Fat turning soft and weird feeling - what is up with it?

aprmay

Bump. Old post but good stuff.

Bootsa12003

bump

MissCaroline71

Im a daily weigher (but have learned not to obsess) - and ended up on this email thread as my tummy is getting v. squishy, and I have remained at an identical weight for 4 days. (I normally fluctuate a few pounds day to day).

Previously - "when dieting" - If I had stayed at the same weight for 4 days - I would be decreasing my calorie count over the next few days to such an extent that I would binge a week later, then give up for a few weeks, and start again.

And "now" is why I love MFP...........

Since MFP and the forums, I realise my eating is fine for my weight loss goal - HOWEVER, thanks to MFP - I really think Im about to "Whoosh" - my weight is steady, my fat is getting squishy, my jeans felt like "1 day old" straight from the dryer.......

I will definitely drink some extra water over the next few days - and let everyone know if I whooshed past my previous low.... *fingers crossed*

JessicaJVRadcliffe

I still have some pieces like that around my lower abdomen. I think it is from stretching. I have had 3 pregnancies in less than 4 years, and the pregnancy in the middle was twins. Needless to say, I stretched, shrank, really stretched, shrank, stretched, and shrank again. As a result, my lower belly is a little lumpy, but with exercise I am hoping it will go away.

MyChocolateDiet

I've been wondering if massages or body wraps would help in this process. OR like those lipo massages they have at spas. In essence anything to help break down the bumps faster. Don't think I have them yet, but I have been massaging the heck out of myself and so I dunno. Maybe i'm not down enough pounds or will never be, but this was just a thought I had in anticipation of something like that. I figured it wouldn't come off all easy and smooth and the cells might become uneven at some point.

So...bottom line....Massages? Yay, or nay?

dawnsjourney

I figure when it goes squishy like that, it's like having a bean bag that's lost some of its stuffing. When it was full, you didn't notice each indvidual lump. Now that there's room in there, you can feel the lumps that are left. This is good! It means there's less in there than there was to start with!

Perfect! I also use the comparison of bubblewrap. The more bubbles you pop the squishier it gets.

Lazygal53

Bump

italral

It is correct that you are burning fat, but the fat cells themselves need time to shrink as well. Its called reset, your body needs time to adjust to the weight loss before loosing more fat. Just keep on keeping on. Water is the most important thing you can do while loosing weight, and thereafter. I would advise against any compression, as you want to promote circulation. Get a body brush, and rub your stomach in a circular pattern every morning for a minute or so. You can do the rest of the body too, but brush in one direction towards your heart. But number one, water, water, water!

ctpeace

ok so what changes have you noticed since posting this?

Honestly belly shrank for a bit and it's doing it again, which means hopefully it'll shrink some more again.It'll be the 3rd cycle of this happening, first two I dropped an inch like that once the whoosh was done... Legs and about every part of my body is having this phenomenon happening now. Except on my arms where these weird hard big bumps that move when my arm moves have formed.

Biceps? Congrats on the woosh!

squall88c

Bump.

Very helpful topic as I'm experiencing it now.

johnguitarman

What role does water play with the 'swoosh' effect? Ho much should we drink? My stomach got squishy last week but I have not yet experienced a sudden drop in weight.

Nease

bumping this because it is exactly what was going through my mind, and a lot of great information on here for others if you havn't read this already, and or experiencing this as well.

RoseDarrett

So helpful to know!! I'm glad I came across this!!

mimieon

All my weightloss was like that, its funny because I know where I will lose mostly before I "really" lose it. However, in my case it always meant good things were happening. The jiggle isn't very nice maybe at first, but now I rejoice when I feel it somewhere.

Edit: Just want to emphasize that it is not loose skin. My skin is always tightly around it, never loose or floppy.

Mcgrawhaha

same thing happen to me about 30 pounds ago. felt really gushy, and like there were little bumps and balls of fat inside... I felt gross just seeing / touching it... around the same time, I started jogging. in the last 3 months, my belly flop, gushy-ness, and the bumpy balls of fat have disappeared... I now have a tummy that is coming together nicely after 5 pregnancies and being almost 100 pounds over weight at one time... just work through it, it will get better!

babyluthi

Does anyone know if massaging it helps it along at all?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

Nease

Does anyone know if massaging it helps it along at all?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

I dont really think so. I always lay in bed and massage it, havnt noticed a change. while I have been over weight all my life. and now working hard to lose it. I want to remember what it felt like. just incase if I do get the chance and opportunity to share my success with others. when and if my body does change. seeinv how it feels "now". next month when I'm doing the same. ill hopefully notice the changes in my body.

Helloitsdan

Water being pulled into the fat cell.

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html

maundrelle

I have been told in the past that hard or firm fat is fat that has not had much blood going round it in a while. It goes soft when your body is pumping blood through it more often or in other words using it.

So as i understand it firm fat > soft fat > gone fat.

This!

hookilau

The skin isn't really loose, I don't know how to describe it well... picture say a balloon, and fill it full of sand that is really compacted. That is a way to describe my belly, now pictubelievehat balloon, put in styrofoam balls of varying sizes not ultra compacted, and fill the rest with water. That is about the only way I can describe it. My belly has only lost about 1.5 inches in total, verses all other parts are up to around 5-6 inches gone. So I don't think it's just hanging skin because there hasn't been enough lost to really hang. It's also not something that has always been there, it's a noticeable difference when I run and stuff.. It sloshes kinda like it didn't use to wiggle when I ran so much.. I may just be crazy.

I know exactly what you mean. My DH used to describe that same squishy thing you're talking about. Over the years, he's managed to yo yo a bit while I never did lose, so I had no idea what he was talking about.

Now that i know metabolic dysfunction is my problem and have taken corrective measures, the weight is not only coming off, but doing so easily.

He showed me literally last week how jiggly etc and made the same complaints, but then said that this is the last part, after it gets like this, it goes really quickly.

Yeah riiiight.

This week, i'll be damned if his stinkin' non ever having to carry a baby kangaroo pouch just sucked up and went away! :noway:

I'm hoping I'm next! My shape has changed greatly from apple to the pear shape i had in my 20's and like you, I've lost everywhere but have more about my middle than anywhere else to lose. I do believe he's managed the fabled whoosh, and pray I'm next and I suspect you will be too . :drinker:

lpina2mi

Hi guys! It's me with yet another weird weight loss question.. I've been pretty annoyed as I've lost quite a bit of weight but not much from my belly. Anyways I was noticing today my belly fat is really soft and squishy. And if you squeeze it you can feel like there is pieces inside of it, like it's not one piece of fat anymore. Is my body just not able to break down my fat and just made it soft? I don't like how it actually looks like it hangs down more when before it was more solid and stuck out. Hard to explain. Makes me picture cottage cheese, GROSS I know.... Anyways why would it do that but not lose any inches darn it? Every other part of my body has shrank quite a bit.
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me too

K_Serz

Belly fat isn't all the same. One type of belly fat seems squishy and is easy to grab between your fingers; the other is like a bowling ball in the middle of the gut. The differences between the two types of fat don't end there. Understanding the dramatic difference between the two types of belly fat may extend your lifespan, especially if you carry extra weight in the abdominal region.

Subcutaneous vs. Visceral
The belly fat you can grab in your hand is subcutaneous fat, which resides between your skin and abdominal wall. This fat tends to be more visible than deeper fat, but it isn't as harmful as visceral fat, which surrounds your abdominal organs, according to MayoClinic.com.

Causes
Aging causes your metabolism to slow down. Being sedentary can also contribute to weight gain as you get older. However, factors such as age and lack of physical activity don't directly influence the amount of visceral fat you have. Hormonal changes that occur after menopause can cause women to store more fat in their bellies. Additionally, some people inherit a tendency to be "apple-shaped" as opposed to "pear-shaped."

Health Risks
Visceral fat is linked with a variety of health problems, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and diabetes, according to UAB Medicine. These conditions increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Visceral fat may be linked to such health conditions because it's thought to be biologically active. This means it acts more like an endocrine organ or gland that produces hormones and other substances that may damage your health, according to Harvard Health Publications. Having too much visceral fat may throw off the functioning of hormones that help keep the body in balance.



Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/338079-soft-belly-fat-vs-hard-belly-fat/#ixzz1Yzg2PdTg

I agree. I had the same question of myself when the same thing started happening. Its Viseral Fat being broken down while leaving the more Subcutaneous for energy. This is a VERY GOOD THING. Im about more squishy ahd jiggle on my love handle area as well now. Before it was hard as a rock and I was like what? Its not fat, its muscle. YEAH RIGHT!

HeinekenMan

I knew that the weight loss was the cause of my hard fat becoming squishy, but I wanted to know why and what it means for the future. I'm so excited to know this means I'm making good progress. Here's to more squishy fat and less of the hard stuff!

CycleGuy9000

Hi guys! It's me with yet another weird weight loss question.. I've been pretty annoyed as I've lost quite a bit of weight but not much from my belly. Anyways I was noticing today my belly fat is really soft and squishy. And if you squeeze it you can feel like there is pieces inside of it, like it's not one piece of fat anymore. Is my body just not able to break down my fat and just made it soft? I don't like how it actually looks like it hangs down more when before it was more solid and stuck out. Hard to explain. Makes me picture cottage cheese, GROSS I know.... Anyways why would it do that but not lose any inches darn it? Every other part of my body has shrank quite a bit.

You might be a Cylon.

YaGigi

Does anyone know if massaging it helps it along at all?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

Oh yes! Massage will definitely help! And massage is necessary for losing fat and shaping your body.

When I lose weight, I always start having this soft fat on my belly, it's the first fat to disappear.

My doctor who helps me with weight loss prescribed me massage once a week. It also significant help with cellulite.
I have traditional lipomassage once a week.

babyluthi

Does anyone know if massaging it helps it along at all?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

Oh yes! Massage will definitely help! And massage is necessary for losing fat and shaping your body.

When I lose weight, I always start having this soft fat on my belly, it's the first fat to disappear.

My doctor who helps me with weight loss prescribed me massage once a week. It also significant help with cellulite.
I have traditional lipomassage once a week.

Wow! Have you noticed a difference?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

YaGigi

Does anyone know if massaging it helps it along at all?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

Oh yes! Massage will definitely help! And massage is necessary for losing fat and shaping your body.

When I lose weight, I always start having this soft fat on my belly, it's the first fat to disappear.

My doctor who helps me with weight loss prescribed me massage once a week. It also significant help with cellulite.
I have traditional lipomassage once a week.

Wow! Have you noticed a difference?

_____________________________________________________

1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
_____________________________________________________

Yes, of course. I often had massages before - about once every two weeks - but mostly general once. This time the massage is focused on body shaping.
I've always done the LPG but it kind of hurts. And I think the hand done massage is much more better.

mungowungo

Bumping because I'm noticing squishiness.

Anyone else been through this?

FindingAmy77

in the same boat.. its the process of losing weight. Just drink tons of water and weight train along with your cardio.. it will tighten eventually

j0mpst0rt

I've lost so far 11.7kg, even though my fitness pal doesnt say that. But Im happy, but my stomach has goe from a ball to a flat wall leaning out at the bottom with the fat with the marbles sitting at the bottom. I'm training 3-4 times a week, and the days i train sometimes itrain twice a day, half hour cardio with 15-20 minutes weights.

My picture isnt pretty, but its honest what it was like at the beginning, i'll add another one on the 16th may for which i'm hoping to hit the first goal. I am not doing carb cycling, but doing 1 day fasts, 1 day on, 1 day off, the day i fast is the day I train. at all times idrink tonnes of water. i have a pint beaker which i drink loads of earl grey or peppermint tea.