"Empty" Areas Where Fat Used To Be?

yeah, I know the problem. And the older you get , the worse it gets. It even caused me to put on weight again because it looked so bad. I did some research and it will get better if you are able to maintain the same weight. Also dry brushing helps. Get a good body brush and give yourself a good brushdown like you would brush a horse. Just kidding. More circular motions, I think. Get a good massage from time to time. Take cold showers.

Weight training will help this a lot, but it will take a little time if you did not do any while you were losing weight. Get started on a good program like Strong Curves or New Rules of Lifting, work hard and you will see huge improvements after a few months.

I'm 68 and just lost 20 pounds. I've been lifting for many years, and continued while I was losing. I have no flab as a result of weight loss. It is never too late to start! Good luck!

ETA: if Strong a Lifts is not doing anything for you, try a different program! I suggested two above, but there are lots out there. Many people on here like Strong Lifts, but if you're not seeing results, it's time to switch.

It gets better with time, mine has changed by smoothing out and doesn't look bad. Walking helps.

Does anyone else have this problem? After losing over 40 pounds I don't really have any loose skin. What I have are saggy, flabby areas where the fat used to be. For instance, my legs aren't really that much smaller than they used to be, but they sure are flabbier. So much for being able to look good in a pair of shorts! Same thing with my stomach area. Not bad standing up, but bend over, look down, and die!

I don't picture this situation ever getting better. I look a lot better in clothes than I used to, and I guess I'll have to settle for that.

In that case, the problem is both time - those areas will tighten up some over the next several months - and that you haven't lost enough fat in those areas. I don't know your stats, so can't give advice other than to look into ways to reduce your %BF. Depending on where you are, you might need to lose more weight, you might be better off focusing on a recomposition. It's possible your best avenue would be to start building muscle.

But you don't have to settle if you don't want. Flab can be dealt with through diet and exercise. Much better than loose skin that would require time & likely surgery.

Yeah it's what loose skin is. And it will depend on your age and genetics. I'm a bit tired honestly of hearing people say that doing strength training while you lose will prevent it... because it's not true at all. I did lifting and/or strength training the whole time and I have them on my stomach, upper arms, and inner thighs. My genetics just suck (I also don't heal well and scar easily). It's also worse in the areas where I already had stretch marks. I have a pocket of skin that hangs there when I bend over, it's just lovely.

So anyway... I've noticed a tiny improvement on my stomach in the last 6 months (I've only lost pretty much 3 pounds since then, but I've lost some inches). I don't think it's ever going away though. Same for my 'bat wings'... my triceps are much more defined now than they were 6 months ago, and the bat wings haven't moved.

I think I have something similar... On one leg mid thigh I have a dent where it's firm on the other, I'm guessing I had some fat that's gone??? The skin isn't exactly loose, just I can just feel a big dip there.

It's a bit freaky tbh! Hoping it will sort itself out ...

I had a really bad bruise and have a bit of a dent where it was. I think I lost some muscle there.

This whole post is very confusing to me. I guess I don't know what loose skin looks like or is. I have a couple of flabby areas (upper abdomen and upper arms) after losing 130 lb, but when I read the OP I was like "wat!? That's what loose skin is."

Someone enlighten me. Very confused!

Just loose skin is very thin, like tissue paper, and wrinkly and looks like a deflated balloon. Flabby areas, to me, are where there's loose skin and fat and sort of hang away from the muscles and bones. The skin on my inner thighs is loose skin while the flab hanging from my biceps is fat and skin.

Thanks to you and to others who clarified! I think I get it now.