Big Weight Loss Crew: What Surprised You Most?

bayardtrustin

bayardtrustin

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Curious to hear from others who’ve lost a significant amount of weight. What have been the best and worst parts for you?

For me, I’m down 111 lbs, and the changes have been incredible overall.

Best things:
  • Developing a whole new fashion sense (actually enjoying clothes now)
  • Airline travel is way easier and more comfortable
  • Health markers are all on point

Worst things:
  • Sitting on hard surfaces 😩
  • I get cold way more easily
Would love to hear what others have experienced. Especially the unexpected stuff that doesn’t get talked about as much.
 
The first winter after I dropped 100# suuuuuucked.

I really didn’t notice very much otherwise. Easier to tie my boots without the gut in the way. Easier to move around on my motorcycle while track riding and racing.

Had to buy all new clothes and a new race suit. Had a bunch of people ask if I had been sick.
 
Down 83 lbs, and at maintenance.

Airline travel, absolutely! Not only do I fit in the seat better, but now I usually have to tighten the seatbelt from whoever was sitting there last, rather than loosen it almost to the end. 🙂

People I interact with in public are nicer to me. Sad, but true. 🙂

My husband's and kids' friends tell them I'm hot. 🤭

Not sweating at the slightest hint of heat or exertion. 🙂

Having to buy all new clothes. 🙁

Extra skin on my abdomen and under my chin. 🙁

And, yeah, sitting on hard surfaces. 🙁
 
Down 400lbs or 1/3 my former self. Male - mid fifties.

Best: Still being alive #1.

Actually being the thinnest guy in the room, a couple of times.

Buying 30 inch jeans and a large shirt, compared to 58 inch and 7X.

Never being Diabetic.

Worst: The Orthopedic destruction of my body, after 13 operations it's getting old. I got 2 more likely in the next year and 1/2 likely. I spend up to 1/2 my year in physical therapy + at home, working up towards the next the next surgery. I haven't even got to the neck and back yet. I absolutely hate taking this amount of medication on a daily basis, just to function. luckily peptides do help calm the waters.
 
Vash_ said:
The first winter after I dropped 100# suuuuuucked.

I really didn’t notice very much otherwise. Easier to tie my boots without the gut in the way. Easier to move around on my motorcycle while track riding and racing.

Had to buy all new clothes and a new race suit. Had a bunch of people ask if I had been sick.
Click to expand...
It's funny how people don't ask if you're sick when carrying all that weight!
 
RubbaDubba1 said:
Down 400lbs or 1/3 my former self. Male - mid fifties.

Best: Still being alive #1.

Actually being the thinnest guy in the room, a couple of times.

Buying 30 inch jeans and a large shirt, compared to 58 inch and 7X.

Never being Diabetic.

Worst: The Orthopedic destruction of my body, after 13 operations it's getting old. I got 2 more likely in the next year and 1/2 likely. I spend up to 1/2 my year in physical therapy + at home, working up towards the next the next surgery. I haven't even got to the neck and back yet. I absolutely hate taking this amount of medication on a daily basis, just to function. luckily peptides do help calm the waters.
Click to expand...
Blessings to you. Keep pushing forward!
 
I can walk down stairs like a normal human. Instead of easing down backwards.
I can cross my legs like a normal human.
Put on socks like a normal human. (If I whore socks)
 
Sasquatch said:
(If I whore socks)
Click to expand...
You know, I did consider a career in pimping, but I didn't want the hassle of dealing with women. Duh! But you're saying we can use socks instead? Is there a good enough market for that? I mean, I have heard of people stuffing their sausage into a sock while beating the monkey, but I didn't know they would pay money for it.

Oh yeah, for the topic, I'm a guy who loves to outdo people. I used to see fitness freaks yap about their 6-pack abs, so I always wanted to top them. After my weight loss surgery, I developed a 12-pack instead, but my placement went awry. I got it on my ass. six folds of skin on either side.

Oh but I lost the edema on my feet, but now I have trouble lying down on my side with one leg on top of the other because it hurts when my ankles and knees press each other, with close bone contact.

Then, I used to love winters, hating summers. Now I still hate the heat, but the cold abandoned me too. No resistance at all. If I was Mr. Freeze before, now I am just the Shiver man.

What else, oh yeah, when I met my college friends for the twenty year reunion, I was the youngest looking man of the lot.

But on a more serious note: I lost whatever muscle and strength I had built over 28 years of intermittent training and when I entered an armwrestling contest, I was forced to eat enough humble pie to feed China.
 
When I was fat I fell a lot. Like tripping up stairs, losing my footing on a perfectly flat surface, ice was deadly, and all kinds of clumsy weirdness. After a lifetime of swimming and many years of ballet, I think I had no idea how to move properly at double my usual size. That doesn't happen any more.

I like being able to put on a pair of single digit-size jeans and have them zip up easily.

I don't miss feeling overheated. At least now when it flashes through me, I know it's menopause.

My partner can wrap his arms all the way around me. That's the best feeling.
 
HereKittyKitty said:
When I was fat I fell a lot. Like tripping up stairs, losing my footing on a perfectly flat surface, ice was deadly, and all kinds of clumsy weirdness. After a lifetime of swimming and many years of ballet, I think I had no idea how to move properly at double my usual size. That doesn't happen any more.

I like being able to put on a pair of single digit-size jeans and have them zip up easily.

I don't miss feeling overheated. At least now when it flashes through me, I know it's menopause.

My partner can wrap his arms all the way around me. That's the best feeling.
Click to expand...
Whattt that's amazing. I'm clumsy as hell and never considered that it might be related to my weight. I could never not look derpy shuffling my ass out of a car. But it makes sense that losing weight would make you more nimble. Fingers crossed that also happens to me lol.
 
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97 lbs down in 12 months. 61 y.o. male.

The Good:
*97 lbs down
*improved blood labs
*libido and morning readiness returned
*movement, mobility, steadiness
*esteem, confidence, feeling like I belong here
*less fatigue
*new clothes
*less EEEWWWW when looking in the mirror

The Bad:
*I thought my orthopedic health would SHINE with less stress on my musculoskeletal system. I was so wrong, I've had lumbar, cervical, hip, tendons, bursas, nerves, and neuropathy woes show up. Almost like the obesity was masking everything until pounds were shed. Sure, there was some aches and pains here and there. But I've had to undergo epidurals, EMT tests, strong anti-inflammatories, and even pain killers when a cervical pinched nerve rendered my left side neck, and left shoulder/arm region numb, tingly, with shooting pain that resulted in some sleepless nights. I have never had problems with my neck but they showed up. I have never been limited by my right hip but now have a Dx of severe osteoarthritis/degeneration, and something called congenital stenosis of the lumbar spinal region leading to inflamed nerve roots and radiculopathy/spondylosis/somethingsomething...

Anyway, enough of that...97 LBS GONE AND IN SIGHT OF A GOAL...never wanna go back...

Cheers y'all!

EDIT: And begone f*cking CHUB RUB (brutal year round in central Texas y'all)
 
Last edited:
Smiter said:
You know, I did consider a career in pimping, but I didn't want the hassle of dealing with women. Duh! But you're saying we can use socks instead? Is there a good enough market for that? I mean, I have heard of people stuffing their sausage into a sock while beating the monkey, but I didn't know they would pay money for it.

Oh yeah, for the topic, I'm a guy who loves to outdo people. I used to see fitness freaks yap about their 6-pack abs, so I always wanted to top them. After my weight loss surgery, I developed a 12-pack instead, but my placement went awry. I got it on my ass. six folds of skin on either side.

Oh but I lost the edema on my feet, but now I have trouble lying down on my side with one leg on top of the other because it hurts when my ankles and knees press each other, with close bone contact.

Then, I used to love winters, hating summers. Now I still hate the heat, but the cold abandoned me too. No resistance at all. If I was Mr. Freeze before, now I am just the Shiver man.

What else, oh yeah, when I met my college friends for the twenty year reunion, I was the youngest looking man of the lot.

But on a more serious note: I lost whatever muscle and strength I had built over 28 years of intermittent training and when I entered an armwrestling contest, I was forced to eat enough humble pie to feed China.
Click to expand...
But at least you were the youngest looking man of the lot! That is quite the accomplishment!
 
HereKittyKitty said:
When I was fat I fell a lot. Like tripping up stairs, losing my footing on a perfectly flat surface, ice was deadly, and all kinds of clumsy weirdness. After a lifetime of swimming and many years of ballet, I think I had no idea how to move properly at double my usual size. That doesn't happen any more.

I like being able to put on a pair of single digit-size jeans and have them zip up easily.

I don't miss feeling overheated. At least now when it flashes through me, I know it's menopause.

My partner can wrap his arms all the way around me. That's the best feeling.
Click to expand...
I'm really enjoying the quality-of-life improvements. Going for long walks is enjoyable and no longer feels like a chore!
 
chipsandsalsayall said:
97 lbs down in 12 months. 61 y.o. male.

The Good:
*97 lbs down
*improved blood labs
*libido and morning readiness returned
*movement, mobility, steadiness
*esteem, confidence, feeling like I belong here
*less fatigue
*new clothes
*less EEEWWWW when looking in the mirror

The Bad:
*I thought my orthopedic health would SHINE with less stress on my musculoskeletal system. I was so wrong, I've had lumbar, cervical, hip, tendons, bursas, nerves, and neuropathy woes show up. Almost like the obesity was masking everything until pounds were shed. Sure, there was some aches and pains here and there. But I've had to undergo epidurals, EMT tests, strong anti-inflammatories, and even pain killers when a cervical pinched nerve rendered my left side neck, and left shoulder/arm region numb, tingly, with shooting pain that resulted in some sleepless nights. I have never had problems with my neck but they showed up. I have never been limited by my right hip but now have a Dx of severe osteoarthritis/degeneration, and something called congenital stenosis of the lumbar spinal region leading to inflamed nerve roots and radiculopathy/spondylosis/somethingsomething...

Anyway, enough of that...97 LBS GONE AND IN SIGHT OF A GOAL...never wanna go back...

Cheers y'all!

EDIT: And begone f*cking CHUB RUB (brutal year round in central Texas y'all)
Click to expand...
97lbs! That is a really nice accomplishment! Never thought I would be in skinny jeans, but here we are! 😉
 
cheaperseeker said:
Usually the ones who were urging you to lose weight in the first place.
Click to expand...
You cannot please some people, they live for things to neg about. I try to actively identify and ignore these people now that I'm wise to it.

Vash_ said:
It’s also funny how many people tell you to stop losing weight.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I could almost chart it. Around 200 lbs once I looked normal-ish, I noticed I was asked why I drink diet soda and stuff like that.

Then, once I started to have even a hint of visible muscle I heard the "protein kidneys" trope 🙄 my goodness, I was eating the same slop as before just less of it. If you really cared about my health you would be telling me to stop eating McDonalds and to stop smoking cigarettes but apparently those habits were a-ok with everyone.
 
What surprised me the most was the reaction of other people. I'm down 112lbs, which for me is 46% of my body weight and a change from a BMI of 39 to 21. My spouse was looking at some pre-weight loss photos. It was painful to see, but I understand other people's reaction. I don't recognize myself. It is a complete transformation. After decades of looking at fat me, even I am still struggling to accept that the new me is really me.
 
ThunderBird said:
I hate the loose skin and bumpy rides 😭
Click to expand...
Love the pic of your Sammy, I've only ever seen 3 out in the wild my whole life. Beautiful dogs! I've had 3 Chow Chows, a German shepherd and a Husky right now. I'm all about that fluffy goodness,
 
I dont even know where to start with the positive side of the loss (very almost 70ibs)

clothes fitting, back to my old style, as a female men are way nicer to me and willing to help (sadly true, men literally flock to help me vs when i was fat i was invisible. not trying to brag but ive always been decently pretty as well the whole time!), fitting into roller coasters without worry(never got turned away but damn i was close), fitting into seats, walking around is just easier, my confidence (weird one, i am way more critical of myself now and hate my reflection more than when i was 240ibs, but i am shocked at photos in a good way), intimacy, taking photos doesnt make me freak out, and so much more....
 
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