watched TLC's NEW SKINNY.... AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!

The only thing I know is to exercise, lift weights as soon as you can, and pray. You are going to love the sleeve. God Bless.
Evie

Sarah was 28 so she wasn't old, but had been overweight/obese for many, many years.

I'm only 35, had my surgery at 32. Not old, but was obese to morbidly obese for over a decade. I lost 140lbs totals. My skin is not as severe as hers, but it's there, and I was able to relate to her story.

As for exercise, toning, just like the surgeon said, exercise can only do so much. The muscle structure was there, but the excess skin and fat layers can't be "worked off".

I wouldn't trade my back fat rolls and my thighs rubbing together for the bit of excess/wrinkly/flabby skin that losing weight has left me.

My skin rebounded really nicely after about a year in maintenance. Here I am today, 4.5 months after delivery of Tatum, and 9 weeks pregnant again, I can honestly say that my excess skin on my belly served me well in the pregnancy. I didn't gain one single new stretchmark. My skin is all stretched back out again, and it's going to be even more stretched out now that I'm pregnant again. BUT, considering losing weight made a healthy pregnancy possible, and now a 2nd pregnancy, I can't really gripe about a little excess skin.

 

 

I ain't gonna lie..... I saw the three blurbs on the show and just about lost my cookies when they did the unveil of the removed .....ahhhh......meaty flesh....not just skin.....

 

Just sealed the deal for me......any thought I had of major work done.... ain't happening.....call me Sharpei...... I'm good.....

 

It does kind of amaze me that people think you can lose 100+ plus pounds and not have any skin issues...... sure there are a few examples of some that have done well. But lose over 100+ pounds 150lbs. and not have skin issues.... come on...... think about the elastic we stretched out on our underwear getting big.... about the same thing....it only comes back so much.

 

I'm all for hitting the gym and weight training !!! Yah !!! Build muscle !!!

 

Cool....But here's the thing.... weight training doesn't really do anything for the skin....it's about replacing fat for muscle to fill out whats under the skin. Which is great and all and there are many advantages to keeping your work outs on.....muscle helps you burn more calories, helps in bone density and all around fitness.

 

But here is the reality..... built muscle mass takes maintaining or it goes away.......

frisco

 

All you youngsters in your 20's will be fine. I am an old bird and I I'll take excess skin over fat any day of the week. Fat doesnt hang when you are young. As you get older fat isn't so cute ;)

Best,

Sharon

 I'm 27, and I've lost 110 pounds so far, and I definately have loose skin. It was bound to happen. Being so big for so long damaged my skin. No regrets though!

If you need a sleeve or any bariatric surgery it is to save your life so skin is an afterthought.

Yes, loose skin sucks. But its way better than being morbidly obese. It really depends from person to person how much you will have and where, being young is in your favor. Relax and see what happens, there is no sense worrying about it now. Wasted energy.

That being said, you are 23. There is plenty of time for kids. If you need plastics, wanting kids isnt necessarily a deterrent. I am 28 and havent had kids yet and dont plan on it for at least 5 years.  I didnt want to walk around for 5-6 years with the loose skin I had waiting until I am going to have kids. I live my life for me.

My stomach may stretch (a little) and restretching the skin is fine per the plastic surgeons and I want to have a healthy pregnancy which means 20-30 pounds of gain, not 100 so if there is minimal stretching I will just worry about that then and maybe have a small tuck if need be. Its not going to be like it was when I stretched my skin from being 120 pounds over weight.

So the point of me mentioning that is yes, there are options, even at your age if the skin is bad and pregnancy doesnt wreck everything the doctor does.
 

I earned every one of these wrinkles and wear them proudly!  Sure beats the alternative!!!

Deb

I saw the show too. As the woman was describing her problems with folds of skin getting rashes, etc. I was thinking gee I have some of those problems now!! LOL!!  The guy was talking about intimacy problems, etc...  I got that too!!

In reality I'm going to the extreme purely for my health not for a beauty make over.

To me the show seemed like an hour long commercial for plastic surgery.  I think the people on the show over reacted a little, perhaps for the benefit of the show. They seemed on the verge of  manic depression. I found myself thinking "really, is it really THAT bad??"  I don't know, I'm not there yet. Maybe it is. However, I expect to have loads of skin. 

Hugs!

 I went into this surgery in order to get healthy but also to feel good about myself.  I'm glad I watched the show because now I know what to expect and will definitely get plastics :)

Just shove that skin in some Spanx and go, that's what I do! LOL! I have lost 145lbs and am 34 years old.  I went into this surgery knowing that I will not be the next Victoria's Secret supermodel or on the cover of the swimsuit issue of sports illustrated but you know what, I'm ok with that! Yes, it sucks that my tummy is not flat after all that hard work of losing the weight but the energy and how great I feel, far outweighs the skin issues.  I did not plan on my body to say, "Oh, hello, you treated me like crap for years but I'm going to reward you anyways with the perfect flat tummy,ass and thighs". Nope doesn't work that way.  Sometimes, I use the skin as a reminder to never go back to my old ways.  When I stand in front of the mirror, I remember what that skin use to look like full of fat and shoved into a size 24 pair of pants.  I'll take the skin shoved into a size 10 pair of pants now anyday! Roll the with punches, get healthy first and worry about the skin after.  No matter what, you will still be beautiful but not beautiful and healthy!