So I am in week 2 of my "new lifestyle" and just weighed-in this morning. Lost 4 pounds, so I'm very pleased. Definitely going to crank up the cardio this week.

I just wanted to talk about one of my big fears of losing weight. I'm terrified that if I get down to my goal weight of 160 (which means I will have lost 150 total pounds), I will have so much excess skin that I will actually regret losing some of the weight. I know that I will feel a million times better and will be able to actually live a life without so many restrictions. I just know that surgery is not an option in my mind. I also know that it varies by each individual based on genetics, age, time it took to lose the weight, etc.

I was hoping that maybe some of the "success stories" could tell us about how that went with them. Especially being in the 300+ forum, I think it would be nice to hear. I can't tell you the last time I actually went swimming in public let alone owned a bathing suit. Part of the allure of getting down to that weight is feeling desirable again. I think that is my biggest worry because since I've been in the 250+ category I can barely be intimate with my husband and I pray that I won't have the skin issue to keep my confidence down.

Anyone else worry about this? Not that it is going to keep me from losing, but I want to be prepared.

I have lost only 55lbs and still have a long way to go to be down to my goal.I am having alot of skin issue........but i know that saggy skin is going to happen and can always be covered up with clothes. I was kinda upset about how saggy my uppers are already a few weks back. NOw i have decided that its just part of what happens with age and weight loss. It is something I have to live with. I think weight loss is still worth all the saggy skin.

Why is surgery out of the question? I feel like if you've gone to all the work of losing so much weight, you deserve to look great!

You might want to go over to the Maintainer's boards. They have a forum called Body Image & Issues After Weightloss. There are quite a few discussions on skin issues. They are super nice and don't mind answering questions from folks who aren't at goal yet.

I lost around 80lbs (still working on the rest) and I *DO* have something of a skin problem... I mean, I was fine and then i went to Italy and in 4 months lost 20 lbs without even trying. The thing is, I lost that weight fast and I have no idea how, but I did ZERO weight training during that period and THAT is when I started having problems. I did ZERO actual 'go out and do some exercise' exercise during that period too and I think i just lost it by walking and eating super-fresh foods. Anyways, I have this problem somewhat, but weight training has helped a bit.

The thing is, even though I still haven't reached my goal weight and even though my body is FAR from "beautiful" and despite any skin issues I may have, I have no regrets at all about losing the weight and I'm sure you won't either. Just be sure you strength train, STARTING RIGHT NOW (seriously, get up and drive to the store and buy some free weights this minute lol) to lessen any problems you may have later on.

I agree -- I'm not one to promote cosmetic surgery. I think nose jobs and boob jobs and the like are usually pretty silly and unnecessary unless it's RECONSTRUCTIVE surgery, like after an accident or an illness. I consider dealing with loose skin after weightloss (esp. if there is a lot of it and it hinders movement and quality of life) reconstructive surgery, more than vanity surgery. If, once I reach or approach my goal weight, it turns out my skin issues become really, really dreadful, I would totally have the surgery to fix that problem. I've already even discussed it with my fiance, as a hypothetical, and he agreed that if I wanted it and if I felt I needed it, he'd support me getting it. At this point, if I never lose another pound, I wouldn't get the surgery, but if I were thinner, it might be a worse problem.

Here's a link to the FAQ on skin issues! http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36040

I've lost over 100 pounds and do have loose skin/stretch marks. Mostly on my tummy and thighs.

On the one hand, I don't like it. I see myself from certain angles and just think EW!

But on the other hand, I only really notice it when I'm nekkid. Even wearing a bathing suit doesn't bug me that much -- though I wear shorts almost to my knees. On the whole, it's not as bad as I feared it might be. I got scared when I first started this journey that it would be bad, but my advice would be not to borrow trouble before you have it.

On the whole I am thrilled with what I can do over 100 pounds lighter and with my life. Some loose skin and stretch marks aren't as bad as being morbidly obese! Not by a longshot!

Wow, thanks to everyone for responding so quickly!

I guess I just can't envision myself getting surgery for something non life-threatening. I just wasn't sure at what point in my weight loss to start expecting the skin issue.

I'm curious how much do you think age affects the outcome? I definitely will take the advice of starting strength training now, I want to have some Angela Bassett muscles!

I will definitely check out the "Maintaining" forum for more ideas, but keep the stories coming.

I would so encourage anyone with bathing suit fears to try to overcome them, because the water is the one place where your weight does not work against you during exercise. I would live in the water if I could, because the freedom from gravity is pure heaven.

As to the skin issues, ugh yeah I'm worried. I'm losing slow, and that supposedly helps (exercise usually doesn't, as I understand it). Being young helps too (oops, too late for that) and the rest is probably genetics (can't help that either - and as an adoptee I don't even get a glimpse of what I might expect).

I can't say that it is much of a concern appearance wise. Hubby and I are both very fat, and very attracted to each other. We don't let our fat get in the way of romance, so I'm sure floppy empty skin balloons won't be any more of a concern than the fat-full skin balloons have been. I'm a little concerned about function. I have bad enough thigh-rub as it is, if the skin is loose, I'm concerned that it could be worth. Right now, pants are more comfortable, but skirts look better and are cooler. With loose skin, I think it will probably be much the same. Whether other people (or myself) consider ugly loose skin worse than ugly bulging skin, I'm not really sure at this point.

I do know that I'm not doing this for beauty, but for health - so in that respect I can set aside those fears. Loose skin does provide some health issues (mostly skin irritation and infection), but the fat is affecting alot more serious health issues, so the choice is clear.

Even the would I have surgery, could I have surgery... it's all theoretical at this point. I'm more interested in function than form, so I'd have to say that the skin issues would have to be pretty uncomfortable, not just unsightly, for me to consider surgery. But I have a friend who had breast reduction surgery, not for appearance-sake (she was actually kind of afraid that the surgery would reduce her attractiveness), but because she was having serious back pain. The surgery, wow, I can't tell you how great she looked, as being so top-heavy made her look overweight, when she wasn't. To get clothes to fit, she had to buy several sizes too large, so it made her whole frame look bigger. Now, she didn't get the surgery for that purpose, it was just a side benefit, and I kind of look at the skin surgery that way. If it gets in the way of my doing what I'd like to, I'll probably have the surgery. If it just "looks funny," I probably won't. But, if I do get it, I will appreciate the "looks better," even though it wasn't my main purpose.

I started out at 346 lbs, and I've lost 162 lbs. I definitely have some loose skin. I have a pannis that I don't think will ever disappear, even if I lose the remainder of the weight that I would like to lose (20 - 25 lbs). There is loose skin on my thighs, basically they just look heavier than they really are because of the skin. I'm happy enough with the rest of my body, although I do have some loose skin on other areas of my body.

I have consulted with a plastic surgeon and am seriously considering a tummy tuck or at least a panniculectomy. I have a rash/yeast infection that is very difficult to get rid of under my tummy. I'm documenting it with my primary care giver in the hopes that my insurance would cover a panniculectomy. I never would have thought I would consider plastic surgery either, but things change, and I am considering it.

But the good news is that in my clothes, I look fine! It isn't obvious that I have loose skin and I feel much more confident in any clothes. I don't mind wearing a bathing suit, although they are more modest than those others may want to wear. Basically, I'm a 41 year old mom who has had two C-sections, so I didn't have high expectations. Even if I had never been obese, I probably wouldn't be wearing a bikini at this point in my life.

I have never, never, never regretted losing weight because of a little loose skin. I can't imagine that would be possible for me. Everything is so much better than before. I would take the loose skin over the fat any day!

This is something that was a concern for me, and I realized that I was using this "fear of skin" to avoid taking responsibility for my health.

I wouldn't have to worry about it if I never lost the weight. That would solve everything

I was kind of relieved then, I think, when I realized I was putting the cart before the horse. It's something I don't have to worry about now. I'll worry about it when the time comes.

I can't imagine what my body image will be like then, but as of now, I think if I manage to lose the weight I need to, and achieve my goal, then I'll beg, borrow, and steal money to have the extra skin removed if necessary.

But in the mean time, I try to focus on the present and how I'm better than I was yesterday.

This is a huge fear of mine as well, something we will just have to overcome I guess.

This is something I think a lot about as well....The weird thing is that I don't much mind about having a saggy belly - I'm more afraid of getting saggy thighs and arms! I dunno, I guess I'm just allowing myself to obsess and get in my own damn way, but I also feel guilty about getting so heavy in the first instance...

I had hernia surgery recently and I was sooooo scared, and I've always thought that surgery should be more of a "if I have to" affair, but if it came to it, I wouldn't have the money anyway and waiting on the NHS is frustrating (I waited 2 years for my hernia surgery - in that time, it went from "golf ball" size to "watermelon" size).

It's kinda like I can accept a saggy belly since I've given birth and my belly's been all stretch-marky since before the great weight gain, but I've seen the scars that arm and thigh surgery leave and I dunno how I'd feel about it - IF it came to that.

I guess I just want a way to reduce the chances of the dreaded sag....It's days like this when you just wish for REAL stretch mark removal creams, super-scarless surgery and magical boob lifts, eh?