[MCL]

Originally Posted by not_big_enuf

Thanks man! How'd the lose skin tighten up for ya? Mine's just now coming together. I held SO much of my weight around my stomach. I fear I'll need to get some of it cut off unfortunately, but time will tell. So expensive too.......

The skin for the most part seemed to tighten up. I still had a little bit that was a little loose, but it wasn't enough to make me consider having it cut off. Maybe being at a younger age had something to do with it also, I was 19-20 years old when I lost it. Good luck

[Zero Tolerance]

Great job, man! It's often a challenge to keep the weight off after losing it all - but I think you're in the right frame of mind to make this a permanant change.. Congratulations!

[not_big_enuf]

Yeah, this changed me permanently. There's absolutely no way I'll go back. Also, I was thin when I was younger. Basically I made some bad choices, had a few health issues (not an excuse), and really just got into depression and ignored life. Slowly I became a different person. I can't believe my wife didn't leave. She truly loves me. Looking back, she REALLY wishes she would have helped open my eyes but let me make my own choices. She realizes now that she should have stepped in, but that's not her fault.

I'm almost glad it happened. Now I've got the will and determination to do anything... really.

I'm 28 now, and I really do hope the skin will tighten up. I think it's going to get most of ways there.

Thanks again for all your support. This board has truly helped along the way. It's comical the complete misconception the general public has surrounding the bodybuilding community. It's truly a healthy way of life filled with people, for the most part, who are committed to shaping their bodies for the better and improving their overall living.

It takes so much more than steroids to build and sculpt the bodies so many around here have. It's constant knowledge of your body, what goes in, what goes out, how it's feeling, how it's reacting, and how it's all meshing together. If the general public knew that those committed to the craft constantly monitor BP, cholesterol, lbm, heartrate, etc, they might have a better idea about the real world we all live in.

Right now, no, I do not put myself in the bodybuilding catergory, though a year ago I certainly did. Some of my goals have changed a bit along the way, but I can say for certain I'll be headed back down that path soon enough. One of my dreams is to step on stage at a lightweight bodybuilding competition and though it won't be this year, it will happen in the future. Regardless, I wish more people knew about the world all of us live in. It's the 1% of those of us that give us all a bad name. It's the 16 year old kids who don't understand science and health and want a quick fix, and it's the guys looking for any edge without knowing the drawbacks or doing all the research. It's those jumping in without having a clue that it's not legos and you can't just jump in and then clear your mess and start over. It's more complicated than that.

Anyway, sorry for the long tirade. Had to get that off my chest....

Originally Posted by Zero Tolerance

Great job, man! It's often a challenge to keep the weight off after losing it all - but I think you're in the right frame of mind to make this a permanant change.. Congratulations!

[Mrs. Gimpy!]

wow....

btw, for how long were you that large? maybe i missed it, but how long did all of this take?

you have earned the right to be as cheezy as your little heart desires

[2fast2live]

Its awsome what you can do with discipline and determination. You have boatloads of both. You with out a doubt deserve all the praise youre getting.

[not_big_enuf]

I was that large for probably about 3-5 years. I was thin until I was about 20-ish and then started slowly (ok, quickly) putting on the weight. I started losing at 26 and am currently 28 and never going back. Took 2 years to lose it all. It was really a cycle of lose 20 fast, slow down and plateau, lose another 20, slow down, over and over again. Now things like basketball, mountain biking and training run my life.

It's hard because I'd like to do a lightweight bodybuilding competition eventually, but I like activities with a ton of cardio... so the two are very counterproductive BAH, too much to do!!!!!!!!

Thank you everybody for your kind words. You good people keep me going. I'm currently studing for my NASM and want to help others achieve what I have.

Originally Posted by Mrs. Gimpy!

wow....

btw, for how long were you that large? maybe i missed it, but how long did all of this take?

you have earned the right to be as cheezy as your little heart desires

[Ubiquitous]

admirable...

[LukasJ]

big congrats

[Synthetik]

Great Job!!! Just need to handed to you on how good work, mental focus, and sacrifice reflects on a person!

[Grunt76]

Incredible job, man. Fantastic, amazing, superb, great.

About the loose skin: p-GH might help you get it to snap back quicker. I know it makes my skin more elastic and much firmer.

[not_big_enuf]

I've been told that a couple times... think I'm gonna give it a go!

Originally Posted by Grunt76

Incredible job, man. Fantastic, amazing, superb, great.

About the loose skin: p-GH might help you get it to snap back quicker. I know it makes my skin more elastic and much firmer.

[Funny Monkey]

Good Job