127 pounds later and my stomach still is huge!

I hear you sweety. It's definitely not as big as it was before - that's just your mind telling your awful things and you know better. Just look at your profile picture!! It's not as pretty as you hoped though and that can be disappointing.

You admitted yourself that you still have a ways to go to get to goal and know you'l have to do surgery so start saving up for it right away. I went in for a consultation earlier this year and had a bit of sticker shock even though I had a rough idea of how much it'd be. Thing with elective surgery that I didn't realize/know is that you have to pay up front - it's not like other procedures where they let you finance over time. So I'll probably have to wait at least another year and in the meantime I'm doing some prep work (also doing boobs so mammogram, continuing to lose weight and exercise), plan to get a 2nd opinion and am saving as much as I can. And hopefully someday it'll happen.

Acceptance is a big part of it too. If I had the money, I'd do my whole body as I also have loose skin everywhere - upper arms, neck, thighs, upper back/under arms. But that's not gonna happen unless I win the lottery that I rarely play (lol) so I'm settling for fixing just my stomach and boobs as those are the most important to me. Most everything else looks good under clothing and pretty much every woman deals with bat wings...but I want my sexy full boobs back and I want to not have a stomach roll forever.

I know I did this to myself and consider this a combination of a trophy and battle scars. It's a way to remind myself of both how far I've come and how important it is to never to go back to being obese because of what it can do to the body - not just bad for health but bad for appearance. It can be tough on the ego sometimes but I know deep down that I'm still a good and beautiful person, as are you, and that's all that really matters.

P.S. Have you considered compression clothing or spanx to help with how it looks under clothes? No shame in spanx - I know girls who look perfectly skinny to me who wear them just to smooth out the so-called lumps and bumps

First off, you have done a tremendous thing, congrats. Second, our past abuses sometimes come with a cost. Our bodies were put through hell and "some' damage may occur. I know, it is harder for women, as men can flaunt their guts and not many judge them. I am sorry, but it happens. You have come soooooooooo far, so be proud. I do understand, when my wife took my pic for the before, with out my shirt on, I almost wept at how I looked. Stretch marks and this barrelous belly. But, I don't care, I know now I am doing something positive, and my chance at posing for GQ has long passed. Hold your head up, young lady. You have earned it. Peace.

Wow looking at your picture we can all see the amazing progress you have made. Your stomach by no means looks the same I know what you mean though and that is something we just have to learn to accept. Somedays I look in the mirror when I am getting dressed and still see the almost 470 lb person I was. Its our view and our self image. Other's do not see what you are seeing. It is going to take time and lots of adjustment in how you view yourself. After 3 years I can finally look in the mirror somedays and be happy with where I am at now It will come but you have to encourage it also. Lots of positive self talk helps Remind yourself how much healthier you are. Take pictures of your body for you too look at and see the difference, compare them side by side so you can see just how far you have come and train your mind to know what the new you really looks like. Congrats on becoming a even healthier you

I know it feels like it, but I guarantee if you had photos your stomach IS a lot smaller. I'm in the same boat. Stomach still big and will never be small. I stretched it out too much from being over weight for years and waiting til I was over 50 to lose it. Great waited til I have practically no elasticity in my skin. Enjoy your great accomplishment.

Wow looking at your picture we can all see the amazing progress you have made. Your stomach by no means looks the same I know what you mean though and that is something we just have to learn to accept. Somedays I look in the mirror when I am getting dressed and still see the almost 470 lb person I was. Its our view and our self image. Other's do not see what you are seeing. It is going to take time and lots of adjustment in how you view yourself. After 3 years I can finally look in the mirror somedays and be happy with where I am at now It will come but you have to encourage it also. Lots of positive self talk helps Remind yourself how much healthier you are. Take pictures of your body for you too look at and see the difference, compare them side by side so you can see just how far you have come and train your mind to know what the new you really looks like. Congrats on becoming a even healthier you

Wow. Youve done an amazing job. How long have you been losing?

1. You look incredibly different. Yes, including your stomach. Yay, you! You are looking so good!

2. You're not at goal weight yet. Our bodies kind of pick and choose where they'll lose weight first and most.

3. Once you reach goal weight, give yourself a year or two for the skin to tighten. You're young and it might go a long way to where you want to be. Exercise can help tone and shape your body a bit, which will make you look shapelier but can't make up for everything your body wants to do.

4. Chances are by now that you look terrific. Maybe you do end up with a stomach hangover. I got one with my first pregnancy and it never went away. Now, after three kids and once I finish this weight loss, it will be a problem for sure. I'd love to get it removed surgically, Don't know if I can afford that. But the important thing is...I am so much healthier and looking so much better than before! I will never get to perfect, but surely we can learn to be happy with having done so much for ourselves. You especially!

No way can your stomach still look the same 127lbs lighter................ That is impossible!!!

Your looking at yourself, as if your 127lbs heavier - Your not!!!!!!!!!!!! That person has gone, Your a lot lighter now & look so much better for it.

Congrats on that massive weight loss - That is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm always amazed at people tell someone outright "you are looking great!" when one is obviously not satisfied with the results.

Why is that?

Perhaps they can see objectively how far we've come and the difference from somewhere we no longer are versus some unrealistic goal we have set up. Those voices might seem false, but they aren't. You still have a way to go, perhaps you'll never be perfect as you wish in your mind but the distance you've come is fantastic, it is an achievement. Now is the time to align expectations a little more, to look also at other objectives - I'm sure what you can do physically has changed with such a change in weight.

You've come a long way, you might still have a bit to go.
But you are doing great. Re-assess, see the success and keep at it.

I see a big difference between your before photo and the progress photo on the right. I won't tell you how to feel about your own body because how you feel is very personal and you have a right to your feelings. Other people look at you objectively and they don't see what you think of as your flaws. They see a woman who has busted her butt and worked hard. That's what I see.

My sister started at your starting weight and is your height. Her current weight varies between 167 and 175, and she's been maintaining at this weight for 5 or 6 years now. She didn't have the loose skin removed, but it got better and better over time. Her legs and arms firmed up quite a bit. So did her belly. The belly took longer, but it did firm up.

It will get better over time. Just keep on track.