[cherrypie]

Great job Joe! congrats on the weight loss!

[Garnet2727]

Wow Joe! You've come a very long way! Congratulations!

Ya know, the way your skin looks, I think that a lot of the sag is going to go away on its own once you're done losing weight.

[CherryQuinn]

I took a look at the realself site, seems to me , and im not judging here, that a lot of the people getting the surgeries are still at an overweight weight? Its their choice of course but I'd wait until goal and try maintaining and toning first before major surgery or maybe they are at goal and the loose skin gives the illusion they are still obese? I'm just curious

[berryblondeboys]

Joe you didn't scare anyone away. People I think are just too afraid/shy to post!

You are looking great and I think you might be surprised at how much the skin will keep shrinking up.

[berryblondeboys]

Originally Posted by CherryQuinn

I took a look at the realself site, seems to me , and im not judging here, that a lot of the people getting the surgeries are still at an overweight weight? Its their choice of course but I'd wait until goal and try maintaining and toning first before major surgery or maybe they are at goal and the loose skin gives the illusion they are still obese? I'm just curious

I don't understand surgery before maintenance either. I can understand if something is reallllly bad and needs attention because it's affecting the quality of life, but otherwise, a procedure done too early can be so easily undone by bad diet. I would be terrified of messing up a painful surgery!

[berryblondeboys]

From an anonymous male:

Height: 6'4
High Weight: 415lbs
Age at Start of Weight Loss: 26
Weight Lost: 160lbs
Time Above 375lbs: 3 years. Obese since childhood.
Weight Loss Surgery: Yes. Lap band.
Length of Weight Loss: Year and a half
Time at Maintenance: 2 years

[Vex]

Joe - thanks for posting that link, I like that it has the approximate cost up there as well.

[Saga]

These posts are so helpful to help me visualize and be realistic about my future body. It also gives me a lot of hope! Thank you everyone who's shared their pictures - you guys are awesome.

[berryblondeboys]

From an anonymous female:

How much have you lost? around 85 pounds
How old were you when you lost the weight? early 20s
How long were you at your high weight? since early childhood - gaining over time.
How long did it take you to lose the weight? about 1 year
Did you have weight loss surgery? No
Do you have pregnancy stretch marks? Never been pregnant
Do you have weight gain stretch marks? Yes, everywhere, but they're very faint
How long have you been maintaining? Still losing weight, but close to maintenance goal weight.

[berryblondeboys]

Check out this 3fc's pre-op and post-op photos. I'm sure she will pipe up if you have questions for her.

These photos are pre-surgery:

She had lost 210 pounds
She had reached maintenance (minus the weight of the loose skin)









Post surgery (and these are when she was still healing - photos taken 2 weeks post-op). She looks FABULOUS!!!! This was about a year ago I believe.

[joefla70]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. Melissa, I hope you're right about the loose skin firming up, but I'm not holding my breath! But I'm not that worried about it. I can't imaging having surgery unless it was necessary.

[Radiojane]

These are really informative and inspiring pictures! I'm starting to deal with loose skin, but I still have 120 pounds to go.

[berryblondeboys]

Ok, I'm not a maintainer (yet). I want to lose 20 more pounds (about), but I've been maintaining around this weight for over a year and my skin HAS shrunk up quite a bit in that time.

How much have you lost? 93 pounds
How old were you when you lost the weight? 42
How long were you at your high weight? 2 years at 275 about 10 years at 265, but I've been creeping up overweight for my entire adulthood.
Are you still losing weight? Yes
How long did it take you to lose the weight? 1 year and a year of bouncing 20 pounds trying to take off the last 20 pounds.
Did you have weight loss surgery? No.
Do you have pregnancy stretch marks? All the stomach marks are from pregnancy.
Do you have weight gain stretch marks? On thigh,s upper arms and back of knees
If you are in maintenance, how long have you been maintaining? Not in maintainance, but I've been around this weigh for 15 months.

Oh> I exercise 5-6 times a week, including weight training. My resting heart rate is 52. My body fat percentage right now (per bodpod) is 33 percent.

ETA: I thought about waiting until I get to goal (again), but I will just be thinner. The loose skin will be about the same.

What looks like a fold/apron, isn't exactly. The belly does droop, obviously, but it doesn't fold over on itself to make a fold, so I don't get rashes, etc. in the apron/loose skin.

In the last year, the arms have definitely shrunken up as has the tummy and inner thighs, but I think they've shrunk up as much as it will.

[Garnet2727]

Wow berryblondeboys, if I end up looking like you do, I will be soooooo happy! Seriously, you look great after having lost all that weight! Your picture has done more than any other one I've looked at to calm me down about loose skin.

[CherryQuinn]

Yes thank you berry. I am at a similar body fat percentage and height right now so it gives me hope! I can't do weight training due to my health but maybe I can increase the walking and light dancing I am able to do.