Are You Happy With How You Look As You Lose?

2

Replies

  • margannmks
    margannmks Posts: 424 Member


    Loose skin is like thin crepe paper. Loose fat is when you have an inch to pinch. Keep working.
    thats exactly what i have, both of, upper ab is fat lower is crepe if i could figure out how to post pics i could show perfect example of the difference. Glad to hear extra weight training will get rid of this with proper diet of course.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    Well, I've done fine with the TDEE, and do weight training 3 days per week. I don't do as well with diet, but better than I used to! I also walk a lot.
    To answer OPs second question about losing body fat and not just weight: 20% deficit from TDEE and no more than that. Solid amount of protein. 80% of calories from foods that provide real nutrition and not just taste. 3-4 days per week weight training. Other people on MFP say cardio is not for weight loss but I disagree. It provides a little extra calorie burn, more importantly it gets those endorphins going so you feel good and are more apt to make better choices. It also helps regulate appetite.
  • Iwishyouwell
    Iwishyouwell Posts: 1,888 Member
    When I went from 192 lbs to 135 I thought I was more or less done with my weight loss and all the loose skin was my burden to bear unless I went in for surgery. Then I kicked my fitness into high gear with serious weight training, focusing on diet, etc. I'm 123 lbs now and ab muscles are beginning to appear. I still have some stretch marks and would feel wayyyy too self conscious in a bikini but my body has gone from "normal/average" to amazing. I was overweight from the age of 5, btw (30 now).

    Loose skin is like thin crepe paper. Loose fat is when you have an inch to pinch. Keep working.

    This. All day long, this. If it jiggles, it ain't skin folks.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I think a LOT of people mistake fat for loose skin.
  • astralweeks82
    astralweeks82 Posts: 230 Member
    I generally feel MUCH better about my body, but I was 130lbs heavier when I started and I've seen so many positive changes in my health, it's hard NOT to be happy with what I see.

    That being said, I get down a lot when I look at the loose skin. I had twins so my stomach was destroyed from that, but loose skin in other areas gets to me sometimes. I just focus on how I look IN clothes and that keeps me pretty happy most of the time.
  • margannmks
    margannmks Posts: 424 Member
    Ill take my loose skin over my previous fat self.d121
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    Yep. I'm happy with what I've achieved and have yet to. I've come a long way, even if I'm never perfect, I'll still love the person who had the courage to take those steps towards a healthier, happier me.
  • Joebob8
    Joebob8 Posts: 69 Member
    OP it sounds like you are on the right track! Slow and steady really is the best. I'm working on a goal of losing the "last 5 pounds" (of fat) the next six months. I figure if I'm going to work so hard to get it off, I don't want it to ever come back! I have friends who ask for my advice all the time, when I tell them they can't lose more than 2 pounds per week at most and that all their crash diet ideas are a sure fire way to lose water and muscle and then end up even fatter than they started they get really annoyed. And then they don't put in the work. And then they stay fat. C'est la vie. As I said before, just keep going. It really is a lifestyle change.
  • catherinemaxwell566
    catherinemaxwell566 Posts: 75
    im completely confused by my body at the moment, I lost around 15lbs last year yet some days I look bigger than before
  • LC458
    LC458 Posts: 300 Member
    Totally understand! My boobs have deflated from 34 DD to... hell Idk, something a whole lot smaller.
    Thank God my man is an "*kitten* man" and thank God for push up bras 8D
    So to answer your question- I am happy with my body and the way it looks because I know I am so much healthier now.
  • eccentric88
    eccentric88 Posts: 36 Member
    I lost 36 lb in over 2 yrs. Still have arm flabbys and chin waddle now with wrinkles from the sometimes rapid weight loss. It was water and did loss bout 20 lb in 2 wks this equals wrinkles on chin. I was told that there was a jelll or cream on the market that is to help the loose skin. I do some but not much exercise.

    I also took supplements that support collagen for a while and this seemed to help some. I try to watch how much water I drink so as not dehydrated and watch what I put on my face. I do not use hard water, use good quality natural soaps and creams. I also find exfoliating weekly helps.

    I was told that it eventually catches up ??? and is not so loose or wrinkly in time.
  • lmhbuss
    lmhbuss Posts: 282 Member
    I figure that if I can put in the hard work that it takes to lose all the weight, then I can totally sock away enough money over the course of a few years to buy myself a tummy tuck! :devil: Plus, most plastic surgeons will give you a discount (if you ask) if you pay up front! BONUS!
  • littleandysmom
    littleandysmom Posts: 173 Member
    Interesting. My arms are worse than my abdomen. Don't think it will be possible to get rid of the "flapping wings".


    Do you do tricep dips? I'm 48 and tricep dips, overhead extensions and other exercises have helped.
    I once asked a personal trainer who was in her 40's and looked absolutely amazing about loose skin on my triceps and she flexed and said "I have that". She mentioned to work the triceps but it gets harder as we age.

    The good news is that our eyes are going as well.....so when I look in the mirror it's usually without my glasses on!! :flowerforyou:
  • TattooedNici
    TattooedNici Posts: 2,141 Member
    Honestly, I'm very happy with the results I'm starting to see. My notorious thunder thighs aren't so terrifying as much, I'm losing my dunlap of a gut and definition is starting to form in my shoulders. In all, I'm happy with what I have now. I can't imagine the severity of the excitement I'll experience once I hit my final goal. I'm happy to be alive!
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    I knew I'd have batwings and saggy skin, carried the weight for way too long and yo yo'd up & down ...skin just not gonna snap back at my age, lol.:noway:

    I've never had any surgery at this point in my life so if my saggy skin isn't going to firm up, I'll just carry it to remind me to NEVER get back to where I was when I started here (649 days ago). I thought I'd have more and yes I was worried about it. Upper inner thighs bother me the most, gut truly was not as bad as I envisioned it. Went from 3x in tops to right now size M/L and 24 jeans to size 10.

    I do wish I had gotten off my fat *** a long time ago to do this (well I've dieted on/off over half my life) but never had the mindset that I have now to get the pounds off & now I'm working to keep them off as I've finally hit my 'goal range'

    So yep, you bet I'm happy with how I look now compared to how I was with my saggy skin fat filled:bigsmile:
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I will, too.
    Ill take my loose skin over my previous fat self.d121
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    Thank you. All of the work has been so worth it.
    OP it sounds like you are on the right track! Slow and steady really is the best. I'm working on a goal of losing the "last 5 pounds" (of fat) the next six months. I figure if I'm going to work so hard to get it off, I don't want it to ever come back! I have friends who ask for my advice all the time, when I tell them they can't lose more than 2 pounds per week at most and that all their crash diet ideas are a sure fire way to lose water and muscle and then end up even fatter than they started they get really annoyed. And then they don't put in the work. And then they stay fat. C'est la vie. As I said before, just keep going. It really is a lifestyle change.
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    You must have gained muscle?
    im completely confused by my body at the moment, I lost around 15lbs last year yet some days I look bigger than before
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    Not sure what tricep dips are, but I do work my triceps. Trouble is I could never get large enough triceps to fill up the skin unless it shrinks, I'm afraid.

    quote]
    Interesting. My arms are worse than my abdomen. Don't think it will be possible to get rid of the "flapping wings".


    Do you do tricep dips? I'm 48 and tricep dips, overhead extensions and other exercises have helped.
    I once asked a personal trainer who was in her 40's and looked absolutely amazing about loose skin on my triceps and she flexed and said "I have that". She mentioned to work the triceps but it gets harder as we age.

    The good news is that our eyes are going as well.....so when I look in the mirror it's usually without my glasses on!! :flowerforyou:
    [/quote]
  • GuyIncognito123
    GuyIncognito123 Posts: 263 Member
    Nope.

    My head looks bigger.
    I now have wrinkles and I look older.

    Sigh... becoming sexy is a curse.

    :wink:
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Sounds like you're doing all the right things!! Try getting therapeutic massages to stimulate your lymph and tone up your skin's looks!
  • IWILLBelieveAchieveInspire
    IWILLBelieveAchieveInspire Posts: 218 Member
    I am definitely happy with the way i look in clothes..no question about that. Naked..well that's been a slow process. I do love how my body has changed..nice curves now BUT the loose skin I struggle with some times. At 65lbs down I definitely notice it on my tummy and arms. It frustrates me at times because i know how hard i work at the gym and still with this skin it kinda hides some of my hard work and makes me look larger in some areas than i know i am. I've been really working on self acceptance and trying to look at my shrunken stretch marks and skin as a reminder of how far i've come, as a badge of honour of sorts. ;) I think the hardest part is forgiving myself for letting myself get so unhealthy and doing this to my body. If i had taken care of myself sooner I wouldn't have the stretch marks or loose skin. I struggle with that more than anything. Overall, I couldn't be happier with how i feel and how much improved I look. I wouldn't trade that for anything. If it means i have to look at this skin daily, so be it. It is what it is. ;)
  • Anonycatgirl
    Anonycatgirl Posts: 502 Member
    I haven't lost a lot of weight compared to some of the people who've pitched in on this thread but yes...overall I'm very happy. I'm less lumpy, I'm regaining some muscle definition, I feel stronger, I have more endurance, and I think I'm losing the borderline matronly look I'd been creeping into. I have problem areas where the fat's sticking around longer than others, but that's part of the process.

    My only complaint is that as my face and neck thin, I'm seeing fine wrinkles that had been disguised by plumpness. Moisturizing like a fiend these days!
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    Exactly. Forgiving myself has always been very hard for me.
    I am definitely happy with the way i look in clothes..no question about that. Naked..well that's been a slow process. I do love how my body has changed..nice curves now BUT the loose skin I struggle with some times. At 65lbs down I definitely notice it on my tummy and arms. It frustrates me at times because i know how hard i work at the gym and still with this skin it kinda hides some of my hard work and makes me look larger in some areas than i know i am. I've been really working on self acceptance and trying to look at my shrunken stretch marks and skin as a reminder of how far i've come, as a badge of honour of sorts. ;) I think the hardest part is forgiving myself for letting myself get so unhealthy and doing this to my body. If i had taken care of myself sooner I wouldn't have the stretch marks or loose skin. I struggle with that more than anything. Overall, I couldn't be happier with how i feel and how much improved I look. I wouldn't trade that for anything. If it means i have to look at this skin daily, so be it. It is what it is. ;)
  • arabianhorselover
    arabianhorselover Posts: 1,488 Member
    I didn't like the way my neck was looking before I started this. i was afraid it would be even worse if I lost weight, but I don't know if it actually is or not.
    I haven't lost a lot of weight compared to some of the people who've pitched in on this thread but yes...overall I'm very happy. I'm less lumpy, I'm regaining some muscle definition, I feel stronger, I have more endurance, and I think I'm losing the borderline matronly look I'd been creeping into. I have problem areas where the fat's sticking around longer than others, but that's part of the process.

    My only complaint is that as my face and neck thin, I'm seeing fine wrinkles that had been disguised by plumpness. Moisturizing like a fiend these days!
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    51lb down with 20ish pounds to go, do I like the way I look now? hell yes, im lucky then Im not very self concious and didn't really care what others thought of the way I look. As the pounds come off more and more and im fitting into smaller clothes, more flattering designs and general nicer clothes so its a plus point. Im not at the point yet myself where I'm happy naked but with 20lbs to go I can see a time when I will happily walk around with nothing on.
  • toronto_j
    toronto_j Posts: 206 Member
    Yes and no. I think my face is a bit thinner, I've definitely lost a bunch of weight in the stomach area and my back rolls are less apparent. But my bras are now too big. :(
  • thesupremeforce
    thesupremeforce Posts: 1,206 Member
    Yep.
  • gurlygirlrcr80
    gurlygirlrcr80 Posts: 162 Member
    I'd rather have my loose skin on my body than be overweight. You can hide loose skin with spanx and dressing properly in your correct size. Looking at my pictures you would never be able to tell I have loose skin and the people that matter don't mind and the people that mind don't matter :) I've lost 117 lbs in less than a year. doesn't matter how fast or slow you lose it, it's how much elasticity is in your skin and if you have stretch marks, chances are you already did a number on that factor. Who cares about loose skin when you are healthier and smaller and feel so good!!
  • IWILLBelieveAchieveInspire
    IWILLBelieveAchieveInspire Posts: 218 Member
    I'd rather have my loose skin on my body than be overweight. You can hide loose skin with spanx and dressing properly in your correct size. Looking at my pictures you would never be able to tell I have loose skin and the people that matter don't mind and the people that mind don't matter :) I've lost 117 lbs in less than a year. doesn't matter how fast or slow you lose it, it's how much elasticity is in your skin and if you have stretch marks, chances are you already did a number on that factor. Who cares about loose skin when you are healthier and smaller and feel so good!!

    You look great! Congratulations on your weight loss. ;)

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