Hello everyone. I have a few questions I hope to get some answers too. I have my sleeve surgery booked in Mexico for 4/24/18. I’m starting off it 224lbs. My goal is to be 120lbs-110lbs. My 1st question is regarding before and afters. I keep reading so much about the fact that losing 100lbs makes you skin lose, I was wondering if anyone has started out around my range and how there before and after pic looked without skin removal. Just the thought of going through another surgery is making me reconsider.... also how long do I have to wait to get pregnant again?

I was not around you weight range when I had my surgery. However, loose skin can happen to anyone.

My suggestion is to start focusing on toning up the skin after about 2 months out (maybe sooner). It also depends on where you are carrying a lot of fat. Most people tend to not need surgery on their legs because it gains muscle and bounces back pretty nicely. However, stomach, back, and arms are the most difficult to tone up. You also want to spend at least a year truly trying to tighten your skin before deciding to get additional surgeries. My friend lost 100 lbs by dieting and exercising. Her stomach had loose skin but she has worked on it and the Abs have actually helped her tighten the skin up, as well as her arms.

Surgeons typically suggest waiting for 2 years before getting pregnant as your body is going through major changes and needs to adapt to the new calorie intake. If you are hoping to get pregnant prior to that time, it's probably best that you wait on the surgery. However, there are many women who have gotten pregnant right after surgery and have had healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy. It is that you will head into unfamiliar territory and a tricky situation. Good luck!!! Welcome to the Losers Bench.

I am 5’6 and have to be 229 by my vsg (surgeons requirement). My dietician recommends only doing cardio to warm up and then start a weight lifting program at about 6 weeks out. I already lift and go to the gym about 4 days a week, so it will be hard to stay away from the gym for 6 weeks. I am also worried about loose skin, so I am going to go into maintenance at about 160-170. I’ve been close to that weight before so that should put me at a size 10 or so (I am very curvy so I wore a size small/medium shirt at that time, but I need more room for my butt and thighs, lol). I know I could go to a lower weight, but I don’t want to risk having too much loose skin. I am a teacher so I will never have it in my budget to remove.

Age: 37

Height: 5’6

BMI: 37

SW: 241

GW: 150-160

MFP: Fit4LifeAR

Hi there! My starting weight was 222lbs and I’m 5’4’’. My goal is to be in a healthy bmi so around 135-140lbs but since I’m also lifting and gaining muscle I may be fine with a weight above 140lbs.

Anyway, about lose skin I definitely thinks it depends a lot from person to person. I still have 30lbs to lose (51lbs down) but I can already tell my arms and legs will stay tight but my belly probably will not. My belly is also where I carry most of my weight and where I have lots of stretch marks so it makes sense.