Excess Skin

This is one of those things that hardly anyone ever mentions, but it is a reality for most of us I feel certain. That is excess skin. My problem is the 'apron' skin. I carried a lot of weight in my belly. Some in my back side, but mostly in my belly. I looked pregnant and was asked more than once about my delicate condition. Now that I'm nearing the 100 lbs gone mark, my belly has diminshed greatly. I now have a flap of skin that hangs down from my waist and folds over at the top of my legs. It is, in a word, gross. It is uncomfortable. I have taken to wearing control top undergarments to keep thing in place. It works well and I'll continue that practice until I get to my goal. Then I'm almost certain that I'll have surgery to fix that little problem. My body will literally bear the scars of obesity for the rest of my life. That's OK, if that keeps me from regaining.

I'm not upset about it. In fact, I look at it as sort of a badge of honor. I can look down and see how far I've come. So, why do I mention it? Because it is reality. Because people need to know that losing the excess pounds through diet and exercise is only part of the puzzle. Because reaching a certain number on the scale does not create a sudden utopia. When I wake up in the morning and I weigh 145 lbs, I'll still have to make up the bed when I get up. I'll still have to wipe crumbs from the counter. I'll still have to do laundry. I'm pretty sure that I'll still have morning breath.

Get the picture? Life will still be life. I don't mean to diminish the benefits of weight loss. They're great and I'm already reaping some of them. But, I think for too many, there is this idea that once the weight comes off life will be perfect. When it isn't we give up and regain. I personally, am trying to adjust my expectations. When I get to my goal weight, I'll celebrate for sure, but life will go on as usual. As much as I'd like to think that the whole world will stand up and applaud, I know it won't. I do know that my family & friends will and really that is enough. I'll get up, make the bed, and brush my teeth, but I might take the day off from wiping the counter tops and laundry!