Moobs...HELP!

Over the last couple years, I've lost almost 80 pounds. At the height of my gluttony, I weighed in at 350 pounds.
Needless to say, I developed quite a nice set of moobs (man boobs) or moobies if you prefer. :-)
Now weighing closer to 270 pounds, obviously my body has gotten smaller in many areas, but it still seems like my moobs are stubbornly sticking around more than I would like. And not just on the front, but on the sides of my moobs under my arms there's a lot of loose skin (as well as some fat) sticking around.
I know at 270, I've still got a ways to go, and I'm not losing at a super fast pace, I'm going down steadily.
I've started running/walking 3-4 times a week recently, and am not opposed to lifting weights, but I need some help.

My question is this....is there any hope I can get rid of these things on my own, or am I destined to have excess skin removal surgery at some point down the road here after I've lost another 70 pounds or so?
And if there is hope, what exercises do I need to be doing to get rid of the moobs over the next few months?

Thanks for your help/advice!

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    I'd just be patient and see if the skin tightens up. everyone has some loose skin after losing that amount of weight.
  • Dahllywood
    Dahllywood Posts: 642 Member
    Be patient, in time they will disappear. In the mean time, go ahead and start doing push ups and chest workouts (I like to do the fly machine. It's not as intense as benching so I feel that I get more 'tone' than big)
  • chachadiva150
    chachadiva150 Posts: 453 Member
    Work those pecs and chest muscles to build muscle in that area.
  • GravyboatAC
    GravyboatAC Posts: 2 Member
    Great! So, pushups, fly machine, possibly bench press (lowere weight, higher reps, I assume)...what else?
    I don't have very much workout experience trying to lose fat instead of putting on muscle mass, so any tips on specific exercises would be appreciated!
  • smor27
    smor27 Posts: 87
    I have been doing the fly... and I have been noticing a big difference. I started out with about 40LB the first week to start. then went up to 100lb the following week. have been doing that for about 2 months now. big change.
  • zafferFL
    zafferFL Posts: 402
    Great! So, pushups, fly machine, possibly bench press (lowere weight, higher reps, I assume)...what else?
    I don't have very much workout experience trying to lose fat instead of putting on muscle mass, so any tips on specific exercises would be appreciated!

    you want to pick up muscle mass. The weights will not reduce fat in any one area.
  • you want to pick up muscle mass. The weights will not reduce fat in any one area.

    So when you're building the muscle mass you will still end up with fat over the muscle right? How do you get rid of that?
  • Having lost a bunch of weight a few years ago, I'd also tell you to make sure you drink a lot of water and use exfoliating gloves in the shower to keep the skin constantly refreshing itself. Using real cocoa butter lotion (I recommend Palmers) helped too to keep the skin as taut and pliant as possible. It will take a while for your skin to retract, but these things do help in the long run, I am convinced.

    Congrats on your success thus far!
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Great! So, pushups, fly machine, possibly bench press (lowere weight, higher reps, I assume)...what else?
    I don't have very much workout experience trying to lose fat instead of putting on muscle mass, so any tips on specific exercises would be appreciated!

    Anything that works your core and upper body. I found the most effective was plank (which works a lot of areas) and some dumbell work that basically concentrated on the muscles under the moobs. For example, take a pair of dumbells at your chosen weight (I started with 10, never got above about 15, and just concentrated on increasing reps), lie on your back on a bench, and bring the dumbells down in an arc so you are forming a cross with your body (arms straight out) - hold for a few seconds, then slowly bring your arms back up vertical - I'm sure there's a name for this but I don't know it. I then take the weights and slowly put them over my head so my elbows are pointed up and the weights are basically behind my head. Hold, then go back to vertical. Repeat slowly until you start shaking.

    I experimented with different dumbell motions until I found exercises that made the muscles under my moobs ache. Then I focused on those, exercising with the weights every other day. In my case, it seems to have tightened the skin considerably.