The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Joy]

I have you in my thoughts feelings healthy and well! The power of positive thinking!

regards,
joy

[Tawanda]

Thanks Mamas...... . Nights are the worse and the mornings, when I do my updates, aren't too good (obviously). The rest of the day is okay. Starting right about dinner time then the symptoms slowly increase until I feel sorry for myself by bedtime. LOL Right now (early afternoon) I'm feeling good! Maybe I should change my update time to early afternoons.

I met up with my healthy health coach this morning. She is such a blessing in my life. We sat at a Starbucks and chatted about life, Medifast, losing weight, maintaining the weight loss and just shared about our lives. What an incredibly kind, thoughtful and caring she is....and I appreciate her helping me via this journey.

Hope everyone has kept their focus for the day. We are worth taking care of and getting ourselves healthy!!

[Tawanda]

150# today. -2# for this week. I'm surprised as I expected the weight loss to slow quite a bit, but am so thankful to see such nice drops over these past weeks.

I had a much better night. Only a tiny bit of coughing, no ear pain (sounds still muffled some though), my throat doesn't hurt as much, eyes still 'ick' but weren't as bad during the night. Heartburn woke me, I very seldom have heartburn (less than once a year) so I'm puzzling over what could have triggered that, maybe the Aleve that I took about 7 pm last night? I'll stop the Aleve and hope to curtail the heartburn.

I went 'upper undergarment' shopping yesterday afternoon. What an embarrassing time! I've lost so much fluff up top that my current items were pretty empty. I had a gift card (from Christmas) to Victoria's Secret. I walk in there and am in the midst of two hundred tiny teens and 20 year olds. I felt so horribly out of place! See through lacey tiny bits were on display everywhere. I couldn't find something for a grandmother anywhere. I wanted to run out of the store fast, but was surrounded by too many tiny, cute young ladies to move fast. So, I did ask for assistance in finding something appropriate for my body and 'problems'. I am measured (over clothing, thankyouverymuch!!!) and, after explaining my problem (too much of one thing, not enough of the other----think rock and sock ) I am handed 4 'undergarments'. All of which are too small to corral or contain any of me... more embarrassment and the need to have the assistant 'see' the problem I'm having with the 4 items. I tie my shirt around my midriff to hide the excess skin from her eyes (and mine). Everytime I look in the huge mirror under florescent lights, I see nothing but saggy, baggy, winter white, rippley, nasty looking whale skin..I cannot focus on the need at hand, I'm too busy being embarrassed at what I've done to my body.

Finally after much time, many items and many helpful viewing by the assistant (I've given up on the shirt tied around my ribcage by this point) I have 3 possibilities. I take one of each style......as I do not want to revisit this particular experience for a very, very, very (did I say VERY?? Well, I mean VERY!!!!) long time.

I have no idea if the skin will ever look 'better' and fit my frame decently again. But I kept telling myself and the assistant as I apologized for being so awkwardly embarrassed about how I looked.... "I have two choices. I can wear this skin the way it is, with the hopes that some day it will tighten somewhat and not look so badly, or I can eat to fill it back up".

I refuse to eat to fill it back up.

I so wish that I had never gained the excess weight---I guess that is a given for all of us. I wish I had taken the weight off while I was younger and my skin might be more 'elastic'. But through all of the embarrassment and the mortification of having someone else see me (especially in that lighting!)....I'm still proud of myself that I took the weight off and that I am being proactive about improving my health. If my looks never improve, so be it. I feel better (less pain in my knees, especially), I look good in my clothes and I actually squatted the other day and was able to stand back up! I hadn't been able to squat (my knee couldn't hold the weight nor bend that much) for years.

With large weight loss there are minuses (at least for awhile)....the loose skin, wrinkly neck are my big ones. But there are so many pluses to offset those minuses...well, worth it------there is no comparison. We need to get the excess weight off and deal with the 'excess skin' later. Sometimes dealing with it means accepting that it is there and may never go away...so be it. Excess skin 'empty' is so much better than excess skin 'full'.

[bikipatra]

You sound like you have the right perspective on things. Time takes time.

[katesmom]

Hi T,
I was reading your story about your visit to VS and I thought..."Good for you" that you stayed, got measured and walked out with something that works for you...I would be laughed at at this point for even walking an inch in that store...But you did it ! You conquered that demon !!! At this point I would be happy to lose on top if i t meant I was healthier...

Thanks for sharing the way you do...You really keep it real and honest!

Have a great day and remember to take care of YOU !!

Pam

[oksoonergirl26]

I was about to suggest another avenue for you to deal with the upper garment shopping experience. I too have lost much of what used to be there "rock and sock" is an apt description. If for some reason those things don't work out for you for whatever reason there is a wonderful boutique chain called "Intimacy", look them up online and see if there is one near you. I need to go there, but I haven't had the time. One of my friends who is closer to your age loves shopping there because they work with you to find the right bra and everything isn't geared for the teenage and early twenty somethings tastes (or bouncy perky things).

Sorry you are dealing with the skin issues-I can only offer words of comfort and just think how good you look in your clothes! Spanx were created for that reason. I don't know if you would even contemplate skin surgery, but it may be worth looking into. Sometimes insurance will cover part of it, if it is due to a major weight loss.

[Tawanda]

Hello! I'm feeling better! Woke this morning and thought "I don't feel awful!" Eyes still need to be addressed (this is going on too long), still coughing (but much improved), ears are much improved, throat only a little sore...things are looking up.

150# again this morning.

[bikipatra]

Glad there's some improvement! I worry about you. T!

[Tawanda]

150#

Coughed through the night.

[katieb920]

DOCTORS

[bikipatra]

DOCTORS

[Tawanda]

Nope, no doctors......I am almost done with this bug and I will win.

Last night was a surprise, coughed very little during the day and then at bedtime the coughing would not stop. I was very close to saying heck with sticking on program and grabbing a cough drop......but the tough old bird (LOL) hung in there. No whimping out, no cough drops and made it through another bad night.

I am better.

[bikipatra]

You're lucky your little six size butt doesn't live near me or I would come over and drag you to the doctor! We aren't nagging we just want you totally well.

[Joy]

wishing you well so very soon!
regards,
joy

[katesmom]

Hi T,
Please feel better soon...REST, REST, and MORE REST !
Take Care of you...I agree with Joy, you may need to beef up on veggies and the vitamins they can give you to build up your immune system again..

Hugs,
Pam