Stretch marks question!!

mommyoftwins05
mommyoftwins05 Posts: 645 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I wasn't sure where to put this...

I have major stretch marks.. I've had three pregnancies..got pretty big with my daughter..and then huge with my twins. I have stretch marks on my sides, my belly and my legs..

but my concern is.. they are very bad on the front of my belly.. it looks wrinkly already and if I suck my belly it..its really really bad.. looks like i'm really old. now will my skin tighten up at all? I really afraid of losing this weigh and not being happy because I wont wanna show my belly. I gotta lose like 26 lbs.. I'm also afraid of having extra skin.. please help

also I don't get emails when people comment on posts I started or commented on..do you know why

Replies

  • dawnrenee567
    dawnrenee567 Posts: 292 Member
    Do you want to show your belly now? I'd rather be healthy and have loose skin, than have the fat underneath :)
  • mommyoftwins05
    mommyoftwins05 Posts: 645 Member
    Do you want to show your belly now? I'd rather be healthy and have loose skin, than have the fat underneath :)

    Not right now no.. but one I lose more weight I do..
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member

    also I don't get emails when people comment on posts I started or commented on..do you know why

    This site is not set up for message board emails. You should get emails if someone posts on your profile, responds to a post (not a message board post) or sends you a private message.

    Your stretch marks is a case very similar to one I commented on a few days ago. This is the advice I gave a young man who was worried his skin would not recover from his rapid weight loss. While the two situations are different, the remedies are similar.

    To lessen the appearance of stretch marks you need a lot of patience. If you lose weight quickly, you will have loose skin to deal with. If you try to lose 1lb a week or (gasp) less, then your body will have more time to understand the changes and adapt, giving you a higher chance of less floppy skin.

    Also don't be afraid to use skin tightening lotions or moisturizers in the womens section of the beauty products. drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated (with hydration comes elasticity).

    Slower weight loss is better in this situation, so go as slow as you can handle. Even taking breaks is a great idea. Eat maintenance calories for a month or two, then start to lose weight again. As your body gets used to having a smaller core to build skin around, it will gradually (very slowly!!) pull the skin back to itself. This 'shrinks' your skin, and will lessen the appearance of stretch marks.

    Again, use lotions and stay moisturized. Drink lots and lots and lots of water. :smile:
  • Ree_Chatelain
    Ree_Chatelain Posts: 229 Member
    As far as the stretch marks go, I don't mind mine. I look at them as a road map of motherhood.. lol sounds cute but i do know what you mean. i have them all over my belly and sides as i lose weight and summer approches the thought of swimsuits is very scary. I have lost a bunch of weight slowly. I thnk that is the reason that I don't have an excess of lose skin. But I really don't think there is a true way to fix it besides a tummy tuck if its bad. I've heard drinking lots of water because that helps the skin with elasticity or to try the creams to tighten?? not really sure I haven't looked to much into it. I've been focusing on doing toning exercises, So far i have found that they are helping but I still have some lose in the belly area.
  • cuerpito
    cuerpito Posts: 65 Member
    My mom has a similar problem. She is small and thin (120 lbs before she had us). My sister was a huge baby - 12.5 lbs. My mom gave a natural birth. It's now 28 years later and the stretch marks are still there - very pale but visible. She also has a skin flap that just hangs low. Her doctor offered her a few times to remove the skin and told her it would completely remove the issue but she just never really cared for it.

    My suggestion would be to worry about other things now. Once you get to your desired weight you'll check your options. Check with your doctor once you're ready. Of course, follow everyone's advice - it should improve the situation by a great deal.
  • butterfly0126
    butterfly0126 Posts: 16
    I am also a mom of 20 month old twins and i have a 5 & 3 yr old so i know where you are coming from:) Although i don't have major stretch marks, i do have them and loose skin:p I have lost 23 lbs so far and my biggest problem area is my stomach but i have lost 4 1/2 inches and i have noticed some change with the extra skin and stretch marks. I do drink tons of water daily and that is the only thing i drink, counting it in my coffee and tea of course. I used tons of stretch mark cream during my pregnancies and after. I don't think it would hurt to try a cream now and drink water!!
  • mommyoftwins05
    mommyoftwins05 Posts: 645 Member
    Thanks all for your advice.. the most over my old weight I've been is 35 lbs. I'm hoping I won't even exxtra skin but i'm thinking I will. I will try the lotions and I will take the weight lost slow.. I really wanted 2lbs a week..but if doing it slower helps with the extra skin..then I will :)
  • JMCade
    JMCade Posts: 389 Member
    sorry to say, but they never go away! I gained 50 lbs, with my first born and got them. then i gained 25 with my second child. no new ones that time, but the old ones are still there and my kids are going on 10 and 5 now. i do agree with good moisturizers and drinking lotsa water just because it is good for your skin overall. but those battlescars of motherhood are here to stay:laugh:
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    I wasn't sure where to put this...

    I have major stretch marks.. I've had three pregnancies..got pretty big with my daughter..and then huge with my twins. I have stretch marks on my sides, my belly and my legs..

    but my concern is.. they are very bad on the front of my belly.. it looks wrinkly already and if I suck my belly it..its really really bad.. looks like i'm really old. now will my skin tighten up at all? I really afraid of losing this weigh and not being happy because I wont wanna show my belly. I gotta lose like 26 lbs.. I'm also afraid of having extra skin.. please help

    also I don't get emails when people comment on posts I started or commented on..do you know why

    I have a few on my legs from gaining weight and on my breasts because they showed up practically overnight (yup, a 12 yr-old with stretchmarks-lovely!).

    Over time, they do become far less noticeable. They turn back to your normal skin tone or get a bit silvery.

    Having lost this weight (40 pounds) once before and kept it off more than 20 years, I can tell you that I didn't have saggy skin. Nor has anyone ever commented on the stretch marks. In fact, I've even pointed them out to people on my legs and they have to really look hard to even find them! Then they tell me I'm nuts to worry about them as they had to really look to find them.

    With only 26 pounds to lose, I think you are going to be fine in terms of loose skin. But you'll still have the stretch marks, although they will become less and less noticeabe over time.

    Re: the notifications: check your settings. You may not have the right box checked to get the emails. ;)

    ETA: In my experience, stretch marks do not tan. However, if you use one of those self-tanners or the daily lotions that have a wee bit of self-tanner in them, that will blend them in with your tan! ;)
This discussion has been closed.

Categories