Congratz !! And soo cool you did ballet class. I'm too insecure for that. Although I would love to do it, and I'm pretty flexible and have great coördination...
So inspiring. Today I joined this site and am really down but reading these goal stories is helping me believe that I can get there too. I also dance, but unfortunately not everyday. I love to dance but now I have a love hate relationship with it bc I hate seeing myself in the mirror. I try to cover up as much as I can, but can I ask how did you battle the days of not wanting to face yourself in a mirror and the days of your body not being as strong as you want it to be? At the gym I can stay out of the mirror and focus on me but in the dance studio I'm stuck staring at myself and those thinner girls whose bodies aren't struggling to jump in the air.
-Starting today with no program or specifically named diet at 317 lbs
I find it really hard to give tips because even though I lost a lot of weight I am struggling every day. It's great that you want to lose weight. You can do it. But you are good, valuable and beautiful NOW.
What worked for me was concentrating on the positive aspects.
In ballet class, that used to mean the music and the feeling of moving with the rhythm. I felt the beauty of ballet in my body even when I weighed 300 lb. and the steps didn't look like I would wish them to look. I tried not to compare myself to the others. Just showing up to ballet class being fat is a huge accomplishment. When I had moments of despair, I would not look at my reflection or strictly focus on my technique and ways to improve. And I used to get angry and use the energy of anger to work towards my goal.
Even if one is the biggest dancer and can't jump or turn or move fast, one can have the most fluid, musical port de bras, the best work ethic, the greatest passion. I always felt it and it was one of the greatest motivators for my own weight loss.
It is. But that doesn't mean that you will have the same experience.
I was fat since childhood and hovered around 290 lb. for many years.
Some of the skin has shrunk, more than I ever thought possible, but there is loose skin on my arms, thighs, hips and stomach.
But there is still a lot of fat under the skin. Once I can lose more of that, I am sure the skin will shrink more.
I wear tights and undershirts and pull in my stomach and then nothing is visible.
Depending on your age, your body composition, genes, time you spent at your high weight, time you take to lose weight etc. you will have more or less loose skin. And from what I read everywhere, it will shrink during maintenance!
Looking at your before & after pictures almost made me tear up, what a beautiful transformation! I always dreamed of being a ballerina, from start to finish you're super inspirational! <3
Truly inspiring! I read your story and yes, I feel so proud of you! Keep it up! 
