The Saggy Baggy Elephant and other Little Golden Stories

[ranchersdaughter 9]

Here I sit on day 26 after my sleeve surgery.

Ever have one of those days where nothing goes right...your shoelace breaks beyond the eyelet so you can't even quick fix it with a knot?

....the car door blows shut on your shin?

....the coffee maker decides to spew coffee grounds everywhere?

....the scale says you gained 3 lbs?

I've been having one of those weeks.

I'm getting acid reflux for the first time in my life. I can eat 1 or 2 bites, it sticks in my throat and comes back up shortly thereafter.

I started Prilosec OTC to see if that helps....(just what I wanted....ANOTHER pill to swallow).

My husband and I got laid off of work yesterday.

My kids, who live with their dad in TX, haven't called in ages.

As if that wasn't bad enough, I've lost 30 lbs (and before you jump on me, YES I'M ECSTATIC ABOUT THAT!), but today I was rubbing my scars with the daily Vitamin E and cocoa butter and what do I see looking back at me from the mirror?

The Saggy Baggy Elephant! Complete with Bingo Wings, Turkey Neck, Buns of Silly Putty, Boob Sacks and Thigh Bags!

Is THAT me?????

Ok, Ok, so I'll be honest, I KNEW this was going to happen.......JUST LIKE EVERY TIME BEFORE. I've gained and lost the same weight so many times.....

I have stretch marks, some that are literally over an inch wide and 4 inches long on my stomach and hips and thighs.

I have that thin skin on my stomach that doesn't really fold, but more like "crinkles"? My inner thighs are the same way. Empty Thigh Bags.

I officially have Turkey Neck, though it looks more like PELICAN CHIN!!!! I could fit a good sized fish in there!!!

Bingo Wings......Need I explain? I lifted my arm to point something out to the hubby yesterday and my underarm slapped me in the nose. (Gotta love the Wind in New Mexico! HAHA!)

Buns of Silly Putty.....I sat on a blanket and the design impression stayed there for 3 days. (it's worse than panty lines! haha!).

Boob Sacks......Well, I don't have the boobs anymore, but I still have the sacks they came in....

All in all, I look like the Saggy Baggy Elephant , and my attitude resembles that of the Poky Little Puppy.

Maybe this is just 3 1/2 weeks post surgery depression, because I felt REALLY good up to this point!!!

Anyone have any suggestions that might help me out of my FUNK?? Or just a good book to read???? Hehe!

Hope everyone got a smile out of this! I'm trying very hard to keep the ol' PELICAN CHIN up!!!!! Lol!

Holla back ya'll!

Christal

[LissyinTX 1]

Lol, I am not laughing at what you are asking about, but more at the word use. Being a first grade teacher, I love silly little word plays like that. I am afraid of having skin in excess like that. I say keep going with it. it has been 3.5 weeks since you had surgery. The skin is elastic and should go back down. I have been lucky with what weight I have lost since I started all this. I stall, so to speak, but my body is settling everything. You might see it one day, but the next you will notice that the stretch marks are getting thinner and going away.....always the best part. Keep your chin up, lol, use tape if you need to, everything will work the way it is supposed to.

[ranchersdaughter 9]

.....tape!!!! You're a genius!! Hehe! Thank you so much for the laugh!! That's what I'm needing!

Thank you!!!

[fatBgone 6]

Love love love the reference to Little Golden Books! I cracked up when I read your post!

[ybnormal 21]

I will never understand this. I want so much to have my health back and my life that I don't give two shits about baggy skin. I'm not the same person I was before I got so sick, so maybe that's why, but I'll be glad to have my life to share with my kids for many more years to come. Jump on me all you want, it's happened before, but this kind of post is exactly what I blogged about this morning. btw, the more Protein you get in the more weight you'll lose, the more Water you get in, the less baggy your skin will be. It takes about 2 years for the skin to re-attach itself after major weight loss to the fascia so who knows, you maybe just look great after all and I guess as a bonus you'll have a longer life.

Renee`

[Becca 108]

Your post was very entertaining! I totally understand~ I have tons of lose skin and I hate it. It's just part of the process. I am really pushing myself to go to the body toning classes at the Y. They have us use lots of weights and I am seeing a difference. I also bought a shake Weight. It is suppossed to tone your arms so we will see! Hope things get brighter for you! Congrats on your weight loss.

[ranchersdaughter 9]

I will never understand this. I want so much to have my health back and my life that I don't give two shits about baggy skin. I'm not the same person I was before I got so sick, so maybe that's why, but I'll be glad to have my life to share with my kids for many more years to come. Jump on me all you want, it's happened before, but this kind of post is exactly what I blogged about this morning. btw, the more Protein you get in the more weight you'll lose, the more Water you get in, the less baggy your skin will be. It takes about 2 years for the skin to re-attach itself after major weight loss to the fascia so who knows, you maybe just look great after all and I guess as a bonus you'll have a longer life.

Renee`

Renee,

I hoped that most would find the tongue in cheek humor in my post. Im sorry that you missed the fact that its not my appearance that has me down. My appearance is the humorous part compared to the fact that my husband and I both lost our jobs on the same day, and etc. So rather than whine and cry about things that just are....I tried to take a lighter look at things.

I pray that we all get our health back, but we can still enjoy a Little Golden Storybook while we work on it!

Thank you for your opinion!

[ybnormal 21]

Actually I saw the humor more than you know. I just blogged about silly putty cheeks earlier this morning / last night. Seems like we think alot alike.

I would share more, but I don't want to be accused of hijacking your thread. Not that you made this comment, but someone did so I try to stay silent now.

Renee`

[caleybooth 1]

Christal,

Well at least you are losing weight! I haven't lost ANYTHING since we got back from Mexico. Nothing. I lost 15 lbs while we were in Mexico but that is all. On the flip side, Coy has lost 65 pounds. I'm proud of him. His whole body is reshaping and he's starting to look different. Congrats on the weight loss girl, so sorry to hear about you guys losing your jobs. Hopefully you can file for unemployment to keep you going until work starts back up.

Caley

[Disney 20]

Renee,

I hoped that most would find the tongue in cheek humor in my post. Im sorry that you missed the fact that its not my appearance that has me down. My appearance is the humorous part compared to the fact that my husband and I both lost our jobs on the same day, and etc. So rather than whine and cry about things that just are....I tried to take a lighter look at things.

I pray that we all get our health back, but we can still enjoy a Little Golden Storybook while we work on it!

Thank you for your opinion!

I get your sense of humor and appreciate the laughs!!

I don't see anything wrong with wanting to get our health back AND not looking like our skin is melting off our bodies. I personally have many reasons for losing this weight, better health just being one of them.

Thanks again for the humor.

[emily_0192010 168]

First- I am so sorry to hear about your jobs!! That is really harsh. I don't know where we would be if my lost her job.. we are having a hard enough time trying to find me a job.

Second- I loved your post! I love your sense of humor! I seriously think you should consider putting some of that fancy language into a children's book! My sister (she is 5) loves books with that type of language in it... and hey, it might be fun to do while you wait for employment

I have had those type of weeks before many, many, many times. To the point where when something good comes around I almost always joke "okay... where's the avalanche of shoes now". I also always joke that I never just have the "second" shoe... I get the entire closet thrown at me! But I live by that quote that says whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger... and I have found it to be true. Don't lose that sense of humor and keep fighting on

[MrsPositive 5]

Hey ranchersdaughter....I thought your post was hilarious!! Although I have my sleeve done on May 24th...I have lost over 90 pounds in 6 months before and I found one cream that totally helped with sagging skin. Send me a message with your mailing address and I will mail you some for free. Thanks for the honesty and hang in there....no pun intended!!! Lol. Wishing you tight, firm skin!!! Joan

[ranchersdaughter 9]

You guys and gals are terrific!!! Such great ideas and support! I couldn't do it without all of you!!!

So we look like Sharpei puppies for a while....so what!!! I'll just warn the people behind me in roller coaster....."caution, flapping skin ahead...and no dogs were harmed in the making of this body!"

Yall are truly the bestest!!!

[Kris 78]

Christal, I am feeling you!!! I have been hating my turkey neck (actually pelican neck really is more accurate!), my batwings, and my horrible half-filled Water balloon ta-tas that are almost hitting my belly button (arggh). But I am also loving fitting into clothes sizes I haven't been able to wear in over a decade, and having way more energy than I did before surgery, and feeling much better than I did a few months ago.

I hope you and your hubby find new, better jobs soon! Congrats on your progress so far -- you are doing great!

Kris

[ranchersdaughter 9]

Christal,

Well at least you are losing weight! I haven't lost ANYTHING since we got back from Mexico. Nothing. I lost 15 lbs while we were in Mexico but that is all. On the flip side, Coy has lost 65 pounds. I'm proud of him. His whole body is reshaping and he's starting to look different. Congrats on the weight loss girl, so sorry to hear about you guys losing your jobs. Hopefully you can file for unemployment to keep you going until work starts back up.

Caley

Caley,

Don't get discouraged!!! I lost 12 lbs on the preop diet and the rest was in the first week after surgery. Since then it had been 1 lb here or there. I just figure our bodies are adjusting to the drastic changes....and while we may not be showing lb loss I KNOW I'm losing inches and I'm willing to bet you are too!!!

That is awesome to hear about Coy!!! Men have it so easy!! LOL!!

Keep your chin up and I'll put you in my prayers! Than you for your support my sleeve sister!!!