Lost the weight but now I hate my body
 

Hello my name is Fiona and I'm a newbie.
I used to be fat but over the years I've managed to lose 5 stone and I'm quite slim now. I should be happy about my achievement but I'm not.
I really hate my body because I've some loose skin at the top of my thighs and my arms look wrinkly , more like a 60 year old (i'm 32). I'm seriously considering going under the knife to get my horrid arms back to how they should be but I'm terrified and costs around 4k.
I'm going to Spain next week and dreading having to wear short sleeves. My mum tells me they are not as bad as I think and people won't be taking any notice of my arms I don't believe her. It's really knocked my confidence and I don't know what to do.
Thanks for listening

I can relate, I have lost 75 pounds so far and am seeing all the hanging skin and realizing I will never be able to wear shorts again. I will not ever be able to afford skin removal surgery. Even thinking I looked better fat than with all this hanging skin. I still have another 75 pounds to my goal and not sure how I will deal with the skin.

You could wear a burqua and hide all your feminine beauty.
You could wear 3/4 sleeves.
You can celebrate the joy of stepping out into the world free from the burden of unhealthy weight, with the battle scars,( excess skin) to prove you've been there...
But and if you want to, get the opinion of a surgeon.
Maybe there is a way to give you the sculpted sleek look you want.

You could wear a burqua and hide all your feminine beauty.
You could wear 3/4 sleeves.
You can celebrate the joy of stepping out into the world free from the burden of unhealthy weight, with the battle scars,( excess skin) to prove you've been there...
But and if you want to, get the opinion of a surgeon.
Maybe there is a way to give you the sculpted sleek look you want.

Isn't it possible to have the NHS help?
 

First I need to check you both are in the UK, but if you are it seems to me that the excess skin problem is a serious enough psychological problem that a psychiatrist could recommend you have the op on the NHS. Especially if it were to lead you to regain the weight. Just a thought. I think you ought to see a specialist if your GP is of no help.

Sharon

"You can celebrate the joy of stepping out into the world free from the burden of unhealthy weight, with the battle scars,( excess skin) to prove you've been there..." I LOVE this line! It's so true. I hope you can learn to like your body a little more and appreciate where it's been and where you've taken it!

Your mom is almost definitely right. Nobody sees your body as badly as you see it yourself. That said if you want it and can afford it and still keep food in your mouth and a roof over your head than go for it. Accepting yourself and your body as it is is great, but you've worked extremely hard and deserve to feel good about it. It's just money. It's okay to make yourself more comfortable in your skin. If it's upsetting you to the point that it's interfering with your happiness than do something about it.

If I made the stone/pound conversion right, you've lost around 70 pounds!:carrot::D

That is a success! That is an accomplishment!

That is something to celebrate! :bravo::cheer2::cheer3::woohoo:

The body might not be what you envisioned. But, your health is better, you feel better, and you succeeded at a weight loss goal.

This is something many people start out to do, over and over and never make it.

You should be celebrating, and patting yourself on the back!

Focus on the positive! :hug:

Know how you feel
 

I lost 5 stone too and felt great but the changes to my skin etc made me feel unattractive and I wouldn't get changed in front of my then boyfriend.

My arms were the biggest issue.

Since then I have had 2 kids and got married and I am back up to my heaviest. I have decided I am definitely more miserable this way!

I just wondered whether you have tried bio oil or epochas serum or the coconut one (the name of which i cant remember right now) at all to help with the skin?

Thinking of trying them as I slim down to reduce the sagging but not sure. If the skin is too bad when i slim down I will definitely be seeking surgery!!! I'm not vain, I am just repulsed by my body when I lose the weight and struggle to see the positives!

I hope you can learn to love your body, and if not speak to your GP definitely xxx

Starting my journey AGAIN but not sure where to start!

Your mammy is sort of undoubtedly right. no one sees your body as badly as you see it yourself. That aforesaid if you would like it and may afford it and still keep food in your mouth and a roof over your head than opt for it. acceptive yourself and your body because it is is nice, however you've got worked very exhausting and should feel smart regarding it. It's simply cash. It's okay to form yourself easier in your skin. If it's disconcerting you to the purpose that it's officious along with your happiness than do one thing regarding it.

I've seen people reduce their excess skin quite a bit by gaining muscle (strength training) and giving their body time to adjust - e.g. a year - so that's my plan once I get to goal. I'm also drinking lots of water as I lose, to keep my body/skin well hydrated, but I figure that advice would be good for the OP too. I've also heard that a multivitamin a day does wonders. If 12 months on from goal, I don't see any progress then I might consider surgery... we'll see.