Stretch marks are sabotaging my weight loss

Being slimmer with stretch marks is 10,00000x better than being obese with them. If you let stretch marks stop you from reaching your goals so be it, but to be blunt, you'd be a damn fool.

Amen to that. Two choices
1) You will either be fat with no stretch marks
2) You can be athletic, enjoy the benefits of being in shape, but have stretch marks which may fade over time. As young as you are, stretch mark cosmetic advances are likely improve too

What your feeling is legit, but based on the alternatives, its a no brainer

...wont wear cloths that show my arms or legs(I just spent the summer in long sleeves and jeans and it was DEPRESSING) don't want to meet guys because of it, lack of confidence and they get me down I spend so much time think about them...how to get rid of them and how to cover them up-with cloths and creams/treatments.

...but truly at times the feel like the worst thing in (MY) world-paticularly as someone so young. the lack of confidence from my stretch marks has had a lot of knock on effect and has also prohibited my weight loss/fitness (I don't want to swim with them or wear workout wear that shows my body..I also waited to begin my weight loss journey until after summer as not to risk more stretch marks-crazy I know )

My heart breaks for you... not because you have stretch marks, but because you've given them such power in your life. I hope you don't do this again to yourself this summer. I understand the compelling desire to cover yourself, but long sleeves and long pants in summer heat must be utterly miserable. Don't punish yourself like that -- you deserve better. You could even start by wearing elbow-length t-shirts and knee-length capri pants, or a maxi dress with a 3/4 sleeves lightweight cardigan -- still covers quite a bit, but not nearly as suffocating. Be kind to yourself!

It's so true, most human beings have them. I got them since I was 12 yrs old. Now I have more since I had three babies. I would rather have them knowing that I've lost weight and very proud of myself for reaching my goal. I also think if you just keep at losing weight and not go back to gaining weight it will help stop accumulate more stretch marks. I have to say that that's why you are getting more.

I actually have the same problem since I was a teenager even younger than you. I was over weight and have stretch marks and didn't want to wear shorts. Also it got worse when I got it on my stomach at age 19 because I gained 60lbs from having a baby. My point is when I started working out and got fit I didn't care about them. My stomach still had them but it wasn't noticeable to me anymore because it was flat. So when you get fit all the stretch marks you thought that were horrible isn't so bad. You start looking at how good you look instead.

If a girl doesn't like you for who you are then they are not worth your time. There are lots of women out there who will support you on your journey. Oh, even guys who work out get them too. Good luck to you!

As someone whose delivered a baby, and has the stretchmarks to prove it, own them. Who cares if they're there? If / when you get to your goal, be proud of them. Who gives a crap if you have stretch marks if you managed to do what many aren't doing - getting healthy!! When I hit my goal I will wear a bikini and I don't give a care who looks at my stretch marks! I made, carried & delivered a baby and they are my proof. You need to own your body, and be proud of your accomplishments. They DO fade in time, though no they will never go away without surgery. Chin up hunny!

AMEN.

I personally view stretch marks as a form of scars, and scars are something I've thought quite a lot about as I used to have a serious self injury problem. I have a lot of keloid scars on my stomach, breasts, and thighs. So people tend to assume that they're stretch marks, even though I've never had a stretch mark (at least not that I'm aware of).

Scars show that your body endured something. They show that you were able to survive something and come out the other side, and they show that you changed in result of that experience. They are merely a physical manifestation of the changes you're working hard to create, in terms of having a healthier body- and those changes aren't easy!

I know it's hard to really hard to accept our bodies with how incredibly critical the media is- but you have to remember that the media literally profits off of our insecurities. If you don't believe me, look at the number of creams you just tried, with the hopes of fading your stretch marks. That all goes to the cosmetic industry, who would quite frankly be broke if we didn't feel so dang insecure about ourselves all the time. It's truly revolutionary to love your body, for how it used to be, how it currently is, and all the wonderful things it will be capable of in the future.

Security and confidence are internal processes, and not anything that really comes about with external change. So many people I've come across feel as though their confidence will improve and their insecurity will vanish once they are able to lose weight or tone up, but if anything I've yet to come across a person who truly experiences that. If you want to be confident, then be confident! Love your body for it's magnificent changes, and wake up everyday making the tough and challenging choice to love your body to the best of it's ability. You don't have to do this every day, but you can at least try.

I was going to link you to a Tumblr I used to follow, about accepting stretchmarks....but I'm happy I checked the link BEFORE i sent it to you. Since, it's become a fetish blog for stretch marks- NOT at ALL what it used to be.

Much love!

I got my first set of stretch marks when I had a growth spurt at the age of 13. All along the side of my thighs, not very sexy for a teenager. Over the years I've collected quite a variety, over my boobs, butt and most recently all over my belly. I had two kids and the stretch marks on my belly are the thickness of a lion's claw.

Once I lost weight I stopped obsessing over them so much. I still hate them but when I look in the mirror I don't focus on them anymore. I focus on my upper ab where I can see some packs, and my shoulders. I realize that other people do the same when they look at me.

Everyone has them, some of us more than others but no one cares as much about them as we do. I know it’s hard but try to let it go. Once you start losing more weight and loving your body more you will see they will become less and less important.

Good luck!