I think one thing I have come to realize is that I will NEVER....be able to wear a bikini.
Yes, I may eventually have a thin, toned body, but I have had stretch marks since I was a young child..I had a growth spurt one year as a kid, and I have the marks all over my stomach. They weren't even from getting fat!!
Now, I know they will fade (and they have a lot) as I lose weight. They are actually the same color as my skin now as opposed to pink. I hate them, yes...but it doesn't define who I am.
I was watching a Tyra show the other day...it was about the "So What!" Campaign and how women came together and voiced their "flaws" and said "SO WHAT!!". So...I have stretch marks and will never wear a bikini..SO WHAT!!! Oh yeah..that made me feel good!!
I just see them as something to remind me of the tough times I went through and my struggle to lose weight...because I'm sure I gained a few marks from gaining weight too. I will settle for the tankini!