It's not supposed to be this way...

MoreThanMommie
MoreThanMommie Posts: 597 Member
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
When I first decided to take losing weight seriously it was because I was sick of looking the way I did. I was 241.5 lbs. I'm only 5'5. But I was pretty comfortable naked in front of my SO. Now, I've lost 47.5 lbs. I look better in clothes. But not naked. Oh I'm horrified thinking of someone seeing me naked now. I have loose skin on my stomach and my breasts look like socks half full of nickels. It's so gross. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror more now than when I was fatter.
It's horrible. I thought it was supposed to be better? :cry:

Replies

  • debilang
    debilang Posts: 882 Member
    :heart: :flowerforyou: Hey MTM...I am reposting this from one of my other pals

    "Remind yourself that this is worth it. It may be a slow, stressful process. but it is worth all the blood,, sweat and tears you put into it. sometimes you cheat, sometimes you do not exercise, sometimes all you want is to be able to eat all the foods in the world and not think twice about it, but you cannot do that. giving up is the easy way out. you have already made the effort to start this fat loss journey and YOU ARE DAMN WELL GOING TO FINISH IT! YOU CAN DO THIS! any one who sets their mind to it and puts the dedication towards this can do this, DON'T GIVE UP! I had to look my self in the mirror and say this over and over today, it's a hard day but I got this!"

    Much of your body fat will disappear as you continue to exercise while losing the pounds. 47.5 pounds is a BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT!! I am sure you have seen photos of others who have lost a LOT of weight...and YOU will look great, too. We have ALL kinds of obstacles to depress us to STOP trying to get to top health and fitness...this is just a stumbling block, AND thanks for sharing with us!! I know others will have some great SUPPORT for you...just DON'T GIVE UP! You have done FANTASTICALLY so far...for your heart, for your organs...and the rest will follow. I look at myself in the mirror, and I am near weight GOAL, but STILL have Body Fat that I want to shrink and be replaced by defined muscle. It WILL happen, MTM...Thanks for sharing...and really...NEVER give up.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I know what you mean! I swear my stomach hangs lower now than it ever did before. I am hoping that since I'm trying to lose it slower that it will help in the end. I keep plugging along, hoping it will get better :-)
  • ellie319
    ellie319 Posts: 139 Member
    ladies ladies! Please start lifting weights! you will not get bulky and i guarantee you will NOT have loose skin!! You all are doing wonderful in your weight loss but lemme tell you w/o weight lifting your going to have sagging! and lift moderately heavy weights no light ones!
  • abcmom03
    abcmom03 Posts: 89 Member
    You might try Jillian Michaels 30 Day shred.....you need more than just cardio exercise.
  • Crazy4Healthy
    Crazy4Healthy Posts: 626 Member
    ladies ladies! Please start lifting weights! you will not get bulky and i guarantee you will NOT have loose skin!! You all are doing wonderful in your weight loss but lemme tell you w/o weight lifting your going to have sagging! and lift moderately heavy weights no light ones!

    I agree with this 99%, breasts will never be the same, no matter how many weights I lift, but I'm hoping surgery will fix that. :) Three kids and 42 years takes it toll on those puppies.
  • NeuroticVirgo
    NeuroticVirgo Posts: 3,671 Member
    It takes time for the skin to retract, my doctor actually told me 1-2 years. Maybe while your waiting try lingerie? Might sound silly, but they it will lift up your boobs, and cover areas your not comfortable with momentarily until your body has become more adjusted, and you have more time to get used to your new body. A lot of what you feel could also be that its new, and not familiar. Good luck, don't get discouraged.
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    ladies ladies! Please start lifting weights! you will not get bulky and i guarantee you will NOT have loose skin!! You all are doing wonderful in your weight loss but lemme tell you w/o weight lifting your going to have sagging! and lift moderately heavy weights no light ones!

    I agree with this 99%, breasts will never be the same, no matter how many weights I lift, but I'm hoping surgery will fix that. :) Three kids and 42 years takes it toll on those puppies.

    ^^This, minus the three kids and 42 years. Mine are just big. They stretch. It happened when I was thin, it happened when I was fat, and it's still happening now that I'm thin again. Boobs suck.
  • lorihalsted
    lorihalsted Posts: 326 Member
    Weight training....it's all a matter of toning. Keep up the good work!
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
    Boobs suck.

    this.
  • freew67
    freew67 Posts: 348 Member
    Boobs suck.

    They do not, take that back!

    Im down 107 lbs and now my belly is like a jell-o jiggler. NeuroticVirgo, thats the first Ive read about the skin taking 1-2 years.

    http://freew67.blogspot.com/
  • Brandicaloriecountess
    Brandicaloriecountess Posts: 2,126 Member
    I get it, but I am still much happier and even more confidant overall so it is worth it.
  • tobielauren
    tobielauren Posts: 184 Member
    ladies ladies! Please start lifting weights! you will not get bulky and i guarantee you will NOT have loose skin!! You all are doing wonderful in your weight loss but lemme tell you w/o weight lifting your going to have sagging! and lift moderately heavy weights no light ones!

    I agree with this 99%, breasts will never be the same, no matter how many weights I lift, but I'm hoping surgery will fix that. :) Three kids and 42 years takes it toll on those puppies.

    ^^This, minus the three kids and 42 years. Mine are just big. They stretch. It happened when I was thin, it happened when I was fat, and it's still happening now that I'm thin again. Boobs suck.

    A. to reiterate...yes Strength Training will definately help...anything that will help with the elasticity of your skin will...probably a few vitamins out there for that

    B is for Boobies...I am 26 years old. Have already discussed with the Dr. that if my boobs don't get perkier after kids, I'm getting a boob lift.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I can empathize, I have really bad extra skin, and not much has helped. I lost most of my weight more than 5 years ago, and I still have it. I hope yours gets better with time, but it may not. Exercise won't help unless you plan to build enough muscle to be nearly as big as you were before you lost weight, drinking water won't make a significant difference unless you're chronically dehydrated (and you're probably not). I find its best to just remind myself that extra skin is still better than being overweight--it's not associated with health problems, I look better in clothes, etc.. If it really bothers you, there is always surgery.
  • ShaunaLaNee
    ShaunaLaNee Posts: 188 Member
    When I first decided to take losing weight seriously it was because I was sick of looking the way I did. I was 241.5 lbs. I'm only 5'5. But I was pretty comfortable naked in front of my SO. Now, I've lost 47.5 lbs. I look better in clothes. But not naked. Oh I'm horrified thinking of someone seeing me naked now. I have loose skin on my stomach and my breasts look like socks half full of nickels. It's so gross. I avoid looking at myself in the mirror more now than when I was fatter.
    It's horrible. I thought it was supposed to be better? :cry:

    Do you lift weights, have you lost weight rapidly?I lift weights, loosing slower but my body is getting smaller and it's tightening up as I lose. It's not to late to start lifting. I Congrats on your loss. You do not have to get as big as you were, just start toning up, and time will help reduce the skin.
  • yocando
    yocando Posts: 101 Member
    Yes, doing things that tone and strengthen will alleviate what can be rectified and enhanced (yoga, pilates, weights, strength training, sculpting).... and for me, running is the best thing for all of that...but everyone's body is different.
    Find something you enjoy doing that gives results for your body type- if you belong to a gym, talk to a good trainer; they know the tricks... that is one option. If you already know what you enjoy and gives you results, stay with it.
    Cross training can also be very helpful.
    Listen, 47.5 pounds is a serious accomplishment... honestly- that is MAJOR! Give yourself some credit.
    Your body is appreciating it- I can tell you that right now. Imagine carrying around all that extra- if you saw it on a little wagon, you'd be astounded to see how much girth that is.
    You're just having a moment.... you'll snap back into recognizing you've made major progress.... and are on a MISSION TO WIN!

    We are routing for you!
    DO NOT GIVE UP...NOT AFTER YOU HAVE COME THIS FAR!
  • NikkiSixGuns
    NikkiSixGuns Posts: 630 Member
    [/quote]

    ^^This, minus the three kids and 42 years. Mine are just big. They stretch. It happened when I was thin, it happened when I was fat, and it's still happening now that I'm thin again. Boobs suck.
    [/quote]

    Hey - be happy with what you've got! I never had much to begin with, but I really don't have any now! I look like a teenage boy up top. Ugh. That said, I'm at least grateful they're not hanging.

    The grass is always greener, no?
  • yocando
    yocando Posts: 101 Member
    Read my reply to your post!!!
  • MoreThanMommie
    MoreThanMommie Posts: 597 Member
    I'm all for lifting. But I can't afford to go to a gym. So I've been running and doing body weight exercises.
  • yocando
    yocando Posts: 101 Member
    I've been trying to run in the morning and bike after work-- I say do what you can do!!! Jumping rope is inexpensive.
    There are a ton of things you can do nowadays that don't cost a thing!
    Be resourceful!
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    It can take 2-3 years for skin to shrink/catch up to your weight loss, hang in there!!
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
    I do lift weights! So I'm hoping that when I've lost more weight it will help. I feel the muscles under there..lol
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    It's funny how when we're heavy we think we'll have better self-confidence and better body image than when we're overweight... and to some extent that can be true, but if we don't love our bodies at all, we won't love them no matter what they look like.

    We are our own worst critics.

    I have had 2 c-sections and nursed both my kids and, hence, had an appointment scheduled for a mommy lift - a full abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and breast lift with implants... that was when I weighed about 20 lbs more than I do now. I cancelled it because the extensive recovery from the tummy tuck just wasn't going to be a good idea at the time (my youngest was under a year old).

    While I still plan to do the breast lift and augmentation (yes, my boobs are tiny and have that partially-filled sweat sock appearance too), the tummy tuck may not be necessary. I am now within about 10 lbs of my ideal weight and I think with a bit more fat loss and some muscle gains I'll be able to go without.

    Work on appreciating your body for what it can do... you are the only you and you are unique. With 7 billion different people on this planet, how can you compare to any other? Which one are you supposed to try and compare with? Just keep doing what you're doing, try and love your body just the way it is... any improvements will be a bonus.
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