Stretch marks after weight loss...support
Tessyloowhoo
Posts: 504
At 21 years old I have lost 23lbs and am really loving my new fitness and way of eating. I know it is good for me, my heart and my over all life. There is one thing though that is left after all this and that is those horrible stretch marks (i never had a child they are just from life) I find that this is discouraging my weight-loss a bit because i keep thinking well it doesn't matter if i have a six pack because i could never show it off. Also i never really noticed them until i lost all the weight. I guess i am just looking for other people who are dealing with this body problem.
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Replies
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I had 2 kids have to s of stretch marks had them before kids too they never really go away but the fade don't lose weight for the six PAC abs do it cause it is healthier
so one told me Mederma is good haven't tried it out yet. 0 -
I used to be 220 (down to 135) and I have the same problem as you. My arms, legs, breasts, and stomach are covered in stretch marks. Most days I feel like a zebra. I really hate it. I avoid shorts and tank tops because of it. I went to a dermatologist for an unrelated skin problem and she actually gasped in shock when she saw my arms. I really wish I knew how to deal wit it myself.
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I don't have any kids but skin is elastic, the more supple it is the less noticeable the marks become. Try BioOil which is found in most drugstores and I've had clients tell me Mederma helps as well. Good luck!0
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Better stop caring now because you'll never get rid of them anyway! I got stretch marks all over. So what?
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As someone mentioned above, BioOil works REALLY well. The little bottle seems expensive, but it lasts forever. I had the ugliest stretch marks on my sides from losing weight and now you can see them at all. (Well, I can. But only because I know what I'm looking for).0
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I know there are a lot of stretch mark creams out there that are supposed to reduce how visible they are but I don't know if these actually work. I've tried a few and have had no success but maybe that is because at the time I was still gaining weight and not losing any. There is nothing that will really make them disappear for good (that I know of). There might be some sort of expensive laser procedure that could do it, but learn to love yourself as you are. I hate my stretch marks too, but my boyfriend doesn't care about them. Hopefully they'll get less noticeable as I lose weight and that's all I can hope for!0
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I saw this poster and thought it applies:
You're a TIGER who's earned her stripes.
Don't worry about it. I have another 100 lbs to lose and I'm worried about what I'll look like after too...however, if someone doesn't like what they're looking at, they can always turn their heads. You've worked your butt off, and you deserve to feel great...don't worry about your stripes, you've EARNED them. They will fade with time, but even if they don't, oh well.
Be gorgeous and confident INSIDE and you will be on the OUTSIDE too...no matter shape, marks, hair colour, etc!!:flowerforyou:0 -
I gave birth to 6 kids.
As you can maybe see I have stretch marks on my belly hips but also my thighs and breast. I work hard and if people do not want to see my stretch marks when I wear my biini....it is not MY problm.
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they're just battle scars or tiger stripes. I went from about 100 pounds to about 130 during the summer before 6th grade because of puberty, and as a result I have huge purple scars all over my inner thighs as well as some lighter stripes on the backs of my calves, my tummy, my chest, and my bum. I've been both quite bigger and a bit smaller that 130 in the years since, but they've stayed put.
bio oil has slightly reduced the appearance of them, but I don't know - I think they're kind of cool, I don't think I'd want to get rid of them completely, they're part of who I am and where I've been and what I've been through and that's pretty badass.
you just might want to look at them in a different light!0 -
<--- being pregnant destroyed my stomach. I had a few bright red stretch marks on my hips prior to my kid. Meh, I'm a bit self conscious, but I think it has more to do with my chubby belly, and I had several surgeries, so I have additional scars.0
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I went to a dermatologist for an unrelated skin problem and she actually gasped in shock when she saw my arms. I really wish I knew how to deal wit it myself.
Wow, that is BEYOND rude! Especially since as a dermatologist, she should be used to all kinds of skin issues. I hope you don't go back.0 -
I went to a dermatologist for an unrelated skin problem and she actually gasped in shock when she saw my arms. I really wish I knew how to deal wit it myself.
Wow, that is BEYOND rude! Especially since as a dermatologist, she should be used to all kinds of skin issues. I hope you don't go back.
She was just shocked because my arms now are really tiny and that's not something that people with small arms usually have. my arms used to be huge, but she didn't know that.0 -
**Trigger warning for talk of SI**
Stretch marks are really only a problem because society tells us they are not beautiful.
I'm 32, I don't have kids, and I have stretch marks all over my body: my belly, my breasts, my arms and my legs.
What I also have, from my earlier life of dealing with depression, trauma, and PTSD, is a bunch of scars from using self-injury to deal with life. I am TOTALLY proud of my of my scars. I can tell you what happened at each point in my life that lead to each scar coming to exist on my body. I'm proud because they are permanent reminders of all the awful **** things that happened in my life that I OVERCAME AND SURVIVED!!! I am proud of them, and I see them as my battle-scars.
When I first started losing weight, and I saw that my stretch marks were not going to go away even if I got to goal weight, I got depressed and would cry that I would forever be "ugly" in my mind. My wonderful partner turned to me and she said, "You know your scars? You know how you love them and will even challenge people who may have anything negative to say about them? You know how they are a symbol of all you have overcome? Why don't you choose to see the stretch marks as scars? Why don't you choose to see them as things to cherish and rejoice over because you BEAT those demons that kept you so unhappy for so long!!" And you know what? That TOTALLY made sense.
I now look at my stretch marks with pride. They are a symbol of me conquering the sadness, sickness and self-hatred that led to me getting so big in the first place! I can't name the event that created each stretch mark, but they show me I am strong. I have beaten weakness. I have kicked self-hatred in the guts and made it leave my life. Now, I look at them as reminders that I AM WORTHY. I AM BEAUTIFUL. And gosh-dammit I am powerful!
I have lost 64 kg (141 lbs) and as my skin has shrunk, my stretch marks have become just that little bit more obvious as my skin has crinkled around them. And I'm totally ok with that. Instead of my victory fading into the background, it is shouting from the rooftops, and may the universe help anyone who chooses to say anything negative about this visual reminder because I will take their head off.
I hope this helps a little. I wish you comfort with your own victory.0 -
Most people - about 80% of all Americans, male and female - have stretch marks. Often they are the result of puberty. They never go away, but like many other posters have mentioned, they *will* fade. I have found from personal experience that lotions and creams don't really do much. Maybe that's because I have really light skin. What helped me was time and getting a little sun in the effected areas once in a while. It helps them fade faster. Other than that, I would suggest reading up on how normal these are. It will make you feel less anxious about having them. The people without them are the abnormal ones in this situation. 0
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You look beautiful and i have had over 13 surgeries too... i'm one big walking scar.<--- being pregnant destroyed my stomach. I had a few bright red stretch marks on my hips prior to my kid. Meh, I'm a bit self conscious, but I think it has more to do with my chubby belly, and I had several surgeries, so I have additional scars.
Thank you to all who replied to this post it was wonderful. I have tried creams and bio oil with no effect.
I am a tiger hear me RAwR.. lol0 -
Sadly my stretch marks were pre pregnancy from when i hit my heaviest weight (47kgs larger than i am now!!! and i was lighter at 41 weeks pregnant),They do fade and becoem feint silvery lines though... I will just keep a shirt over mine 0
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Thankyou this left me speechless and tearful. You. are. powerful.**Trigger warning for talk of SI**
Stretch marks are really only a problem because society tells us they are not beautiful.
I'm 32, I don't have kids, and I have stretch marks all over my body: my belly, my breasts, my arms and my legs.
What I also have, from my earlier life of dealing with depression, trauma, and PTSD, is a bunch of scars from using self-injury to deal with life. I am TOTALLY proud of my of my scars. I can tell you what happened at each point in my life that lead to each scar coming to exist on my body. I'm proud because they are permanent reminders of all the awful **** things that happened in my life that I OVERCAME AND SURVIVED!!! I am proud of them, and I see them as my battle-scars.
When I first started losing weight, and I saw that my stretch marks were not going to go away even if I got to goal weight, I got depressed and would cry that I would forever be "ugly" in my mind. My wonderful partner turned to me and she said, "You know your scars? You know how you love them and will even challenge people who may have anything negative to say about them? You know how they are a symbol of all you have overcome? Why don't you choose to see the stretch marks as scars? Why don't you choose to see them as things to cherish and rejoice over because you BEAT those demons that kept you so unhappy for so long!!" And you know what? That TOTALLY made sense.
I now look at my stretch marks with pride. They are a symbol of me conquering the sadness, sickness and self-hatred that led to me getting so big in the first place! I can't name the event that created each stretch mark, but they show me I am strong. I have beaten weakness. I have kicked self-hatred in the guts and made it leave my life. Now, I look at them as reminders that I AM WORTHY. I AM BEAUTIFUL. And gosh-dammit I am powerful!
I have lost 64 kg (141 lbs) and as my skin has shrunk, my stretch marks have become just that little bit more obvious as my skin has crinkled around them. And I'm totally ok with that. Instead of my victory fading into the background, it is shouting from the rooftops, and may the universe help anyone who chooses to say anything negative about this visual reminder because I will take their head off.
I hope this helps a little. I wish you comfort with your own victory.0 -
I gave birth to 6 kids.
As you can maybe see I have stretch marks on my belly hips but also my thighs and breast. I work hard and if people do not want to see my stretch marks when I wear my biini....it is not MY problm.
---^ This!0 -
**Trigger warning for talk of SI**
Stretch marks are really only a problem because society tells us they are not beautiful.
I'm 32, I don't have kids, and I have stretch marks all over my body: my belly, my breasts, my arms and my legs.
What I also have, from my earlier life of dealing with depression, trauma, and PTSD, is a bunch of scars from using self-injury to deal with life. I am TOTALLY proud of my of my scars. I can tell you what happened at each point in my life that lead to each scar coming to exist on my body. I'm proud because they are permanent reminders of all the awful **** things that happened in my life that I OVERCAME AND SURVIVED!!! I am proud of them, and I see them as my battle-scars.
When I first started losing weight, and I saw that my stretch marks were not going to go away even if I got to goal weight, I got depressed and would cry that I would forever be "ugly" in my mind. My wonderful partner turned to me and she said, "You know your scars? You know how you love them and will even challenge people who may have anything negative to say about them? You know how they are a symbol of all you have overcome? Why don't you choose to see the stretch marks as scars? Why don't you choose to see them as things to cherish and rejoice over because you BEAT those demons that kept you so unhappy for so long!!" And you know what? That TOTALLY made sense.
I now look at my stretch marks with pride. They are a symbol of me conquering the sadness, sickness and self-hatred that led to me getting so big in the first place! I can't name the event that created each stretch mark, but they show me I am strong. I have beaten weakness. I have kicked self-hatred in the guts and made it leave my life. Now, I look at them as reminders that I AM WORTHY. I AM BEAUTIFUL. And gosh-dammit I am powerful!
I have lost 64 kg (141 lbs) and as my skin has shrunk, my stretch marks have become just that little bit more obvious as my skin has crinkled around them. And I'm totally ok with that. Instead of my victory fading into the background, it is shouting from the rooftops, and may the universe help anyone who chooses to say anything negative about this visual reminder because I will take their head off.
I hope this helps a little. I wish you comfort with your own victory.
I love you.0 -
I've lost 30 pounds and I have really deep stretch marks all over my hips. I am really self conscious of them but in the end the positive changes I've made are well worth it. And realistically everyone is so wrapped up in their own worlds no one is going to notice someone elses stretch marks.0
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Thankyou this left me speechless and tearful. You. are. powerful.
You are very welcome. I wish you power too.
And who says you can't show off your six pack when you get one? If anyone says anything negative about your victory-stripes, just stop dead in your tracks, look them straight in they eye, and say "dude, abs like these don't come about without hard work and dedication. I feel sorry you can only focus on the trivial things in life that you can't see the strength in others. Now, excuse me while I go and bench some weights" lol
If you know you are strong and powerful, and you stand firm with your confidence, whatever others say won't diminish your awesome achievement. It's their problem if they can't see your beauty because of their ill-conceived stereotypes, not yours.0 -
Meh maybe it's age -- I'm 42 and I don't really see them anymore. I have them on my hips and thighs -- no kids, I got them when I got a little chunky around middle school. It's so weird when I was younger all I could see were flaws and imperfections to the point I truly couldn't see anything that was attractive about my body. Now, I know the imperfections are still there but my eyes always seem to gravitate toward shoulder muscles, ab muscles, strong legs. I hope you will also develop a more positive lens to look at yourself through, but truly I'm starting to think that maybe comes with age? Congratulations on your weight loss OP, good for you!0
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use Argan balm it will help alot0
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**Trigger warning for talk of SI**
Stretch marks are really only a problem because society tells us they are not beautiful.
I'm 32, I don't have kids, and I have stretch marks all over my body: my belly, my breasts, my arms and my legs.
What I also have, from my earlier life of dealing with depression, trauma, and PTSD, is a bunch of scars from using self-injury to deal with life. I am TOTALLY proud of my of my scars. I can tell you what happened at each point in my life that lead to each scar coming to exist on my body. I'm proud because they are permanent reminders of all the awful **** things that happened in my life that I OVERCAME AND SURVIVED!!! I am proud of them, and I see them as my battle-scars.
When I first started losing weight, and I saw that my stretch marks were not going to go away even if I got to goal weight, I got depressed and would cry that I would forever be "ugly" in my mind. My wonderful partner turned to me and she said, "You know your scars? You know how you love them and will even challenge people who may have anything negative to say about them? You know how they are a symbol of all you have overcome? Why don't you choose to see the stretch marks as scars? Why don't you choose to see them as things to cherish and rejoice over because you BEAT those demons that kept you so unhappy for so long!!" And you know what? That TOTALLY made sense.
I now look at my stretch marks with pride. They are a symbol of me conquering the sadness, sickness and self-hatred that led to me getting so big in the first place! I can't name the event that created each stretch mark, but they show me I am strong. I have beaten weakness. I have kicked self-hatred in the guts and made it leave my life. Now, I look at them as reminders that I AM WORTHY. I AM BEAUTIFUL. And gosh-dammit I am powerful!
I have lost 64 kg (141 lbs) and as my skin has shrunk, my stretch marks have become just that little bit more obvious as my skin has crinkled around them. And I'm totally ok with that. Instead of my victory fading into the background, it is shouting from the rooftops, and may the universe help anyone who chooses to say anything negative about this visual reminder because I will take their head off.
I hope this helps a little. I wish you comfort with your own victory.
^^THIS^^ is one of the best things I've ever read. Congrats to you on your victory and on inspiring others to move towards theirs!! :flowerforyou:0 -
I was the ONLY girl in the fourth grade who already had size 36C breasts and I have always had stretch marks on my breasts and thighs. In the last year and a half, I put on 50+ pounds. That amount of weight gain in such a short period of time added stretch marks to my hips, stomach and arms. That's 5 total body parts! Still, I am determined to get to my goal and then those pesky purple lines will fade to white. And then I can tan and show off my body on the beach and they won't be visible at all when I'm brown!0
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I started working out a lot and trying to drop the pounds for three weeks now....and all of a sudden I have a bright red stretch mark on my stomach and the inner bottom of my arms. I thought losing weight meant NOT getting stretch marks? I feel your pain. The stomach one made me so upset.0
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I think I've had stretch marks since I was born. I have lost considerable weight and gained and am now losing it again. I look at the stretch marks as a constant reminder of what was, and what never will be again. They fade and get smaller over time. don't worry so much about it. You can use oils and creams to help but just be proud of who you are and love yourself and don't worry about what other people think about them. At the end of the day, you have only you, so love yourself.0
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Start lifting and get a body brush. It's not a quick solution, but I believe it's the best.0
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I have them on my hips from puberty and I have them on my tummy from pregnancy. I wear a bikini and don't think twice about it and I doubt anyone else does, either.At 21 years old I have lost 23lbs and am really loving my new fitness and way of eating. I know it is good for me, my heart and my over all life. There is one thing though that is left after all this and that is those horrible stretch marks (i never had a child they are just from life) I find that this is discouraging my weight-loss a bit because i keep thinking well it doesn't matter if i have a six pack because i could never show it off. Also i never really noticed them until i lost all the weight. I guess i am just looking for other people who are dealing with this body problem.0 -
At 21 years old I have lost 23lbs and am really loving my new fitness and way of eating. I know it is good for me, my heart and my over all life. There is one thing though that is left after all this and that is those horrible stretch marks (i never had a child they are just from life) I find that this is discouraging my weight-loss a bit because i keep thinking well it doesn't matter if i have a six pack because i could never show it off. Also i never really noticed them until i lost all the weight. I guess i am just looking for other people who are dealing with this body problem.
I don't understand how 23 pounds could make a huge amount of stretch marks, but I suppose it's possible. Seriously, though... there are lots of remedies, which I've never tried, but just like cellulite reduction, the best thing you can do it keep on losing (at a SLOW PACE..you get stretch marks from losing too quickly).0
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