Is it possible to get a flat stomach. (Excess skin)

GodsyGirl

Im fairly new to this journey. (About 30 days) I have 160 pounds to lose and i am really scared about losing the weight and then having a stomach "pouch" Is there anything I can do now to help me get a flat stomach. It doesnt have to be super flat but I don't want excess skin hanging over my pants. Plastic surgery would not be an option.

TheFitHooker

Start doing cardio now, when I started I had 130-135lbs to lose I'm down 116.5 right now. My stomach is getting flatter, no loose skin, Cardio is the only real thing besides surgery to get rid of belly fat...

Awkward30

From what I'be read, losing weight slowly is better for skin elasticity... But I don't really know.

ediesmommy

Great question. I have a ridiculously large amount to lose myself and was wondering also. I am walking an hour every morning (approx. 2.25 miles)... does this count as "cardio" or do I need to be doing something else?

As I get my feet wet, I plan on adding something other than just walking, but for now, this is where I am.

smplycomplicated

If you drop weight too fast your skin doesn't have a chance to tighten back up, and you end up with loose skin. Eating healthy, and plenty of cardio and strength training and you shouldn't have a problem

Elizabeth_C34

Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is try to lose it slowly. Give your skin time to firm up along the way. If you drop the weight quickly, your skin won't be able to keep up, and it'll look saggy and loose.

I've only lost 42 lbs, and I have a few spots of loose skin. My belly skin seems to be tightening up quite a bit though as I go along.

From what I understand from friends who have lost more than I have is that some people get saggy skin more than others and some in other areas than others. There's a strong genetic component to it. It also can take up to a year or two before your skin finishes tighening up, so even if you do start to have some sagginess, just be patient and keep working hard.

smplycomplicated

Great question. I have a ridiculously large amount to lose myself and was wondering also. I am walking an hour every morning (approx. 2.25 miles)... does this count as "cardio" or do I need to be doing something else?

As I get my feet wet, I plan on adding something other than just walking, but for now, this is where I am.

Anything that gets your heart rate elevated to "burn mode", and keeps it there for an extended period of time you can consider cardio.

cubanita28

Start doing cardio now, when I started I had 130-135lbs to lose I'm down 116.5 right now. My stomach is getting flatter, no loose skin, Cardio is the only real thing besides surgery to get rid of belly fat...

I've been doing the P90X program - would that qualify as cardio? Thanks!

toomuchsweetness

Great question. I have a ridiculously large amount to lose myself and was wondering also. I am walking an hour every morning (approx. 2.25 miles)... does this count as "cardio" or do I need to be doing something else?

As I get my feet wet, I plan on adding something other than just walking, but for now, this is where I am.

Anything that gets your heart rate elevated to "burn mode", and keeps it there for an extended period of time you can consider cardio.

and what is considered burn mode? is there a special formula?

ANeWcRe8N

Time and a combination of cardio and strength training. I to worry that I will have that loose skin, but we'll see.

frootcat

I think skin sag depends on a lot of things-- how long you've been overweight (the longer, the more likely it will be saggy), your age (skin loses elasticity with age), genetics (affect everything), speed of loss (more prevalent with bypass surgeries, for example), musculature (more muscles, more stuff to fill out the skin--in a simplification). I've read it can take up to a year after reaching goal weight for your skin to stop shrinking, which would then be the point where you would contemplate surgery.

gypsybree

Good question!
I know a girl who lost like 200 pounds but didn't work out, she had to have the surgery for the excess skin. But as you know the excess skin is going to be everywhere, not just the tummy. It will be on the arms and legs (of course not as bad as on the tummy) but this same girl started weight lifting and she has no excess skin or anything on her arms at all.
The CDC recommends doing two toning exercises per week.
Personally I do the AbLounge (that I bought four years ago and just barely started using) at least once a week for a hundred to two hundred crunches. My goal is two hundred in twenty minutes while watching tv in sets of 25 reps each. And I do change positions so that I get all the target areas. Crunches or sit ups are the same difference but I have back and neck issues so I use the AbLounge. Also I do tightening of the abs in random places like while driving or in the line at the store or other random things. They're easiest for me to do while sitting.

People say that its dumb for fat people to do exercises like crunches and stuff cause we're too fat. But that's dumb logic cause if you don't try to turn your fat into muscle then its gonna be flab and we'll have the excess skin. So its killing two birds with one stone cause we're exercising which loses the weight and tones the fat into muscle.
Fat is in the same skin on the same bones that the muscle is--the goal is to turn it around. And yes the skin is attached to that fat that's attached to the muscle so its gonna change as well.
And really its not the excess skin that's the problem, its the fat cells that have nothing to attach themselves to. If you don't tone the fat into muscle is going to hang cause it essentially doesn't know what is going on--its like the result of starvation mode. The body just freaks out and does stuff you don't want. So exercise it and feed it information of what you want it to do and it will do it. If you lay around and don't give it guidance is just gonna hang around, too.

Edies Mommy.
I suggest doing the 10 minute workouts. Netflix has many exercise videos that are for ten minutes at a stretch. Me and my daughter just did three different videos cause we want to work out in front of the living room air conditioner this summer instead of complaining its too hot to work out outside.
We also do the shake weight (we modify the workouts cause we're weaklings).
Our goal is Zumba but we're so not there yet.
My personal favorite is the pick your level Pilates (I found it on netflix). It is really informative on the actual movements your body is supposed to do. It goes a little fast at first but there's nothing wrong with staring at the people and not moving so that you can learn the movements correctly. My daughter for example doesn't raise her arms as high as the instructors but she says that it hurts less to have them lower. I know over time she'll increase her ability and that's the point. (she's only eight but very very very nonathletic)

TheFitHooker

Start doing cardio now, when I started I had 130-135lbs to lose I'm down 116.5 right now. My stomach is getting flatter, no loose skin, Cardio is the only real thing besides surgery to get rid of belly fat...

I've been doing the P90X program - would that qualify as cardio? Thanks!

I think p90x is a mixture of strength, abs and cardio, I've never done it but I think it'll help a lot. I also agree with slowly losing, the slower the better in so many areas not just because of belly sag.

felcandy

I'm curious what stretch marks will do once the skin starts tightening up. do they stay but less visible or do they dimple up or what?

Elizabeth_C34

I'm curious what stretch marks will do once the skin starts tightening up. do they stay but less visible or do they dimple up or what?

Mine have gotten less noticeable as my skin firmed up. I have a lot of stretch marks on my arms and lower back. They will get a little less noticeable but there's not much you can do.

nasja1984

Im fairly new to this journey. (About 30 days) I have 160 pounds to lose and i am really scared about losing the weight and then having a stomach "pouch" Is there anything I can do now to help me get a flat stomach. It doesnt have to be super flat but I don't want excess skin hanging over my pants. Plastic surgery would not be an option.

yes-this is a very good question. Don't lose more than 2 pounds a week maximum. Start taking vitamins for your skin now, drink lots of water from now on. You look fairly young...the slower you lose it, the less the skin issue will be. it can take years for the skin to catch up. Bariatric patients would have the biggest issue with this. Just read everything you can on the subject.

LatinaPuppyLover

I was wondering the same thing. I have 3 kids so my lower abdomen is BADDD, I'm scared is only gonna get worser when I lose the weight.

nasja1984

Im fairly new to this journey. (About 30 days) I have 160 pounds to lose and i am really scared about losing the weight and then having a stomach "pouch" Is there anything I can do now to help me get a flat stomach. It doesnt have to be super flat but I don't want excess skin hanging over my pants. Plastic surgery would not be an option.

I forgot to add. At some point, when you feel comfortable, add weight/strength training. This helps too.

SexyCook

Since you are trying to lose a great bit...I would say go for more Cardio and pair it up with 15-20min strength training..that way it will balance out....It is possible to shape while losing....

GodsyGirl

Thanks. I am trying to lose the weight slowly. I hear when you do it slowly it usually will stay off longer. I will start to incorporate strength training. Thanks for the tips guys

wonderkitten711

Strength train in addition to cardio. Keep yourself hydrated. Take vitamins. Moisturize. Lose Slowly. I have a total of 160 to lose myself, and have lost 56 of it, and I'm not horribly worried about loose skin so far. I'll notice some, and then a couple of weeks to a month later I notice it startingt to tighten up. Age and genetics play a factor, but nothing harmed by helping out with the things I listed above

Oh, and in response to someone else's question about stretch marks, mine are shrinking and getting much less noticeable as I shrink

LinaBo

Hi Mhegwood,

Without seeing a body shot of you as you are, currently, I can't tell how far away you are from a flat stomach. Based on the amount of weight you have to lose, though, it will likely take some time. I myself start seeing a flattish stomach around 210 lbs, but I'm pear-shaped and don't carry so much around my middle. You cannot spot-train any fatty area, you can only spot-train muscle. It will help you build nice, firm curves and a flat tummy if you build all of your muscles, especially abdominal muscles, to have something firm and shapely to show through as you lose the overlaying fat. Burning more calories than you take in is the only non-surgical way to lose that fat, though, and your body is going to shed it from all over, according to your own genetics.

I'm worried about the excess skin when I lose the weight, too, but having been around a very supportive, natural weightlifting/weight loss forum before (I used to lift, and was a heck of a lot more fit, back in the day. I also previously lost 70 lbs), this question came up a lot amongst people who went from being obese to getting really "ripped". What seems to work best for getting the skin to shrink back as much as possible is to lose all extra body fat, as any padding that you could stand to lose gives the excess skin something to cling to. When that extra fat is gone and you have really leaned out and built supporting muscle (because excess skin will also be worse if you are a bone rack from not having built up your lean muscle mass), the skin has nothing filling it that makes it droop in "pouches" so much; it has to adhere more to your frame.

I definitely think there's a point where you can get too big to have the skin FULLY shrink back. I haven't found anyone with a loss greater than 140 lbs who hasn't had some loose skin remaining. Heavily stretchmarked skin doesn't seem to shrink back as well, as stretchmarks are evidence that the skin has been pushed beyond its elasticity. Other factors such as age and genetics can also play a role, as well as nutrition (feeding you body the nutrients and water that it needs as you lose weight will help your skin shrink better, and regular moisturizing doesn't hurt! Cocoa butter is your friend!). That said, I think there are too may people going under the knife for loose skin, who could've shrunk it back without surgery if they just lost more body fat and built some more muscle, and had some patience. I know that I would rather have patience than nasty scars running around my body from that kind of surgery.

This is the Facebook page for Elizabeth Hronek: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ElizaFIT-Elizabeth-Hronek/150720244971579?ref=ts This lady is my current "fitspo" (Fitspiration. I don't do Thinspiration, because I believe a woman who is skinny but lacking in muscle isn't very good looking at all). Check out her before and after photos! You will be AMAZED. She lost 140 lbs and is now a personal trainer and fitness competitor, and looks SUPER HOT. Virtually no loose skin, and a few stretchmarks that to me are only noticeable due to the spray tan she sports when she's competing. This is the kind of "leaned out" physique I was refering to, that gets that loose skin to shrink back as much as possible.

michellekicks

You know... when you get to where you've lost 160 lbs, I think worrying about a little extra belly wiggle is a very small thing. Whatever you look like by the end will be amazing!

delco714

i went from 215 to 168 and i am at my goal weight... loose skin on my lower "pouch". And there are stretch marks there big time. That will never go away unless I have surgery for it.

Remember, how quick you gain the weight and lose the weight are key on top of the natural elasticity of your skin.

My skin is tough, not very elastic, thus my dilemma.

jg627

I've read that tanning actually helps. I don't tan, only fry. We fear the sun.

MommyRobin

I think skin sag depends on a lot of things-- how long you've been overweight (the longer, the more likely it will be saggy), your age (skin loses elasticity with age), genetics (affect everything), speed of loss (more prevalent with bypass surgeries, for example), musculature (more muscles, more stuff to fill out the skin--in a simplification). I've read it can take up to a year after reaching goal weight for your skin to stop shrinking, which would then be the point where you would contemplate surgery.

^^^this^^^ Well said.

_hi_hat3r_

The only way to get a flat stomach and/or avoid loose skin is through diet. Cardio is really not needed. If anything statt lifting some weights and maintain whatever lean mass you have rt now. Cocoa butter and time will help with the skin as well.

Umeboshi

The best advice I can give... learn to love your body, excess skin, fat, stretch marks... everything.

melhayes1115

From what I understand, the key is to lose slowly. I know everyone wants the weight gone as soon as possible, but if you lose at a slow and steady pace, you are more likely not to have the loose skin.

CookieCrumble

The best advice I can give... learn to love your body, excess skin, fat, stretch marks... everything.

I agree with this. I've yo-yo dieted all of my life, with zero positive effect, until I came here. I love what you've put as your motivation - "Focused this time!". That is it, that's all you need to get your mind into gear and motivate yourself. You can do this.

I'm currently 264 pounds down from 327. I'm lifting weights and am seeing fantastic results even at the high weight I'm at. Maybe I'll have some loose skin further down the line but it won't be as much as it could be if I sit around eating lettuce leafs and not working my body. That's what I'm focusing on. This is a long journey and I'm committed to it, come what may. So I'll go to the gym, eat properly and drink water, swim and generally move more... and while I'm doing all that I'll add in doing other things that I want to do, that make me happy, and TRUST THE PROCESS.

You can do this, I'm so pleased for you because I know you'll do it and you're going to look amazing. Any body 'defects' you worry about now will fade into insignificance when you start getting fitter, smaller and healthier - no matter how far away you are from your goal. I promise you this. I feel fitter and healthier now than I ever have and, if I didn't lose another pound, not another ounce, I would still have the way I feel now which is so much better than I felt before - so a win/win.

Enjoy the process and trust in it - once you set the dials to 'go-go-go', nothing and nobody will stop you. I'm rooting for you! :flowerforyou:

GodsyGirl

thanks guys for all the support and suggestions I really appreciate it!