I am so curious whether I will have a lot of extra skin or not. I am 5'2, 226 lbs and 31 years old. Anyone have any thoughts/experiences on this? I have my surgery Jan 25th.

I've heard it's dependent on age, weight (and how long at that weight), and genetics. We both have similar ages and starting bmi's. I'm pretty happy with extra skin results so far, but I'm not quite done. For a while I was really concerned with my spare time, triceps, and inner thighs, but the exercise is really helping all areas except I still need to work hard on my inner thighs. I think exercise is key as well as the things I posted above.

If I'm still shut in tomorrow due to weather (I have really bad cabin fever and it's only been a day) I will take some pics in shorts and tank top so you can see.

That is very sweet. I would appreciate it. I am just so curious as to what I am going to look like after all this! I have only been this obese for a bit over 5 years. I didn't every battle with weight at all until about 22 and even then I wasn't really big.

Okay, seeing that I had the time now...I went to take pictures to show you. All of my shorts are too big so I put on the swimsuit I used last year, it's a little big now in the chest area, but should give you an idea. Looking at these pictures, I'm seeing I might have painted a little rosier picture than the reality, but I still am hoping that I won't need plastics if I keep working hard over the next couple of years.

One is of my thighs (you can see the blips, but it's even worse under the skirt), another from the side (the belly is getting flatter, I didn't think that would ever happen, been doing a lot of ab work), and the last I got my husband to take. I will post a couple more in my album that I couldn't get resized to fit here.

DeeDee-

You look absoutly beautiful!!! There is no way you need surgery!!

I'm not as daring as you to take pics ... but if you seen my legs... then you would know what it is to have to have surgery.

I'm also 20 years older than you... but I do have good skin, can tell some of it is going to be ok... but with as much weight as I have to lose, surgery is going to have to be my answer.

You look wonderful, and with you exercising like you do- I don't really think you will need anything!!

Keep up the good work!!

Girl, you look great. I don't see surgery needed anywhere! Thank you for sharing! This helps a lot!

Thank you ladies, but my thighs in real life do look pretty bad...the skin sort of reminds me of an elephant when I push at it.

Chancie, you do NOT look 20 years older than me! Good job taking care of your skin.

deedee,

You look gorgeous. The gym work that you're doing to help your skin is really paying off for you.

I have excess skin on my upper arms, there's still fat there as well, excess skin on my upper/inner thigh region, and on my boobs and tummy.

I will not be having any plastics done until we have at least one other baby. I know that I will get a breast augmentation, and lift. Tummy tuck will be a couple of years after baby.

Truthfully, and this is just my personal opinion, I'll take the excess skin over fat rolls any day of the week. I do look a little "prunish", but I realize that I can start working out more, and help build some muscle to fill in that skin. I'm just not going to beat myself over excess skin. I don't get out in the sun (super pale/sensitive to the sun) so I don't have to necessarily worry about a swim suit.

I think my perception of myself is still a little skewed. Other people would probably think I look pretty hideous, but myself and husband are pretty happy with my results. The only thing I miss are my big boobs. BUT, push-up or demi bras are wonderful things! ! !

DeeDee, we're different body types, but skin wise, we're very similar. I get your "I may have painted a rosier picture than reality" feelings, but in reality, you look gorgeous. I'm the same. I feel that I'm squishy, I feel self conscious of my small little belly roll etc, but truly, the result from a big weight loss is very good and the exercise has toned me nicely.

We just need to relax about our bodies! You actually dont look like you've ever been fat and you dont look at all like you need to cover up in that swimsuit! Where's the bikini! Get out there and show it off, you look really great!

I have the bumpy cellulite thigh thing going on too, but the truth is, most people notice your overall shape, and yours is great - and dont notice those small imperfections like we do. do you REALLY pick apart other women the way you do yourself? Probably not. And men just notice that you're hardly dressed, lol.

Edited December 20, 200916 yr by Jachut

Wow, you look great, tell us what your exercise routine is. Wow, to be young again. I think that being younger really helps with less sagging skin, plus working out too. At my age, I am going to have flabby upper arms and inner thighs, but like Tiff says, I'll take that over rolls of fat any day. Gosh, I can see why you get so much attention. You are just going to have to get used to it. How is your husband handling it?

Thank you everyone for the compliments.

Jachut, you're right, I do not sit around picking apart other women's bodies...I'm too busy concentrating on all of my flaws:-), which there are many, I think I take better pictures than I am real life, trust me.

I also agree with Tiff about rather having saggy skin that the extra fat.

Steph, I don't do anything all that special. I do Jazzercise 4 days per week, tap dance 1 day per week, use my Walmart ab ball daily (that really kills), and use our body gym thing in the basement a couple times per week for weight stuff.