Stretch marks after weight loss...support

SoDamnHungry

We just had a stretch mark thread. The general consensus is that no one cares and tons of people have them. Read and feel good about your body: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1034120-men-what-do-you-really-think-of-girls-w-stretch-marks

And some of us get stretch marks even when we were never overweight. Puberty gave me some since I developed larger hips.

Loves418

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.

I read this 10 times...6 kids..and you look like this? Can I move in with you and you can train me? You look amazing...I have two almost 20 and 15 I wish I had a flat belly..I keep trying and trying..it won't budge..you rock..

Francl27

I'm covered in stretch marks as well from putting on 23 lbs or something in 8 months 13 years ago. Between that and loose skin, it's... ugh.

phoenixgirl81

**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:

Oh, thank you. I'm so glad the things that I went through, and the struggles I overcame can help others too.

And I told my partner last night that I shared her advice about seeing my stretch marks as scars to be proud of, and she went silent all of a sudden. When I pressed to find out what was wrong, she said "nothing. I just didn't know the things I say have such a big impact on you that you would share them with others! I'm so glad that it made sense and that it made such a huge impact!"

So, thanks O.P for asking the question. It seems to have made a bigger impact than you thought.

Becky_Smith72

Well I have 5 kids.. and my lower tummy is covered in them. I've lost 65lbs and my tummy is tight but they are there. Oh well. Feel proud that you've accomplished. For me, it's a sign that I've had beautiful babies and have lost the weight. Whatever the case may be, love your body and work hard to make it healthy and strong.

degausser234

I've been taking one of those dry hard sponges and applying either natural coconut oil or shea butter to it and scrubbing like crazy on the area with stretch marks. So far I have noticed an improvement by maybe 30%.

red_road

wow like another poster said i had thought getting fit reduced stretch marks. I never had too many stretch marks but i had a decent amount around my knees from a big growth spurt as a kid. About 2-3 years ago i gained 30lbs in a short amount of time and i got angry red swollen looking scars all down my hips. I had never before had such dramatic stretch marks. I didnt know they would get worse with weight loss! While i know they will get lighter that will not necessarily make them less noticeable because i have a darker skin tone. I suppose all i can do is try to drink lots of water and moisturize the areas. Although i do agree about the battlescar statement, like the poster before me said with the great speech about being proud about your stretchmarks i too have battled with self harm/depression/anxiety ect and i am not ashamed of the scars on my arm, i literally see them as battlescars so why am i so embarrassed by stretch marks? The stretch marks are on areas that most people dont even see on a daily basis and the ones on my arm are so much more obvious...either way i suppose i need to just be proud of them, i will be much happier when i do. Accept the things you cannot change right?