Do you feel skinny even with the extra skin?

tabithajoyy

HI everyone!

I have lost 80lbs and i am getting pretty close to goal weight. I know i have come a long long way but i still cant help but look down at my tummy and feel FAT still. I know its mainly skin but there is some fat under there i am sure. I have a split gut tummy so i fear i will never have that beautiful toned V zone. I fear i will always have to pull my pants over my skin/flub or hide it somehow. I know you can go the surgical route but i dont think that will be possible for a very long time. I am working on core right now and lifting so im hoping over time itll somewhat get better. Anyway, the question is...How many of you still have a hard time feeling thin with all the extra skin? Have you gotten past it, is so, how? Etc I sometimes dont feel any different than 80 lbs ago. I mean i certainly would rather have this over weighing 80lbs more again but its still hard to get your mind to catch up.

Here are a couple pictures of my skin/flab (these were taken maybe a month ago, the blue shirt one was take a wk ago)







I look much thinner in clothes & that's why people always say you look great dont lose anymore etc

dreamin2bethin

Girl, I completely understand. I usually don't feel skinny with all of my skin flab I am working hard with cardio and 30DS I hope it gets smaller or disappears haha

pilatemom

I just had a baby and have 35 pounds to lose. I'm POSITIVE I'll have loose skin because it's already sagging and I'm still FAT. I have a million stretchmarks, that are awful, dark red and purple and COVERING my entire stomach. But to answer your question, yes I probably will still feel fat.

soliddreams

I've lost 130 pounds (then gained some back the right way) but I can be really, really lean and then look at myself and see the drooping skin and just be like "SO FAT".

My skin has slowly recovered over time, a lot of it is going to be time+eating healthy foods so it doesn't have an excuse to go back to flab.

skinnybitchbarbie27

God, I wish I had a better answer. I only feel like "me" when I have a shaper on. My doc already told me easily I have 10lbs of skin even with my heavy lifting routine. I look at myself in the mirror and cry (literally). Not only did I hurt my organs and body from the weight, but until I can afford it I will have this disgusting reminder everyday that I REALLY f*cked up. I feel like it is laughing at me. Taunting me. "you'll never get the body you want" it tells me. I beat it with ab workouts and heavy lifting. It still laughs at me. "I am not going anywhere" as I strap it down with a shaper.

I hope this changes but for now all I see is a 300lb person I used to be and not the person I am today. I try positive affirmations but it is so hard with this skin.

erinnstreeter

Moms out there: this site might make you feel better.

http://theshapeofamother.com/

dreamin2bethin

God, I wish I had a better answer. I only feel like "me" when I have a shaper on. My doc already told me easily I have 10lbs of skin even with my heavy lifting routine. I look at myself in the mirror and cry (literally). Not only did I hurt my organs and body from the weight, but until I can afford it I will have this disgusting reminder everyday that I REALLY f*cked up. I feel like it is laughing at me. Taunting me. "you'll never get the body you want" it tells me. I beat it with ab workouts and heavy lifting. It still laughs at me. "I am not going anywhere" as I strap it down with a shaper.

I hope this changes but for now all I see is a 300lb person I used to be and not the person I am today. I try positive affirmations but it is so hard with this skin.

Oh gosh, you nailed it. At least you have us ladies that can support you and plus we know what it is like to have the extra skin flab

cmriverside

OP, you look fantastic! I don't notice any of that skin in the blue-shirt pictures. Great job.

It does take a while for your brain to catch up. For me, it was buying size 10s. That day I spent a lot of time in front of the mirror.

Don't terrorize yourself with your own thoughts! (That's for the poster with all the negative voices in her head)

jr1985

The seaweed wraps really do help to tighten up loose skin... so does using spanx regularly. Good luck and great job on your weightloss!

Mamabrandyk

I am in the same exact boat. Four kids and weight gain, and now loss has left my tummy looking exactly like yours. After losing this much weight you want to have a perfect hot bod but like you said, I would rather have a less than perfect tummy than the pounds. SO make the best of it, focus on how far you have came, how good you look in your clothes. Focus on your nice arms or legs or whatever your favorite part of your body is. Congratulations on your weight loss, enjoy it!

georgie304

Same problem. 125 lbs lost and have ALOT of loose skin...but I see it as fat! With clothes... I am lookin goooood... Nekkid..not so much.

Sjb_882

wow 80 lbs is a huge accomplishment ! congrats. I can't relate because my HW is 150 and my ugw is 125. Is surgery an option? I wouldn't want surgery but what are your options to get rid of the skin?

slamb1020

I just had a baby and have 35 pounds to lose. I'm POSITIVE I'll have loose skin because it's already sagging and I'm still FAT. I have a million stretchmarks, that are awful, dark red and purple and COVERING my entire stomach. But to answer your question, yes I probably will still feel fat.

Blahhhhhhhhhh this is my sam problem. after i had my daughter i was 225. my cw is 164 & my goal is 150. but i feel no matter what i do or how much i lose i will still feel overweight and gross bc of my stomach im too young for the surgical route (25) but i am not happy with it! just a bummer!

abnerner

If it helps at all, I think you look gorgeous and you should be so proud of yourself.

Give it time, that skin will start to tighten up, i've heard lots of water and core work helps.

triinityz

Maybe we could all get a group discount on tummy tucks... I need one for the flappy arm thing too!

tabithajoyy

Same problem. 125 lbs lost and have ALOT of loose skin...but I see it as fat! With clothes... I am lookin goooood... Nekkid..not so much.

I want to look sexy naked! I want to be able to have a flat tummy (not even asking for a 6pk), i wanna wear a bikini, i want my belly button pierced, i want to have that sexy "V"! Someday maybe....

tabithajoyy

Blahhhhhhhhhh this is my same problem. after i had my daughter i was 225. my cw is 164 & my goal is 150. but i feel no matter what i do or how much i lose i will still feel overweight and gross bc of my stomach im too young for the surgical route (25) but i am not happy with it! just a bummer!

I was 225lbs after having my son too. He is now 20 months old. I am now 145lbs, wanting to be about 130....This stomach needs to get outta the way of me seeing just how much progress ive done. I almost wear a small in shirts & size 8 in pant but i still feel fat!

lindalou4850

I have lost about 50 lbs. I too have some loose skin. I also wish it would go away faster than it does. I am hoping by this summer it is a little better. I am alot older than you but I still want to look good!!
So Good Luck to all of us.

mandamommy3

In the same boat here too. Although most of my "extra" is hanging more so from my rear than my stomach area. I still have issues with that area though, I have noticed an improvement in the "apron" that hangs across my hips though. After walking for 5+ miles 4-5 times a week over the summer and now getting back into my Jillian dvds this past month. But to answer your question, no I still don't feel skinny, even though I have gone from a size 18 pants to an 8 this past year. Hoping I can get my mind to catch up soon too. HUGS!

jakidb

Right now I don't see a lot of "extra skin" per say...perhaps a lil' flab here and there but I feel "thinner" in spite of. 80lbs is a great accomplishment and though you say you "feel fat", you don't look fat. I would have to suggest trying to "tone" and tighten, with exercise, and if that does not produce the results, perhaps you can consult with a cosmetic surgeon when the money is right. Kudos for your accomplishments though and don't look at the negatives--you've achieved something tht some of us are still working on. You're beautiful

Tsmartin07

Ugh. I not only have that problem I also have saggy thigh skin I know this wont make you feel any better but you have AWESOME legs! At least you dont have both problems

tabithajoyy

Ugh. I not only have that problem I also have saggy thigh skin I know this wont make you feel any better but you have AWESOME legs! At least you dont have both problems

Thank you! I too have some inner thigh flab still but i am working on it & its the least of my worries. Some heavy lifting will fix that My main concerns are tummy, toosh, & somewhat thighs...The rest i want to lift heavy and tone and itll all fall into place

tabithajoyy

wow 80 lbs is a huge accomplishment ! congrats. I can't relate because my HW is 150 and my ugw is 125. Is surgery an option? I wouldn't want surgery but what are your options to get rid of the skin?

Surgery would be an option if i had the money, but i dont. So i need to do anything in my power to make it better through exercise, my diet & some lotion until maybe one day i have $

thenewmrsgant

I am down 117 and have quite a few more to go and I am noticing my skin (especially my stomach) looks kinda bad. I guess it's a "give and take" sort of situation...though it does suck. I hope to continue to tone up some....oh brother do I hope! :ohwell:

tippett610

Maybe we could all get a group discount on tummy tucks... I need one for the flappy arm thing too!

me, too!

cindaroses

Your body shape is just like mine. I haven't lost enough weight to know how my skin will look. You look awesome though!

turkeyhunter60

I am 60, started MFP and 'boot camp" in March. I started at 220#, now down to about 195. I look and feel worlds different, but as you show, I, too, have a layer of loose skin just hanging there at my waist. Hoefully, it will eventually shape up as well. 10# to goal weight. Let us know if you figure out how to lose that skin. You look great. Keep it up.

cuarrech

I, too have loose skin and I'm less than halfway there. With the stretch marks it looks like my stomach, boobs, backs of my knees and under my arms are covered in flappy pasty pink tree bark. I'm hopeful that future vigorous application of dermarolling, dry brushing, using a rubber roller, massage with those wooden nubbin things and the longer term effects of weight lifting and binding it up in elastic will take care of it. I keep thinking that causing tiny bits of damage to the skin like from dermarolling and massage and increasing lymph and blood flow should help at least. It'll be a while for me, but I will report back positive or negative. I wish you luck. It's no fun feeling floppy.

Gwilson939

I've read that if you take plenty of Omega 's and perhaps Omega 6's, then it will enable your skin to get it's elasticity back. I have a frind who was the director for the Zone Diet and he used to have plastic surgeons refer people to him to lose the weight, then they would go back to the doctor for the skin removal surgery (can't remember what that's called), but after he put them on high doses of the Omegas while they lost the weight, they never had to go back to the plastic surgeon for the tummy tuck surgery. Eventually they stopped referring people to him as it was cutting into their business.. My doctor who is monitoring my weight loss says that the Omegas are not harmful in the higher doses, as any extra that is not used by the body will just be expelled as you go to the bathroom. It's the vitamin A and D that is toxic in higher doses. So I say, Hey! What can it hurt and you can get a BIG bottle of it at Costco for cheap! I'll let you know how it does.. I've lost 5 lbs, although my doctor says it's more like 65, and although I have some saggy skin, I suspect that it could be worse without the Omegas that I try to remember to take, although I'm not 100 %, plus I have taken to rubbing coconut oil into my problem areas.. Another thing that cannot hurt.

meyerstwilight6

So here is the thing..I've been told any "loose skin" that you can pinch is still a bit of fat that needs to be worked on. Skin is very thin, consider the skin on the back of your hand or eyelids. I completely understand how you feel though. I had a baby 10 months ago and I have exactly what you've illustrated. I know I definitely need to keep plugging away at it! Good luck hun, you look amazing though. I wouldn't let it deter you.

cherbapp

Ok first of all...I sooo understand. I have a bigger hanging skin flap than you and I get it...I look in the mirror and only see fat. Even though everyone else says I look great.

It doesn't matter that they say it....they don't see me naked. I cover up good. I want to look in the mirror and think I look ok. Not even hoping for awesome...just ok. After losing 130 pounds, I wanna feel NOT fat.

Here's the deal....yes, it is true that JUST skin is only millimeters thick. However the fat deposits behind the skin in the belly area are extremely stubborn. My doctor said she wants to see me maintain, or at MAXIMUM lose 20 pounds. This would leave me with a healthy amount of body fat. The fat in my skin roll is not going away. I am losing body fat from elsewhere first. So it is unrealistic that the fat in the skin roll would ever be completely gone unless my body fat were below 10-15%. Pretty much unattainable for unathletic me.

Now I have basically zero fat left inside my abdominal muscles...it's all attached to the skin roll. The only way to get rid of it is with surgery. Which I have decided to do in January. I need to feel ok with myself. My flabby skin on my arms and chin...oh well...I don't expect to be perfect. But this roll off my belly is holding up the whole show!

Edited to add a photo....gross but maybe helpful?



And here's me...with clothes...(middle)...not bad, right? Except all I see is the fat skin roll hanging out under the bottom of my shirt and I wanna cry.