GRAPHIC PHOTOS of a 69 year woman in a swimsuit.

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You can't say that I didn't warn you about the following 'not so glamorous' bathing beauty photographs.

About one week ago, I did a blog and post about an embarrassing NSV. I had not worn my swimsuit, since October of last year, when my hubbie and I moved back to Central California. My swim suit was really a swim dress designed to cover up my old body in a size 20. It took a lot of courage to put on that swimsuit last summer, when I hadn't worn a swimsuit in more than 50 years.

I loved rediscovering the joy of swimming again and was soon swimming an hour of laps every day; but my surgeon ordered me 'out of the pool' in November, because I was scheduled for double knee surgeries in December. He didn't want me to pick up some fungus like athlete's foot, right before my surgeries.

After a long and painful recovery from my double surgeries, I was excited to be getting back in the water at a local health spa. On July 19th, I put on my swim dress and went back in the water. The top of my suit seemed loose; but then, I had deflated from a size 46DD to a size 40C in bras, since losing about 120 pounds. The swim pants also seemed a bit 'loose', especially in the back; but the elastic waist band seemed to be holding them up well enough. It was that not so bright decision that led to my embarrassing NSV.

After swimming only one lap of back stroke, it felt like my swimsuit pants were becoming entirely too roomy. They were stretching out all the way to my knees by the time I got back to the shallow end of the pool to make a quick exit. :noway:

Needless to say, it was time for a new swimsuit. So, I went home and order something in a 'slightly smaller size'. I decided to order a couple of swim dresses in size 14 to replace my very loose size 20's.

Some of my MFP sisters asked me to post a photo of my new swimsuit, when I got it. So, here is a photo of my first, new suit and some very graphic photos of my body changes since last summer.

Photo #1 - My new size 14 swim suit.

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Photo number #2 - The first graphic comparison shot of me. The photo on the left was taken on the day that I almost lost my swim suit pants. The photo on the right shows a side view of me in my new suit. It is pretty obvious that I had too much room in that size 20 suit.

Please note that I was 'holding back' my upper arm 'bat wing' in the photo on the right. I only wish that my upper arm looked that thin. In the photo above on the left, you can see that excess, underarm flab.

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Photo #3 - Comparison shot of me from last year to this year. My upper arms were solid fat, and I could barely fit into those size 20 swimsuit pants

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Photo #4 - Another comparison shot of me, the front view from size 20 to size 14.

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Photo #5 - The back view comparison shot. Boy! What a change in that butt !!!

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Photo #6 - This last photo shows how really far that I have come in my weight loss journey. I was close to 290 pounds in the photo of me on the left, taken back in 2011.

I would NEVER have put on a swimsuit back then. I could barely walk and spent most of my time in a wheelchair. Standing at that podium was extremely painful. This lady on the right is 120+ pounds lighter and no longer requires her wheelchair to get around.

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Some of you may be wondering why a fat, old lady would allow herself to be photographed in such a 'revealing manner'....let alone post those photos on a public site.

For so many years, I hid from cameras; or I made sure that I was taking the photos. I didn't want any photos of 'fat, old me' to be showing up anywhere. I didn't even know that the picture from 2011 existed, until this past year. I was actually grateful that it had survived. It is photos like this which let me see who I really was and who I am now.

I don't want to hid from the camera anymore. I want to see me as I really am, so that I can appreciate what losing weight has done for me.

I may not be a gorgeous bathing beauty. I know that I will never have the perfect body of a model in one of those magazines; but I am so glad that I really do look so much better now than I was in 2011 and even in 2013. These are the photos which will keep me honest and keep me working hard to lose even more weight.

If you don't have any 'before photos', take some today. You will need them in the future to inspire you and others.
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Replies

  • monikabenoit
    monikabenoit Posts: 43 Member
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    Congratulations on the transformation! You are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • AbstractSilver
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    Wow! You look amazing! Congratulations on your wonderful achievement! :)
  • Leenda62
    Leenda62 Posts: 96 Member
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    Great job on all of your hard work!
  • dedflwrs
    dedflwrs Posts: 251 Member
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    Looking good. I had seen your other post where you had pics from before you started your weight loss. Amazing.

    That said... July 23, 2014 has not happened yet :laugh:
  • CindyMarcuzAdams
    CindyMarcuzAdams Posts: 4,006 Member
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    You are a beauty inside and out. You should be proud of your pix.
  • kwykes
    kwykes Posts: 25
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    Thank you so much for sharing! You are an inspiration. I'm glad you feel so much better!
  • SteampunkSongbird
    SteampunkSongbird Posts: 826 Member
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    Great job, very noticeable differences, well done!
  • badcemom
    badcemom Posts: 50
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    Way to go! I admire your courage in posting swimsuit pictures.
  • Luv2eatSweets
    Luv2eatSweets Posts: 221 Member
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    You are my new inspiration. However I won't take any pictures. I can't bring myself to do it. Fantastic job:happy:
  • Hanfordrose
    Hanfordrose Posts: 688 Member
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    That said... July 23, 2014 has not happened yet :laugh:

    Really? I think that the date is July 29, 2014. Am I wrong?
  • jequirity
    jequirity Posts: 37 Member
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    You are an inspiration. Great work!
  • Hanfordrose
    Hanfordrose Posts: 688 Member
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    You are my new inspiration. However I won't take any pictures. I can't bring myself to do it. Fantastic job:happy:

    I know that it is scary, but DO IT. You will be so grateful for those photos later on.

    You don't have to post them, but keep them for yourself. They help you to honestly see your own body.
  • Carolajan
    Carolajan Posts: 1
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    What a difference!:flowerforyou:
  • kimberlyblindsey
    kimberlyblindsey Posts: 266 Member
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    Not graphic--just great progress and success from what I can see--congrats!!
  • wertgirlfor
    wertgirlfor Posts: 161 Member
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    You inspire me so much. I've been trying to get my 70 year old grandmother, who was always slim and healthy but is now neither, to realize that it's never too late to change. You chose to make a change and you did it, and you look amazing. Awesome, awesome work!
  • Luv2eatSweets
    Luv2eatSweets Posts: 221 Member
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    You are my new inspiration. However I won't take any pictures. I can't bring myself to do it. Fantastic job:happy:

    I know that it is scary, but DO IT. You will be so grateful for those photos later on.

    You don't have to post them, but keep them for yourself. They help you to honestly see your own body.

    Surgery and fear are in the way right now. I like to remember myself the way I was. You are an amazing lady. Keep up the great job.
  • northbanu
    northbanu Posts: 366 Member
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    This is my all time favorite post I've seen yet. Awesome title.

    You are a complete and total bad-*kitten*, and a fantastic inspiration!
    At the risk of sounding cheezy, this post sorta choked me up with joy. Thank you for posting it and I hope you're as happy as you look in the photos.

    :-)
  • phyllb
    phyllb Posts: 735 Member
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    :indifferent: Thanks for sharing. It is inspirational. Congrats. Love your story. I will remember it
  • GardenGirlie
    GardenGirlie Posts: 241 Member
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    You are amazing and so very brave! Thank you for sharing.

    BTW - You are definitely not the one confused about the date, I assure you!! :laugh:
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
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    You've been working so hard, and it shows. I love your positive outlook!