Does your remaining fat "redistribute" after losing weight, or is that a myth?

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  • girl_inflames
    girl_inflames Posts: 374 Member
    Gamliela wrote: »
    It make sense, yes, but its my arms and thighs that seem to have the most jiggly flab after losing 30 pounds, not the abdominal area. So idk? I still have about 10 to 20 to lose to get back to where I started before gaining I think. I lost it fairly quickly and maybe some was edema as I now eat a lot more protien less carbs where before, mostly carbs.

    Me too! My arms and thighs still feel flabby and huge even after almost 40 pounds lost. My tummy I can now live with but my arms and thighs drive me insane! I'm wondering if weight lifting would help. I really don't want muscle definition, but I want the flab gone!!
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    girl_inflames wrote: »
    ChihuahuaMeme wrote: »
    You don’t actually “lose” fat cells, you “shrink” or “empty out” fat cells because the fat inside is used for energy. Any fat that is used makes the cell shrink but the fat cell is always there waiting to fill up and increase in size if you overeat your calorie input. They don't move but you can add more elsewhere.

    That's a depressing thought...those damn fat cells will always be lurking :disappointed:

    That's why there is CoolSculpting! Not for me.. just saying..

    I am way too old to worry about this kind of stuff now, I managed to do quite a bit with body recomp, and I keep plugging away at it and what what I can't build in muscle will just have to stay there! LOL
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    girl_inflames wrote: »
    Gamliela wrote: »
    It make sense, yes, but its my arms and thighs that seem to have the most jiggly flab after losing 30 pounds, not the abdominal area. So idk? I still have about 10 to 20 to lose to get back to where I started before gaining I think. I lost it fairly quickly and maybe some was edema as I now eat a lot more protien less carbs where before, mostly carbs.

    Me too! My arms and thighs still feel flabby and huge even after almost 40 pounds lost. My tummy I can now live with but my arms and thighs drive me insane! I'm wondering if weight lifting would help. I really don't want muscle definition, but I want the flab gone!!

    Lost battle for me. I have bat wings. If I flex, you can hardly tell that they are there, and I have some muscle definition... but they haven't gone anywhere.

    For what it's worth, I've gained 5 pounds or so since I started maintaining 2 years ago but I've lost a couple inches in my waist and hips (my problem areas) since.
  • Kimberly_Harper
    Kimberly_Harper Posts: 409 Member
    edited June 2016
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    I hope my fat redistributes back to my boobs!!

    Right?!?! One of only two bummer effects of my weight loss. (the other being genetics/what happens to your skin as you age and lose weight thing)
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,192 Member
    girl_inflames wrote: »
    ChihuahuaMeme wrote: »
    You don’t actually “lose” fat cells, you “shrink” or “empty out” fat cells because the fat inside is used for energy. Any fat that is used makes the cell shrink but the fat cell is always there waiting to fill up and increase in size if you overeat your calorie input. They don't move but you can add more elsewhere.

    That's a depressing thought...those damn fat cells will always be lurking :disappointed:

    :'(:'(:'(
  • caroldavison332
    caroldavison332 Posts: 864 Member
    You will revert to a smaller size applie, hour glass, pear shape, or whatever you were previously,
  • mommarnurse
    mommarnurse Posts: 515 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    The fat cells obviously do not move but they aren't in a static state either - the fat in them (triglyceride) is filling/emptying all the time depending on your current energy balance.
    Recomp would mean you simply have less fat stored not that it has "moved".

    But one thing I have noticed is that when I gain weight (holidays/vacations etc.) it all seems to be around my middle but arms and legs remain lean, whether that is just a function of being leaner overall or a visual illusion - who knows?

    Relationship between recomp and genetics - yes some people are more gifted in their ability to gain muscle.
    I've always seemed to be able to gain muscle easier/quicker than my age peer group. Unfortunately I also seem to lose muscle quickly when I'm not training. My brother would retain the shape of someone who is trained whereas I would quickly just look, and be, chubby.

    People do have different genetic predisposition to store fat in certain areas. We've all seen people that seem to have mis-matched proportions - a slim top half and a fat *kitten* and legs for instance!

    (Sorry - the kitten thing just amuses me!)

    Women in definite particular have the strong genetics for where their fat accumulates. "She got it from her momma" - 100% truth. In my family, even the women in size 0 have tendency to have bigger arms. On my dads side, no one has any behind!

    I'm one of those people - I think - who seems to have a muscular build and I build muscle easily and quickly.

    Those people who seem "mismatched" would still have the same general shape if they were totally normal BMI and normal body fat %. I think distribution is all genetics, with the exception of abdominal obesity.
  • mommarnurse
    mommarnurse Posts: 515 Member
    edited June 2016
    girl_inflames wrote: »
    ChihuahuaMeme wrote: »
    You don’t actually “lose” fat cells, you “shrink” or “empty out” fat cells because the fat inside is used for energy. Any fat that is used makes the cell shrink but the fat cell is always there waiting to fill up and increase in size if you overeat your calorie input. They don't move but you can add more elsewhere.

    That's a depressing thought...those damn fat cells will always be lurking :disappointed:

    But their souls are sad and empty...just like we like them
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I just kept walking and my gut tightened up, my bust perked up, and I looked much better. My naive feeling was that the fat physically wasn't there any more, so the cells had to tighten up. It was like after I had my kids. But looks great now.
  • thunder1982
    thunder1982 Posts: 280 Member
    Gisel2015 wrote: »
    girl_inflames wrote: »
    ChihuahuaMeme wrote: »
    You don’t actually “lose” fat cells, you “shrink” or “empty out” fat cells because the fat inside is used for energy. Any fat that is used makes the cell shrink but the fat cell is always there waiting to fill up and increase in size if you overeat your calorie input. They don't move but you can add more elsewhere.

    That's a depressing thought...those damn fat cells will always be lurking :disappointed:

    :'(:'(:'(

    Not sure if its true but I was doing a nutritional course that said after about 18mths your body will expel the empty fat cells as it recognises that you dont need them anymore. Up till then it kept them around to save it from having to make new ones when you overeat.
  • ltssharon
    ltssharon Posts: 195 Member
    ChihuahuaMeme wrote: »
    When you reach a certain age your skin will not shrink back and become smooth and firm as your youth. I have lose over 100 lbs and I am 69 and have loose skin all over. I look really good in clothes so I don't care. The only one that is going to see my loose skin is my doctor and the undertaker. :)

    Ditto at ;65. My x husband could see if he wanted, but lo and behold he is not interested so I do not anticipate hearing whatever his reaction would be. Ha!!
  • Gamliela
    Gamliela Posts: 2,468 Member
    I don't know, older gals, I lost 50 pounds around age 60 and had no loose flabby bits at my goal weight. How did you lose it, was it low carb and lots of cardio by any chance? Just very curiose as there seems to be something going on with this perhaps.
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