I've had a belly for as long as I can remember. Apparently, I tend to carry the majority of my excess weight in my abdomen, which of course makes me look pregnant, with stretchmarks (some pretty severe) to go with the appearance. I really don't think I'm going to have a pretty stomach after I reach goal. I'd have a nice hour-glass shape if I could just chop this damn belly off. I'll probably have to get my boobs at least lifted and possibly augmented, too, since they've always pointed in a generally southerly direction. I mostly like the way they look when I've got my arms stretched straight up in the air, but I can't exactly go walking around like that, can I?

You have your youth on your side, hon. Many women bounce back after pregnancy with no wrinkly belly, so you should have a fair chance of success too. As for the stretch marks, well...they too will fade - lots of Vitamin E cream does help.

Hi Lauren, it sounds like you have a similar body shape to mine and after almost 100 pounds gone, my stomach is STILL there. Well its more like a spare tyre now, that hangs a bit. Attractive visuals right? I think its a sensible thing to go into lapband surgery thinking we might need plastics to fix us up, and if we are one of the lucky one who doesn't need it, then good for us.

Laurend I booked my tummy tuck BEFORE I booked the band!!LOL

The way I look at it is that it will give me such a huge boost when I see that enormous change that it will spur me on to lose the rest.

I worked out that if I lose 7lb before tx and he takes 11/13 lb then at the end of it I will only be about 10lbs from goal!!

Your BMI is about the same as mine, have you thought about getting a consult yet or are you going to wait til you get to goal?

Nina x

Laurend I booked my tummy tuck BEFORE I booked the band!!LOL

The way I look at it is that it will give me such a huge boost when I see that enormous change that it will spur me on to lose the rest.

I worked out that if I lose 7lb before tx and he takes 11/13 lb then at the end of it I will only be about 10lbs from goal!!

Your BMI is about the same as mine, have you thought about getting a consult yet or are you going to wait til you get to goal?

Nina x

I'm going to try to wait until I reach goal, but that depends on how impatient I get! I'm really hoping my skin bounces back, and I want to wait to see if it does, but I have a nasty feeling that it won't, since I've had this belly for years. Plus, I'm tight on cash right now, and I don't have any guaranteed plans for employment in the near future (I'm finishing up grad school at the present time). I'm also considering going into the Peace Corps when I graduate, and if I do that, I don't know whether I should plan on having PS before or after that (it's a 2+ year commitment).

Wow the peace corps! In what capacity?

I have never had a flat tum even when I was a lithe teenager!! I had an appendectomy that went horribly wrong when I was a kid and left me with very bad adhesions that put paid to any hopes of a flat tum. The chips and cakes of course didnt help!!

What sort of job would you be looking for if you dont go into the peace corps?

Wow the peace corps! In what capacity?

I have never had a flat tum even when I was a lithe teenager!! I had an appendectomy that went horribly wrong when I was a kid and left me with very bad adhesions that put paid to any hopes of a flat tum. The chips and cakes of course didnt help!!

What sort of job would you be looking for if you dont go into the peace corps?

My background is in wildlife and conservation, so I'd probably be doing something with that. If I go, I kinda want to be in Africa or the Pacific Islands, but I'm still in the information stage. My university is hosting an information session in February, so I'll be going to that.

If I don't go into the Peace Corps, I'll try to find a wildlife biologist position with either a state or federal agency or with a private company. I've always wanted to work at a zoo, so I'll probably try to see if I can find something there, too. Those positions can be hard to come by, though.