fat is looking weird

Mistraal1981

I am a typical pear shape. Most of my weight is in my butt and thighs. I have been watching what I eat and have incorporated exercise into my life for the last year and I am about 30# from my goal weight. In the last 3 months I have been doing stronglifts. My weight has plateaued while I figured out how many calories to eat while lifting. I think I have it sussed now though and am anticipating my weight going down again now.

Now, I was having a good old look at myself the other day and can see muscle definition coming in my legs which is awesome and I'm proud of that, however, my fat kinda hangs off my legs now. Its hard to describe...kinda like wax slowly dripping off a candle. If i tense my leg i can see where the muscle line is and then there is this puddle of hangy fat. It looks terrible!

Has anyone else had this? How long till it goes away? Will massage help move it along?

lthames0810

I don't know if you've already lost enough weight for this to happen, but it sounds like you're seeing excess loose skin.

There have been other threads on this topic with advice. Maybe do a search on that subject to find them.

Mistraal1981

I thought loose skin was when the skin got a crepe paper look to it....

lthames0810

Well...that may yet happen, but I suppose everyone is different. I haven't lost enough to have personal experience with it yet. That 's both good and bad, I guess.

Mistraal1981

I have a slight crepe paper effect going on with my tummy, but that doesn't bother me. Its the great big dollops of fat hanging off my legs like lightly whipped cream hanging off a spoon about to drop back in the bowl. Its playing hell with my self esteem!

Kalikel

Sounds like loose skin to me, too.

It starts crepe-papery, but it hangs, too, especially when the muscles are being used.

I have no help. I gross out at my hanging skin at least once a day.

silentKayak

It is definitely loose skin. It will firm up over time but may never go away.

This guy has an awesome attitude about his loose skin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpKDteQ3FIQ

I know it looks terrible to you, but if anyone else noticed it, they'd see it as a sign of hard work and dedication.

Christine_72

Yep. I concur, it's loose skin. You just described my legs when I tense up.

Mistraal1981

Right....searching forums for loose skin advice it is! Thanks for the responses.

Francl27

There is sadly nothing you can do about it

BWBTrish

I have this, and also in 3 months.
My belly, stomach and legs.

All getting bubbly, bumpy, little ditches and indeed like you said like wax hanging down.

To be fair i was happy to see it, for me ( and correct me if i am wrong here) it means i am burning my fat and getting loose skin.
The disadvantage of being overweight and losing weight.

But like i said i knew this would happen and i smile at every little ditch i get because it means i am reaching my goal...getting fit and losing weight.
In the end it will not look nice, but clothes will cover it up.

Also when i will give it time and see what happens. In some years maybe a surgery to remove it. But like i said i will see.
I am not bothered by it at all

I rather be fit, healthy and around my healthy weight with the loose skin. Than fat unhealthy and have no loose skin.

Mistraal1981

Oh no! kinda makes me wonder if it didn't look better when I was heavier. So does not help when it comes to those days when I need motivation and inspiration to keep going.....oh yay, lose weight, be healthy, look weird. (I know that sounds vain, but I really want to look good naked).

Aemely

zarckon wrote: »

It is definitely loose skin. It will firm up over time but may never go away.

This guy has an awesome attitude about his loose skin...

Holy crap. Very inspirational video!

BWBTrish

Mistraal1981 wrote: »

Oh no! kinda makes me wonder if it didn't look better when I was heavier. So does not help when it comes to those days when I need motivation and inspiration to keep going.....oh yay, lose weight, be healthy, look weird. (I know that sounds vain, but I really want to look good naked).

First of all it all depends how much you weight you want to lose. I have a lot ( 110 pounds in total and i am halfway now)
Your age and how long you have been overweight.
Than also it is different for everybody. Your skin changes (tighten up) even years after you lost your weight. For some totally for some less.

So for you it is different than for me and any other person. You dont know were you end up and how you will look like

What i am trying to do is start more lifting so i get some shape ( hopefully) But healthy and fit is my main goal. And when your partner loves you he/she will love you naked.

But just take it step by step and think of the benefits and positive side of what your doing. Not the negatives. Because there are always excuses to not lose weight.

Don't make loose skin one of them. That is something at the end of your journey to health and being fit.

aubyshortcake

Keep in mind it can take a couple years for your skin to "snap back" as much as it's able to. I wouldn't worry too much until you can see how much yours will go back on its own.

BWBTrish

aubyshortcake wrote: »

Keep in mind it can take a couple years for your skin to "snap back" as much as it's able to. I wouldn't worry too much until you can see how much yours will go back on its own.

Indeed!

Kalikel

I didn't notice any skin issues until I'd lost about 60 pounds. Now, it seems like there is more loose skin for every pound. I lose slowly, but t doesn't seem to make a difference.

I love being smaller. I will love being thin, I'm sure I will.

But I really hate the loose skin. Yes, it's vain. But still. It's not like I want to be gorgeous. I'm not one of those women who stops to check herself every time a mirror appears. I just don't want to be GROSS. It's not that damn vain.

3laine75

Mistraal1981 wrote: »

I thought loose skin was when the skin got a crepe paper look to it....

Not if you're young and haven't lost a massive amount of weight quickly. Sounds like fat and some loose skin to me too, I wouldn't worry - It'll catch up. Congrats on your loss so far

opalsqueak007

I believe it is loose skin. I have lost about 45lb and have it on my thighs, stomach and arms. It looks terrible. My body definitely looked better before I lost the weight, but I really had to lose it because of back/joint problems.

Francl27

aubyshortcake wrote: »

Keep in mind it can take a couple years for your skin to "snap back" as much as it's able to. I wouldn't worry too much until you can see how much yours will go back on its own.

Well I only lost 10 pounds in the last year and can't say I've noticed any improvement, unfortunately.

Christine_72

I only had 25lbs to lose. Was overweight for 2 years. So lots to lose or only a little bit.... It affects some, but not others.
I've only been at my current weight for 2mths, so I'm hoping skin may snap back . But I'm 42, so not holding out much hope. I've got 11lbs left to lose till I'm at goal.

Holla4mom

Just want to chime in to say Congrats on your loss! Keep going and look at the things your body can DO better now than it used to be, and not just how much better it LOOKS. That may help you to stay motivated as you wait for the loose skin thing to work itself out. Believe, if you could see your heart, it looks a lot better!

tomatoey

Losing slowly can't make much of a difference in terms of loose skin (though it's a good idea in terms of managing hunger and future-proofing a sustainable lifestyle). That skin (those fibers) was/ were stretched beyond their capacity on the way up the scale.

I lost 50 lbs in my thirties, maintained for four years; I did cardio and bodyweight resistance, and finally a brief period of heavy lifting. But there was *some* resistance going on the whole time. I can say that wasn't enough.

I really think that to make any significant difference in the appearance of loose skin/fat, you have to consciously build muscle, as in get into bodybuilding, and do the whole bulk/cut thing.

The other option is just to try to accept the new body. It's changed, ok, and there's this one issue, but your silhouette will have improved (probably), clothes will look better, you'll be stronger and fitter (if you're doing the exercise you should), and overall, just healthier. If not for the skin thing, it would have been fat, and eventually age will get to everyone. Might as well go with this, lol.

Kalikel

tomatoey wrote: »

Losing slowly can't make much of a difference in terms of loose skin (though it's a good idea in terms of managing hunger and future-proofing a sustainable lifestyle). That skin (those fibers) was/ were stretched beyond their capacity on the way up the scale.

I lost 50 lbs in my thirties, maintained for four years; I did cardio and bodyweight resistance, and finally a brief period of heavy lifting. But there was *some* resistance going on the whole time. I can say that wasn't enough.

I really think that to make any significant difference in the appearance of loose skin/fat, you have to consciously build muscle, as in get into bodybuilding, and do the whole bulk/cut thing.

The other option is just to try to accept the new body. It's changed, ok, and there's this one issue, but your silhouette will have improved (probably), clothes will look better, you'll be stronger and fitter (if you're doing the exercise you should), and overall, just healthier. If not for the skin thing, it would have been fat, and eventually age will get to everyone. Might as well go with this, lol.

That was my take on it before it happened. It is nice to hear that someone who has skin hanging down all over their body can still feel that way. I hope I do at some point in the future.

Right now, I'm still grossing out at it. I should be happier to just not have the fat and accept the grossness that came in it's place. See it as a badge of honor and "better than before" instead of just waves of mushy grossness. You're kind of inspirational.

Thanks.

StarvingAuthor

I had a small amount of loose skin on my lower abdomen for about 4 years. I actually got rid of it with exercise and gaining about 5 pounds after reaching goal and losing those pounds again. Weird, but, maybe it redistributed the fat? I don't really know but I am thankful. I also feel that tanning helped, but I don't think that there is any evidence to that at all. Coincidentally, I now have a fairly defined looking belly despite not currently exercising (a line down the middle). Good luck, OP. I understand where you are coming from but do not lose hope, there are tons of options. Be happy for your continued endurance, will and health!

ETA: A friend of mine lost 200lb or so and had loose skin. He took up P90X and looked absolutely amazing! You'd never ever know! Another friend did the same and he was so fit it was crazy. I don't know if men had it easier but jeez! Google loose skin before after. Amazing!