Swimsuit pictures!!! For all you daring bandters

[libra 13]

GDC, I understand your concerns as I feel similarly. Vanity, although not my only reason, was certainly a part of my decision. I didn't ever want to hear "She has such a pretty face. If she only lost some weight..." Uggh, I wish thin people knew how horrible that makes overweight people feel!

I am a bit concerned for you however. Please don't think that just by losing weight you're going to solve your body image issues. It won't. That's a psychological problem and if you're not overweight, you'll find something else that you're uncomfortable with. (saggy skin, droopy boobs, whatever)

I say this because you're already at a point where you won't even wear a bathing suit. Even at my heaviest, I would go in the pool with my son. I couldn't stand the way I looked but wouldn't let it interfere with playing with my son.

Just make sure you take care of the psychological issues as well as the physical ones.

[jack&kota 0]

I am not banded yet, but I find it very helpful to see the swimsuit photos. The one that was posted so far was great. As I have been so obese for so long with so many failed attempts, it is hard to wrap my head around the idea of being thin. Full clothes shots are great, but we also want to know how losing that much weight affects the skin, and muscle tone and if we will ever like our bodies in a two piece or naked in front of the mirror. I think it could be very helpful to pull expectations in line, keeping in mind everyone is different. This is the same reason I look at those before and after PS pictures.

I appreciate posters being cautious about what they post and consider motives of the opening poster because after all this is the internet. I also remember getting married and at that point, looking good for my wedding and my honeymoon were a priority over anything else. Good luck in your journey.

[speck 1]

I'm a newbie here. All I can say about some of the post on this thread is WOW!

Sometimes people ask, do, behave in a certain way that I absolutely don't understand or agree with. And because of that, it's best that I leave people like that alone. I don't consider what they do wrong because I don't have authority to say who is right or wrong. Self righteousness never got me anywhere.

I'm just saying.

[georgia girl 35]

I can only speak for myself, but I thought the opening post was rather vague and had a certain "quality" that made me uncertain about it (kinda like an advertising quality with the wording and all the animated pictures). The Internet can be a scary place, especially when it comes to pictures that show skin. Just being cautious...I don't think I was wrong for that.

BTW, I think it's okay to be concerned with skin issues. For me, it was a mixture of health and physical reasons as to why I got the band, but more health related. I do agree with Libra, losing weight alone probably won't solve all of your body image issues, so just be prepared for that.

Best of luck to you.