extra belly skin! ugh

abirkel
abirkel Posts: 60
in Health and Weight Loss
Through the help of MFP and working out like crazy, I am now at a weight that I haven't been, maybe ever...I do cardio, I lift heavy, and I think I look pretty dang good for a mom with two kids! My problem is that I have all this stretched out, extra skin and subcutaneous fat on my belly that will not go away. I am 5 pounds away from my goal weight, or at my goal weight, and am focusing now on building muscle and lowering my body fat percentage...is this extra skin something that will go away as I get leaner? I am really happy with the progress I have made, except for in this one area. I'm a size 2-4, size small...I don't think I really need to lose any more weight or be a smaller size. I just want this belly skin to GO AWAYYY.

Maybe my two-piece swimsuit days are just over. :(

I don't know how to upload pictures, so I've linked here to my flickr account. The last two pictures are of my belly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birkels/with/6975473128/

Thanks for your help!

Replies

  • bakerrat
    bakerrat Posts: 5 Member
    The extra skin may tone slightly but will never appear the same as someone who has never had weight problems. If it bothers you a lot, you may want to consider a full or mini tummy tuck.

    Basically, if there are stretch marks there, the skin will never "bounce back" to its original elasticity.
  • ExplorinLauren
    ExplorinLauren Posts: 991 Member
    I feel your pain :(
    Other than toning and really sculpting the muscles, I don't think there is anything you can do about the skin?
    Tummy tuck maybe... they have mini tummy tucks where the scar isn't so bad. If you hear any good answers let me know! lol
  • abirkel
    abirkel Posts: 60
    Unfortunately unless I magically become a millionaire I think a tummy tuck isn't an option. :(
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    Other than a tummy tuck, probably gonna be there forever, may tighten up a bit but not back to before......
  • mjterp
    mjterp Posts: 650 Member
    THERE IS HOPE!

    I had a friend who lost well over 100 pounds and she said over time her skin has shrunk. Not tight, like before, but she lost the "fold over".
  • ColleenRoss50
    ColleenRoss50 Posts: 199 Member
    First of all, congratulations on the weight loss.

    As for the tummy fat, be sure to continue with the resistance training. It will get better over time as you continue to maintain your weight (may take a year or two but it will definitely improve). Also make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,446 Member
    Maybe my two-piece swimsuit days are just over. :(

    In the short term, all of those awesome retro higher waisted bikinis are in. :)

    dvf.jpg
  • Heather_Jen
    Heather_Jen Posts: 33
    I agree with the water... and time... I think its totally possible to get your stomach back... just give it time. Keep at your training, make sure you are taking plenty of vitamins that love to help skin... Lysine is an amino acid that is awesome for building collagen in growth and tissue repair! I found this article:


    Lysine helps the body absorb and conserve calcium and it plays an important role in the formation of collagen, a substance important for bones and connective tissues including skin, tendon, and cartilage. When vitamin C is combined with lysine, the formation of collagen is enhanced. Collagen is important to the formation of bone and tissue along with its repair. Because it helps to build muscle protein and repair tissues, lysine is especially important for those recovering from surgery or sports-related injuries.

    Years ago after breastfeeding my daughter for over two years, by boobs were flat and flabby skin. It took well over a year and they went back to looking like smooth skin that retracted to normal state. I am going to take a guess that the ability of your body to retract the skin decreases with age, but you look like a young vibrant woman that will recover in time. Hope this helps! Your wedding pics were beautiful, you look like a princess!
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    I just read where people who have lost a lot of weight and want to tighten skin should start taking CLA and GLA supplements. It not only helps tighten the skin over time but helps flush bad fat, it good for your heart and is an important fatty acid. Soooo, I just ordered a bottle off Amazon that has a CLA/GLA mix instead of buying them separate. I am trying them now.
  • abirkel
    abirkel Posts: 60
    I should mention that my youngest is 15 months...so I am hoping all of you who chimed in and said to just give it time are right. :) I have lost nearly 100 pounds between what my highest weight was when I was pregnant with my first son and now.

    I will also look into lysine and the GLA/CLA supplements. :) I eat very clean (probably 85% of the time) but maybe these supplements will help. And I LOVE the vintage high-waist bikinis!
  • abirkel
    abirkel Posts: 60
    thanks! oh and those wedding pics weren't of me...just a beautiful friend. :) but i will look into the lysine for sure, thanks!
  • chickentunashake
    chickentunashake Posts: 164 Member
    Congrats on losing all the weight and getting that close to your goal. But,I'm afraid that there is nothing you can do about lose skin. The only way to prevent that is losing weight very slow and with a lots of workouts to tone the muscle. I have 6 children and i have a little bit of a loose skin above my belly button, which you cannot see on my pictures, yey, but my youngest is 5 months, so maybe it stil will go away. Or not. But, we all can be proud of ourselves to hang in there, be healthy and in shape. That's all what counts. I wish you luck
  • lucylousmummy
    lucylousmummy Posts: 348 Member
    Unfortunately unless I magically become a millionaire I think a tummy tuck isn't an option. :(

    thats me lol i've been recommended rubbing vitamin E lotion onto mine to help rejuvenate elasticity, dont no if this works or not as i've not bought any yet.
    great job on the weight loss though and my stomach looks like yours just not as small yet but hopefully one day
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    It may never go away without surgery. Some people just aren't lucky enough for it to.
  • DominiqueSmall
    DominiqueSmall Posts: 495 Member
    Through the help of MFP and working out like crazy, I am now at a weight that I haven't been, maybe ever...I do cardio, I lift heavy, and I think I look pretty dang good for a mom with two kids! My problem is that I have all this stretched out, extra skin and subcutaneous fat on my belly that will not go away. I am 5 pounds away from my goal weight, or at my goal weight, and am focusing now on building muscle and lowering my body fat percentage...is this extra skin something that will go away as I get leaner? I am really happy with the progress I have made, except for in this one area. I'm a size 2-4, size small...I don't think I really need to lose any more weight or be a smaller size. I just want this belly skin to GO AWAYYY.

    Maybe my two-piece swimsuit days are just over. :(

    I don't know how to upload pictures, so I've linked here to my flickr account. The last two pictures are of my belly.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/birkels/with/6975473128/

    Thanks for your help!

    I think you look fantastic. I don't know if this will help you but body wraps tighten the skin. That is one of their main purposes (going for one this coming week as a matter of fact). so it might be worth looking into.
  • cbl40
    cbl40 Posts: 281 Member
    Sorry to say, it never goes away. I am a size 2-4, 116 lbs and 5 years past my youngest child. I am a fitness instructor and have very strong abdominal muscles. I can never show my belly again. I have diastasis and an umbilical hernia, not to mention extra, saggy skin. :( My doc has told me a tummy tuck could fix that up. However, surgery is not something I'd like to do. I've had two C-sections and know what the recovery entails. Plus, I wouldn't be able to work out or teach classes for awhile. So, you learn to embrace and live with it. Wish I could tell you otherwise, but this has been my experience. :)

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