127 pounds later and my stomach still is huge!

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  • Unknown
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  • mahanaibu
    mahanaibu Posts: 505 Member
    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!
  • Cerakoala
    Cerakoala Posts: 2,547 Member
    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?
    Thank you and about 3 years :)
  • 2013sk
    2013sk Posts: 1,318 Member
    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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Trust me, I started at about 300 something and I'm currently a little bit heavier than you are. People see me and say "oh wow you have become so thin!" but when I look in the mirror I still see the same old me. It was a mental process for me to accept certain things.

    For starters because your skin has stretched out, whatever fat is left tends to linger in that stretched out skin rather than closer to the torso, which makes you feel as if you haven't lost much. I have accepted that I will have skin here and there, and I'm not really planning to get surgery because once I manage to get to a lower body fat, that leftover skin can easily be hidden under clothes since it won't have too much volume, just some deflated cells.

    I would rather have skin than not be able to shop at local stores, than being almost diabetic, than gasping for breath after one flight of stairs and the list goes on. All it takes is patience. As you itch your way towards lower body fat, you will start noticing differences, but until then, you have be patient and proud of yourself for what you achieved.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    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.
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    I understand this. When we set out to lose this kind of weight, we have an image in our heads of how great we are going to look. Then as we get closer to that goal, things are just not the way we planned. Combined with the fact that our brains seek out flaws in the total picture and focus on them - it's no wonder our expectations outrun reality.

    One way I deal with this is to just sit down and make a list of all the differences in my life. All the things that I can do that I couldn't do before. The things I am willing to try that I was too afraid to try before. The benefits of being in better health. The pains I no longer deal with.

    But, I also know that I'm a lot older than you and I'm not sure how this would feel if I was 2 decades younger. When you get to goal, you may feel differently. In the days until then, learn to love this new you. You have started on that path already - keep moving forward. I hope you are able to reach all your goals and be happy.
  • Galatea_Stone
    Galatea_Stone Posts: 2,037 Member
    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.
  • Unknown
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  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    I can relate on feeling that certain areas haven't caught up with weight loss. My hips will be the last part of me to slim down, I know it. I've taken my measurements and lost way more from my bust (womp womp) and waist than I have my hips. Genetics are cruel. Your stomach might be the last place to go. You also may have to consider surgery down the road to remove excess skin. Start a savings plan for that now, if you can afford to put a few dollars towards that each month/cut back on a few luxuries, you may find yourself able to afford it in a few years.

    Strength training does help with loose body bits. I highly recommend it in the mean time.
  • 4daluvof_candice
    4daluvof_candice Posts: 483 Member
    I have lost 127 pounds and my stomach still looks like it did when I weighed 325 pounds...I cannot stand to look at myself in the mirror without clothes! I have to look away

    I understand the feeling youre describing but I WISH:flowerforyou: I was where you are now. Amazing progress by the way.
  • Gary6030
    Gary6030 Posts: 593 Member
    You look great! You're a pear. Pear's tend to carry their weight in lower adbomen hip areas. I'm an apple just fat all over. I'll bet you get very frustrated purchasing clothes. Smaller sizes on top then on bottom. Keep at it! You are doing a great job. Just look at it as your final hurdle. You've already overcome a major hurdle. Keep going strong!
  • JoelleAnn78
    JoelleAnn78 Posts: 1,492 Member
    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 :)

    ^^ You and I have lost the same amount of weight - and I agree 100%! Often times I look in the mirror and think, "Ugh, is this any better than being 400#?" BUT, without a doubt, YES, yes it is. I have had five years to adjust to the apron of skin I have from 200# lost. I have found that wearing my pants quite tight makes me feel better and holds everything in. I know it seems like you wouldn't want to wear tight clothes if you were unhappy with your body, as it would show off more. BUT -- for me it holds in all the flappy skin and no one really knows that it is ALL stuffed in there!

    Once I was able to accept that my body looks the way it does from years of abuse, and now that I am trying now to heal the damage done (in my mind and body) by getting healthy and fit, I was able to forgive my body for looking like a warzone. You'll get there. Work on celebrating the wonderful things that are coming from your weight loss and, in time, with effort, you can come to accept the not so grand things as a trade off for LIVING. Truly living.

    Excellent job on your weight loss :flowerforyou:
  • tjl2329
    tjl2329 Posts: 169 Member
    Omg girl. You are crazy. Meant in the nicest way. Your body looks great. We all have problem areas. It's hard to be grateful when your results are less than you expect. Try spanks. Also the have other brands. They have special bathing suits with control panties. I don't think you need to. Also a sash or a frilly squirt bathing suit will help camouflage. Look how far you've come. You are amazing and try to focus on the positive. You go girl.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    In a other thread, you state that you lost 100 lbs in 7 months - a rate of 14lbs/month. I can't help but speculate that such rapid weight loss has contributed to the amount of excess skin. But regardless, you look great! congrats on a job well done!:flowerforyou:

    ETA: sorry to be such a downer, but maybe others reading this may pause to re-evaluate their desire for rapid weight loss.
  • tjl2329
    tjl2329 Posts: 169 Member
    Sorry. I looked at your picture again and am totally amazed. You really do look great. So much smaller. Body image sucks. But you look so small. Remember you look the same wether you are completely covered or not. You are way smaller. Good job
  • ywalchle
    ywalchle Posts: 101 Member
    First off, congrats on the weight loss! I'm sure you already are starting to notice a change in how your body feels day to day! Super proud of you!

    I don't have near the amount of weight to lose as you do, but I have the same problem right now with the "excess" skin. I've noticed that if I wear certain things they tend to "hide" it a bit better than other things. Maybe find a good friend to go shopping with to help you pick out an outfit or two when you lose enough weight that you need to have new clothing. And make sure it's a friend who's going to be honest and tell you the truth! A good outfit can hide the imperfections and flatter the best parts :)

    Good luck in your journey!
  • RenaPink11
    RenaPink11 Posts: 329 Member
    I know I'm going to need surgery eventually...but I think I still have more fat then skin still (I still weigh 198). The problem is affording the surgery....

    Make sure to "complain" to your dr every single time you go. Point out heat rash from
    Extra skin, any sores, pain, etc. every single time. Document over and over in your health records and it gives you more power to get the surgery covered under your insurance. A good Dr knows that.

    Now, YOU LOOK GREAT!!!!!! You have come sooo far in your journey and that's an awesome accomplishment! Please don't give up!

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