I'm so happy...&& yet...
 

I'm not......I'm only 28yrs old && on this long road to what I call recovery I realize at the end of it to be fully HAPPY I'm going to have to have surgery to compete it. How shameful... I'm going to need it on my arms && stomach... Tummy no big deal, I earned that from carrying my two sons IF for no other reason. HAHA! But to feel anywhere remotely normal even at a normal weight I know I'll have to have surgery to take away the skin that's been abused, HOW Embarassing!!! As if the horrific car accident I was in when I was 10yrs old wasn't bad enough. I said to myself my twenties may have sucked for me body wise but my 30's will be BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I have an apron of skin that basically hangs down around my waist and pockets of skin hanging off my butt and arms. I don't plan on having the surgery until at least 3 years maintaining a normal weight. I know that there will be SIGNIFICANT improvement over time and after 3 years I'll decide whether the cost of the surgery is worth the improvement in appearance.

Having some hanging skin is so much better than being obese.

You're young yet, so maybe you WON'T really need the surgery. I'm creeping up on 39 and I'm really amazed at how my belly is shrinking. I don't expect it to be totally flat (also 2 kids and MANY years of being fat) but so far it's not as scary as I was thinking it WOULD be, you know? I'll always have the deflated balloon-y stuff, so bikinis will be out (unless on secluded beaches) but you know what? That's okay. :o)

And you know what, you're right. Your thirties WILL be beautiful. I think I'm prettier now than I ever was, little lines around my eyes and the odd grey hair notwithstanding. :o)