Back on the scale this morning...

Reminder: I had a little hissy fit sometime last week and banished the scale to the garage, so I skipped last Friday's weigh-in.

This morning's weigh-in showed a loss of 0.2 from the weigh-in two weeks ago.

That is still, technically, *up* from the weigh-in three weeks ago though. It's a drastic improvement to what was going on when I had the hissy fit, so I'm not complaining!!

My belly measurement dropped 1/4 inch, and my chest (new measurement since starting weights) is up 1/4 inch. That's exactly the plan: increase mass in chest and slim down belly.

So that helps... My head already feels in a little bit better place.

As always, thanks for all the pats and supportive comments. This sh*t can get pretty frustrating.

Yes it was!!!! Thanks! I wish I could have all my BFP freinds to celebrate with!!

Deal !!!!! I will meet you @ the Peabody!!!

Warning, yucky subject.
 

Ok now that we al are on this get healthy program and yes its working for us in many diffrent ways,but I noticed the other day that even tho im definatly firming u as wellas loseing weight...there are parts that are going south..as in baggy hanging lose skin..not something I like to see.I told u all it wasnt a fun subject..I dont see how ppl can lose a lot of weight and not have this happen,no mattr how much I work those places it dosent seem to change any.

No personal experience on this, but a friend who lost a great deal of weight had this problem and said that, over time, her loose skin did firm up some. Evidently it happens slower than the weight loss...

Having a lot of loose skin removed surgically is very expensive....a co-worker who lost over 100 lbs was told it would cost about $10K....ouch. :seeingstars:

Scoote and I walked the beach for over 2 hours this morning shell-hunting, with lots of stooping and bending, then carrying bags of shells back to the car (we got lots :) ) It was a nice way to get a workout and make a little vitamin D all at the same time.

Hello and Happy Friday everybody!

Zimmy and Thinker good job on the control! Sometimes I do this and other times it just goes out the window like yesterday when I went to Texas Roadhouse. I've allowed myself to be a bit bad since I'm moving and been spending time with my friends out. I may step away from bad things then eat something else that's not such a good choice anyway.. Those rolls with honey butter! Oh well. I'll get back on track. I know what's good and what is not. I can make healthier choices when I eat out. I'm not gonna obsess on it.

Cowboi thanks for addressing my question. . I like the way you think in terms of diet. 1.5grams of protein per pound of body weight makes sense. I know I must stay from carbs and sugars in order for weight loss to make a difference. I also tend to eat lots of chicken, fish, lean meats, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables. I started with egg whites also recently. I used to take whey protein. I will definitely look at more of the supplements you talk about once I get back into the gym on a regular basis. Good job on the weight loss. I'm sure you have to be gaining muscle!

Matthew, so what do you think about cooking a healthy meal for your family once a week?

Warning: What follows is graphic and probably waaaaay too much information.

This is really hard, please be kind.

I thought I would pop in here on this skin issue as I am currently and for the last several months or so dealing with this very situation.

Right up front, I can only speak for myself and my own individual experience.

There is a lot of information/propaganda out there about the loose skin issue, how and what exacerbates it and what can or cannot be done to “fix” it. From my fairly surface level examination of this information it seems like the vast majority of it comes from surgeons, surgical centers, and people who have had surgery for it.

There are some dissenting voices that assert that surgery is not needed if you lose all of the excess body fat. Fine line there, between normal needed body fat levels and excess.

Looking at images of “loose skin” (pretty gross, don’t go there unless you need to); it seems to me that there is still excess fat in there. Skin is thin and I think would look more like an empty envelope than the deflated rolls look that I have seen.

I say this from the position of someone who has been and still is watching this process in a mirror.

There I said it, I’m not proud of it but reality strikes.

The general consensus seems to be that losing a large amount of weight fast, and/or aging persons not producing much collagen anymore are at the greatest risk for this.

Great, I’m 50 years old and so far have lost 145 lbs in 11 months.

The first 50 didn’t do much but make me a smaller version of round; most noticeable was in my face and neck, the wrinkles deflated a bit and I started to look older. Yippee.

The next 50 sent me into deflating rolls territory. Okay, be patient.

The next 30 and gravity kicked in full force. Well, at least I know I am healthier. And I will wear sleeves to the elbow and knee length shorts for the rest of my natural life. Naked? Um no, never, not for any reason.

Recently, as in the last 6 weeks or so, things have started getting a tiny bit better.

The flesh flags, formerly known as my upper arms, are getting smaller and less saggy.

The “apron” (how disgusting is that?) if you haven’t heard that one yet is the big belly fold that hangs down in front just like the name implies; that is pulling up and pretty much holding its own and flattening out, I have hope here.

The bag-o-thigh areas on the inner thighs are shrinking up pretty well.

This is a work in progress. I will absolutely not have surgery. I think that if I do (and I will)go ahead and lose the rest of what I consider to be excess fat and then give my skin 2 years to get over itself I should end up alright. My health is the most important thing. I am starting to see visible evidence that things are getting better on the visual front. By the way, I look pretty okay in clothes now; but this is a skin conversation.

My understanding is that the skin is our largest organ and regenerates itself every 18 months or so.

I don’t expect to end up looking 30. I know that I have done hugely damaging things to my body. But things are looking up, and I think it will be okay in the not too distant future.

I know this is a huge overshare, I just hope not a mistake.

I think sugar is the hardest thing for me.I can eat just chicken and veggies or fish and veggies.I don't miss carbs or salty things.I miss ice cream and candy.Once I stop eating it for a while I am ok but as soon as I have some it is like crack to me.I am so frustrated and I am in one of those cycles of going up and down with my weight.I do good for a couple of weeks then I fall of the sugar wagon and it the cycle starts again.

Totally get it Lizzy. I have found for me it takes about 6-8 days off of any sugar-added item to break the craving. Eating fruit does not kick-start my craving.

So strange that when I get through those jonesing days- I do not miss it.

Hang in there, one day at a time or one hour at a time or even, one minute at a time and be kind to yourself if you fall off the wagon. We always get another chance for a do-over and a fresh start.

Hugs,

Kelt, it is a brave and couragous share.

Will send very positive and caring vibes your way for your continued journey.

Kelt
 

No my friend, what you posted is what I needed to hear,as I lose this weight I am developing some places that jiggle a lot to much.My arme are doing really good cause even tho they carried some fat I have always had strong arms,bulky shoulders so they are ok for now.What im haveing probs with is my thighs...no more explanation needed,my belly is sliming down well so far not a lot of it is swinging south.Today I went to Acadamy sports,while there I was cruising the sports uniforms for football and base ball.What I found was slideing shorts they will suport the belly and thighs very well as they fit from belly to nearly the knees..now im on a quest for somthing to work for the upper body. what im useing now is working fine its is spandex t-shirts,I get them to fit goiod and snug then pull them down to the hips and pull the slideing shorts up over it all..works fine for now,the t-shirt even works good for a binder if the wearer isnt to big.

Actually its funny you should say that buddy cuz I've been thinking of doing that for awhile now. I have been clipping out various recipes from the newspaper as well as looking through My Weight Watchers magazines from the last year or two and am thinking of making one new meal a week ~ Sunday's are best since everyone is home and its My parents one day in the week they get off from work. I'm gonna look through alot of them again tonight and pick one ~ I can't do it this sunday cuz I can't afford it but I will choose one that I will share with the thread here and will make it next weekend :-)

Sugar is unfortunately like crack for Me too & so its certainly kryptonite :|

Thank you for sharing that Kelt. :rrose: I know it's a bit scary to be that personal....but I really do think it helps us to be real with each other.

I've heard the "two years" to regenerate figure a few places and it makes sense...the skin is our biggest organ; it isn't just a covering...so it takes time for cells to change over.

I've also heard that losing weight slowly helps (yay us for doing it the sensible way! :cheer: ), drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, eating lots of lean protein and working out to keep and build muscle (which helps keep the skin supported and filled out somewhat).

And, yes, I've heard that those of us who are older, or who have been overweight for a long time, have it harder when it comes to the loose skin situation. I know it has to be incredibly hard to deal with...but I also congratulate you for losing 145 lbs...that's an amazing and wonderful thing to do for your health and well-being - regardless of the skin issue.

Hugs.

Thank you, that's why I put that out there, so that others could have some advance information although everyone is different. I'm glad you are having good luck with the workout gear. Keep it up!