Question about stretch marks

skinnytayy
skinnytayy Posts: 459
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not at my goal weight yet (see ticker) but I'm just curious about stretchmarks. For those of you that have lost a significant amount of weight (I guess 50lbs or more), how bad/noticeable are the stretchmarks? I'm only 20 so I figure I have that on my side and I only have 80lbs altogether to lose so it could be worse but I'm worried about my stomach. I mean I know genetics play a big part but I'm just wondering if its even possible for me to have a nice, flat stomach without them being super noticeable. I plan on working to get some abs once I get rid of the fat .. would that help with hiding them if I do end up with them? I mean I have some now but it seems like they are fading away some. To those of you that DO have stretch marks, is there anything to use to help decrease the appearance of them? I don't mind the flat white/silver marks so much .. its the valley type stretchmarks that annoy me.

Feel free to share pictures too ... Just want an idea of what to expect.

Replies

  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    It is mostly genetics. Mine really aren't so bad ... almost 19 months after my youngest child, down 95 pounds from my highest weight. My stomach is about 1/2 stretch marks, but they have faded to silvery, not really noticeable. As for the flat stomach, I'm giving it time, the skin seems to be slowly getting better.
  • jgcurry3
    jgcurry3 Posts: 172 Member
    cocoa butter helps reduce appearance of stretch marks. But in the words of Kat Williams, we don't care about stretch marks. Either you small and got big, or you were big and got small.
  • jasmineconley
    jasmineconley Posts: 438 Member
    cocoa butter helps reduce appearance of stretch marks. But in the words of Kat Williams, we don't care about stretch marks. Either you small and got big, or you were big and got small.


    OMG I think I love him
  • skinnytayy
    skinnytayy Posts: 459
    What's more important, being at a healthy weight, or having stretch marks? pick one.

    Never said anything about choosing one or the other. I'd have stretch marks either way. All I asked was if they'd fade, could be hidden some if i had abs, and what would help reduce the appearance. I'd never give up my health over stretch marks .. or anything really.
  • skinnytayy
    skinnytayy Posts: 459
    cocoa butter helps reduce appearance of stretch marks. But in the words of Kat Williams, we don't care about stretch marks. Either you small and got big, or you were big and got small.

    Love that. Actually made me feel a little better. I think I just notice them because I know they are there.
  • tatd_820
    tatd_820 Posts: 573 Member
    I was worried about stretch marks too I am 5'9" and my heaviest was 250. I've had 2 babies and for the last 7 years I've been big. The stretch marks on my tummy were all during pregnancy (most of them anyways). I am so pleased with how my tummy has come along in this process. I will add that in my younger, skinny days I always had a flat stomach with big butt and legs. So, it may all be genetics. I don't know. My mom has stretch marks and both of my sisters do but to me they aren't really noticeable. Then again, they are my loved ones so I'm biased to them! Here's a pic of my tummy from a few weeks back. I can see the stretch marks...they are there but with a little sun this summer, they might "blend" in more???

    Wish you well with your journey!

    photo_zps0453c6fc.jpg[/URL]
  • skinnytayy
    skinnytayy Posts: 459
    I was worried about stretch marks too I am 5'9" and my heaviest was 250. I've had 2 babies and for the last 7 years I've been big. The stretch marks on my tummy were all during pregnancy (most of them anyways). I am so pleased with how my tummy has come along in this process. I will add that in my younger, skinny days I always had a flat stomach with big butt and legs. So, it may all be genetics. I don't know. My mom has stretch marks and both of my sisters do but to me they aren't really noticeable. Then again, they are my loved ones so I'm biased to them! Here's a pic of my tummy from a few weeks back. I can see the stretch marks...they are there but with a little sun this summer, they might "blend" in more???

    Wish you well with your journey!

    photo_zps0453c6fc.jpg[/URL]

    You look fantastic! It took me a minute to even see them and the only reason I did is probably because I knew they were there. Lol. Thank you!! I'm hoping once I build some muscle and everything tightens up that they won't be noticeable. I have stretch marks on my hips/thighs that came during my teenager years that aren't noticeable at all unless you pull at my skin and know they are there. Especially when I tan though some people say tanning makes stretch marks more noticeable. Guess its different for everyone. Lol. Fingers crossed my stomach will be the same.
  • fight_for_fit
    fight_for_fit Posts: 137
    I've lost 60 lbs so far and my stretch marks are a little more noticeable. People always suggest things like Coco butter or Bio-oil. TO be honest I've tried them all none of them have worked. I wouldn't worry too much about them though. My sister who has never been heavier than 120 in her life still has stretch marks. With time as your skin starts to rebound and you gain some muscle the appearance should be a little less noticeable. If not, then you just wear them proud as a reminder of how far you've come.
  • Autumn11xD
    Autumn11xD Posts: 1 Member
    cocoa butter helps reduce appearance of stretch marks. But in the words of Kat Williams, we don't care about stretch marks. Either you small and got big, or you were big and got small.

    LOl this is a good one
  • Docmahi
    Docmahi Posts: 1,603 Member
    ive lost a lot of weight - but I have done it all with weight lifting primarily

    I used to have a lot of stretch marks on my upper legs (*kitten*) and abdomen, but they have all dissappeared pretty much I started tops around 270 im about 190 now, In fact I have developed some new ones in my axilla just from the increase in size of my shoulders/traps/chest. That being said my weight loss has been a lot more slow and steady and I did maintain for a couple months at 215-220.

    but I think a lot of it is genetics, and age - I don't know of any specific products that have been shown to actually help with skin elastics
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    ITS NOT GENETICS AND COCOA BUTTER DOESNT WORK
  • vickiessecret
    vickiessecret Posts: 119 Member
    I got all of my stretch marks on my stomach from my 3 pregnancies, even though I have 66lbs to get to my very 1st prepregnancy weight, they faded alot. I can deal with stretchmarks for the rest of my life, I just want to lose this weight & get into shape. I tried every kind of lotion possible while pregnant & I still got them..it's genetics. They say cocoa butter will help, I think it helps with moisturizing the skin. The marks will fade :)
  • sc10985
    sc10985 Posts: 347 Member
    The only thing that fades stretch marks is time. They will get better, and the texture gets better as you get in better shape. I definitelythink strength training is important for this because if you only lose pounds and don't gain muscle your skin will appear looser and the stretch marks will look worse. Case in point: I lost all of my baby weight within a year with little to no exercise and my stomach looked terrible. Since I've been working out and have lost an additional 10lbs they look A LOT better. Still not great, but getting there!!
  • mls3brts
    mls3brts Posts: 1
    https://www.facebook.com/itworksglobal
  • skinnytayy
    skinnytayy Posts: 459
    What's more important, being at a healthy weight, or having stretch marks? pick one.

    Never said anything about choosing one or the other. I'd have stretch marks either way. All I asked was if they'd fade, could be hidden some if i had abs, and what would help reduce the appearance. I'd never give up my health over stretch marks .. or anything really.

    I am just trying to say, why are you concerned about them? No one cares about them. I am sure you seen women with stretch marks did yous ay "ewww look at her stretch marks?" They don't really matter. I lost 191lbs. here are mine
    20130424_192502.jpg

    They are my battle wounds.

    Thanks for sharing the picture ... Not bad especially for loosing 191lbs.
    I wouldn't say i'm necessarily concerned ... more curious then anything. But if there is something i can do to prevent them or help fade them, I'd like to know ... I mean, nobody says "oh wow, i wish i had stretch marks." They aren't really attractive. But no I don't look down on people that have them. I will say that I like how you referred to them as your battle wounds. If mine don't go away/fade or i get more, I'll try to learn to embrace them and think of them in that sense.

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