Stretchmarks, they keep bugging me!

So, i accepted the fact that they will never go away but there also lies my frustration.

Now that i am working out alot and eating clean i slowly starting to see the lines in my stomache, at the side, beyond the fat and in a distance i can actually see my abs coming but i also see the marks.

Mine are the same colour as my skin but they are deep and long, i got a couple that start at the bottom of my belly to half way my belly.

What even frustrates me more that i know a couple guy who have beer bellies that are triple the size my belly ever was and they dont have a single strechmark.

:( everytime when i am in front of the mirror is see those deep,wide and long inside out scars.

Could someone cheer me up about this?

And.. any guy out there who is now ripped and have em and do you have a photo?

I am sorry to put out my frustration here but i don't have anyone irl to talk about this.
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Replies

  • Jillbaby1972
    Jillbaby1972 Posts: 12 Member
    I think anyone who has battled losing weight has stretch marks. I can't help you except to say I understand. and you are not alone.
  • elprincipito
    elprincipito Posts: 1,200 Member
    oh yes i have plenty. They are not really visible though. They are light now like white. I really don't mind them at all. Never did actually.
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
    cocoa butter helps...that's what I used when I was pregnant.....
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    I have them horribly too. My yo yo weight gain and losses doesn't really help. All you can really do is accept them once they fade. I promise they aren't as noticeable to other people as they are to you.
  • GamerGurl729
    GamerGurl729 Posts: 286 Member
    Unfortunately genetics also play a part in whether you'll get them or not. You're one of the unlucky ones, like me, who are prone to get them. There's not much that can be done about them but eventually they do fade and become less noticeable. The truth is though you probably notice them a lot more than anyone else because you're more conscious of them.

    I'm sorry that you have to deal with them, but like Jill said you're not alone.
  • Call them a badge of honor! You have them to show because you were heavy and now aren't. Everyone has flaws, a bit of character is all it amounts to.
  • GamerGurl729
    GamerGurl729 Posts: 286 Member
    Call them a badge of honor! You have them to show because you were heavy and now aren't. Everyone has flaws, a bit of character is all it amounts to.

    Love this! What a great way to think of them.
  • drusilla126
    drusilla126 Posts: 478 Member
    I have them on my belly and my arms. Hate them to no end but what can be done?
  • Koryuu
    Koryuu Posts: 27 Member
    At least yours are skin colored. ^^ Mine are purpley.
  • tigers have stripes
    leopards have spots
    you have stretch marks.

    no ones going to look at them once your ripped... and even if they do, all they will be able to say is "congratulations you must have lost some serious weight"
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    They will get less and less noticeable over time - I promise. I had the scariest looking ones during my first pregnancy, as in - they looked like a wild animal had clawed my stomach, and it was bleeding. (No - not actually bleeding, but it looked like it was!!)

    Now I really have to look for them to notice them. Time really does improve them.

    Moisturizing helps, or so they say (I was too lazy to bother, LOL!)
  • I feel your pain....I've had stretch marks since before puberty. I was 97 lbs and had growth spurt and shot up to 5'10 very quickly. I was the only painfully skinny kid I knew who had stretch marks from growing in height. Now the my weight had more then doubled, I have them everywhere.....I hate them!! Vitamin E oil helps them fade.
  • Sandraleigh87
    Sandraleigh87 Posts: 52 Member
    I have them too and let me tell ya, they've never scared off a single soul! I've had 2 kids and have them on my chest, stomach, and thighs. You are perfect the way that you are. Confidence is sexy!! Love em!!
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    Think about it this way, probably 95% of the population has stretch marks. And do you know what everyone else is thinking about? Their OWN stretch marks, not yours. Accept them and work on becoming ripped with some washboard abs. No one will think once about some stretch marks.
  • FaithInAes
    FaithInAes Posts: 54 Member
    I have tons. I got a lot when I was growing up because I gained a lot of weight pretty quickly, then I had a baby and they only got worse. They are very dark but eventually they do fade. I always tell myself that I may not have perfect skin but I can have a perfect body and that motivates me to workout and keep pushing on!
  • cm1458
    cm1458 Posts: 742 Member
    I have a lot of stretchmarks too. I have them pretty much all over, even in the bends of my arms (opposite side elbow). Some of them are really big/noticeable, but I don't allow mine to bother me anymore. I don't think I know anyone who doesn't have any stretchmarks. They will fade and become less noticeable. Look at them as a reminder of where you've been, where you are never going again, and what you have been through. It's normal to feel insecure about them but the best thing to do is accept your body and embrace your flaws. Everyone has them. :) don't worry
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    I have them too and let me tell ya, they've never scared off a single soul! I've had 2 kids and have them on my chest, stomach, and thighs. You are perfect the way that you are. Confidence is sexy!! Love em!!

    Oh and this too!

    Ignore your marks and everyone else will too.
  • Clarissia_Nicole
    Clarissia_Nicole Posts: 79 Member
    I have had them since I was like 14 and gained a lot of weight really fast. They have always bugged me to A LOT and I have always been self-conscious, NEVER took my shirt off in front of anyone, hid in the bathroom stall to change in the locker room in HS. It even caused me to be depressed cause I'd look at them and be like ewww anyone who sees this will be disgusted.
    Well now that Ive lost 30 lbs and am sooo much happier in general I really dont care about them anymore. I dont know what exactly it was that caused me to get over it, but it's like someone else said: They are probably a bigger deal/more noticable to you than anyone else. Also, I have used cocoa butter every day several times and I'm finally starting to see them fade. Eventually if you keep the skin moisturized they will fade but it takes time. There are also laser treatments available to reduce the appearance. Im considereing going in for consulting about getting that done, it's not too expensive depending on where you go and how many sittings you have to have. I think it was Katt Williams who said "If you have stretch marks it means either one of two things: either you were skinny and got fat, or you were fat and got skinny." Really unless you get them laser removed, theres nothing you can do and you should try to just love your body and not obsess over it cause I've been there and it didnt help anything.
  • Ninatoots
    Ninatoots Posts: 192 Member
    Being that your young you have a better chanse that they will fade with time. I have some and I'm older and I have other things like the shrivled prune look!
  • ChristaFall
    ChristaFall Posts: 62 Member
    The other day I was in a class at the gym and I noticed the guy in front of me had a lot on his arms. The ONLY thought that came into my head is "man, he must've been heavy at one point and lost A LOT of weight, good for him!" I agree with the previous posters that it's a badge of honor. This guy is in great shape, and I never would have known that he was ever overweight at one time in his life..
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
    I have them too and let me tell ya, they've never scared off a single soul! I've had 2 kids and have them on my chest, stomach, and thighs. You are perfect the way that you are. Confidence is sexy!! Love em!!

    Oh and this too!

    Ignore your marks and everyone else will too.

    Yes. As much as I've grimaced as my own stretch marks, I've never heard any of my friends (male or female) blow someone off for stretch marks. Either I have saintly friends (I KNOW that's not the case) or stretch marks don't grab others' attention as much as they grab our own.

    Personally, I've come to terms with my stretch marks. I got my breasts in the 3rd grade, so I've had them for awhile (the breasts and the stretch marks). It's the loose skin I fear!
  • I developed stretch marks on my stomach when I gained 30 pounds in nursing school. At 1st they were dark and I hates them. Now they are light and I kind of like the smooth feel of them. I also never minded the stretch marks on my breast. Don't worry, they will fade and will not bother you as much.
  • stretch-marks-are-tiger-stripes.jpg&w=300&h=200&a=c&zc=1&q=90
  • My son used Myderma cream and I was amazed at the results!! He is very happy. It's pricey (about $38 per tube at Walmart) but he was glad he used it. Might try it if the stretchmarks bug you.
  • clobercow
    clobercow Posts: 337 Member
    Stretch marks can look awesome when you're really lean.
  • Flowers4Julia
    Flowers4Julia Posts: 521 Member
    What can I add to so much great support! If I were in love with a guy and he had stretch marks....wouldn't matter a damn bit!

    :blushing:

    Don't worry about a thing! They are a badge of honor!
  • Hey so I too have LOTS of stretch marks. They depend on lots of things such as your skin type and your genetics but I find most of all your age plays into effect.
    I was looking online for a solution myself and lots of people say BioOil and Cocoa Butter work (they don't).
    I finally found something that made total sense and I tried it. It works but very slowly.
    You will need:

    Pure Coconut Oil (find it at any health store or online) OR Extra Virgin Olive Oil if you can't find any Coconut Oil
    Coarse Dark Coffee Grounds
    Saran Wrap
    Heating Blanket (optional)

    Okay so you mix the coffee and oil together to make a thick paste (you can add vitamin E oil or lotion if you want) and rub it all over the parts where you have stretch marks. I have only done it on my stomach but you could do your arms or legs too. Then wrap the Saran Wrap around it really tight. I read that if you have a heating blanket to use that to heat the parts that are wrapped (ie. take a nap or just lay in bed or just lay down anywhere). I haven't tried with a heating blanket but apparently it helps it along faster. Keep the wrap on for about 30 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. The coffee helps to stimulate the skin and the coconut oil helps to improve the elasticity of the skin and even it out.

    I have done this once and I noticed #1 how smooth my skin was and #2 how the redness in my stretch marks was virtually gone. They had turned whiter. You are supposed to do this once a week.

    Hopefully this works for you. It does take time. Good luck!
  • RotterdamNL
    RotterdamNL Posts: 509 Member
    Wow, alot of replies :) Yesterday when i looked after 2 hours not a single reply and got bumped to the second page and now i check and so many replies, thanks.

    It probably has to do alot with insecurity, when i was a teen i was quite a populair guy(and i don't mean this in any bragging way) alot girls always liked me, that is probably also the reason i suck at hitting on someone because they always hit on me and now i suck at it.
    Now that i am getting a little bit older and after a couple very bad relationships i really find everything hard. In my country people are really really obcessed with looks, i know it's the time that people are way to obcessed with looks but over here they are even worse. I am a very loving person but if you read my profile with a very rough past.

    I just want to meet that special one you know but all i have in my mind is they so obcessed with looks and once they see the stretchmarks they might be like, disgusted or something. I know love is about more than looks but lately i am doubting if this is still the case because it sure doesn't seem like that.

    And when i see this thick wide and deep lines running under my skin and also bodywise not where i want to be yet right now, just makes me insecure i guess.

    At the moment a couple girls are attrackted to me, not for a relationship, they only want to be "friends with benefits" they see my face and they are like, cute//handsome face (again, not my words) but than in my thoughts they expecting a body to go with it and i am afraid to fail their expectations plus i dont know lately if i even want to have friends for just the benifits, i know, alot of guys already told me that i am crazy but i am just not like that anymore.
  • cmcorn26
    cmcorn26 Posts: 253 Member
    I dated a guy who was super ripped, Imagine my surprise when I saw stretch marks! I asked him, he said he had been about 40 pounds heavier at one time. They didn't bother me a bit, I liked their location! Hee hee.....
  • BamsieEkhaya
    BamsieEkhaya Posts: 657 Member
    my best friend complains about her stretch marks that are lighter than her skin, on her bum and barely visible...me ? I'm blessed with huge dark purple lines all around my hips, that get worse towards my back...therefore I'm going to have to bump this for tips

    (do try palmers scar serum! used it on chaffing scars on my thighs - but I hate the smell, and its so hard to spread so small areas like that its great...plus it stops the chaffing !)