Question to people that have lost a lot of weight

[newmom 0]

Tiffy, what brand of toner do you use on your neck?

[Tiffykins 672]

Tiffy, what brand of toner do you use on your neck?

It's a Bare Minerals toner. I don't think they make it anymore. I also use Loreal Revitalift on my neck occasionally.

[JudyJudyJudy 7]

Hi Gin,

I am 47 and need to loose about 100 pounds. My surgery is scheduled for Dec 8th. I have 3 sister's (I am a twin) and 2 living parents who all weigh much more than I do. Every single person in my family has serious comorbitors. I have hypertension, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and arthritis and I am probably the healthiest of the bunch. Everyone is objecting to this surgery as if I have lost my mind. Their most recent claim is that I am going to look years and years older once I loose the weight (that is if I survive the surgery according to them). My response to that is - I had rather be dancing looking older than slowly dying looking young!

Has anyone else had to deal with such strong negative reactions from family? One of my sister's actually told me that she thought being fat was more healthy than having surgery. She thought I should try a fat farm for a couple of weeks. LOL.. I had to use Dr. Phil's line on her and ask her "How's that worked for you?". LOL

Hey Lucy

What an unconsiderate, jealous family you have. They are not thinking of you, they are thinking of themselves, and how BAD your gonna make the look, because you have decided to DO SOMETHING about your condition. Hats of to you, for standing your ground.

Having babies is dangerous too, but people have them every day!

I am very proud of you, and We will all stand behind you even if THEY don't. YOU GO GURL!!!! You will live longer, and be much happier in the long run.

[Jachut 487]

I definitely couldnt say weight loss improved my facial contours or my neck, lol. I *am* beginning to age as you do in your forties and I'm also an Aussie and have had a lot of sun exposure in my teens. But it didnt worsen anything, and overall, I have pretty good skin, just good genetics. I didnt really get a loose skin problem from weight loss apart from deflated boobs.

But overall, people think I'm in my early 30's. Why? Because my overall "look" is young, I look very fit and easily have the figure of someone of that age, I can wear a bikini and all sorts of things like that without looking like mutton dressed as lamb and i dont try to hide my age with overly frosted hair and a face full of make up and loads of junk like botox either. I'm happy to schlep around in jeans and thongs (well, flip flops to you), I am very casual, I've just finished a university degree and have had great fun being a student, its all SORTS of things that make you young, not just what the skin on your face looks like.

One thing I will say though, I have boobs that would make a 90 year old proud! Too bad I'm only 42. Those do need fixing.

Edited November 8, 2009 by Jachut

[BobBayCityMI 111]

I am not sure I am looking older. Will have to ask others about that. Healthier? Hell, yes! I have a bit of the turkey neck going and some bingo arm flaps, but with exercise and all will be good. I guess the older look is not as important to me as I have been told my eyes have lit up and that my smile is clear to see as I lose weight. Then again, I am a guy. I look more distinguished, not older. Different rules for us! Down 85 pounds in less than four months is one...we just lose faster. And I can always remember that God loves me no matter how I look :crying:

[Chancie 65]

WTG Bob!!!

WOW- 85 pounds in 4 months........ thats FANTASTIC!!

I lost alot of weight quick, but I think I was the "heavyweight" in here:blush:

I'm of course concerned with how I look. being single and all:001_tongue::crying:

But am more concerned with how I FEEL!!

[cajun 46]

I am only 31 so I don't think my weightloss has made me look older.

Lib, how are you doing. I recall that you had a kinda rough start.

[barefootinablacksea 0]

On a side note, my mom is in her mid-fifties and in her thirties and early forties always looked a lot older than she really was (she had a lot of stresses then). Now most people think she is much younger than she really is and people that knew her younger comment all the time how she somehow stopped aging. I think stress (and losing a lot of weight quickly probably qualifies as stressful for our bodies) can age us, but maybe it's not permanent?

You're absolutely right, stress is a major implication in premature aging. When we are stressed our body excretes a hormone called cortisol which sets off a whole set of processes. If it's an immediate stressor it sets off the fight or flight response but if it becomes chronic, collagen gets broken down and our sensitivity to insulin and leptin is affected. Which is why lots of people put on weight when they are going through a prolonged stressful period.

Nutrition also plays a big part. The reason why people are all over Omega 3s now is because aside from heart health, circulatory health and brain health it also provides the body with a pathway for producing more collagen. They tell us we need to eat lots of fish but that's only because nowadays most of the meat/dairy people consume is grain fed. Once upon a time livestock was grass fed which is where they would get their omegas from and that would provide us with the omegas but a lot of meat and dairy is relatively Omega poor.

Exercise is the other key - but not because you need to do lots of it - far from. If you exercise for longer than 45mins/1hour your cortisol levels start to rise putting your body back in stress mode. You're better off sticking to short bursts of 20 minutes once or twice a day.

Hope that helps some - probably not tho.

[carolyn24seven 11]

barefootinablacksea: thank you for that info. I am doing 20 min now and am so darn proud of myself. then I look around the gym and people are going for two hours and I feel like a wimp again. Now I won't. I do not need stress>

Peace, yes.

thanks again, I will head your advice!

[BobBayCityMI 111]

My dad told me yesterday that my weight loss makes me look younger. My dad gives out one compliment per decade, so I was proud of that!

[*susan* 1,709]

Bob, that is great about your dad complimenting you.

As for me, I am 43 and have lost almost 85 pounds. I really haven't noticed any differences in my face in terms of looking older or wrinkles. I have people frequently tell me they don't believe I am 43 when I tell them. I also have a full skin care routine that I do every morning and night to help prevent signs of aging and I think/hope it is working, lol.

p.s. Thank you Carolyn!!!!

Edited November 21, 2009 by *susan*

[mnb 0]

you may look alittle older as far as wrinkles and stuff is concerned. But being fat makes you look older too. People always have been able to pretty much guess my age accurately but as i got bigger, people like react like they don't believe me when i tell them i'm in my 20's. And last year even my sister told me her friends tell her i look older than her and she just turned 32 and i at the time i was 24. that's pretty embarrassing. telling your age and people thinking you're older. So people are gonna thinkou're older regardless. it's all in the atter of whay kind of "old lady" look you're going for, fat old lady or skinny wrinkeled old lady.

[Jane_J 117]

My family keep telling me I am looking younger and younger, which is nice. I haven't noticed any real bad wrinkles yet except above my knees. I do feel the cold a lot more now though.

[Chancie 65]

I'm just suprised I don't have the "turkey Neck" thing going on with the amount of weight I lost... silly but thats what I was worried about!!

And I'll take wrinkled skinny old lady any day!

[carolyn24seven 11]

Okay you guys. Here is my trick when asked my age, I always say 15 years older than I am. See, I look great for that age. Everyone always gets to say I do not look my age, I look so much younger, etc etc. Age is all how you feel anyway. I am feeling so much younger now 6 weeks post op. Just amazing. Like the clock is going backwards.