Hi everyone,

Boy do I love to read all the support I see here, and I am wondering if anyone has felt like I am right now. I had my band on 7-27-04, and have lost 115 lbs. and I am so happy. But I am having some weird thoughts. I was talking to my husband about summer coming. I told him that I don't feel comfortable wearing shorts, tank tops, neverless a bathing suit. I told him the way my arms, and thighs look, I couldn't imagine wearing them. I thought about it, last summer I would wear shorts, and work out in the yard in my bathing suit at 351 lbs, with no problem. Now at 236 lbs, I can't imagine it. I have been walking alot, and was going to the gym on a regular basis (so I have been working on my arms and legs), but with a new job, and the hours, I am not able to make it to the gym. I am looking into buying some exercise equipment and I am wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to get. I don't have alot of money, but I don't want to buy something that is a waste of time and money. I would really appriciate any suggestions people may have.

Thank you all

Sue

Go to Target or Walmart and get you some dumbells. They are inexpensive and can work the heck outta your arms. Then get an exercise ball same place. That works wonders for the abs. Then get a 20 min Pilates DVD and a mat to go with. THat will take care of the rest of your body. All that can be bought for around $100 to $150 maybe less.

The least expensive way to exercise is also to go walking. Take two bottles of Water with you for weights for your arms. Do lunges when you are walking for your legs.

Hope this helps.

I don't want this to come out wrong..but one thing I heard about people who were overweight most of thier lives (or at least a long while) and losing weight, was that the fat usually was covering up more than thier body, and when it was lost, a whole new lot of problems and or issues come to light. My partner had something sort of similar happen to her. As she gradually got smaller, and people were complimenting her she started covering up more, or intentionally blowing her diet. She didn't like people looking at her. Eventually she came to odds with this, and is now ok with it..but strange things do happen. I lost 60 pounds before my surgery, and similar things to your problem were sprouting up. I suddenly had a problem wearing certain things that I was fine wearing before because as I was losing weight, I was studying my body and realizing little things that I didn't like about my body in general. Maybe I just became obsessed with appearance and other peoples view of it. Not sure. I suppose its too much to go into detail with, but I know how you feel.

Hi Sue,

I think I just answered you on Gradbandsters! I can totally relate to your predicament; as we head into bathing-suit season I'm unhappy about my arms in a way I've never been before. My summer blouses are all going to be 3/4 sleeves, I'm afraid.

Toning exercises won't get rid of your excess skin, but they can help you look firmer. Resistance bands and free weights are great tools and you can use them for all sorts of different exercises. There are lots of books on the subject--a good one is Strong Women Stay Young--because resistance training also helps with metabolism. (That's my main motivation, the muscles are just a bonus!) The resistance band, a free weight or two, and maybe an exercise ball are all you need to develop a whole routine you can do at home.

BTW, I thought I'd maybe read your date wrong on the yahoo list, but here it is again. You've lost 111 pounds in 9 months? Some of your excess skin may still resolve on its own; that is a very fast weight loss and your body has a lot of adjusting to do. I've lost about that much but have taken a year longer than you to do it. And except for my upper arms I don't really have much loose skin to speak of. Maybe by next summer it will be less of a problem for you as well.

Oh- i understand about the bat wings!!!! Mine are huge almost 6 inches. I used to teach ap physics and other science- so I determined the other day they were long enough to show the direction accereation by their movement on a ride at six flags and I didn't need to take my portable one if I was interested in knowing (not sure which is worse- that I want to know or that I can now use my arms)

But I agree with Alex. It may resolve a little to a lot depending on how long you have been overweight (mine won't) and even DH said surgery would be fine for those. I figured I save the tt for when I was out of child bearing age or I just got so disgusted. It can be toned but the hanging skin is something that is just plain annoying (I can't fit in smaller shirts cause of arm flab now-poo!)

I don't have neighbors in visual contact- but plan on those 3/4 sleve sets they had many cute ones at target and walmart that were cheap enough for one year if you loose more. I got a couple of cute light sweaters to cover up when I leave house for sun dresses etc. But I may eventually give up and let it hang when it al gets to hot.

FYI- I got the worst sunburn on the hanging part this weekend- I don't think it had ever seen the sun before and I was mowing lawn and forgot to put extra sunscreen there (never had that problem on the "under area before"

Once the weight has gone it usually taketwo years for the skin to connect back to the flesh as usually there is a layer of fat.You are doing so well most Dr's won't even consider anything untill it has been two years.Those fit balls are fantastic,loads of walking but exercise in the bedroom works out all the important areas.

Good luck you won't know yourself soon.You will be dead sexy.