What People Dont Tell You About Weight Loss

[Irishflower79 183]

Seen this on FB. Was a good article!

http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/11/what-no-one-tells-you-about-dramatic-weight-loss.html

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Wow, that is amazing and so true. We see post after post here all the time of people worried about loose skin and how to avoid it. Over and over, those of us who've dealt with it tell them the sad truth- there is very little that can be done besides surgery.

The author's bravery to post those pictures is astounding. I'll be honest, I have a ton of loose skin but there is no way in heck I'd post pics of it online. Definitely not naked ones. I'm just not nearly that brave again.

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[Bandista 7,466]

A quote from the LB program coordinator at our local hospital (she is banded herself): "all the good stuff happens in the dark anyway."

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,722]

i try not to focus on the negative..we got enough of that in the world and on this forum...i try to see only the positive....so what i got some sag...hey, who am i kidding...i gots lots of sag...from bat wings on my upper arms, to my belly apron to my thighs.....but let me say, i am very much more healthier now......at 145 pounds lost then i was when i started......i will take sag over that scale number well over 336 anyday..

sure some bad happen but the good surely outweighs the negative.

[gowalking 10,790]

Very good article..not just about the unrealistic body images, but the whole aspect of keeping the weight off as part of our 'new normal'. I know that my goals are fairly mundane such as walking to the grocery store without being in terrible pain. For those with mobility issues, they understand this small but very significant step in term of my 'new normal.

[GoingforGoal 1,734]

I think it's a valid discussion to talk about post weight loss reality.

I've been overweight my entire life, I had nothing to compare to. However, after being 100+ lbs overweight for a good duration of my life, I had expectations I would have lax skin etc. So when the weight finally dropped off, again, no surprise that I was left a fistfuls of skin where fat once lived. But I was not prepared for how it made me feel.

That lose skin made Spanx a requirement just so my body shape was not oddly distorted.

That lose skin still made me feel overweight 1) because there was still mass where they shouldn't be and 2) I still felt restricted (like wearing tank tops or a dress was a NO)

That lose skin was just a daily and permanent visual reminder of where I was.

Now you can flip these into positive thoughts, however...

I think (just from my perspective) there comes a point when you lose all your weight, and you maintain and you finally BEAT the battle of losing weight once and for all and it's time for a new chapter. I didn't want the daily visual reminder. I was so frustrated with getting to goal and still feeling just as self conscious as I did 100 lb heavier. I wanted my new life to give me not just my health, but the mental freedom to no longer worry about my physical self.

Cosmetic surgery was a must and that was the final phase of my journey. It gave me everything I just described. Sure I can nitpick on my body, but there is absolutely nothing I dread or won't expose even nekkid. I put clothes on now without spanx and I wear dresses (never did my entire life) and I know everything looks great. Perfect nah...but that's NOT the goal.

Being comfortable in your own skin is important. Some can do that with excess skin, especially if it's not bad. For others, it means getting rid of skin to be comfortable in it (smirk).

I hope this discussion just brings some awareness so everyone is prepared one way or another. This is a very real consequence of losing heaps of weight. Nothing will ever take away the + side of being thin. This all comes down to aesthetics, but I was just taken back by how much those aesthetics made an impact on my overall feeling of success.

Love ya saggy and all