AutumnPunkin

I am really hoping to do tough mudder as well! I am not sure I will be ready. I have done several 5k runs so far and finally have my time much better, I have also done a 10k run recently. I am definitely doing the Spartan races next year, but tough mudder scares the poop out of me lol. I soooooooo want to do it though <3

Just finished another 5k run last night! The neon run. Only took me 32 minutes to do the run!!! Best time yet!

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

I am no where near goal, and that is ok. I will not meet my goal as the weight is coming off slow, but meh! I am still exercising and eating well! Cannot ask for anything better. For september I lost 8 pounds so far, nothing to complain about <3

I am no where near goal, and that is ok. I will not meet my goal as the weight is coming off slow, but meh! I am still exercising and eating well! Cannot ask for anything better. For september I lost 8 pounds so far, nothing to complain about <3

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

So today I was asked about excess skin. So I wanted to share my skin. Warning there are photos of me in my bra.
So a little about me.
I had gastric bypass on Halloween 2013.
Hw: 333 pounds
Surgery weight: 283 pounds
Current weight: 180 pounds
Estimated excess skin weight from doctor: 20 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10 stretchy, size 12 regular fit, size 14 tight fit.
Size M shirts
Size WHEN I started 4xl
I will try to attach some before, after and skin photos.
Goal weight 140-150 pounds.
Goal life: healthy, and live life to the fullest
I wanted to share these because I look not so bad with clothing. I don't like having the excess skin, but it doesn't define me.
Remember it can take up to two years for skin to shrink.
I am not ashamed of my excess skin. Do I wish it was gone, yes I do, but life unhealthy was much worse
I hope this does not deter you to lose weight and have this surgery, because this life is so much better and it is worth it!
Let me know if you have any questions
I will likely do this again when I hit goal weight. As you can see in the below pictures, I still have a lot of adipose tissue in the skin, so I am sure it will get better
Cheers!

Thank you everyone for the amazing feedback. I feel very comfortable in my skin, and find it funny sometimes. For example the other day I was laying on my side, my skin fell to said side and they was a fist size gap in my pants from where the skin used to sit and my hips bones, it was hilarious.
Everyone here is so.amazing, and I hope to show you all again in the next few months how my skin has changed again over time.
I feel pretty awesome and life is great. Excess skin is scary, but skin does shrink a little. Unfortunately it can take up to 2 years for some elasticity and collagen to return.
Ok so I will never have a beach babe bod, meh, who cares.
I can walk, run, and do everything now. The sky is the limit!!
You all motivate me to live my life awesomely!

My before and now
Highest weight 333 pounds
Surgery weight 282 pounds
Current weight 183 pounds
Height 5 foot 6 inches
Size 10, 12, 14 (ladies sizing is soooooooo inconsistent)
Average size, 14 pants
Size medium
Goal: 140-150 pounds

You look amazing! Thank you for sharing your a true inspiration!!

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm only 9 weeks post-op and already thinking about when and what if. Seeing it helps!

Thank you so much for putting it out there. I also have the saggy skin and my belly looks alot like yours. I've learned to camouflage it well and I also look fine in clothes. I don't know if I will undergo plastic surgery. I am considering it but I'd have to pay for it out of pocket so I have to really make sure if I go ahead, it's for the right reasons.
You are a beautiful lady and I want to congratulate you on your weight loss.

You look amazing!

Thanks for sharing your photos. My belly looks very similar to yours. I already consulted with a plastic surgeon a couple of weeks ago. She told me to come back when I stop losing weight. I didn't want to wait! I hate my wobbly bits. But seeing your photos makes me realize that loose skin isn't really that big a deal. You look great.
Since I'm 60 and I was obese for a long time, it isn't likely that my skin will tighten up much on its own. But look how great you look in your clothes. Instead of obsessing about loose skin, I should learn how to dress better.

You're gorgeous!!!!! Look at you! I am so inspired. I have the baggy saggy skin too but it's under clothes so for now I'm ok. Eventually I may try to have insurance pay for a panniculectomy. I'm documenting skin issues with my general practitioner right now. I started a prescription powder about two months ago. A plastic surgeon I went to listen to recommended that people who were planning future plastic surgery take these steps way ahead of time. A paper trail with your general practitioner is critical to lay out the argument that the excess skin should be removed for medical reasons. Anyway, I haven't decided of course if I'm doing it or not. However, I'd like to keep my options open. Congratulations on your wonderful success!

thank you so much for your pics and post!

Thanks! Fear of the unknown is so much worse than understanding the reality. I appreciate your sharing...

Autumn thanks for being so candid. These photos do not deter me. Like you, I know after the sleeve surgery life will be so much better. Saggy skin is Very small price to pay to be healthy.
By the way, good job on the weight loss. Wishing you continued success

Wow! Thanks for sharing @@AutumnPunkin you have done a wonderful job!

Salem...if you find that you are hating your body after you lose the weight, think about discussing it with a professional. I am still working on body image issues. I've lost more than half my size and was only noticing the negatives and not the positives. I'm getting there but it is absolutely a process...and a process that some of us need therapy to help us manage. Oh...and I'm far from the only one with this problem. When you look in the mirror and don't recognize yourself, therapy is a good idea.

You are truly amazing to share this. I have never thought about saggy skin. I guess I was so focused on getting healthy that I didn't consider it would happen to me. I am older and would not plan on surgery to fix it. I am 65 and I guess I will just have to deal with what happens. I am only one week out. I am reading about things I probably should have thought about before I did the surgery, but I didn't. I tried to prepare myself emotionally and read a lot, even joined a support group. I guess I will just wear clothes all the time. I am a widow so someone seeing me nude is not something I want, nor a relationship. Can I ask you a question? Do you hate your new body? It would be awful to do all this and still hate your body. Sometimes I wish I would have tried diets one more time, but I have always failed. I am beginning to see how difficult this WLS aftermath will be. I am stuck with it though. I hope I can have the attitude that you do. You are really amazing and courageous.

Thank you for your honesty and confidence. I am pre-op and didn't know what the phantom "extra skin" looked like. You are beautiful and your clothing choices are amazingly perfect! I think you may need to start handing out clothing tips and hints to the new post ops. Thank you for sharing the reality of post op. I can live with that especially if I can avoid another surgery

Thank you so much for sharing your photos. That's the first time I've seen what the mystery of excess skin really looks like. As others have said, you are beautiful and I love your clothing choices. I'm also encouraged that the extra skin seems to sort of disappear into your clothes so that's hopeful for me. I'm still near the beginning of my journey so have a long way to go before I see a lot of excess skin, although I have noticed some looseness already.
I also like your before photo with the elephant, that must have been fun!

You look so good!! Thanks for sharing. I hope I can put it all out there like you. I want to encourage people.

What a beautiful girl you are!
I am concerned with the skin but I feel it will inevitably happen. I have told my fiance that it is very doubtful that I would ever have the plastic surgery. I had such a time with this surgery I am actually afraid of any more surgery.