Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

[Adena]

So, my stomach hangs (a fat apron, as my friend calls it) in a shallow, lope-sided "W" shape, to the point of half way covering my "private area" down below. My stomch skin isn't exactly cellulitey, but it's not smooth either... sorta bumpy. My butt and thighs have lots of cellulite. Now that I've painted that lovely mental picture...

100pounders, did your stomach used to hang like that, and has it tightened back up? I was talking about this (well, not the "private area" thing... lol) in another forum, and Cher assured me that she has seen people's bodies really bounce back. (Though I've always been heavy, so I'm not sure what I'd be bouncing back TO.) She also assured me that being 34 will help with skin elasticity... (and also recommended flax seed oil pills.) Of course, I also know that exercise will help a lot. I don't see myself as having six-pack abs. I'm honestly okay with a soft, rounded tummy... I just don't want it dimply and flabby and hanging once I reach my goal.

Super heavyweights who have seen big losses, I'm curious about your experiences. Is the lope-sided saggy W gone? Can you now see your private area clearly -- both when looking down and looking in the mirror?? How's your a$$ look?

I'd greatly appeciate hearing your experiences and advice.

[Miss Phode]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Have you ever seen Sarah (Iyamamashke). She's lost over 100 pounds and she definitely has a 6 pack.

[Lady_Hawke]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Ooooooooo good questions - I'm curious too

[julirama723]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

I know that when I lost the weight before, my skin did a pretty good job of "bouncing back." My arms were a little saggy (you know, the bat wings) but not too obvious. I did not manage to get rid of my "fat apron gut" but man did it shrink. I KNOW I would have gotten rid of it if I hadn't quit Atkins!

I know that if you lose weight at a healthy pace, your skin should have no problems tightening back up. It's only when you lose weight rapidly, at an unhealthy rate, that you get the folds of sagging sking. There was a link in a thread by Waterbabe-Helena about this...I'll see if I can find it.

[julirama723]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm

Here it is...and it was actually posted by RachelinLa

[Lyssie]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Hi - I've lost over 100lbs. I don't have a rounded tummy, I just have defined flab. Then again, my tush looks fine and I don't have bat wings for arms. I think this is all since I do weights. My "apron" is getting smaller, which is something I've only noticed recently. I don't know, I do moisturize pretty much daily, and do the body brushing. After seeing the post I am planning on adding the flaxseed oil, I think any other help my body can get in trying to restore itself is probably good. I plan on being one of those girls that people think were like that naturally.

[Adena]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Juli, just read the article (and testamonial), and it's very interesting. Thanks for sharing. It makes a lot of sense. So basically, I have to lose even more fat than will get me to my goal weight, huh?? UGH! OR perhaps, more accurately, it means is that I need to be building my muscle now, so that I have a much better fighting chance against that "loose skin/fat" later. Regardless, again -- thank you. Very interesting.

Am still curious to hear what others have experienced with their losses.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

One thing I'd like to add is that the flaxseed oil is one of the Omega oils we're supposed to supplement with anyway. Mine are flax and fish oil combination...and incidently, they have evening primrose oil in them too (this is the one people on here recommend for lessening PMS symptoms).

I didn't have most of my weight in my tummy area...but I *am* finding that my skin is tightening as time passes.

[Adena]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Lyssie, check out the link to the article from Juli if you haven't already.

Joy, I think it's the "as time passes" that hangs up most people. All of a sudden they are left with skin... but with continued muscle-building exercises, it will burn off the excess fat that's in the skin -- at least that's how the article above explains it, which makes sense.

I need to revisit the supplements part of DANDR b/c that's something I honestly don't do... sometimes I even forget to take a multi-vitamin.

[adreliluc]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Adena, you described my tummy perfectly in your first post... As you know, I've lost over 100 lbs and I can honestly say that it's gotten MUCH better! From my hips up my tummy is pretty firm and shapely - I can even see little muscles in there... it's the lower that used to hang that I'm having problems with... Though it doesn't hang like it used to it's still very much there, squishy and icky. The skin has kept a lot of the shape (that W you mentioned) even though it's much higher now...
I'm sure it'll just get better the further I go, but as I've said before I plan to have a tummy tuck for this reason!!! (and I could care less if it's "natural" or not!! lol)

A friend of mine lost about 80 lbs and is now at goal, she's always had bigger breasts, hips, and thighs. Her stomach is now completely flat, though she does have a little bit of skin to pull, but you can't really see it... her breast and butt are now kind of "deflated", if that makes sense, so I guess the end result just depends on your body type....

[ValidRouge]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

I have those same "deflated" problems.

[adreliluc]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

I have those same "deflated" problems.

Well we definitely can't tell girl, you're gorgeous!!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

the skin is really starting to sag in my legs. Truth be told, I actually have an extra "cheek" underneath my "cheek" (rear view) because the skin is soft and hangs.

There really isn't a lift for this area, they'd have to cut from knee to groin...and that's a scar that cannot be hidden...and it would be UGLY. I'm praying that the skin will eventually tighten naturally.

[adreliluc]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

You're right, you couldn't really hide a scar like that...
Do you know if lunges and squats might help?
If anything, at least it seems easily coverable...

[Adena]

Re: Calling all 100lb+ losers: Seeking truth about body changes

Thanks for the info, you guys. I like being able to manage my expectations. Then the worse that can happen is the best case scenario, right? I'm also certainly not opposed to an "unnatural solution." And, I guess at least the mushy "w" being a little higher is at least better, right? It beats hanging... lol.

Joy, the article above says that as you continue to add muscle, which you are, it will eat up more of the stored fat in the looser skin. Here's my problem with that. I don't feel the need to get down to 10-15% body fat (what is what he says will eventually take care of the problem). Yes, that would be nice, but I think I'd be perfectly content at 20-25%.

Thanks again, ladies.