My fat has changed

happycauseIride
happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Yes this is a strange subject, but I thought I would share to see if this has happened to anyone else.

I have spent the last 4 years hovering around 280 pounds, but the fat on my body was solid. If I wear a sleeveless shirt, my arms are big but not flabby, my thighs were the same...solid, not cottage cheese looking. I'm not dense enough to think it's muscle, I know better then that. Now here I sit and I'm down 23 pounds in two months by working out and eating right, but my fat is different. I have lost over 4" off my hips alone, but everything is jiggly now. My arms are flabby and my legs are soft. I know there is muscle building under there, but I'm still 260 pounds so it will be a while before I see it. I've been doing lots of cardio with some light weights, interval training and aerobics. Nothing heavy yet. I might also add that I'm 37 yo, 5'6" female.

Has this happened to anyone else??
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Replies

  • marsellient
    marsellient Posts: 591 Member
    The short answer is yup! I read an explanation somewhere for this. I've noticed that I get particularly squishy before seeing a drop on the scales.
    Congratulations on a great start, btw!
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    Yes, I know exactly what you're saying. When I noticed it, I was told that the "under layer" (for lack of better words) the layer mostly surrounding organs etc. is the most dangerous type of fat and that is what you lose first. Leaving the top layer squishy! It's a good thing! lol
  • scagneti
    scagneti Posts: 707 Member
    Oh, yeah -- I went through that!

    I blamed that my skin had stretched and hadn't caught up with the weight loss. I compared it to having 10lbs of whatever in a sack built for 10lbs. Now take 2lbs out -- the stuff inside moves around.

    It's much better now :wink:
  • theresmynapkin
    theresmynapkin Posts: 183 Member
    not only what everyone else said, but your skin might not have shrunk yet... especially if you've lost the weight quickly. give your skin time to adapt :p
  • butterflyfairy2
    butterflyfairy2 Posts: 96 Member
    I have noticed that as well. I just commented to my husband yesterday that my fat around my belly feels different.
  • theresmynapkin
    theresmynapkin Posts: 183 Member
    oops hadn't read the one above me yet!! sorry for reiterating!
  • jazzyali
    jazzyali Posts: 78 Member
    bump
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    Yes!

    But it will change as you continue your ftness program.

    Now my body is firm again!
  • recee96
    recee96 Posts: 224 Member
    Yes, I know exactly what you're saying. When I noticed it, I was told that the "under layer" (for lack of better words) the layer mostly surrounding organs etc. is the most dangerous type of fat and that is what you lose first. Leaving the top layer squishy! It's a good thing! lol

    Oh that's good to know! I noticed the same in my arms and thighs!
  • JohnMessmer
    JohnMessmer Posts: 536
    It means it's working, good job!
  • gailmelanie
    gailmelanie Posts: 210 Member
    What she said ^. Your fat will appear jiggly until your skin shrinks around it, which may take a while, but don't be discouraged. Drink lots of water, eat high quality protein, green vegetables and high fiber foods. The combo of diet and exercise will keep you looking good. Don't be afraid of the heavy weights, either. You'll see results quickly and be stronger faster once you start going up with the weights. That will firm things up, too. And you will never look like a body builder, if you're worried about that, because that takes special eating, working out all the time and maybe even illegal hormones for a woman to look that way. As hard as you can work, you will still look like a healthy, toned, strong woman. Go, girl!
  • cheninaerin
    cheninaerin Posts: 86
    Science wise, it makes sense because you can never LOSE the fat cells your body makes when you gain weight. They only shrink. As they shrink, you'll probably feel squishier because the cells are less full, which is a good thing. Makes way for muscle :)
  • tessa175
    tessa175 Posts: 170 Member
    It's good to know I'm not crazy. I was just thinking the same thing yesterday. I also started around 280 and am down 27lbs, things just jiggle around right now...
  • Tricialew32
    Tricialew32 Posts: 96 Member
    This is not the first time I've read about this on MFP but it's the first time I've experienced it! Just last week I noticed how squishy I've gotten and from all the responses from the other threads, I'm actually kind of excited about that...progress, right?
  • BSchoberg
    BSchoberg Posts: 712 Member
    Me, too! It's sort of discouraging, but I figure winter is coming and I can cover up while my body continues to change! LOL
  • happycauseIride
    happycauseIride Posts: 536 Member
    Thank goodness. I really thought I was nuts. Thank you all for your support. I guess i should look at it as its just another motivator to keep going. Woo hoo!
  • cork1961
    cork1961 Posts: 14 Member
    Well - this is a relief! I was getting worried! Thanks for all the posts on this issue!!!
  • ChristyMomx3
    ChristyMomx3 Posts: 176
    I have noticed this as well. I have a lot of belly fat and I have lost 2 inches there but only 11lbs over all. I figure the fat underneath is shrinking and the skin has to catch up. I take it as a good thing.
  • SarahJCotton
    SarahJCotton Posts: 8
    I was trying to tell someone about this the other day, I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not! Glad to find out I'm not! :D
  • ewestsca
    ewestsca Posts: 63 Member
    I noticed the other day that my stomach looked different. Glad that I wasn't imagining it.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    Yes this is a strange subject, but I thought I would share to see if this has happened to anyone else.

    I have spent the last 4 years hovering around 280 pounds, but the fat on my body was solid. If I wear a sleeveless shirt, my arms are big but not flabby, my thighs were the same...solid, not cottage cheese looking. I'm not dense enough to think it's muscle, I know better then that. Now here I sit and I'm down 23 pounds in two months by working out and eating right, but my fat is different. I have lost over 4" off my hips alone, but everything is jiggly now. My arms are flabby and my legs are soft. I know there is muscle building under there, but I'm still 260 pounds so it will be a while before I see it. I've been doing lots of cardio with some light weights, interval training and aerobics. Nothing heavy yet. I might also add that I'm 37 yo, 5'6" female.

    Has this happened to anyone else??

    My body changed quite a bit as I lost fat. Weight lifting is very important for many reasons. I write about my experience with weight loss and building muscle here --> http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/740340-i-lost-60-lbs-at-age-51-anyone-can-any-workout and http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/752246-i-m-afraid-to-try-an-new-weight-lifting-program-now
  • nicolio8699
    nicolio8699 Posts: 141 Member
    i am a floppy skin sack these days. lol. but, heyyyy! i suppose it's better than being 3 bills? ;)<3<3n-
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    Yes, I know exactly what you're saying. When I noticed it, I was told that the "under layer" (for lack of better words) the layer mostly surrounding organs etc. is the most dangerous type of fat and that is what you lose first. Leaving the top layer squishy! It's a good thing! lol

    That's interesting! I feel like i'm fatter, but i'm not! I blame having 2 children close together, but maybe that's just made it worse!
  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
    Yep some of us, myself included, get a squishy and it sucks. It's my damn belly and under arm(more sideboob area).
  • uncarvedblock
    uncarvedblock Posts: 35 Member
    Thanks for asking about this, I've been wondering too. My upper arms and thighs are noticably less solid and my stomach is all squishy. It's all good if it's positive :)
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    My husband told me that my butt jiggle has a jiggle. :laugh:

    I've noticed that I have pockets of fat now rather than an even distribution.
  • MaybeAMonkey
    MaybeAMonkey Posts: 247
    I noticed the exact same thing too, but I found that lifting weights (not crazy heavy, but enough to get my heart rate up and get a decent sweat going) helped improve that more so than doing lots of cardio - it built muscle and helped me look more feminine and less blocky (also, the muscles helped burn more fat even when I was at a resting heart rate). Fortunately, as a woman it's very hard to get super built like guys, so I still look feminine but just more toned. I hope you find that the same is true for you!
  • shadowkitty22
    shadowkitty22 Posts: 495 Member
    Whenever I start to notice my fat feeling different (typically around my belly/hips area) I know it's time to bust out the tape measure. I tend to do this every 3 months or so and I always find that I've lost like 15 some odd inches all over my body. It's wonderful!
  • MommaKit79
    MommaKit79 Posts: 852
    Thank goodness. I really thought I was nuts. Thank you all for your support. I guess i should look at it as its just another motivator to keep going. Woo hoo!

    EXACTLY!!!! I noticed it too but, i have felt myself getting stronger and feeling a bit of muscle under it so, figure it will work itself out. I am also using cocoa butter lotion to help my skin and my Dermatologist just put me on Biotin (helps hair, skin, nails) so that should help too! We'll get there and eventually be the tight and toned person we are always dreaming about! :-)
  • rubyjune27
    rubyjune27 Posts: 87 Member
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/of-whooshes-and-squishy-fat.html

    Lyle McDonald provides an explanation about this. It is evidence of successful weight loss.

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