How much of my stomach is fat/loose skin
Hannahjane123456
Posts: 116 Member
I've lost 6 and a half stone a few years ago and I've had two children, I'm 27 and 109 pound and 4 foot 11. I sick of dieting, I feel like I'm never gonna get the body I want unless I have a tummy tuck. How much of my stomach is fat? Is the only way a tummy tuck?
Thank you
Thank you
7
Replies
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ya you have the grumpy old man belly i have when i bend over. Theres clearly loose skin there. I do see some fat as well, True loose skin is very thin like curtains. I wouldnt worry about it just focus your diet energy into loving your body and being healthy. Youve had babies its battle scars showing your a momma.6
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You're a healthy weight for your height. How long have you been at this weight? Do you lift weights at all?1
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I've seen your other threads and I know you have been struggling for quite a while with this. You have had 2 babies and lost a great deal of weight in the past. It can take upwards of a couple of years for your skin to improve.
Have you been recomping? If you have not been recomping, this is not dieting, its eating your calories to maintain your weigh and still be able to build muscle and lose fat. If you have been doing it already its a slow process and probably why you are not seeing major improvements since have loose skin as well. With recomp there really is no end, its an extension of your maintain weight with working on body composition, so if you are not doing it, start, if you have keep going with it.8 -
Maybe a couple of lbs of fat, the rest? Loose skin IMHO not much to do except abdominoplasty
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That is definitely mostly skin and sorry to say that there's no other way than a tummy tuck. You look fantastic by the way. Great job! Your legs look amazing! Don't be afraid of doing it, you won't regret it!7
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I've seen your other threads and I know you have been struggling for quite a while with this. You have had 2 babies and lost a great deal of weight in the past. It can take upwards of a couple of years for your skin to improve.
Have you been recomping? If you have not been recomping, this is not dieting, its eating your calories to maintain your weigh and still be able to build muscle and lose fat. If you have been doing it already its a slow process and probably why you are not seeing major improvements since have loose skin as well. With recomp there really is no end, its an extension of your maintain weight with working on body composition, so if you are not doing it, start, if you have keep going with it.
I've been lifting weights 6x a week, but I've not been really sticking to a diet that much until the last 2 weeks or so, I just feel like there's no point anymore with diet and maybe I should just do a body recomp what you said or have a tummy tuck, it's just annoying I want a flat tummy like everyone else.1 -
BeccaLoves2lift wrote: »You're a healthy weight for your height. How long have you been at this weight? Do you lift weights at all?
I've been lifting weights now for over 15 months and I can see a lot of improvement in my legs and arms and back which I'm happy about. I've been around this weight since November I think.0 -
I think we all hate restricting to lose more so you just have to make choices. You are so young, I can't imagine that your body might not bounce back more over time in that area. I am just under 5'2 and 59. I have REALLY had to go low to lose the cellulite in my thighs which was MY problem area. I think you "could" go lower weight wise if that was your choice. I like 98 lbs at my height, age, build etc. You are 3 inches shorter than I, and 10 pounds heavier. You have a LOT of muscle on your legs it looks like. So honestly some of that is damage from the babies and some of it looks like it is still fat to me. The surgery option is probably the fastest and easiest one but that's pricey. We all have to make our own decisions on these things - it is very personal and unique. I have a lot of loose skin on my legs and such but I want to give it at LEAST at year maintaining before I give up that it will improve. Hope this helps. You have done so well so far and as folks have said you are at a healthy weight. But sometimes the scale and all those numbers aren't the only thing which we want. Best of luck to you.8
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Hannahjane123456 wrote: »I've seen your other threads and I know you have been struggling for quite a while with this. You have had 2 babies and lost a great deal of weight in the past. It can take upwards of a couple of years for your skin to improve.
Have you been recomping? If you have not been recomping, this is not dieting, its eating your calories to maintain your weigh and still be able to build muscle and lose fat. If you have been doing it already its a slow process and probably why you are not seeing major improvements since have loose skin as well. With recomp there really is no end, its an extension of your maintain weight with working on body composition, so if you are not doing it, start, if you have keep going with it.
I've been lifting weights 6x a week, but I've not been really sticking to a diet that much until the last 2 weeks or so, I just feel like there's no point anymore with diet and maybe I should just do a body recomp what you said or have a tummy tuck, it's just annoying I want a flat tummy like everyone else.
Just pointing out flat tummy "like everyone else" isnt a thing. Flat stomachs expecially on females is pretty rare, We have organs and more body fat just as a gender. Flat stomachs are not the norm.
I realize thats likely not helpful in your mind and its me grasping at straw but it really is true, You compare yourself to only the fittest/photoshopped/ Best carefully cropped pics of friends posted online youll never be happy. Those just arent real life.
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Hannahjane123456 wrote: »BeccaLoves2lift wrote: »You're a healthy weight for your height. How long have you been at this weight? Do you lift weights at all?
I've been lifting weights now for over 15 months and I can see a lot of improvement in my legs and arms and back which I'm happy about. I've been around this weight since November I think.
I also have some skin/fat to my lower belly. I've been recomping since last July. The fat has continued to go down. From what I've heard the skin can take a couple of years to look better. I would give it some time before doing surgery.5 -
Thanks for all your messages. Maybe I should keep losing and see what happens with the skin. I just hope one day I can wear a bikini and look good 5
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What does "recomping" mean?
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I am 43 and had 2 kids(whom are adults now) and I have been working out and weight training for about 5 years. I have eaten in a deficit off an on during those 5 years. I am just now starting to lose the rest of the fat on my belly and its getting smaller. I had a 38-49 inch waist and right now its around 28.
Im trying to just maintain my weight and recomp now as even at lower amounts of calories I stopped losing weight(even with diet breaks for a few months at a time)..I have a metabolic issue so that may be why it gets down so far and refuses to budge. when I do lose its maybe 1lb every few months. so yeah things take time and I know I am going to have some lose skin too.I can just hide that though as it wont be enough for a tummy tuck though. But have been maintaining for the last 2-3 months without trying and am seeing a difference in my body again. so Im just going to stick with what Im doing and go from there.
I know for me I will never wear a bikini as my hips,thighs and butt have the most fat and takes FOREVER to come off. I dont feel comfortable in a bikini though. never have even when I was thin. but thats me and how I feel. you can always get a high waisted bikini for now if that helps. or you could be like my sister whos belly just hangs(stretched out muscles and separated ones) and let it all hang out lol.6 -
The way I see it, you have 2 options. Invasive treatment or non- invasive treatment. Non- invasive would mean to focus on diet and fitness@recomp as suggested by Roxie, until you have the thinner skin droop as JaydedMiss stated earlier as loose skin, then opt for a Thermage belly skin tightening. Invasive treatment would be a tiny tuck or tummy tuck as initially suggested by bfanny, which may or may not leave you needing to do a recomp post surgery anyway.
ETA:. Even if you inculcated liposuction with surgery, you still might need to recomp as results take 6 months to set in anyway.
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I feel your pain. That's how my belly, thighs, underarms, and breasts look. I want to get work done as well, although affording it is a major hurdle for me (single, live alone, work a minimum wage job, family thinks I should just be "happy with how I am" and won't help me out financially). Two years in the gym hasn't seemed to do anything for my loose skin. If anything, its gotten worse.
Unfortunatley in terms of loose skin, you're options are pretty much: have surgery, learn to live with it, or hit the gym and hope after a few years the skin snaps back somewhat.3 -
skin bouncing back also has to do with your elasticity. if you dont have enough its not going to budge. and for some the faster you gained and lost the weight the more skin you end up with when you lose it again. seen that happen with my sister.she has gained and lost so many times that every time she gains and loses quickly it gets worse each time.But with her she doesnt lift weights or do any exercise.3
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i can understand how you feel. I can tell you look pretty fit. Go see a few doctors who performs tummy tucks and get professional medical advice/consultations. You can find out for sure if you're a candidate for surgery and face how much it costs so you can plan. On the website real self.. women who have tummy tucks have the highest approval rating over most all other cosmetic improvement procedures.0
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Did you lose your weight very quickly? generally that's when the skin is inclined to hang looser because of a speedy loss. It was a mega loss though, and hats off to ya but its no wonder you have loose skin - when we spend time being overweight its a given long term loose skin will happen unfortunately
With being young it could well tighten up yet, strength training is your best bet.
I wont be the one telling you to have a tummy tuck, any surgery is risky and its not like having loose skin is life threatening, its just a vanity thing. You haven't shown side shots but your tummy actually looks pretty flat to me.
Keep that area moisturised well, an oily type of moisturiser might help - there are probably tightening body moisturisers out there you could try? over time the look of the skin is likely to improve.
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LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »Did you lose your weight very quickly? generally that's when the skin is inclined to hang looser because of a speedy loss. It was a mega loss though, and hats off to ya but its no wonder you have loose skin - when we spend time being overweight its a given long term loose skin will happen unfortunately
With being young it could well tighten up yet, strength training is your best bet.
I wont be the one telling you to have a tummy tuck, any surgery is risky and its not like having loose skin is life threatening, its just a vanity thing. You haven't shown side shots but your tummy actually looks pretty flat to me.
Keep that area moisturised well, an oily type of moisturiser might help - there are probably tightening body moisturisers out there you could try? over time the look of the skin is likely to improve.
Well I gained the weight pretty quickly, I just would eat and eat just to make myself feel better and then I lost most of it in 18 months, I was around 19 when I gained weight and time I was 21-22 I just had enough and decided to change. I have had two children and there actually 3 and 17 months right now.3 -
I just feel though that I'm only young once and I have all my family telling me if I lose any more weight I will look too thin and I will look ill.
It's really annoying though, because I might look slim in clothes but underneath there's still some fat on my tummy to lose, they don't see it that way there.3 -
I also had a breast lift with implants back in December so they weigh nearly 2 pounds.1
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I have the exact same problem. I have 5 children and my stretch marks and sagging skin are terrible. It's done a lot to my self esteem and confidence. I'm single at 44 and am too insecure to let ANYONE see my belly.
I've looked in to a tummy tuck , but was quoted about $10 grand... I don't have that kind of money.. I don't think any amount of exercise will take away my belly. 4 -
Your stomach looks exactly like mine before I had my abdominoplasty. No amount of diet and exercise helped. If you can afford to have the tummy tuck, I highly recommend going for it. I just wish I hadn't waited so long.4
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the thing with lip and tummy tucks you have to watch gaining weight again as most drs advise that if you plan on getting these things done that you will have to maintain your weight or make sure not to gain as the same thing can happen again. it may not be as severe of a gain in that area but it can still happen.you have to make the decision that if you are planning on getting any surgery to make sure you are done having childrena and are weilling to prevent a big amount of weight gain the rest of your life6
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Since you are still young your skin has a lot more elasticity. I am in my 60's and had a tummy tuck (specifically a panniculectomy) last October. I am really glad I did. I do have a scar that makes me look like I am two different bodies sewn together, but that's great for halloween..lol... You do need to make sure that you are not going to be gaining more weight, and if you plan to have more children, you definitely want to hold off doing it until you are finished having them....There is no sense in having the procedure just to muck it up...6
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Sure, there's a little fat there, but you really don't need to lose more weight, and it would not improve the appearance of the loose skin anyway. If it's been more than two years since your weight loss, that's probably about it for skin tightening. You're young and if you're open to the idea a tummy tuck might be a good idea.
I'm older and would rather just live with mine - I don't need to wear a bikini - but you have a lot of years to live with the way you look, and if you're not happy, consider your options.1 -
So you lost the weight at 22 but since then have had 2 children the youngest of which is 17months. What did your tummy look like before you fell preg with the first child? How old was your youngest when you got your current weight? You'll need to give it 2 years from when you hit maintenance weight to see how much your skin will improve on its own.0
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I'm done having children, I've got one of each so that's enough for me. I don't think I'd ever let myself get that big again I just know it's not a nice place to be and it terrifies me to lose control and get that way again.
After losing weight before I had children I was around 112 pounds and my tummy had loose skin but not has severe as what I've got now, but I do remember leaning forward and it all being wrinkly and loose!
I still have loose skin on my inner thighs and my arms since losing weight when I was younger that has never tightened up.0 -
Hannahjane123456 wrote: »I'm done having children, I've got one of each so that's enough for me. I don't think I'd ever let myself get that big again I just know it's not a nice place to be and it terrifies me to lose control and get that way again.
After losing weight before I had children I was around 112 pounds and my tummy had loose skin but not has severe as what I've got now, but I do remember leaning forward and it all being wrinkly and loose!
I still have loose skin on my inner thighs and my arms since losing weight when I was younger that has never tightened up.
well then there is a chance it may never tighten up if some of it hasnt already. sucks but it happens.3 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »Hannahjane123456 wrote: »I'm done having children, I've got one of each so that's enough for me. I don't think I'd ever let myself get that big again I just know it's not a nice place to be and it terrifies me to lose control and get that way again.
After losing weight before I had children I was around 112 pounds and my tummy had loose skin but not has severe as what I've got now, but I do remember leaning forward and it all being wrinkly and loose!
I still have loose skin on my inner thighs and my arms since losing weight when I was younger that has never tightened up.
well then there is a chance it may never tighten up if some of it hasnt already. sucks but it happens.
^This. You might see a little progress, I know I have, but if you have drawn a short straw genetically, there's not much you can do about it without surgery.
BTW OP, I don't think you need to lose any weight. It's normal for women with some body fat distribution patterns to have body fat that is of a normal level still on their abdomens. Not everyone is meant to walk around super lean all the time. Unfortunately, what would be a normal smooth distribution of a very small layer of subcutaneous fat is exaggerated due to being attached to a lot of loose skin in your case.4
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