I'm so sorry but with each new photo . . . . . . .

LinaBo

I'll agree with the previous posters here and say that you look gorgeous, because you really do! I applaud your hard work!

That said, being about your age and having 140-145 lbs to lose in all, I totally understand the desire to get rid of those saggy bits you see when you're naked in front of the mirror. You're young, you want to look like a young woman in her prime, and not have your body carry such blatant reminders of your formerly fat self, flapping in the breeze, am I right? I know that I don't want that, and I am preparing to go the distance to erase as much of the damage obesity has done to my body as I possibly can.

I have done a considerable amount of digging online for info on human skin's ability to shrink after weight loss. I've been looking up countless "before and after" stories and photos of people who have lost 100+ lbs, plus the opinions of fitness experts. I have scrutinized the severity of my stretch marks, particularly on my under arms and inner thighs (where the thin, "crepey" skin is). I have concluded the following:

-Strength training to build muscle will definitely help support and fill out loose skin. It may seem counterintuitive, if you are someone who likes being smaller, but building bigger arm muscles will help lessen the appearance of that thin, saggy skin on the underside of your upper arms; building bigger quads will help fill out skin that would otherwise migrate downward to create saggy knees, and, combined with building your other upper leg muscles, will help prop up a saggy bum and that thin skin on the inner thighs. Opting for a more fit, stacked, but still feminine figure will really help you, here. Striving to be more of a waif after having being obese will turn you into what looks like a large skin suit on a wire hanger.

-Lowering your body fat until you are quite lean (so that the skin that hangs is quite thin, and has very little fat clinging in the folds to weight it down) will really help the skin spring back. Skin like to cling to something. Without the extra fatty jiggle in it to weigh it down, the skin has to go somewhere, and that somewhere is towards your arm muscles.

-Moisturize from the inside: drinking your water daily will help keep your skin elastic.

-Ensure that you get sufficient quantities of vitamins A, C, and E, which all contribute to skin health.

-Massaging the skin will help improve circulation, which might help it heal better. I've also heard that dry-brushing has a similar effect.

-Moisturizing, while not doing much beyond the top layer of the skin, will plump up the skin and may help minimize the appearance of trouble spots like stretch marks, cellulite, and sag. Look for lotions or oils high in vitamin E. I've even been trying straight-up sunflower oil, which has a higher vitamin E content than a lot of other food-grade oils. You can combine moisturizing with massage.

-Unfortunately, the more stretch marks, the less ability the skin has to shrink back (and FYI, almost ALL of us have them. For the record: I have a lattice-work of little ones across my thighs, especially the front of my thighs, big vertical ones on either side of my hips, "ripple effect" ones radiating from my navel, and a bunch of little ones near my underarms and some on my biceps).

-Even after reaching your goal weight, I've heard that it can take up to 2 years for your skin to shrink as much as it is really capable of shrinking.

-I'm not a doctor, so there might be more tips and tricks. Talk to your doctor, and maybe see about a referral to a specialist.

I strongly advocate giving the non-surgical methods a solid try, I know I will be... but if they don't help enough, you have every right to put the reminders of your obesity in the past. You wouldn't continue to wear your "fat clothes", so why should you be guilted into wearing your "fat skin" the rest of your life, and told that you should settle? If, ultimately, you are still left with loose skin, and you want to get rid of it, there is no shame in having the surgery to do so. You only have one body, one life, and you shouldn't feel like you're living in the skin of someone twice your age. In the event that I have loose skin a year or two after I reach my ultimate goal weight/physique, I have been researching the following: Axillary Brachioplasty (arm lift for when most of the loose skin is in the top half of the upper arm, close to the armpit. The scar is horizontal, in the armpit, and fades nicely on fair skin. It's not the more severe kind, which leaves a long scar going down to the elbow); Medial Thigh Lift (lifts the inner thighs, only, without cuts going all around and creating scars on the hips. Scars are in the thigh crease, only, and hide well), tummy tuck (I probably won't need this, but still looking into it), and a breast lift... for which I'm praying that I can get just an areolar lift, so I don't have the "anchor" scar, but if I must go with the latter then I will. It's preferable to downward-pointing pancake boobs.

bmarie612

I can so relate. I'm going through that with my boobies. I've always had clevage and big boobs but not anymore. I also hate my stomach. I have really bad skin genetics and I hate it!!!!! but I am very happy with my appearance in clothing so ya win some and lose some

bastgoddess7

WOW! You look great!!! Great job!!

GypsysBloodRose26

It can take 6 months for your brain to relay what your eyes see. You are gorgeous, it will just take a little while to see and believe.

sgv0918

I constantly see the old fat me and then in pictures I think I'm good. It will take a bit to get my brain right I think

annabellj

ive been doing this for nine months and my brain has still not caught up! my friends tell me i look great, when i look in the mirror i see nothing but fat! your not alone! try not to be too hard on yourself. you look absolutely amazing! we dont have the body of a 20 yr old anymore, idk how you are, but i dont! so i just try to look at myself in my clothes and be happy that i can fit back into most of them! its hard. it def takes time for your brain to adjust!

elisa123gal

YOu look really great. so much better than before. you should be proud. who really looks good naked? LOL.. like next to nobody... and who walks around in the bright daylight naked? next to no one. Clothes were invented for a reason... no one wants to see anyones naked butt.

Your partner ...i'm sure ...thinks you're beautiful no matter what...before and after photos. also..that is what "lights off" was invented for! laugh it off..and enjoy your fabulous accomplishment and new great look.

Diary_Queen

Ive lot 91 lbs. also and I still look like your before picture. yes, i have sagging skin.... it gets all wrinkly and saggy and it's not pretty, but it's a helluva lot prettier than what it looked like before -- all lumpy cottage cheese looking! BLECH! It did take me a while to adjust to having the body I have currently.... and my goal is to lost 90 more lbs. Not sure how I will feel at goal, but even if i have to take the extra skin and roll it up to shove into my clothes every day, i will KNOW that im a healthy example for my friends and family... that im making a difference in someone's world just be being here and being me. that makes me happy, no matter what the scale says or the mirror shows.

icandoit57

First I want to say congrats!! You look amazing. If you continue to feel the way you I sugge st some counseling. Its hard sometimes to change the way you feel about yourself when you have felt that way for a long time. I realized today that I am a defeatest and am going to work on that. When you look in the mirror say postive things to yourself. When you lose a lot of weight you are going to have saggy skin, etc. You can have that extra flab removed surgically. ( I do beleive some insurance will pay for it because it really is not cosmetic!). Keep up the good work and remember to think positive. YOu have done an amazing job and I only hope that I can lose that much weight in the next year. I am tired of being limited because of my weight..

Sidesteal

Thought page 6 could use something beautiful so I quoted this.

MuscleJunkieK8

YES! I completely understand. My body is fit-ish, and I am an athlete. But I feel like if anyone saw me naked they would be running for the hills. I actually have never ever had boobs(way back when I was severely anorexic, it gave me no chance to grow a pair), but I know what you mean.

My stomach is firm, but I have skin and a layer of fat on it that makes me think, "Ew, this is not how I should be." But I am slowly gaining confidence in my body. By the way, you look INCREDIBLE!

wbgolden

Thought page 6 could use something beautiful so I quoted this.

winning.

bacorton

You look fantastic and should be so proud of yourself. You inspire me.

kay930

OMG You look sooo good girl!!! You really are an inspiration!

Smiling_Sara

Way to Go!!! You look wonderful!

nxd10

You DO look awesome. I expect it will take some time. And the breasts bounce up again with exercise. With all the amazing weight you've lost, it's twice as bad as having a baby. And trust me after childbirth is not anyone' s most sexy time. But your body will come back.

LifestyleChange33

Please don't apologize. You are an inspiration- and from what I have read on here- the skin thing takes patience. You are a hottie!!

clbowman11

I am using 2 types of skin firming lotion (Aveeno Age defying skin firming lotion & Hemp Lotion it darkens your skin and firms it (: ) I would recommend that as you strength train. I have stretch marks and had a pooch that sagged below my c-section scar for awhile and it is slowly rising. And when I say stretch marks I don't mean 1 or two or even 5. I have so many I tried counting and couldn't and they stretch from the backs of both of my sides all the way through my belly. So, this cream is helping my skin firm up, although I know it will never be the way it was it is much better. So, I would suggest those. You need to use the aveeno daily. I use the hemp from time to time. The Aveeno is almost $8 at walmart so it's kindly expensive, but it works (: Other than that I mean I guess there is surgery. If I have saggy skin I'm going to look into a partial tummy tuck because I don't want a fake belly button. lol. But, you can research exercises that will help with your skin toning as well as muscle toning. I would have suggested doing weight training throughout your loss, though. But, I wish you the best (:

ctalimenti

Umm... yes! My boobs are a shell of what they used to be... I actually often times refer to them as "Balls in a Sock" and my tummy has stretchmarks and loose skin that will NEVER tighten - BUT - IN clothes, I look and feel GREAT - so who cares, right?!?!

YOU. LOOK. FANTASTIC! Congrats!

For sure! I would add: Do you walk around naked? Of course not!

vguynes

You look AWESOME! Congrats on your weight-loss success!

DeeDel32

you look great!!! like someone said, how often do you walk around naked? lol you look HOT in a bathing suit which is probably the most exposed you'd ever be in public.

as for in private, focus on how far you've come, what you've accomplished and how much healthier you must be. try to love yourself and your new life and let go of those pesky negative thoughts.

jayb33z

I'm so sorry I just have to share . . . . . . . . . . . . .

With the weight that I lost, currently 91lb and 9lb away from goal, I look at myself (eeeek naked) in the mirror and dispair.
My skin is saggy, my boobs feel like their emptying and I dont feel sexy at all.

I'm praying, hoping, pleading that all this weight training and exercise will help with my body shape and image and self confidence.

When living day to day and looking in the mirror (eeeek naked) I fell like my 'old' self. Frumpy and ugly and I hate it.




But then I see a photo of me now and I find it hard to believe that this is me?!?!





. . . . . I see the picture of me and I feel slim and sexy and amazing and then I just think its a lie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


IF only they saw me naked!!!!!!! does anyone else feel like this??? Its really knocking my self confidence!

For what it's worth you look sensational. You should be pleased but I understand your body image issues. Everyone has them. Some are worse than others

megsmom2

You look beautiful. Truly.
I understand what you're saying though. I'm older than you...things are just not shrinking as well as when I was younger. I know I look better and feel better....much better. I am sort of sqiiishy though, and my breasts have sort of deflated. Ok...fine....I am just going to look more awesome dressed than nekkid ...and that's fine. I feel terrific and I know I'm healthier.

DanielleRN8

You are not alone! Despite my weight loss, I hate the way I look naked! I have some loose skin from being so big while pregnant so it combined with stretch marks just looks disgusting.

lovinmyselfagain

Be proud of yourself-you look fabulous! The flabby skin will tighten as you tone up and strength train. BTW, I love your sandals .

proudmommy1003

Honestly you look amazing your arms and legs look fine. You should be proud of the amazing job you've done

mjanemorgan

hi, i feel the same way, i lost all the weight and now am left trying to put everything back where it should be! :S i hope the weights, etc work out for you, im about to try those too. I just thought i'd post though because I have to say you look fantastic in your pics! and you've done so well, you should be proud of yourself

wgn4166

i think you look awesome!!

mirandamayhem

Well I think you look HAWT!!!!

htrl877

Yes I know exactly what you mean! I feel like even though I can pull off a nice pose in pictures, no one knows what lies beneath. Mix in more strength and interval training and be blessed that you're photogenic!!!