocks, too!!!

Have a great day!!!!!

Tia