Loose skin or fat? will this ever go away? (w/o surgery)

Now, I'm being completely serious on this one...but...what loose skin?

Now, I'm being completely serious on this one...but...what loose skin?

i'm with you. i don't see any either.

It's there FOREVER. I was a fat kid, (230 at 14) and have gotten down to 150 (not my goal but I'm on my way!) in the past 8-9 years. The stretch marks and extra skin never go away. you can always try and tone up, and will probably get firmer, but the puckering stays forever!!!

Also, you already look FANTASTIC!!!! You should be proud that your extra pooch is from carrying your wonderful children instead of being super into little debbie snacks when you were 12 years old!!!!!

really? It is nothing to worry about. Mine is bad enough, I will not wear a 2 piece or post pics! I researched this last night and what I read said if one is young enough, it will go back to normal in time. I don't know what age that needs to be though. Even if mine does not go away, I would rather be thin and have hanging skin, than be big and have tight skin.l

I have had 3 children, and with each pregnancy gained 50 pounds so I only have myself to blame for my stomach stretching above and beyond what was necessary.
Anyway, I changed my lifestyle in February of this year. I have been eating well, and working out. Plenty of cardio and strength training. I have heard the saying "abs are made in the kitchen" I eat fairly clean. I would say about 80% of the time. The only thing I have not tried is cutting carbs. I get too cranky, and its not a lifestyle I can live with. But I would be willing to try it for a week or 2 if it means I could fix this problem!

I am thinking there is nothing other than surgery that will fix this though.

I am wondering if maybe I just have not given my body enough time (Since its only been 5-6months of eating properly and working out) Or if I am screwed and will have to get surgery to get this skin removed. It really is such a small amount, but it drives me nuts! I keep thinking maybe its just fat and it will eventually be gone, but Im pretty sure Im just wishful thinking.

Okay, here are the pics, hopefully they show up.. Photobucket hates me usually.
Has anybody ever had loose skin go away w/o surgery? Or had a stomach that looked like this and fixed it naturally with just diet and excercise?

Front view:



Side angle:

Try this and make sure to keep your stomach moisturized with cocoa butter or shea butter.....Suave will do. I've been doing this the whole time I've been losing and I don't have loose skin and I'm almost 52 with 3 children and 2 grands. :flowerforyou: Don't give up!
http://naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniquesdry_brushing_technique.htm#respond

I agree with the other members here. Your stomach shows stretch marks from the pregnancies but I don't really see that much extra skin. I would love to have a flat stomach like yours. This topic has been really popular the last few days...and the agreement seems to be that if there is loose skin, it can take up to 2 years for your skin to bounce back. A lot of people suggested lotions as well.

Good luck, and congrats on your successful life style change.

the loose skin you have is MINIMAL...consider yourself blessed! since it has just been recent weight loss, it should shrink/tighten up a bit but it's not going to be "skin tight" -- no pun intended

you look amazing and I wish my loose skin was this "loose" LOL -- mine rolls over...now THAT'S loose skin!

Hmm...I can sort of see what you're talking about. I think? Maybe. I wouldn't have noticed anything amiss if I had seen your tummy at a beach, but I'm looking closely because you asked!

It doesn't look like you have excess fat in the area, so if you're unhappy with anything in that area, it's probably just skin. You could always try another 6 months or so and then see if it changes any. (Maybe measuring the loose skin and comparing it will give you a good idea?) I have heard of some people firming up for up to a year or so after loss. At that point, you can always decide if you want to talk to a surgeon about options, if you're interested...but...honestly, there's so little skin there that the surgery cost & recovery might outweigh the benefits!

Okay, so I don't mean to minimize your problem, but I honestly think that it's not even anything to worry out. Maybe I'm wrong, but it doesn't look like such a big thing, and I think that you look awesome whether or not you have a little loose skin. I'd say just don't stress it.

hey there is something growing out of your belly button---maybe if you twist it --it will tighten up--lol

yes it will. fat cut the fat not the carb

I don't want to belittle your concern, 'cause I realize you are unhappy with it, but if my loose skin looks like that when I reach my goal, I will kiss every stranger I see for a month. Best of luck on it tightening up though.

Good luck with those herpes. LOL.

Anyway; Im scared of loose skin; so I use a age defying lotion that has vitamins a, e, and c in it; those help the skin externally. Im starting to apply it everyday to arms and stomach especially; sometimes in thigh area and love handles, etc. Also getting plenty of water will help with skin elasticity; half ur body weight in ounces plus more if u workout. Cocoa butter will help with stretch marks; i dont have a ton of stretch marks since ive been big my entire life as opposed to someone who over a short period of time gained alot of weight and stretched their skin alot; i grew bigger over 26 years, not over just a few years... Im more worried about excess skin... but if ur more worried about stretch marks then cocoa butter might be the better lotion for you.. or maybe doing the vitamin a, e, and c thing in the morning, and cocoa butter at night... along with water, make sure you are eating plenty of skin elasticity building vitamins to help your body from the instead out (instead of just external lotion)... again, vitamins a, e, and vitamin c rich foods; but also vitamin k, omegas, and i think theres a couple others im forgetting to mention; but all of those really help the skin. spinach is one of the natural foods that contain I think all of the skin elasticity vitamins; so i try to eat spinach everyday; as well as plenty of other foods containing these vitamins.

Now, I'm being completely serious on this one...but...what loose skin?

I agree completely!!! What loose skin! I would love for my stomach to look that good!!!

you look great! I had one baby 9.5 pounder!! I am also very short 5' ft. mine looks much worse. It is tightening, and even though I am losing, I think some of the loose, will say there forever. BUT again, wow 3 kids for you, you look AMAZING!