Skin and muscle tone.

I know this may seem unimportant and vain, but, I loose motivation thinking I'll be left with a body thats thinner but where my man boobs and stomach are saggy skin and I have no muscle tone.  Is it possible I'll be able to take my shirt off at the beach or in a public pool and look fit and toned?  I am 50 and the real reason I need to drop 80 pounds is to control diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.  I get depressed and wonder if it is worth it, because as of yet I havent suffered too many consequences other than swollowing handfuls of pills which reduce my BP, Cholesterol, blood sugar and unfortunately libido.  Do any of you guys feel the same?  What about weight trainig would this help me gain skin and muscle tone?
Martin

Martin I think you just might be missing the bigger picture here.
You will find that here in the locker room most of us here are more concerned with our health first , and all other factors come later. 
That handful of pills will take its toll sooner or later. They are just a bandaid masking the bigger problems. Loosing the weight will get rid of the problem alltogether!!! 

Good health and best wishes 
Nick

 

You are right.  The issue needs to be extending my life rather than how I look.  And admittedly I know how shallow and vain the post may seem.  I just wonder if any other guys have had similar thoughts and feelings and how they worked through them to focus on as you said whats really important.  I am afraid for me I might have to be jolted into a health scare, before I care enough.  Hopefully I'd live through it.  Just trying to put out there a crazy thought or excuse I cant shake right now.
Thanks Nick for your quick reply to a seemingly naive post,
Martin

 Martin, four months ago I weighed 399lbs.  Today I weigh 284lbs.  I have no problem going to a pool or beach and taking my shirt off....I'm almost 45 years old and 6'0" tall.  Is everything toned and tight?  No, not everything but it's not all saggy either.  Will weight lifting help?  Yes to an extent.  It's all about body habitus, age, and the skins elasticity.

Vanity will get you no where.  This is all about health.  I feel better now than I've felt in years.  No more high blood pressure.  No more pre-diabetic.  Better sleep as I don't snore anymore.  The list goes on.......

When I reach my goal weight I may choose to get some plastic surgery to tighten everything up but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.  But for now I'm enjoying the journey.
Best wishes,
Duane

Martin, the guys above are exactly right, but yes we all wonder about that.  After WLS when you lose the weight and you look back at old pictures of the "FAT YOU", you will say to yourself "wow did I really look that bad"?  You will be confident that you look like a stud compared to the old you and you will not be afraid to take your shirt off to fly down a waterslide.  Lose the weight, extend your life, and you will look great - no worries.

I think you are questioning the right things. I had my surgery a year ago yesterday. I was diabetic on insulin, HBP, sleep apnea, the libido was waning, depressin/anxiety and I felt like crap. I was taking insulin, and pills morning and at night.

I had my one year visits with the docs last week - my BP is normal, my A1c is under 7 (from a 9.0), my cholesterol was normal (from 250), and all of my co-morbids are goome or under control. I did go back on a low dose of my anxiety med - but that is it! And libido (and size) are bigger and better than ever!

Don't wait for an emergency. Take control now. No matter if you have surgery or use conventional methods of weight loss - get healthy. And yes - exercise will help you tone up.

Hey Larry;
Congrats on your year out. Sounds like you are doing great.
David

Martin, I'am 63 and needed to shed 115lbs.  I'am hovering around 200lbs now and have firmed up the man boobs and below belly flab.  The health (heart, lungs) was my reason for WLS.   I'am on a 1900 cal intake and 3000 cal burn.   This means alot of gym work.  Machines, motion, biking,  etc.  This  goes  along way to firm up most areas.  Excess skin is another problem
I'am not a shirt off guy anymore, even in the water. Its not because I cant show off once and awhile, its because I was a life guard and LS teacher for many years and the sun took its toll on me.  Suntans not healthy for me anymore. I'am the covered up nerd with the wide brimed hat on the beach.  Noticed skin problems while sailing and Doc said the sun has finally done its deed on me.
Might want to start a gym routine
Good luck

it's called plastic surgery...if it's good enough for the stars, it's good enough for us...lol. The only way to get rid of excess skin is to get it surgically removed...no biggie, sometimes your insurance company will pay for part or all of it.

Scott

Thank you for the thoughtful and insightful replies.  I appreciate those who have said the thoughts crossed their minds.  I also really like being pointed back to the lifesaving reasons for the weight loss. My motives are to live through my 50s and into my later years with the love of my life,  I want a healthy life that we can enjoy together. I will accept or fix the rest.  Thanks again for letting me share something my rational brain knew was BS, but my emotional side was hanging on to.
Martin