Ab classes making stomach saggy. Why?

jmgj27
jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I've lost a lot of weight and I've done ok with saggy skin so far. Some bits need toning but nothing major.
A couple of weeks ago I started to do tummy classes and I've noticed that when I'm on all fours the middle of my stomach hangs down unattractively. It definitely didn't do that before I started the classes.
What's going on? What should I do- persevere and hope it'll get better or stop? Help! I'd just become confident in my appearance and this is a big step backwards.

Replies

  • LotsOtots5
    LotsOtots5 Posts: 174
    Could it possibly be loose skin?
  • dragonflydi
    dragonflydi Posts: 665 Member
    I have lost a lot of weight and had two big babies an dI have this same problem, but my stomach is covered with stretch marks, so the elasticity is gone. It has gotten a LOT worse since I really started focusing on my abs and body composition ... which I presume is b/c the muscles under that skin are much more tone than they used to be and no longer 'fill out' as much of the skin any longer. I can 'hide' it with my clothes, but, while I can now do real push ups, I won't do them at the gym for that very reason. I do them at home.
  • BeautifulScarsWECHANGED
    BeautifulScarsWECHANGED Posts: 749 Member
    Could it possibly be loose skin?

    This is my guess too. I have loose skin as well, so no matter what ab exercises I do, the skin won't go away. :grumble:
  • RTricia
    RTricia Posts: 720 Member
    I don't know but who's that gorgeous mug of a man on your ticker???

    :::::::::::::: swoooon! ::::::::::::::::::::::::
  • fitsaxon
    fitsaxon Posts: 57
    Was always told to pretend like my belly button was touching my spine during abs-- or else I would develop the dreaded tire of muscle below my belly button-- it never happened to me, but perhaps you are a victim?
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    Could it possibly be loose skin?
    I don't think so. It seems weird that three weeks ago it was fine- no sagging at all- then I do ab classes- a lot of them- and it gets all saggy. If it is just skin then I'm screwed and might as well start putting the weight back on now.
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    I don't know but who's that gorgeous mug of a man on your ticker???

    :::::::::::::: swoooon! ::::::::::::::::::::::::
    That's Henry Cavill from The Tudors. Pretty isn't he!
  • MayhemModels
    MayhemModels Posts: 367 Member
    You should be doing some upper and lower back weight training, when you build your back muscles the muscles will tighten up the loose skin
  • RoanneRed
    RoanneRed Posts: 429 Member
    Mine does the same although the most weight I've had to lose is 15kg and I've no children/pregnancies to blame it on. I assume it's some fat under the skin and that I may be losing elasticity in the skin with age.

    Don't give up on the weight, I bet it still looks better in other positions than it used to and remember that the strong abdominals will stand you in good stead as you get older.
  • JaydeSkye
    JaydeSkye Posts: 282 Member
    It happens to me too as I lose weight in my stomach. I've had 3 kids and it happens each time as I'm losing the fat and toning. I know it is gross but YES push through it, eventually it does go away it takes time though. Anytime I workout my abs I look almost bloated and the skin sags down a bit, then the next day it goes down and so on. It freaked me out at first but I've lost significant weight in my stomach and the skin IS going back.. I don't have elephant ears hanging off my belly. Granted I'm not completely DONE yet, but I'm working on it. I have no intention to STOP because as I get lower and lower in the bodyfat % it does go away. Just stick it out and you'll be fine :)
  • JaydeSkye
    JaydeSkye Posts: 282 Member
    You should be doing some upper and lower back weight training, when you build your back muscles the muscles will tighten up the loose skin

    Yes, he's right. I do P90X Legs and back and also back/upper body workouts in the gym with my trainer. It def does help !!!
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    You should be doing some upper and lower back weight training, when you build your back muscles the muscles will tighten up the loose skin
    What kind of things? I already have good back and shoulder muscles from a lifetime of swimming and nowhere else has got saggy. I had also planned to start focussing on my bum but seeing what's happened with my stomach I don't think that's a good plan.
    So is everyone saying keep going or stop? I can't believe this has happened so suddenly and would be totally irreversible. If I carry on maybe the middle part will tighten up- it does feel to me like there's some fat in it and not just skin...anybody else had this exact issue? What did you do and what happened?
  • jmgj27
    jmgj27 Posts: 531 Member
    It happens to me too as I lose weight in my stomach. I've had 3 kids and it happens each time as I'm losing the fat and toning. I know it is gross but YES push through it, eventually it does go away it takes time though. Anytime I workout my abs I look almost bloated and the skin sags down a bit, then the next day it goes down and so on. It freaked me out at first but I've lost significant weight in my stomach and the skin IS going back.. I don't have elephant ears hanging off my belly. Granted I'm not completely DONE yet, but I'm working on it. I have no intention to STOP because as I get lower and lower in the bodyfat % it does go away. Just stick it out and you'll be fine :)
    Cheers- that's exactly the kind of personal experience I was looking for. What about other body parts? I'd like to focus on toning my bum but will this happen there as well cause that would be heartbreaking and I'd rather leave it a bit jiggly as it is right now!
  • MayhemModels
    MayhemModels Posts: 367 Member
    Keep Going!! Try doing Pull-UPs, Push-UP's, Squats, Lunges, anything to work your back at bit and it will help
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