Stomach rash: Dermatological contact infection

not my stomach

Before I lost my weight, I used to get this rash all the time.  I think it was because my stomach hung down or something.  The doctor called it a dermatological contact infection.  I hated it and I made me feel even more fat and embarrassed.  Since I am here and constantly talking to others on the weight loss journey like I am, I thought now would be a good time to bring it up.  I always hid the fact that I got this rash but now I am wondering if anyone else has had this happen to them.  

Any of you guys ever get anything like this?  I have never gotten this since I lost weight.  I am wondering if it was due to my stomach hanging down or just some freak thing.

 Here are some links to learn more about it:

Weight loss caused loose skin. To remedy with surgery or live with the flap

image credit: img155.imageshack.us

I have been thinking more and more about this loose skin subject.  I am seriously considering doing it now.  Not to long ago I posted on this subject and kind of came to the conclusion that I should not get a tummy tuck/abdominoplasty.  I am slowly moving in the direction of getting it done now.  i am tired of seeing the extra fat/skin on my lower stomach.    As I said a couple of days ago, sometimes I have a “good body day” where I don’t mind it so much, but most of the time I just stare at it.  I think about how it hangs there and how I wish it was gone.

So here I am again.  Back at the drawing board trying to decide whether or not to cut off my stomach or not.  I am mostly worried about two major issues.  Well, major issues in my mind at least:

1. I am so scared of going under with anesthesia. 
2. I am worried about not being able to exercise during the recovery and whether or not I will be able to maintain my weight during that period.

Recently, I have been told some things about these two issues from people who have gone through with it.  One person said that they were able to get local anaesthesia instead of going all the way under because they only got the skin removed and had no work done on the abs.  Most women have ab work done because of prior pregnancies, but I don’t have that issue.  This is the thing that really got me thinking about doing the surgery.  The other issue was that all of the people I talked to either stayed the same or lost during the recovery.  Of course they all gained at first from swelling but after the basic 6 week no-exercise rule they lost or stayed the same.  This is looking pretty promising.

Subscribe HERE to make sure you get updates on whether I do the surgery or not!!

I am going to try and get with some doctors about this and discuss what the options are.  If I do it, I would like to do it in October after the Portland Marathon.  I will keep you all posted as to what I learn and how the visits with the doctors go.

If I do go through with it, I will start taking and posting the real pics of my lose skin as to document the change.

Go home strong and healthy tonight with these 3 tips

Do you worry that your crazy day at work might have just put you over the edge enough for you to say “screw my weight loss program”.   Well that is how I feel today a little.  Not overly bad,  but my wife won’t be home and I am feeling tired.  Lonely and tired, good reasons for the “fat mind” to try and take control.  We don’t have to let it though.  So although in the back of my mind this big fat guy is saying, “No one will be at home.  Eat whatever you want.  You deserve it!”; I am going to be able to withstand because of a few small things I did prior.  We can all try these things it they may just give us that little edge we need to hold on when our resolve is down.  Here they are;

1. I ate every two hours today.  I only had two large carrots left towards the end, but I still ate.  This keeps you in a safe realm of hunger.  I do this everyday and it helps.
2. I have made a plan to at least do some exercise when I get home even though today is my “day off” from running.  This will burn some lonely time up and it will make me feel stronger with my plan.
3. I have already decided what I am going to eat as soon as I get home in order to stay on track.  I will eat some pickles right away and this will fight off any lingering hunger from the last two hours.

That’s it for this little post.  I was struggling and I wanted to think of why I was going to make the right choices tonight.  Well, now you get to read my thoughts.  See ya later.

Self Sabotage and weight loss

Well, I sabotaged myself last night by making every excuse not to go to my weight watchers meeting.  Yes, it was snowing, but the roads were certainly clear enough to go to the meeting and the temps were going up instead of down.

Why is it that we sabotage ourselves?  I know that I can’t lose the weight or keep it off all by myself.  I know that the journey is not as fun without brothers and sisters walking with me. We get this goal in mind but try and drudge up every reason why we can’t attain it.    The definition of sabotage is to wreck or destroy a government.  If we self-sabotage, we wreck and destroy our dreams for our lives.  We can attain our goals.  We don’t have to wreck our own dreams.  I guess I just have to remember that nobody else is going to keep those 130lbs off of my body.  It has to be me, I have to choose health.  As with many things in life, we need to go after what we want.  Climbing the obstacles, learning from our mistakes, stop making excuses, and going after the goal no matter what.  After all, our goal is an important one.  To create a happier and more fulfilling life by improving our health.

I am choosing health today.  How about you?

My before and after weight loss pics

https://run4change.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/before-and-after-pics/

Before and After pics

If you would like to track my journey and see if I gain it back or keep it off, subscribe HERE

Well, here are the before and after pics of my weight loss.  I will add some new pics in the future to change things up a little now and then. I have to say, it has been a journey.  I have now kept the weight off for 1 full year on Dec. 13th, 2008.  I feel better physically, emotionally, and just in general better about life.  Health is good. I just want to encourage anyone who may think that they just can’t do it.  Well, it’s possible.  You can do it. Click here for a little more inspiration: https://run4change.wordpress.com/you-can-lose-weight/   It may take time, but you can do it.  I believe in you.

OH, and don’t forget.  I’m not the only success story.  You may be a great success yourself.  Let me know if you are and I will post it on my blog.  You can also check out more successes here: https://run4change.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/other-great-weight-loss-success-stories/