I don't think I'll ever have plastics

Mershmellow -- I have rarely seen someone respond with such class to such a classLESS response post. So, you have impressed me. Not that it matters -- but I feel compelled to add my support to you.

Please do not let these responses dissuade you. YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOAL -- and there are plenty of us here who started at super morbidly obese and have done just that. I was 347 pounds officially (more before that weigh-in) with a 57 BMI. I am now at a 20 to 21 BMI and have maintained that since around 18-20 months out. There are many of us here who started in the SMO category and have lost huge amounts of weight. It is not impossible with the right mindset and persistance.

Not everyone who loses a lot of weight has skin issue the way described above. I am not anti-plastic surgery -- to each his/her own, but not everyone feels that they need it after even a massive weight loss. Not everyone can afford it, either. Being financially responsible is just as important -- and being healthy? -- THAT is everything. You seem young to me, and that will also work to your benefit. I will send positive thoughts that you will also have good skin. I have lost 220 pounds and truthfully, I do not have those problems at all. I think I was just lucky and have good skin. I look and feel great! Do I have some excess skin? Of course. Is it debilitating? Absolutely not.

You seem to be holding your own here, but I did want to give you some emotional support. Having also been SMO, I know to well how insurmountable the goal can seem at times -- and it's completely unhelpful to have someone who should understand that experience bet against you.

You can do this.

Sometimes people project their own issues onto to other people -- and I would guess that is something happening here.

Keep doing what you are doing. Never let anyone steal your hope and determination.

Thank you so much for your post. The support I have gotten on this thread is incredible and it makes me feel really good. It also proves what I thought already that these boards are so very valuable!

Mershmellow, My heaviest weight was 420 and GIRL!!!! I plan on making my own stats! I've always known I'm more than ordinary! Let's be EXTRAORDINARY! It's that determination that will get you there! It takes one step to start the journey and take that one step at a time! I know I'm a worrier too but worrying leads to eating and heaven forbid we don't want that!

"All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness."

--- Tennessee Williams

Well, I've lost almost 300 pounds. I'm 40 percent of what I once weighed. And I've been right in the middle of a normal BMI for 4 years.

Plastic surgery is NOT medically necessary for my quality of life. Not even a little. Sure I have a lot of excess skin. Who wouldn't after all that loss? But medically necessary? Phhhhttt.

I could put together the money for plastics, but I honestly would have a lot of other things I'd rather spend it on.

I've got to say, pretty much every response you have, to every poster, seems designed for nothing other than ******g in people's cheerios.

THIS!! Grim, have I mentioned I love you? (Kidding, JB...kidding!)

Whoa, are you an elm tree? ' Cause that's a whole lot of shade you're throwing.

I started SMO and now I am slightly overweight. My excess skin doesn't hurt me or stop me from doing anything I want. Not all fat people are obsessed with excess skin, either. It's not even in my top 50 things.

Plastics are great for those who want them, but not everyone one does and that's okay.

The OP asked a general question. No need for you to thrust your prejudice on her ' if you ever get under 250 pounds'. You sure are judging.

And I want to say that when I started, I never thought plastics would be an option for me because I hate the idea of surgery. Narcotics have no effect on me, except making my intestines clinch and feel in general miserable. I also felt that kind of money could be better spent on thing like education and travel.

At the point I am at now, it isn't optional if I want to enjoy life to the fullest.

And this is just because of my start weight, and how much I lost. If I had quit losing at 12 months and maintained there. I could have easily skipped plastics.

I wear a 10, sometimes and 8. I have a 29-31 inch waist depending on the day and that is with mounds of loose hanging skin. If I could wave a magic wand and have my skin removed right now I would be a size 4 easily. I have 125 pounds of lean muscle mass. Under this hanging skin I am very compact and sleek.

I'm not miserable with the skin, and I love being small, and I am enjoying my healthy. It is just a daily nuisance though. Every day I have to play my attire around my skin and how I can hide it, support and still be comfortable and stylish.

you must be super tall because 187 is still obese bmi for me. I'm only 5'5" thoguh. i never knew no one who wears a 4 at that weight.

I can never say "never" but its highly unlikely. Even if I could save up $10-15K, it'd be more responsible of me to provide for my kids somehow or pay some bills. Luckily for me, my skin isn't that bad. I won't be wearing short shorts-- or a bikini-- but they aren't my style anyway.

And as someone who work outs regularly and has from the start, I'm extremely happy with what exercise has done for my shape and do not think I'd have gotten these results otherwise. I think I have kick ass legs, awesome shoulders and muscular arms (bat wings aside).