mylahxandermom's Journal, 12 May 2018

Please don't let all your success and hard work get away from you. You can do this!  

I won’t thank you. I am aware of it so it can be fixed but it’s better if I journal it and keep myself accountable.  

The loose skin really is the thing that bothers me a lot as well.. In my case I've lost 190lbs now, so it's really becoming an issue. To be bluntly honest, it's the most discouraging thing about the process.  

Ok, just my opinion... I had a time when I thought jerky was my deal. Yup I would just eat beef jerky right? Wrong, lots of sodium nitrates! Unless you make your own.... I wouldn’t go there and buy a bunch. Lots of protein yes but you can do better. Grocery chicken on the grill and season as you wish Etc. ok I’m not losing that much just wanting to get to my high school weight at 62 years..35 pounds or so. I respectfully think you folks loosing those big numbers in pounds ROCK! Forget the flabby skin, while you add years to your life right already! Worry about it later if you must. Now is not the time! Go and I’m so proud of ya’ll that are REALLY struggling AND getting it done. I’m screaming encouragement here! Go! 😎👍 

Very much like Mylahxandermom, Beef jerky has been one of my Staples too... I rotate it in because I get sick of protein bars. Here is the thing... there are certain brands that are much healthier. Most grocery store brands are really bad... high in sugar and sodium and nitrates. but Think Jerkey, Country Archer, The New Primal, et. Are really decent .. grass fed.. and low sugar. You can tell just by the basics .. Think Jerky has 100 calories and 15 grams of protein per oz... a really good choice.  

Well loose skin is hell for vanity. Many years ago I lost a lot of weight and there was loose skin on my thighs and it really upset me. Can you believe I gained the 70 pounds back to see my good looking thighs Again?! And I was happy.... Very vane and weird I must say. I think wearing turtle necks and leggings is very chic for girls, in all colors. It shows off the new figure. For guys the same but jeans. What can I say.... If I knew about the loose skin I swear I wouldnt have gained weight ever, but I didn't know.... What to Do? Accept it and if it's possible correct it with plastic surgery because it really does wonders..... Good luck with that.  

I do make my own jerky as often as possible but they also had an okay brand on sale at the exchange last week, but it does have a lot of sodium.  

Honey, I was worried about loose skin too, but I realize something...that loose skin is your armor, you fought a battle and you WON!! I have loose skin under my chin, right now, and its wrinkly and its unattractive, but its mine, and I fought to get it! I have it on my arms, but I can look at that and tell myself how hard I fought to get that skin. Is it pretty? Nope, but there are firming lotions, there are exercises, and time will heal it up some, but its going to be there. You can pay thousands and have it removed, or you can embrace it and use it as proof that you are strong, you have fought a battle for your life, and you came out the victor!!  

be encouraged.  

At your age your skin may rebound enough in time to satisfy you, but for sure it will take time. Firming up the muscles underneath helps aesthetically too, good luck, you have done so well, keep on top of it, your future self will thank you!! 

I had a woman on our commuter train the other day point at my arms and say, “How much weight did you lose? I recognize the symptoms! LOL” When I told her, she complimented me, and I felt a bit insulted that she had needed to point out my perceived ‘flaw’ to everyone. Then I realized it was only a flaw in my mind. To HER it was a badge of honor. Like my stretch marks are to me. But I wasn’t ever proud of being FAT. So I’ve never really been proud of being thinner. I mean, everyone tells me I CHEATED. I got my stomach STAPLED. ‘Oh, my God!’ So why would I be proud of that? I mean, even with an autoimmune thyroid condition that can make me gain it all back in 2 months... I emotionally cannot be proud. My ex-husband can be proud of me! LOL 😆 but I cannot be proud of myself. Because I’m not the one who has spent 5 years working through 47 years worth of abuse issues that had been buried in fat. I still feel safer fat, or with my walker, or as the old lady 👵🏻, but that flaw is a badge of honor and I’m going to work real hard to change my perception and see it that way. For all of us! 🙋🏻 

I bought a one piece compression garment that has hooks and a zipper and slept in it for several months. I believe it helped a lot to tighten my abdominal skin.