I am afraid of what I will look like when I hit my goals?

We all worry about this and there's only one way to know for sure- see ya in the "Success Stories" girlfriend!!!

Focus on your health rather than your appearance. You'll feel so much better when the weight is off and will extend your life expectancy to be a part of your kids lives for a very long time

I have a friend who was afraid of this too, she just did A LOT of strength training while losing the weight. If you lose the weight over time and not too dramatically or quickly you should be okay. You will always have some extra skin but it won't be as dramatic as you think. You are probably picturing the images of people after gastric bypass surgery. Like an earlier post said, you will increase your life expectancy and feel much healthier, that will make you feel much better in the long run.

I can tell you after losing almost 90 lbs myself, I have sagging breasts, I have stretch marks, and some hanging skin. But along my long journey I have learned to love myself and I feel beautiful. I can look past my flaws and know that I am healthy and strong. Keep fighting and work on loving urself! U will do it!

Yeah it's a bit scary thinking about it, but I'm sure it's gotta be better than overweight ( she says fingers crossed at twice your age). I know I'm gonna be saggy baggy as I just have to look at my post pregnancy stretch marked belly, but I think it will still be better and definitely healthier - I've just started but I already am feeling better. And the younger you loose the weight the more elasticity your skin has :flowerforyou:

That is one of the things that keep me up at night. But, I have diabetes and I would rather have saggy skin than a heart attack.

I was thinner before so I already know what I'll look like. Regarding the hanging and loose skin, as long as you lose the weight slowly and properly, (eating lots of veggies helps with elasticity), moisturize your skin every day, tone your muscles by incorporating weights with your daily exercise and you should do fine.

One thing for sure is that you will FEEL a lot better, you will look younger and your mental state will be in much better place. Just concern yourself with the health part, everything else will follow.

Good luck!

It seems like some people have issues with skin, others don't. It probably boils down to genetics. I'm eating well & lifting, and definitely have some skin issues already. Whatever. I feel & look a million times better. When I first started losing, I'd fret about skin, like many others. Trust me, as you lose it becomes less of a worry. You'll be fine :flowerforyou:

I'd be more afraid of what I'd look like if I continued to gain weight at the rate I was. :frown:

You're gonna look and FEEL better without those 150 extra pounds, no matter what. Your body will thank you for taking off the weight and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Just do it! :flowerforyou:

Ive lost 188 pounds and do have excess skin. It really comes down to dressing well. Do the right things while losing the weight...eat well, drink water, strength train. When we start on this weight loss journey...we have what we have...whilst yes the skin annoys me at times and yes ill never have the body of a model...i do have the opportunity to be the best me i can be...and thats all we can really aim for

If you're only in your 20s you should spring back - I'm in my 40s and although I can tell the saggy post-baby (and 1 c-section) bit is going to take some extra work, everyhting else is tightening as I go. Moisturise every day (after the bath/shower is best), twice if you feel your skin is dry, and drink plenty of water. Also eat some "good" fats like olive oil. You'll be fine! And as others have said, even if you have a few stretch marks at least you'll feel better inside yourself.

A lot of it has to do with genetics and is therefore out of your control. I have lost less than you want to in the end, and I have some loose skin, particularly on my tummy, boobs and upper arms. It's not lovely, but it's not hideous either. It's certainly not "hanging rolls of loose skin". I am, no doubt about it, 100x happier with my body now than at 85 lbs heavier.

There are things you can do to try to minimise the issue. (I have yet to see any real evidence about any of these things, but they tend to be widely recommended and make sense.) Lose slowly and steadily to give your skin chance to adjust. Keep well hydrated, and moisturise your skin. Eat plenty of fat. Strength train as soon as you can. I've heard a lot of people say that any loose skin you are left with improves over the first year or two of maintaining your weight loss. I e that some people get close to their goal and decide not to lose that last little bit, preferring to be a bit heavier rather than see their skin get even looser. That's only really a sensible decision once you have a healthy level of body fat though. Then it becomes more about aesthetic preference.

The fact is, no one is lining up to offer me an underwear modelling contract. Let's face it though, they weren't when I was 85 lbs heavier either! In clothes, I look fine, and hypothetically, in a bikini I would look fine too. Mentally... I'm not at the point of wearing a bikini yet, but I know that the vast majority of my loose skin could be easily covered with a normal bikini. I look so much better now than I did when I was bigger, and I have so much more confidence. I never used to show off my arms and now, even though they are a bit loose and wobbly at the top, I'm quite happy to show them off. And, like others have said, the health benefits of losing the weight far outweigh anything else.

You're an attractive woman now, and you still will be when you lose the weight. As much of a cliché as it sounds, the "liking yourself" part really does come from inside. If you can't sort that part out as you lose weight, then you will find that you reach your goal and still have that problem. Even if you end up with no loose skin at all (which is possible) you still need to learn like yourself from the inside out, or you'll never be satisfied with your body.

Take it one day at a time. I've lost 175lbs, and I had to have a few nips/tucks. However, focus now on getting the weight off, learning nutrition and moving. Try to tone as much as you can, but realize your body will not be perfect (what is perfect?), but you will still feel wonderful losing the excess weight. I have many trouble areas, but I'd take it any day compared to where I used to be. Best of luck x

I have lost 85 lbs mostly dieting. The other 25 lbs I want to lose to get to my goal I plan to do by working out too because I have a lot of loose skin. But I see pictures of myself back then and now- and I am proud to say I got that weight off no matter what.