I've ruined my body

snowydog
snowydog Posts: 16 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I've put on so much weight in such a small period of time that I have gotten bad stretch marks on the backs of my knees/legs.... I had them before and then lost weight and they reduced in appearance but still had them... not they are really bad and pink!

I'm sitting here crying at how bad I've let myself get! ! I have about 45 pounds to lose until I can feel comfortable in myself! But I know I'm never gonna get back the smooth skin I once had!

I'm starting to train for the NY Marathon in 2012, beginning my training this week .. (obviously I needa lose the weight, then train specifically for a marathon hence the reason I'm starting a year and half too early)... I know training will tighten my skin on my legs and make me more toned - but do these stretch marks ever really go unnoticed even after lots of training!?

Anyone have any similar experiences that can help me?

Replies

  • donicagalek
    donicagalek Posts: 526 Member
    I can honestly say that I have never gone looking for stretch marks on a marathon runner's legs - so yes, I'm sure they'll go unnoticed. :-D
  • T0RIEELIZABETH
    T0RIEELIZABETH Posts: 376 Member
    I got ridiculously ugly stretch marks when I gained weight, now that I'm losing weight, I'm not getting any new ones, and the old ones start fading. they never truly go away, but they become soo unnoticeable.
  • Panda86
    Panda86 Posts: 873 Member
    I gained too much weight with my son, and I got stretch marks on my calves. In my experience, they are like pregnancy stretch marks on your belly. They fade as time goes on, and pretty much go unnoticed. I can even wear shorts now and you can't see them. Also, KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SUN. My Mom really stressed that to me. Sun will make them darker. Keep your chin up! They will get better!
  • Noonoo757
    Noonoo757 Posts: 280 Member
    Keep your head up as u begin to tone those stretch marks will fade and as u start to get in shape you will be so happy with so many other parts of your body that those stretch marks will seem small in comparison to your accomplishments. Do not let this get you down.
  • Cella30
    Cella30 Posts: 539 Member
    I have crazy stretch marks on my stomach, thighs, legs and I just recently noticed on my arms. I used to bother me but it really doesn't anymore. I could be missing an arm or a leg or have bad burn scars. But I don't. I have what I now refer to as battle scars. I wear them proud. I'm not 16 yrs old anymore with perfect skin and a perfect body. These remind me where I've been and all the hard work to get where I am going. I am a beautiful woman and I am real. Sexy isn't a perfect body, it's a state of mind. :wink:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Rax2PXiWA
  • 6Janelle13
    6Janelle13 Posts: 353 Member
    When i started middle school, I went from bean pole to a curvy girls with hips and a booty. I had no Idea about stretch marks then and I didn't gain weigh so much as gain hips and booty. kids were cruel but y now you can barely tell they are there and if anyone ever did notice i'd wonder why the are looking so closely at my thighs and behind. If my husband ever noticed the pale think white scars he has never said anything.
    We are our own worst critics and our bodies tell a tale of the years we've lived and what we've seen and done. You can't change the past so look towards your future goals. Hang in there
  • T0RIEELIZABETH
    T0RIEELIZABETH Posts: 376 Member
    I've been tanning, and they are looking less noticeable.

    I gained too much weight with my son, and I got stretch marks on my calves. In my experience, they are like pregnancy stretch marks on your belly. They fade as time goes on, and pretty much go unnoticed. I can even wear shorts now and you can't see them. Also, KEEP THEM OUT OF THE SUN. My Mom really stressed that to me. Sun will make them darker. Keep your chin up! They will get better!
  • McPenguin
    McPenguin Posts: 67 Member
    I gained a LOT of extra weight in a short timeframe as well... and got really bad stretch marks on my back. I remember changing at my mother's house one day, and my teenage sister came into the room and screamed. It startled the hell out of me - and then she gasped "What HAPPENED to you? Did you get attacked by a tiger when you were in Nepal?"... I realized she was referring to my very red, angry looking stretch marks. THAT'S how bad they were. She thought they were CLAW MARKS across my back.

    Well, when I lost the weight, I couldn't see them at all. In fact, my toned back became one of my favourite parts of my body! :D

    So don't stress. One, they likely will be not noticeable at ALL, and two, if you stress over things that you have no control over, you're setting yourself up for failure. Try to focus on the things you CAN change. You can change your weight. You can change your readiness for this marathon. Focus on that, and you'll do GREAT! And one day, you'll look down and see, you didn't really ruin your body after all. You are helping it get BETTER.

    HTH.
  • babyru527
    babyru527 Posts: 27 Member
    I have crazy stretch marks on my stomach, thighs, legs and I just recently noticed on my arms. I used to bother me but it really doesn't anymore. I could be missing an arm or a leg or have bad burn scars. But I don't. I have what I now refer to as battle scars. I wear them proud. I'm not 16 yrs old anymore with perfect skin and a perfect body. These remind me where I've been and all the hard work to get where I am going. I am a beautiful woman and I am real. Sexy isn't a perfect body, it's a state of mind. :wink:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Rax2PXiWA

    Love LOve Love, your outlook on the topic!......If everyone had your postive outlook the world would be a better place!
  • Msaip
    Msaip Posts: 482 Member
    After having a 9.9lb baby and gaining 40lbs with the pregnancy my stomach is pretty much done for! But with that so are my underarms and the back of my knees. It's nothing horrible. We can't all look like super models! It's okay
  • callipygianchronicle
    callipygianchronicle Posts: 811 Member
    All stretch marks fade in time, but they are scars from permanently damaged skin. Regular exfoliation and good hydration are said to help. I have been using Vaseline brand cocoa butter gel to help my skin repair while I lose weight, and I have noticed a little improvement.

    But, your body is not ruined.

    It pulls you our of bed each morning, and carries you throughout the day. It runs miles. It keeps going even when you ignore it, even when you treat it poorly with bad food. Be grateful to your body.

    And be grateful to your stretch marks. They are a roadmap to where you have been and the lessons you have learned.
  • snowydog
    snowydog Posts: 16 Member
    Awh all you people are so nice and reassuring. Most of you talk of having stretch marks cos of pregnancy - I'm only 23 and haven't had any kids and I just feel my confidence is shattered and I have no self belief in myself. My biggest problem is self belief and willpower - I have none of either. What makes it worse is I've always been slim and toned from all the sport I play - sport is my life and this last year I don't know what has happened to change that. Problems with the teams I've been in, problems with injury and just the love of food has all got to me. I would love to get up early and go for a run but I can't even get up early enough to get to work on time, never mind up early enough for a run and shower.

    If I start to lose weight I will believe in myself more, get some confidence and have the drive to keep going - it's getting started that I'm having the biggest trouble with.

    Has anyone else done a marathon after losing loads of weight?
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