Body Structure Question

twon070377

Hi and hello to you.
I have lost 100 pounds and gain 15 back making it a loss of 75 pounds.
I have went from a 3x to a 2x.
But I do not see a difference in my body structure just the width.
I am now ready to start weight training along with cardio I have been already doing.
When I add the weight training along with dieting and cardio will I notice a difference in my body structure, mostly the bat wing arms, dunlap stomach, and thigh crease's.
I am considering getting a fitness trainer to help with rest.
What are your words of advice and support.
Thanks.

cmriverside

Well, it can't hurt.

As far as looking better and feeling better it will certainly help, but with a large weight loss comes some loose skin and that takes time to shrink back - and depending on your age and how much weigh you gain and lose, it may not shrink back very much. It took about two years for my loose skin to shrink back and now I feel pretty good about my weight loss and appearance.

Definitely try some weight lifting, and do get a professional to get you started so you don't hurt yourself. Being stronger makes life easier!

kshama2001

The previous post covered it all.

AnnPT77

Riverside's got it right.

This will be a slow, gradual thing. It can be hard for us to see the progress as we go along, too, because it's very gradual . . . and because we look in the mirror and just see "me" (which includes a lot of past self-image baggage).

During weight loss, because of the loose skin and the fat zones that get squishy before they're totally depleted, we can even look a little worse part way to goal weight than we will at goal, and a little worse at goal than we will a few months down the road in maintenance. That was certainly true for me. (Like riverside's, my skin kept shrinking into at least year 2 of maintenance!)

But do the right things - sensibly moderate calorie deficit, reasonable overall nutrition, healthy exercise - and good results will occur over the weeks and months that you keep going.

Hang in there: Success is worth the effort!

tomcustombuilder

Everyone on a Fatloss journey needs 2 things, protein and strength training. Without those you’ll end up just looking like a smaller version of your fatter self.

PAV8888

tomcustombuilder wrote: »

Everyone on a Fatloss journey needs 2 things, protein and strength training. Without those you’ll end up just looking like a smaller version of your fatter self.

And sometimes looking like a smaller version of your formerly fatter self is more than enough of a win!

I take issue with the deliberate down playing of the benefits of that win by making it sound like a negative result!

Do note that I don't argue against retaining and increasing strength--doing so is extremely beneficial and I am on board and a proponent and your advice is spot on when it comes to that!

Engaging in strength retention (or increasing strength) via exercise and the sufficient intake of protein while engaging in moderate yet effective deficits can be pushed without attacking the simple health benefits of just losing weight to normal weight regardless of whether doing so leave's one looking like a shrunken version of their larger original.

People who are starting out and are contemplating major changes to their lives often have doubts that distract and delay them or even stop them from even starting.

"OMG will I have loose skin?" "OMG will my face look older--it is currently so young looking and unlined". "OMG will I have bat-wings". "OMG will I retain my former strength and muscle mass?"

If currently in a position where all these COULD be true (i.e. if currently at a BMI well over 30 and correctly characterized as obese)... then I would encourage you to deal with first world problems such as optimizing your future shape as a distant second issue to first achieving the health benefits of weight loss which will accrue even if you "end up just looking like a smaller version of your fatter self."

Lose the weight especially in a way that enhanced your individualized chances of maintaining that loss first. Lose the weight while specifically emphasizing worrying about eating sufficient protein and engaging in sufficient exercise and strength training second.