Is it possible to get a flat stomach. (Excess skin)

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Replies

  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    lose weight slowly. do both cardio and strength training to get best results. this will help all areas of your body not just your stomach.
  • GodsyGirl
    GodsyGirl Posts: 32 Member
    I keep "hearing" strength training and I want to start. Does anyone have any specific things I should be trying?
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Start doing cardio now, when I started I had 130-135lbs to lose I'm down 116.5 right now. My stomach is getting flatter, no loose skin, Cardio is the only real thing besides surgery to get rid of belly fat...

    I'm sorry, but this is completely, and utterly inaccurate.

    If that were true this:

    7434194_2240.jpg

    To this:

    7434194_4338.jpg

    In three months, on nothing but heavy strength training for less than an hour a day 3x a week, wouldn't have been possible.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    I keep "hearing" strength training and I want to start. Does anyone have any specific things I should be trying?

    Google Starting Strength, or Stronglifts 5x5. There's a women's group on MFP that supports Stronglifts...maybe one of these ladies can give you the link.
  • GodsyGirl
    GodsyGirl Posts: 32 Member
    Thanks crisanderson2! and you have done a great job by the way. you look good
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Thanks crisanderson2! and you have done a great job by the way. you look good

    Thanks :flowerforyou:
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    With that amount of weight loss you will probably have some excess skin. Some peoples skin has more elasticity than others though. You may be one of the people that doesn't get the excess skin. If you do...Its not that big of a deal! 160 lbs lost will be such a great accomplishment! :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,985 Member
    Im fairly new to this journey. (About 30 days) I have 160 pounds to lose and i am really scared about losing the weight and then having a stomach "pouch" Is there anything I can do now to help me get a flat stomach. It doesnt have to be super flat but I don't want excess skin hanging over my pants. Plastic surgery would not be an option.
    If you have that much to lose, chances are you're going to have excess skin. It's not a choice or something that you can physically do to absolve it with diet and exercise. If surgery in no an option, then there are compression clothing you can wear underneath to keep it from hanging.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • mommakatwoman
    mommakatwoman Posts: 11
    It's hard work. I am working toward that goal. I am much older and I wish I had started trying to flattten my stomache earlier.
    the longer you wait the harder it gets...so get started and stay focused now.
  • ShareeMorty
    ShareeMorty Posts: 324 Member
    I need to lose about 60kg all up, I fully expect to have loose skin at the end. I am hoping exercise will reduce the amount but I keep this thought in my mind...

    I would rather stuff loose skin into a size 16 pair of jeans than keep wearing a size 24-26:wink:
  • piinchi
    piinchi Posts: 172 Member
    I love topics with great advice! OP, they're all right - slow and steady, lots of cardio, and ab exercises are good for keeping your midsection strong, which makes all other exercise better as well. Drink lots of water and avoid anything that may cause water retention for you - this differs for many people but most often its high-sodium/highly processed foods. It doesn't make you "Fat" overnight, but it can cause puffiness that gets discouraging. You got this, and I also appreciate all the great advice from everyone else too!
  • sweetnlow30
    sweetnlow30 Posts: 497 Member
    I would say you will probably have some degree of loose skin :frown: especially if you have been overweight for quite a few years. When I was at my lightest (105 pounds lost) I had quite a lot of wrinkles on my stomach but it didn't hang over my pants or anything like that. My stomach still feels very soft and I have more small "rolls" where the skin is loose. I have been overweight all my life and I have had two children though so my situation may be a little different.

    I highly recommend spanx or a similar type of spandex undershirt. They really smooth you out and help prevent that loose saggy feeling. I am to the point now where I feel very naked without a spandex undershirt on under my clothes. Only myself and my husband know it's there and it helps me feel more confident. There is no shame in that! I think my worst issue is my batwing arms because they are harder to cover. I used to wear longer sleeve shirts but I have recently decided to go sleeveless this summer and hold my head up high. If they don't like it, they don't have to look.

    Good luck with your weight loss journey. I would honestly trade a ton of sagging skin for 100 + pounds of fat on my body any day! Try not to worry to much about the big picture and take it one day at a time :flowerforyou:
  • iKapuniai
    iKapuniai Posts: 594 Member
    Cardio to lose the weight, but also LOTS OF STRENGTH TRAINING to tighten up the underlying muscle for a more defined look that will ultimately assist your skin in looking tight and firm. That's what I read anyway lol I do believe that strength training is key though. I'd say cardio 30% (got to lose the weight somehow) and strength 70%. When I was 15 I pretty much lost 85lbs on strength training alone. :)
  • GodsyGirl
    GodsyGirl Posts: 32 Member
    Thank you to all the replies. I just love MFP!!

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