The mom pouch won't go away

polish328
polish328 Posts: 12 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Can anyone else relate? Looking for advice on how to tone up and tighten skin around the mid section. I am a mother of two and lost the baby weight over and over again. I have gone from a size 10 and 170lbs at my heaviest. To a size 2 and 113 at my smallest. Currently 32 years old. 135 lbs and a size 4. But no matter what I do i have the dreaded mom pouch/spare tire when I sit, bend, workout. It giggles when I walk and it is unsightly. How can i fix this? Any advice is appreciated dear mfp friends.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    edited June 2017
    Is it fat or loose skin...? because even really lean people have 'rolls' when they sit or bend over
  • Panda8ach
    Panda8ach Posts: 518 Member
    I have the same problem :s I'm losing weight, doing stomach toning exercise, using firming cream and wearing really sexy compression pants! It's better than it was, I can see the scar now! I'm not sure it's possible for mine to ever go tbh (bad birth!) but if I can make it look any better that'll be a win :)
  • polish328
    polish328 Posts: 12 Member
    A little bit of both. I can grab it and stretch it out. I think it's loose skin. But it looks like a roll of fat
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,255 Member
    It may be loose skin with some remaining subcutaneous fat. Skin itself is quite thin - pinch up some on a non-fatty body part - like the back of your hand, and take a look. If the pouch is a fold(s) 1/2 inch to an inch thick or more, there may still be fat involved. At a healthy weight, it might be a good time to consider recomposition (progressive weight training at about maintenance calories) with the goal of losing a bit more fat while staying at the same weight.
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    edited June 2017
    I will forever have it unless I opt for surgery. I have some degree of loose skin over fat, of course. Hoping when I've dropped these 20-25lbs extra LBS it will look better. But I have to lose slowly or this belly will suffer. The last thing I want is another reminder of my skin's elasticity...or lack thereof.
    Strength training is crucial in body comp while losing weight (for many).

    I had to accept that I will always have it and moved on to other things...like my arm fat that dangles and keeps moving after Ive stopped waving.
    Ive had 3 babies- they are 10, 7 and 2. For two of my pregnancies I gained....a lot. At least I was smarter with the 3rd but, the damage was done.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    edited June 2017
    Definitely start strength training but loose skin is loose skin not much you can do about it.

    My stomach is flat, abs coming through... still have loose skin when I sit and bend down. C'est la vie!
  • Joanna2012B
    Joanna2012B Posts: 1,448 Member
    I can relate. I have the same thing. I am 42 soon to be 43 so I have accepted the fact that it may never go away.
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    If it's just loose skin, then if genetics are on your side you just have to maintain your weight for awhile. If not, then you can either accept it or get surgery to have it removed.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    edited June 2017
    It might not be fixable. You've produced two humans, this is a side effect and not a "thing" at all. Just tuck that *kitten* in and don't look down when doing planks.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 35,255 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    Definitely start strength training but loose skin is loose skin not much you can do about it.

    My stomach is flat, abs coming through... still have loose skin when I sit and bend down. C'est la vie!

    The issue is that when there's a layer of squishy subcutaneous fat attached to the loose skin, the small fat layer will conspire with gravity to keep that skin stretched. More fat loss may help, but if one is already at a healthy weight, losing more weight may not be a good plan.

    Weight training per se may accomplish little or nothing, but it may be helpful to lose more fat ultra-slowly while adding muscle to stay at a consistent weight. No guarantees, of course.

    For me, the very thin/fine wrinkles of just loose skin have shrunk pretty nicely over about 18 months in weight maintenance, even at age 60-61. The areas with residual squishy fat inside haven't been nearly so cooperative. ;) Those folds are hanging around, literally.

    Also, to paraphrase what someone above said, there will pretty much always be a bit of skin folding when thin people move in ways that compress areas that are usually more stretched. As you say, c'est la vie!
  • polish328
    polish328 Posts: 12 Member
    You all are very helpful and encouraging. Thank you.
This discussion has been closed.

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