Tightening Belly Flab

liekewheeless

I'm nearing my goal weight. (about 10lb to go!).
I figured out pretty early in my weight loss journey that my belly will never be the same after weight gain but mostly pregnancy. That's fine.

I was just wondering if there are any exercises I can do to minimize the skin flab on my belly.
I'm not looking to have crazy abs or totally flat stomach, just to pull in the hanging skin a little.

Has anyone had any success with that? What did you do, and how long did it take to see results?

usmcmp

Most likely it is a combination of loose skin and fat. There's not much you can do for loose skin except give it time. Getting rid of the fat would mean you would need to continue dieting. Since you are close to your goal weight a better option would be to improve your body composition.

We improve body composition by getting adequate protein and doing some progressive resistance training. Strength training/weight lifting will help you keep your lean mass, so most of the weight you lose is fat. There's a chance you may actually need to gain a little bit of lean mass.

ETA: I am a mom of two, so I do understand where you are coming from.

artemis222

Weight training/toning and time. Honest, that's what you're going to do. Don't be scared by training. You're not going to get "crazy abs" from it unless you are going for that sort of thing.

liekewheeless

usmcmp wrote: »

Most likely it is a combination of loose skin and fat. There's not much you can do for loose skin except give it time. Getting rid of the fat would mean you would need to continue dieting. Since you are close to your goal weight a better option would be to improve your body composition.

We improve body composition by getting adequate protein and doing some progressive resistance training. Strength training/weight lifting will help you keep your lean mass, so most of the weight you lose is fat. There's a chance you may actually need to gain a little bit of lean mass.

Thanks!

AllanMisner

Heavy compound weight training (squats, deadlifts, bench press, pull ups and overhead press).

khalinel

I had twins and they were not born small - so you can imagine what I have to deal with. I have been wrapping my stomach. I was introduced to this method by a friend who wrapped her stomach for 1 year, she hadn't had any kids at the time but she was overweight and had quite a pooch. After the year she was still the same size but had a flat stomach - completely flat.

Now I'm not talking about constricting your waist or organs, just holding your tummy up and in place. For me wrapping has reduced a lot of the over hang I have I'd say by about 2 inches in 4 months, there is still a little but it's WAY better. Also the results seem to be pretty long terms because I sort of got tired of it and stopped about 6 months ago and it didn't revert. It's funny that you posted this question today because I just decided to start wrapping again last night.

If you need to take fat off your stomach area a lot of people swear by using:
3 pegs of garlic
1 lemon
1 cup lukewarm water
squeeze lemon into water, crush each peg (or you can chew the up too) and swallow using lemon water, drink the remaining water. Do this on an empty stomach and wait an hour to eat. Takes at least 2 weeks to show effects.

I tried this but to be honest it made me SICK for most of the day and on only 2 pegs of garlic (and I mean irritable, I need to lie down , I'm gonna lose my lunch, hells no I'll never do that crap again, sick!), but the science behind it make sense, if you can manage it.

________________

I've also been looking into tightening the skin and from what I've seen it comes down to nourishing the skin and drinking lots of water which I guess you probably already do.

Here is a good easy recipe for skin tightening:
1/4 of the juice of a cucumber
1egg white whisked until foamy
Combine both, apply and leave on for 30 minutes,
This is also good for breasts as well.

Another recipe that I have found to be good for skin tightening is:

1 egg white whisked until foamy
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp almond oil (for vitamin e)
1 tbsp aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon honey
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder

Combine ingredients and apply to skin
Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water

Hope this helps

liekewheeless

@khalinel sounds interesting, I guess the wrapping gives the skin time to "heal" while gravity isn't pulling it down. Guess it couldn't hurt.

Still planning on starting strength training.

HeySwoleSister

khalinel wrote: »

I had twins and they were not born small - so you can imagine what I have to deal with. I have been wrapping my stomach. I was introduced to this method by a friend who wrapped her stomach for 1 year, she hadn't had any kids at the time but she was overweight and had quite a pooch. After the year she was still the same size but had a flat stomach - completely flat.

Now I'm not talking about constricting your waist or organs, just holding your tummy up and in place. For me wrapping has reduced a lot of the over hang I have I'd say by about 2 inches in 4 months, there is still a little but it's WAY better. Also the results seem to be pretty long terms because I sort of got tired of it and stopped about 6 months ago and it didn't revert. It's funny that you posted this question today because I just decided to start wrapping again last night.

If you need to take fat off your stomach area a lot of people swear by using:
3 pegs of garlic
1 lemon
1 cup lukewarm water
squeeze lemon into water, crush each peg (or you can chew the up too) and swallow using lemon water, drink the remaining water. Do this on an empty stomach and wait an hour to eat. Takes at least 2 weeks to show effects.

I tried this but to be honest it made me SICK for most of the day and on only 2 pegs of garlic (and I mean irritable, I need to lie down , I'm gonna lose my lunch, hells no I'll never do that crap again, sick!), but the science behind it make sense, if you can manage it.

________________

I've also been looking into tightening the skin and from what I've seen it comes down to nourishing the skin and drinking lots of water which I guess you probably already do.

Here is a good easy recipe for skin tightening:
1/4 of the juice of a cucumber
1egg white whisked until foamy
Combine both, apply and leave on for 30 minutes,
This is also good for breasts as well.

Another recipe that I have found to be good for skin tightening is:

1 egg white whisked until foamy
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp almond oil (for vitamin e)
1 tbsp aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon honey
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder

Combine ingredients and apply to skin
Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water

Hope this helps

Sued0nim

branflakes1980

No wrap is going to make you lose fat and if you lose anything it will definitely only be temporary.

OP, it depends if you are working with fat or skin. Unfortunately if it is skin other than surgery I don't think there is much you can do about it. I agree with drinking plenty of water and lifting weights. If it is fat, unfortunately you can't spot reduce where you lose it. (frustrating for sure) The only thing you can do is create a calorie deficit, incorporate strength training and wait. Your genetics determine where it comes off and when. Good luck to you

Azexas

liekewheeless wrote: »

@khalinel sounds interesting, I guess the wrapping gives the skin time to "heal" while gravity isn't pulling it down. Guess it couldn't hurt.

Still planning on starting strength training.

Anything you "lose" while doing wraps will most likely be water weight and temporary. They would most likely cause more frustration then they are worth. My vote would be to skip it.

Strength training is an awesome place to start. Good luck OP.

usmcmp

khalinel wrote: »

I had twins and they were not born small - so you can imagine what I have to deal with. I have been wrapping my stomach. I was introduced to this method by a friend who wrapped her stomach for 1 year, she hadn't had any kids at the time but she was overweight and had quite a pooch. After the year she was still the same size but had a flat stomach - completely flat.

Now I'm not talking about constricting your waist or organs, just holding your tummy up and in place. For me wrapping has reduced a lot of the over hang I have I'd say by about 2 inches in 4 months, there is still a little but it's WAY better. Also the results seem to be pretty long terms because I sort of got tired of it and stopped about 6 months ago and it didn't revert. It's funny that you posted this question today because I just decided to start wrapping again last night.

If you need to take fat off your stomach area a lot of people swear by using:
3 pegs of garlic
1 lemon
1 cup lukewarm water
squeeze lemon into water, crush each peg (or you can chew the up too) and swallow using lemon water, drink the remaining water. Do this on an empty stomach and wait an hour to eat. Takes at least 2 weeks to show effects.

I tried this but to be honest it made me SICK for most of the day and on only 2 pegs of garlic (and I mean irritable, I need to lie down , I'm gonna lose my lunch, hells no I'll never do that crap again, sick!), but the science behind it make sense, if you can manage it.

________________

I've also been looking into tightening the skin and from what I've seen it comes down to nourishing the skin and drinking lots of water which I guess you probably already do.

Here is a good easy recipe for skin tightening:
1/4 of the juice of a cucumber
1egg white whisked until foamy
Combine both, apply and leave on for 30 minutes,
This is also good for breasts as well.

Another recipe that I have found to be good for skin tightening is:

1 egg white whisked until foamy
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp almond oil (for vitamin e)
1 tbsp aloe vera gel
1 teaspoon honey
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder

Combine ingredients and apply to skin
Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off with lukewarm water

Hope this helps

No. Special food combos do not target stomach fat.

No. Applying random food combos to your skin does not tighten skin for any significant length of time.

Give your body time, work on improving your body composition, eventually it will happen.

liekewheeless

Not worried about the fat, just the skin. The fat will go when it's good and ready.

Was thinking the wrap might make the skin firm up. But probably won't.

Thanks for all the replies,..will definitely start a strength training routine!

AllanMisner

I think Preparation H tightens the skin, but probably cost prohibitive. ;-)

jemhh

Eating in a surplus can help because it increases your body's production of growth hormones: http://strengthunbound.com/bulking-complete-guide-for-beginners/

liekewheeless

jemhh wrote: »

Eating in a surplus can help because it increases your body's production of growth hormones: http://strengthunbound.com/bulking-complete-guide-for-beginners/

Now that's interesting.