VERY discouraging...

[umscats]

Re: VERY discouraging...

Our fearless leader apparently spoke last night about developing alternative energy sources. I think it's a crying shame that some brilliant scientist hasn't yet found a way for belly fat to be converted to energy. All that fat energy wasted. And the energy companies would be paying us for it.....and we'd voluntarily give it up!! Bummer!

[Brook]

Re: VERY discouraging...

Yes, exercise will do it. I have lost 50 odd pounds and my stomach is only half the size it was, and no loose skin. Look at Kent's pics - he had a big tummy and now there is no loose skin. Exercise, both aerobic and resistance, will, with dedication on your part, get rid of the 'flaps' (my name for 'em). But you have to do it while the weight loss is going on. Any exercise that you feel in your abdominal muscles is the right one.

Good luck!

As much as I'd like to agree with this, I can't.

The truth is that it has a lot more to do with genetics than it does any amount of diet and exercise.

If you do not have a lot of skin elasticity, it's not going to matter how much work you do - believe me, I've got the hours (and hours and hours and hours) of exercise and weight loss to prove it- you will be left with hanging skin. If you are lucky enough to have the elasticity, it will indeed snap right back.

I'm screwed in the genetics department. Not only does my skin not have the elasticity to snap back, but 3 babies and over 90lbs of fat later - with a body fat percentage of 18% at last check, I have the belly apron. 18% body fat for a 32 year old woman is considered "athletic". I'm in fantastic shape and am pretty lean - and I still have to get a tummy tuck to get rid of the apron.

There is no such thing as spot reducing. Your body doesn't burn fat like that - it takes it from all over. You can tighten and strengthen a particular muscle group (like your abs), but having a 6pack isn't going to matter if it's covered by a layer of fat or excess skin.

[goin2Bgood]

Re: VERY discouraging...

I have a huge belly but it HAS been starting to firm up. I know it'll never be flat, but seeing any change is great. Hang in there!

[lowcarbing4ever]

Re: VERY discouraging...

I am with brook, to my dismay. I was 410 lbs and I know that when I finally lose weight, I will have major skin sag. I talked to a doc about it and he said bottom line is, skin does have a certain elasticity to it but you can only push that so far. He said that it mainly depends on how long you have been overweight. If you have been overweight all your life, like me, your chance of it going to a "normal" or flat kind of stomach is zero; because your body never knew flat or normal in the first place but if you have not been overweight your whole life and just added some pounds here and there and you lost it, there is a good chance, it will firm up with exercise (he meant this mainly for women who have bourne NO children) but like Brooke said, it also depends on the person. Basically, you never know til you get there. No sense in being depressed about something you haven't really experienced yet. lol. I am bummed out because I know that I will have serious flappy, saggy skin but you know what? I would rather have that than be fat, miserable, have people make cruel remarks about me and the like. The trade off for me is well worth it. I will worry about surgery or if I can even have it or need it later.

[LC_Dave]

Re: VERY discouraging...

Don't give up hope,
because I haven't!

Some of the things I believe will help me:

• Age
• Losing weight at a slow pace
• Using resistence training - sit ups etc
• maintaining the weight.

Yes, excess skin can get really bad, and if it's a very large apron then you should get surgery.

But if it's not, I believe some time is needed for it to snap back.

I know there is no guarantees, but that's what I'm hoping!

This is a very controversial issue. A lot of people are at polar opposites of certainty. Eaither - no way live with it, or Yes you can definately do it!