gowalking

Hi @lynneanne. I'm also 56 and was not in shape either. I've lost 150 lbs. and I have alot of loose skin. Having said that, between body shapers, and certain clothing styles...no sleeveless, no shorts or dresses above the knee, I look just fine. As far as more intimate situations, I can only give you my experience and for me, my fella also has a band and is still about 40 lbs. from his goal weight so neither of us fixates on the things that are far from perfect. We simply enjoy the intimacy. Hope that helps you some. Oh and one more thing. The loose skin is worth the weight loss. I've never felt that being overweight was in any way advantageous over the skin issues.

You look great! So happy for you. Isn't it wonderful to feel good in clothes..and not just relieved that it fits?

Some of the looseness is better a year later. It's not better by much, but it is a bit firmer. I don't know that it makes a difference in terms of plastic surgery but I figured I could at least respond to your question based on my experience.

This may have nothing to do with the band. It could just be a change in your sleep pattern due to age or differing lifestyle. If you're concerned, I'm sure you can get bloodwork that will let you know if it's something physiological.

I was never told not to eat popcorn but I agree, you can eat more than you realize. I buy the 100 calorie packages so I know when to stop. I don't eat it often but once in a while, warm popcorn is a real treat.

Hi friends. Enjoying a lazy morning as the weather is rather sloppy here in the Big Apple. Going out with friends tonight and really looking forward to it. Brunch with my family tomorrow afternoon and a date on Superbowl Sunday. I think we're going to see American Sniper. The only negative in all this is that I'm having an inflammatory flare and had to get a shot in the back yesterday. Dr. says this will happen from time to time. It's just part and parcel of my joint disease/auti-immune ailment. It's probably not terrible to have some negatives in all the positives. Keeps me humble and sympathetic to others who have trouble or difficulties in their lives. Just wanted to let you know that I went shopping at Lord and Taylor on Thursday evening looking for 3/4 and long sleeve dresses for work. Saw they were having sales and since my weight is stable now, I wanted to get more of the 'better' dresses. The saleswoman was very helpful like in the old days and brought me different sizes and options while I waited in the dressing room. She suggested separates which I never really wore before and I must admit, I put on a couple of basic dresses with matching jackets and I was blown away by how 'professional' I looked. People at work will think I'm a vendor coming in for a bid defense because of how I'm dressed. Most of my coworkers wear basic slacks and tops....which is typical of a suburban office. I have to admit, I like looking better than the other women. I know it's vanity but I don't care. It's about time I can feel vain. Oh...and one more thing. The clothes were Tahari and Anne Klein...and to my amazement, the dresses were size 8 and the jackets sizes 6 and even one in a 4. I've never worn a 4...not in my whole life. Have a great day everyone.

Hawaii...how wonderful. Just one thing Julie..this is not always a linear journey so don't be surprised if you feel like you are going in the wrong direction. It happens and you just have to make it through. It will get better again and this is just the way it will be for a long time. Eventually, the better times will be longer and longer and you will come to an acceptance I hope. That's when you'll know that you will not only survive, but even be happy again. I promise it will happen.

you look wonderful. Congrats on a significant loss.

I'm 56 and lost 150 lbs. so I for sure have loose skin. I am considering surgery but if I do move forward with that, I'll have to pay out of pocket...no issues with rashes or skin breakdown. But as others have said, body shapers and clothes in general hide a multitude of sins so to speak. For now, it's good enough. This journey was about health and mobility first and I'm reveling in being able to move again and have fewer co-morbidities so what my skin looks like was always a minor consideration.

Where's the relationship forum you promised Alex? I'd like to see that up and running...

OK, I read this quickly and thought you wanted to know a good sports bar to go to. I was checking out where you live in case it was also NYC... I'm giggling like an idiot right now....

Spent the whole hour with the therapist last night talking about body image, control issues, 'mindful eating', etc. I have a long way to go yet. We talked about worst case scenario and what would happen if I went off the rails for a day and ate mindlessly and it scared me so bad that we stopped talking about it. She said I wasn't ready yet. I'm so frightened that I will lose control and get fat again. I talked about how the food and the eating of it made me forget my pain and self loathing for those few moments but then I'd just feel worse because I lost control and just made my situation worse. The device or surgery is truly just a piece of this process for me. I have no choice but to delve into my psyche to get to the root causes and have things in place to help keep me in control of this addiction. I really feel like I'm taking two steps forward and one step back. Not in terms of my weight, but my overall progress in beating this thing.

OK, here are pictures. Let me know what you think...really.

So glad I wasn't sipping my coffee when I read that. I cracked up...and had to cover my mouth as I'm in the office and people will wonder what I'm doing....

Guess what my friends...I'm wearing slacks and a blouse here at work. But....the blouse is tucked into the slacks. I already asked a colleague I trust if it looked OK and she said I looked absolutely fine. For someone like me...who still thinks she's fat, and knows she has a flabby belly, wearing anything tucked in is scary. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror for probably two minutes just makng absolutely sure I didn't look dumpy. Ugh...I wish I could see what everyone else does... I know what I look like logically, I'm just not caught up emotionally.

My bariatric surgeon never gave me a goal. We didn't even talk about it. I did have input however from two other sources. My PCP and my orthopaedist. My PCP told me that if I could get down to 150 lbs. she would be quite satisfied. My orthopaedist said I wasn't a good candidate for joint replacement till I was under 200 lbs. I weighed 267 at the time. I haven't changed my eating since I was banded two years ago. I was losing consistently so I figured the weight would stop coming off when my body was done shedding. I'm probably done at this point as I am basically staying in the neighborhood of 115-118 lbs. So 'technically' I surpassed my goal of weighing 150 but again...it was a very arbitrary goal. My BMI at 150 was still in the overweight category. But I also know that BMI is far from an exact measurement as well. My opinion...and it's just my opinion...is that your goal should be a healthier and happier life...and not go by a number. In fact...my goal was really to lose enough weight to get my hips replaced and that goal was met when I weighed under 200 lbs. The remaining 85 lbs. I lost was gravy as far as I'm concerned.

I was losing my hair as well and started taking Biotin and drinking

Just packed up all my oversized towels to bring down to Florida to use on the chaise lounges down at the pool. I replaced them all with 'regular' bath towels because the oversized ones are way too big for me. I can wrap it around me almost twice and I can't tuck it in because it's too heavy now.. Never thought I'd have to replace my towels of all things...

I'm actually watching Gray's Anatomy. Never watched it on regular TV so I'm watching it on Netflix. Also...I watch Call the Midwife on PBS. @@woo woo, it's a British series about midwives during the 1950's in a working class area of England. It's a really nice series. I just watched the Christmas Special and the new season starts soon.

Ohhh...OK. That makes sense. I always thought it was the same type of surgery. Obviously not. Thanks for clarifying it for me.

There was a disclaimer at the beginning noting the inflammatory opinions she holds so I figured she was a fat hater...so I changed the channel. I like watching the 600 lb. episodes but that's because these folks for the most part are successful and it's nice to see. The only thing I wonder about is why the bariatric surgeon does the skin removal. Isn't that supposed to be a plastic surgeon? Especially as these folks still look pretty lumpy even after they have skin surgery. Anyway...random thoughts..

It will happen @Elizabeth68. I promise. I've lost 150 lbs. and the port, once completely invisible hidden under all that fat, is now protruding just like the other posters say...it does look like a golf ball under the skin. I asked Dr. Ren about it when I saw her last month and she said there was a lower profile port available but it wouldn't make much of a difference in her opinion. Truth be told, I have become very proud of that bump as it means I've lost so much excess weight that it's clearly visible now.

I second everything 2babutterfly wrote. Just the fact that you take responsibility for your poor choices means that you can...and will succeed. Good luck and come here as often as you need to for support.

Hi Cori. This is a small forum for folks involved in the support group. Can I suggest you post this on a larger forum where more people will see it and give you feedback? You can post in either the lapband or sleeve area...or even the general weight loss forum. Good luck.

I'm also doing well for the most part with the food aspect. I'm never going to be a fan of exercise so I do my best to get to the pool two or three times a week and I consider that a goal met. But Water....oh my. I so need to drink more water. I often drink less than two bottles and I know I should be drinking twice that. I drink coffee instead and I know that's not a good thing. I just recently got the flavor drops and I've found that helps so I hope by adding flavor, I'll drink more water this year. I know my intestines and colon will thank me...