What nobody tells you about losing weight
Replies
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Melwillbehealthy wrote: »I looked at my belly and was shocked at how strange the shape is becoming. It actually looks worse than it did before I lost weight. Also, I am getting a lot of loose skin and I never thought I would consider surgery to remove it but I still have a lot of weight to lose and expect it to get much worse before I am finished, I may consider skin removal then. I don’t know. I will try to do everything I can to help it shrink, but I don’t think it’s going to disappear.
The good news is that most of my skin inflammation has disappeared and gone. I never thought that would happen.
I looked worse halfway than at starting weight. But better again at goal!
And loose skin is hard to judge when you still have a way to go (excess weight is pulling it down): you need to reach goal, and then give it at least a year to tighten up.
Don't let fear of loose skin derail your weight-loss efforts, the benefits of weight-loss vastly outweigh the possible downsides!
Honestly, feeling lighter and fitter and more confident is sooooo worth it 🙂12 -
Melwillbehealthy wrote: »I looked at my belly and was shocked at how strange the shape is becoming. It actually looks worse than it did before I lost weight. Also, I am getting a lot of loose skin and I never thought I would consider surgery to remove it but I still have a lot of weight to lose and expect it to get much worse before I am finished, I may consider skin removal then. I don’t know. I will try to do everything I can to help it shrink, but I don’t think it’s going to disappear.
The good news is that most of my skin inflammation has disappeared and gone. I never thought that would happen.
In terms of loose skin, it's kind of common to look worse part way to goal than one will look at goal weight, and worse at goal than one will in a few months at maintenance. That was true for me (even at age 60), and my loose skin kept shrinking at least into the 2nd year of maintenance . . . maybe longer, because the rate slowed as time went on, so it's hard to see the incremental differences. Admittedly, I only lost 50-some pounds, but that was around 1/3 of my body weight.
At this point, I don't think my body looks significantly worse than most 67 y/o women who've always been at a healthy weight. There are a couple of things I can see as tell-tale of weight loss still, but they're minor, and I think not things the average other person would notice.
IMU, plastic surgeons will ask someone to stay at maintenance for a period of time before surgery, which I assume is partly to let the body do what it will before surgery. The surgery's a valid option if someone wants it, of course - I don't mean to imply otherwise. Just trying to say that you may see more improvement than you're currently anticipating.
If you look at some of the long before/after photo threads in the Success Stories part of the Community, quite a few people look really good after losing large amounts of weight, even without surgery.9 -
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Don't let fear of loose skin derail your weight-loss efforts, the benefits of weight-loss vastly outweigh the possible downsides!
Honestly, feeling lighter and fitter and more confident is sooooo worth it 🙂[/quote]
I won’t stop losing because of excess skin issues. Really, it’s just a vanity thing that I can deal with later.
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@AnnPT77 Thanks for the good advice. I am in no hurry for surgery of any kind. I’ve only lost 30 lbs., but I’m short, and maybe that’s why my body looks kind of strange right now. When young, I had a lovely shape. Now, my main goal is to get healthy, and have energy. I will wait and see how much of the skin will shrink, and if I can live with what I’m left with. I have at least 70 more lbs. to go.6
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+ That it can be an emotional roller-coaster. Some days you are happy with yourself and other days you get upset because you ate too much or you don't look right or you haven't lost any weight this week, etc. Learn to ride the roller-coaster and don't get off.
+ That it won't magically fix all your problems. In fact, some of my "problems" have come more in focus because of the time and energy I have spent on myself and not "others."
or you get emotional because you realize you could have done this sooner, but didn't13 -
Someone said nobody tells you that you don’t have to stick to the same handle that you lost weight with that in my experience they say that all the time. That’s why I sister to an eating style, but I would be willing to live with pretty much forever and then tweak that along the way so maintenance Has not been an issue. I also never intended to get to the low end of my BMI range because if you look at world, statistics, only countries with a very poor food supply have an average BMI that’s that low.4
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What nobody told me was that even after reaching my goal that my mind will guilt me with my goal reach and tell me that I’m unable to maintain it.
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butchgomer wrote: »that 90% of weight loss leaves the body thru the breath.
Yes!!! I was surprised when my chiropractor told me that!!!5 -
That it is a lifelong commitment, and the journey does not end at goal weight. You will be working the program for life.16
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Nobody told me that I would feel like a clothes renter. Go thrifting, buy a few clothes, wear clothes, thrift clothes, repeat. Is clothes renting a word?
Now that I am am at maintenance (like just happened this month on my 50th bday), I have another bag of clothes to go back to the thrift shop from whence they came. I am not sure how many times I have done this (I went through at least 15 bags before this) - total journey 20 sizes down.35 -
That people feel that they can make comments about how you must have felt when you were heavier. ‘You must feel so much better’ ‘It must be so much more comfortable in this heat ‘ etc. Really?15
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How much nicer people are to me now that I'm 100lb down
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ExerciseExtraFries wrote: »How much nicer people are to me now that I'm 100lb down
Sad, but true. When I struggled loading heavy things into my truck, no one would help or open a door for Heavy Me. After I lost weight, I had all sorts of help.12 -
ExerciseExtraFries wrote: »How much nicer people are to me now that I'm 100lb down
Sad, but true. When I struggled loading heavy things into my truck, no one would help or open a door for Heavy Me. After I lost weight, I had all sorts of help.
Lol. I lift weights several days a week and like to think I’m visually pretty buff, but I’m thin. I bought a used Pack n Play travel crib off Craigslist for an upcoming wee visitor. The lady, who was about my age, overweight and wearing support shoes, took one look at me and offered to carry it to the car for me.
I had to stifle my giggle and tell her sincerely “thanks but I got this”.
Besides which, the High Anxiety Dog was in the passenger seat and would have tried to rip her arm off. 😬
Def agree. People treat you different.11 -
We’ll, I’m back. I’ve lost over 40 lbs. now, and still find my body shape changing in ways I don’t love, but can’t wait to see the end result.11
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Bump. I've taken off only about 40 pounds so far, and can't wait to experience some of the things that have been shared here, even if it is saggy skin.
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This may be a little deep, but on top of having more attention drawn to you and people treating you better... The Body distortion just doesn't go away that easily... I will always see myself as bigger than what I am. And I know another friend who lost loads of weight who deals with the same thing as me.18
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I still don't feel much smaller after losing 50lbs & I'm surprised when I look in the mirror15
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I didn’t realize I would have loose skin and that it would be different than what I’ve seen on others. I’m 38, and I lost just over 30 lbs. I have wrinkly skin on my elbows from the backs of my arms sagging plus some minor wrinkling on my abdomen when I bend over and on my upper thighs when I sit certain ways. I also have some looseness in my neck. All of it is very subtle, so no one would notice but me. I just didn’t realize I could end up with loose skin at my age when I was barely in the obese category to start.
On the plus side, weight lifting consistently for the last nearly two years has improved my overall figure and functionality tremendously, so I’ll take the bit of loose skin over my previous lack of fitness any day.13 -
I didn’t realize I would have loose skin and that it would be different than what I’ve seen on others. I’m 38, and I lost just over 30 lbs. I have wrinkly skin on my elbows from the backs of my arms sagging plus some minor wrinkling on my abdomen when I bend over and on my upper thighs when I sit certain ways. I also have some looseness in my neck. All of it is very subtle, so no one would notice but me. I just didn’t realize I could end up with loose skin at my age when I was barely in the obese category to start.
On the plus side, weight lifting consistently for the last nearly two years has improved my overall figure and functionality tremendously, so I’ll take the bit of loose skin over my previous lack of fitness any day.
@EliseTK1 one of the Amazing ladies on here is in her 60s and spent most of her 40’s obese. I think she’s been at or under her goal weight around 2 years and says even now, 2 years later her lose skin is still tightening up! So hang in there, as over time it might become more firm again 😊8 -
Nobody said that Maintenance was not one static thing which you just did forever after losing weight. Nobody said that it will keep changing on you forever as YOU and your circumstances change. I always assumed that after I lost weight it would be BOOM now I do this and it works.15
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Currently ~70lbs down. Here's what I've learned:
- Don't rush to buy clothes if you have a lot to lose, as you'll end up not being able to wear them as they'll be too big (I'm looking at you, unworn expensive brand new SuperDry coat that's passed it's return date...)
- Replacing all your clothes is expensive
- Diet food is generally more expensive than ultra processed food
- You'll probably end up doing more exercise - walking is the secret to losing weight
- You'll lose fat from random places, like your forehead or the back of your neck before you lose weight from the places you want to lose it from, like your love handles
- You'll start feeling the bones in your bum when you sit down
- You'll start worrying about stretch marks and excess skin - moisturize with vitamin C serum and bio oil in the morning and night - not just where you think you'll have marks or skin, everywhere - like your neck and inner thighs too
- You will lose both fat and muscle when you diet, as you get older losing muscle can add age to your looks (see the next three points!)
- Losing weight alone will make you look good, but to look great you'll need to do weights/resistance training. Cardio won't tone you up
- On the above note - doing weights/resistance training WILL NOT make you look huge, growing muscle mass that increases your size takes a lot of effort, without trying to grow your muscles it's not going to happen
- People will start telling you "You've lost enough now" despite you knowing you're still in the overweight category and still have a lot of fat on your body
- You might have issues with your wife/family about meals, be prepared to do all the cooking so you can make sure your food is what you need to eat
- Diet and exercise isn't the thing that will get you to be where you want to be, commitment is
- BAD THING: You'll start looking at people you love and worrying about their health with regards to their diet, drink and lifestyle - not in a bitchy way, but in a way that you've become more educated about bodily health and out of concern
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AndyMcCall wrote: »Currently ~70lbs down. Here's what I've learned:
- Don't rush to buy clothes if you have a lot to lose, as you'll end up not being able to wear them as they'll be too big (I'm looking at you, unworn expensive brand new SuperDry coat that's passed it's return date...)
- Replacing all your clothes is expensive
- Diet food is generally more expensive than ultra processed food
- You'll probably end up doing more exercise - walking is the secret to losing weight
- You'll lose fat from random places, like your forehead or the back of your neck before you lose weight from the places you want to lose it from, like your love handles
- You'll start feeling the bones in your bum when you sit down
- You'll start worrying about stretch marks and excess skin - moisturize with vitamin C serum and bio oil in the morning and night - not just where you think you'll have marks or skin, everywhere - like your neck and inner thighs too
- You will lose both fat and muscle when you diet, as you get older losing muscle can add age to your looks (see the next three points!)
- Losing weight alone will make you look good, but to look great you'll need to do weights/resistance training. Cardio won't tone you up
- On the above note - doing weights/resistance training WILL NOT make you look huge, growing muscle mass that increases your size takes a lot of effort, without trying to grow your muscles it's not going to happen
- People will start telling you "You've lost enough now" despite you knowing you're still in the overweight category and still have a lot of fat on your body
- You might have issues with your wife/family about meals, be prepared to do all the cooking so you can make sure your food is what you need to eat
- Diet and exercise isn't the thing that will get you to be where you want to be, commitment is
- BAD THING: You'll start looking at people you love and worrying about their health with regards to their diet, drink and lifestyle - not in a bitchy way, but in a way that you've become more educated about bodily health and out of concern
Dude, get out of my head!!!!! Are we twins or something? 😱
Love this post!!!13 -
How cold you get when your in a pool, less fat to insulate!
Your clothes are way to big, so just keep the sewing machine out!
The disappointment from your grand children when they find out you fixed deviled eggs not cookies!
But then when you get your Dr. Report and your A1c is 5.2! No meds. Blessings19 -
-Those "suprise" days when you haven't lost weight all week and then suddenly you are down 3 or 4 pounds! Weight loss is not constant or linear in the day-to-day, you may fluctuate and feel like you are going in circles. Then your body decides to "release" and you see the results overnight.
-Looking at your progress graph and seeing that definite decline and just how high it was before. Awesome motivation!18 -
How cold your hands get at below 60
That you have to dry your belly button out after a shower9 -
giggitymallard wrote: »-Those "suprise" days when you haven't lost weight all week and then suddenly you are down 3 or 4 pounds! Weight loss is not constant or linear in the day-to-day, you may fluctuate and feel like you are going in circles. Then your body decides to "release" and you see the results overnight.
-Looking at your progress graph and seeing that definite decline and just how high it was before. Awesome motivation!
@giggitymallard - thanks for this post. I really needed to “hear” this today7 -
Currently down 37.2 lbs...and what surprised me that I completely forgot...is just how curvy my body is when I take away the curves that shouldn't be there. I never wear women's cut tees because they're always too tapered, but I put one on today and could not believe how curvaceous I was. Hearing my husband tell me how good I look (he's been out of town for 5 weeks) was the icing on the cake.20
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