It is tough when people start telling you what you should or shouldn't weight. Interestingly, my surgeon said that the body has sort of an automatic leveling effect and that you will typically stop losing where you body is most comfortable. Every time I think I am done losing, I stabilize a while, then lose some more. I think I am about where I should be now, but my body may continue to lose. I never imagined I would get this low. But truly, it is your decision, not other peoples. Just make sure that you are getting enough nutrition and protein along the way. Have a great vacation!

I found that a few months after the surgery I started getting very very dry.  The doctor said I needed to have fat in my diet and not go fat free on everything. It took a while, but it got better. I also try to be very diligent about putting lotion on immediately after my shower.  I like Aveeno (which several people mentioned) and use Body Butters from the Body Shop a few times a week as well.  I also take Hair, Skin, and Nails (Gelcaps) from Costco. This was something the surgeon advised me to take in the initial months and then he recommended I continue it because he said there is other good stuff in there that is good for me.  The regular dose is 4 pills a day, and I did take that many in the early months, but now I just take one a day along with my other supplements.  

I also use Estee Lauder face creams...Advanced Night Repair and Lightweight Renutriv (among other free samples I get).  I wasn't allowed any moisturizer of any kind (face or body) the night before my plastic surgery and it was pure torture. I felt dry as a bone.

We had horses for many years and I had one with a very dry coat.  The vet had us treat her with corn oil mixed in with grain. Maybe that would work for us too.    I think the thought is that it is best treated from the inside vs. the outside.  I believe a two-pronged approach (lotion and fats) probaby works best.  

It seems you are not very far out.  I didn't even begin to attempt to eat that sort of food until a month or two later.  I started with very soft fish first (scallops, fish fillets).  I ate deli meats and cheese early out as that seemed to digest well. Chicken and meats came much later. I did eat beef jerky at about 4-5 weeks and chewed it to pieces before swallowing.  That helped me get protein in and I could eat a little bit at a time throughout the day.  Good luck at finding what works. Don't rush the process.

I think I had a similar shape to you. I am pretty straight and boxy now without much of a waist, but I can live with that.  Anyway, my surgeon was Dr. Joseph Ku in Riverside, CA.  I was referred by my bariatric surgeon and had seen some of his work on some people that I met at the bariatric surgeon's office. I will definitely have him do any future plastic surgery.  I met him and liked him right away, so I didn't even shop around, I booked my surgery on the day of my consult.

Although I don't get to post much, I usually sit at my computer at about 10 pm (West Coast time) and read the posts.  I always enjoy reading them and learn a lot about maintenance, common issues we all face, everybody's lives, and just humanity in general. Thanks for sharing.  I love photo Fridays and so today I jumped on early because I have been working at home all week as I am recovering from my belt lipectomy.  Back to work on Monday because it is budget time with a vengeance.  I missed the first meeting today, but will be going nonstop in the next couple of months.  Surgery was on 1/25 and I took a full week and a half off with no work, worked from home this week, calling in for meetings and conference calls, and working remotely.  I wish I could do this all the time, but sadly cannot.  

Anyway, recovery has gone amazingly well.  I am very happy with the results. Hated that I had to pay out of pocket, but I really felt I needed this for my own mental well being. I couldn't be happier. Saw the doctor yesterday and he is very pleased with my healing, but if you can believe it, he begged me to please eat more (who would have thought).  I lost 5 pounds of skin from the surgery and then another 4 or 5 more on top of that. He said, please go eat a big fat juicy steak and anything else you can think of.  I don't know that I will do that but I did pick up steaks to barbeque tomorrow night.  One of my daughters got a promotion and has moved back home (how does that work out) yesterday. She will go back to LA on Sunday and stay with her boyfriend to finish her last week up then officially move in (her stuff is all here now).  She is going to stay here a couple/few months until she figures out where she wants to live in her new territory, her boyfriend gets a transfer, and they move out together somewhere.  So we will have her all week and they will trade off weekends with us and his family (although they like to be here more).  So, our empty nest won't be as empty as it was.  My husband and I will adjust, but we love our kids, so we are happy.

Random acts...I try to do things whenever I can.  A couple of weeks ago I took a friend to a play. She likes to go to them, but has 2 little kids and doesn't do that kind of stuff for herself much.  We had a great time.  I need to be more conscientious about intentionally doing things. Thanks for the reminder.

Here are my pictures.  Me and my hubby on our wedding day (1983) and one of me and my Mom (she has been gone 6 years now and I miss her every day. We were best friends.)  And one of my family from Mother's Day last year, because I love my family.  

The way I hear the story, he was shoveling, not snoozing.

I don't think I had ever seen your before picture until now. You look fantastic.

That would be my perfect schedule!  Damn work for getting in the way.  I was on a cruise ship for a week without a scale (never even went to the gym scale).  I like being able to keep tabs on things so I get it.

Yes, I went for my consult in November to see how much weight I should lose first and what he recommended and he told me it was all skin, and there wasn't even anything he could lipo. I really liked the doctor and felt pretty good about everything, so I booked my surgery date that day. It came quickly. Good luck on your consult. I think this will really help complete things for me. Except that I still want to do a breast lift, etc along with an arm lift.  I may do that in the fall. My husband will take me for the surgery and my daughter is taking 2 days off and will stay with me through Sunday, so I have some good support.  I also borrowed an electric lift out recliner from a friend. I'll keep y'all posted.

This weekend was a busy one. I went to the Styx concert at a casino last night with a friend and we stayed overnight. It was such an awesome show and so much fun. Heading to see Matilda with my friend from work who has been filling in for me during my vacations.  I feel I owe her since I have been on quite a few vacations since October.

I've been doing well with maintenance and am very excited to be having a lower body lift on Wednesday (so off work again-hence me treating her to the show).  I am a bit apprehensive about the pain and recovery, but not nervous about the surgery. I know this will help to really complete the process for me. 

QOTD: Always lap blankets. We have a huge collection. In fact, my kids grew up having their own blankets and thought it was weird if they were at a friends house and they didn't have them. I agree, that it is also the weight of it. I like the pulling them out of the dryer idea. I will have to remember that.

Sorry for the delayed response, but I didn't pay for the full internet package on the cruise. We were on Carnival. Sadly, we didn't get to stop at 2 of our 4 ports due to wind and waves.  So, it was a bit of a bummer, but they gave everyone 25% off a future cruise.

Wendy's will also sell you just the chicken breast at a lower price.