Feeling "deflated"

jwalkowi
jwalkowi Posts: 7
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello! I'm new to these forums but I was hoping for some advice. Since November 2012 I have lost 63 lbs, gone from a size 22 to a size 14 and haven't felt this good since high school. However, I am still 217 lbs, and looking forward to losing the next 63 lol.

Right now I'm in a weird place where I feel like my body looks like a bean bag chair that someone took some beans out of. The skin all around my face, arms, belly and butt (shockingly my legs are alright) are really squishy and loose feeling. The front part of my belly literally feels like I could just pull it off... like it's not even attached to the rest of my body. I know that this is extra fat and once I lose it, it will go away. But I just really hate how I look right now. And I should feel great because I've lost a ton of weight, but if anything I'm actually feeling more self-conscience than I did when I was 280 lbs.

What I've done to lose this weight is manage my calorie intake (using the myfitnesspal app), my doctor put me on metformin (a low dosage once a day) and i sold my car, moved to NYC and I walk everywhere. I don't go to the gym (cant afford one) or currently follow any at home workout routines (like any beachbody programs or anything like that)

What are some things/exercises/vitamins/workouts/ lotions/elixirs/potions (lol) ANYTHING that can help me tighten up and kick off the second half of my weight loss adventure? What are some workouts that you like? Has anyone else had this "deflated bean bag" feeling? Thanks so much for reading and giving me your thoughts/advice! Really I mean it!

Replies

  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    I'm having the same trouble.
    Strength training!
  • Esmerayne
    Esmerayne Posts: 30 Member
    I hear strength training is the best way to get rid of that "looseness". Definitely look into investing in some weights or resistance bands. Sparkpeople.com has all sorts of free videos and so does youtube. The forum here can also give you advice. Good luck! You've done wonderfully so far!
  • aymetcalf
    aymetcalf Posts: 597 Member
    I have the same problem - pushups helped my arms - but i don't know what to do about the belly!! I guess core exercises like planks and such. :flowerforyou:
  • Bownzi
    Bownzi Posts: 423 Member
    Don't worry about it...just concentrate on where you want to go....you have come a long way.. I started at 300 lbs a few years ago and now down to 236 so it has been a long slow process...you can do it..
  • terriejones
    terriejones Posts: 518 Member
    Check out Youtube, they have tons of free (my favorite kind) workouts. It will probably take some time for your body and skin to catch up with your weight loss.

    You've made it this far, you can make it the rest of the way. Congrats!
  • rascallycat
    rascallycat Posts: 248 Member
    I prefer to lift heavy but since you don't belong to a gym, you can do body weight exercises. There is a free app called workout trainer by skimble. It has thousands of body weight exercises to help get you in better shape. I use it for the days I can't get to the gym. I know there are other ones as well. Just do a search until you find the ones you like... or go on youtube. .

    I have had the deflated bean bag feeling but you just have to focus on being healthy and the rest will follow. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! It will help your skin get some elasticity back.. slowly, but it will!
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    Try bodyrock.com. Free workouts and they are amazing! Seriously
  • katy_trail
    katy_trail Posts: 1,992 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/993490-want-to-start-lifting-what-weight

    there is no spoon. no spot reducing, but strength training will help.
    ETA: gym isn't required. when you are ready for weights you can find them very cheap on craig's list.
    Even if you decide not to lift. Doing body weight exercises is very challenging.
    you are your own gym, convict conditioning, nerd fitness all good examples.
  • clarkeje1
    clarkeje1 Posts: 1,641 Member
    Another great resource for body weight exercises

    http://greatist.com/fitness/50-bodyweight-exercises-you-can-do-anywhere
  • acstansell
    acstansell Posts: 567 Member
    free weights and strength training can help....
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    I love the Funcercize beginner's workout DVD with trainer Sunshine. It's well explained and easy to follow, and I've lost 12" around my waist, firmed up my arms, have strong legs. I use 5 pound dumbbells and am working up to 8 lbs, and I have a great elliptical machine, bought on sale at Sears, that has six different programs, keeps track of calories, time, heart rate, so forth. It was more than worth every penny. Although I'm 64, so far my skin has been shrinking back. I hope that continues.
  • Jennical
    Jennical Posts: 219 Member
    Bump
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    all that stuff you said you aren't doing? you're gonna want to start doing that. if you had been doing resistance training from the start you wouldn't be feeling so deflated right now. you can start now and things will start improving very quickly. whether it's a gym, or a dvd routine, or a youtube videos like zuska light, or a body weight program like You Are Your Own Gym, you're going to have to do something
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    all that stuff you said you aren't doing? you're gonna want to start doing that. if you had been doing resistance training from the start you wouldn't be feeling so deflated right now. you can start now and things will start improving very quickly. whether it's a gym, or a dvd routine, or a youtube videos like zuska light, or a body weight program like You Are Your Own Gym, you're going to have to do something

    Yup. It's amazing the difference it makes. I've lost around 87lbs and I'm tighter than ever (that's what she said). Only my belly is a little flabby, in that "in-between" stage but it will pass I'm sure. You're so young, only 24, you'll be just fine.
  • MsJulielicious
    MsJulielicious Posts: 708 Member
    I dropped over 20 lbs pretty quickly over a year ago. I looked weird to myself at first. I felt like i looked "old". Keeping up with drinking a lot of water and incorporating strength training has helped a ton.
  • jwalkowi
    jwalkowi Posts: 7
    thanks! i know it seems super obvious- like I should have just been doing it from the start. but my story was a little unusual. once my doctor put me on metformin i didn't weight myself for three months, or even actively TRY to lose weight. because i was getting really depressed because nothing i was trying was working. so once i stopped thinking about it (and the medicine helped too im sure) I lost 30 lbs. since then i've been walking a TON and watching what I eat. In hindsight I wish I had been doing all the right things from the beginning.

    So- since I posted this I have started a dvd workout routine (and its kicking my butt). But I feel a lot better. It is good to hear that its not too late and I wont look like this forever!

    And once I get a little more financially stable (in between jobs while trying to live in NYC is incredibly stressful) I am going to join a gym and probably get a personal trainer to help me.

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