I lost the weight- now what?

AubreyWat

In 2008 I was 18 years old and went on a Global Awareness trip to Beijing with my college. At the time I weighed 229 pounds and I hadn't really noticed how bad it was until I got back and saw all the pictures. I was so discouraged by the fact that I didn't even feel that I could proudly show off the pictures of me being in another country going on an amazing adventure because I was so huge- especially when shown in comparison to my female guides who were tiny and delicate looking.
So I decided to lose weight doing what I loved. I started walking my dogs two hours a day over a six mile trail deep in the woods and I was counting my calories.
I am now proud to say I am 140 pounds at a height of 5'7". I know I could be lighter and I'm planning on dieting more. My one issue is I hate weight training. I can go on two hours walks or even short jogs but I hate going into gyms because I'm so conscious of my body...
I used to be a 42DD and now I still have to wear bras that are only slightly smaller because the fat essentially left my breasts first. All that is left is loose skin for 42DD with none of the fat that has to be jammed into a VERY supportive bra that makes it look like there's still something there and since most of my weight was carried around my midsection I still wear slightly loose shirts because there's a paunch of skin hanging where I used to have a spare tire. Another area that completely deflated was my butt. It's not completely flat but it used to be fairly large and when the fat left it just kinda shrank inwards and drooped...
I'm 22 years old going on 23 and when I look in the mirror it looks like my skin belongs to somebody much older. I'm not sure what to do at this point and it's just very discouraging that this summer I couldn't even work up the courage to wear a bathing suit... I'm still swimming in a tank top and shorts and I've finally reached my goal weight. I don't know if I lose more weight if maybe the loss of MORE fat will make my paunch less obvious or I'll look better... Maybe I just need to work out?
I work long hours in a Deli and I haven't been able to walk even once a week for about a half a year now and I haven't put on any of the weight I lost but I'm just wondering if working all day just to workout when I get home would even be worth it or should I just resign myself to the fact that I should be happy that I'm healthy and accept the fact that my body will always look this way?

ktliu

start lifting and doing a boat load of exercise, so you can be skinning and toned...maybe even ribbed.

srgtbiggles

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/968182-i-lost-a-person-but-i-found-myself-leaky-s-story

^^^^^^
This^

QuilterInVA

You need weight training to tone your body. Cardio won't do it.

Rilzy

All the things you pointed out as not liking could be helped by weight lifting. You might be conscious about your body but try to ignore that feeling and head to the gym. You've come so far, you are a warrior... you are a survivor and you should be proud of yourself.

If you really, really can't bring yourself to go to the gym (which I still think is the best option because of the variety of equipment) and if you can afford it, it is possible to buy yourself weights and following along with DVDs.