will I ever have a flat tummy???

[Jennifer Miller]

hi guys...i have an odd question. I've lost about 46 pounds so far (with about another 100 to go), and I have noticed that my tummy "overhang" has shrunk a little bit. My question is will it ever go away?? will the stretched skin shrink back to normal or is surgery the only way to take care of it?? thanks
jennifer

[huskersfan869]

I have lost 62 so far and it is getting closer and closer to that "flatter" look I want! I think in time with careful toning and lots of ab work I can get it tones and maybe not perfect but flat without surgery--just my $.02 but that is what I am shooting for. I had about 100 even to lose so the progress is showing nicely and like I said, I think I will make it without surgery--will see when I get to goal what is up with my belly!

[reneed70]

Okay, my belly may get flat but I know it will still hang since I've lost so much and have more to go. I wish it didn't look so ugly but oh well, very few people, okay, myself and one other see whats underneath the clothes

Renee

[CushieButterfield]

Oh, my gosh, you read my mind. I was going to post a similar question and hope to get input from everyone, especially the ones that have lost 100 pounds already. I just didn't have time this afternoon so I am glad you did.

I have been very heavy since I was very young. I was 311 as a freshman in high school. I'm sure if I want a more normal stomach I'll have to have surgery, but I was wondering about the rest of the skin as well. I've been working up the exercise and know that's important but what have you guys that have lost so much found?

[gilley79]

some many years ago... (8 yrs 9months ago) befor i got pregnant w/ my first child. i had a flat tummy.. i have now lost around 60lbs.. i want to loose about another 45 lbs.. and trust me i gota lot to do on the mid section!!! My self.. i do not know if i will ever see a flat tummy beacuse i had 2 c-sections.. one lateral cut.. one horizontal cut... so i have a boat anchor on my belly the days of showing off this tummy are gone probly for good.. but i can't waite for the day when i can wear a tube top and look HOT! heheh.. not to far away!

You just realy need to tone the belly area make it a focus point

[CushieButterfield]

I'm doing the crunches every night as part of my exercise challenge to myself. I had a c-section last year and my tummy is still numb. I can pinch really hard all over and not feel a thing. It kills me that it's still this way, but a lady in my office said it could take two years to get back to normal.

[Goddess]

this is something i read up some on, because it was a concern of mine. i'm looking at about 115 pounds total loss by the time i'm done, so it's a realistic issue.

at 95 pounds down where i am now, yes, i have some loose skin. it is gradually decreasing as i lose the rest of my weight at a fairly steady but slow pace (i.e. 2 pounds a week average).

the rate of loss does impact this, although differently for different people from what i understand. the reccomendations i've seen to minimize this:

supplements that help skin elasticisity and factors that go to rebuilding skin: l-lutamine, vitamin e. i also take oil of olay skin vitamins, whatever they've got in them.

i got some vitamin e oil as well to keep the skin as soft and elastic as possible, and even use jergens "skin-firming" lotion.

i've also seen mentioned several times that weight-bearing exercises, weight training, that kind of thing does wonders for firming skin. and i've seen it said several times that it may take even a year or so for the skin to do what it's gonna.

i personally don't anticipate having surgery. i think with patience and continued attention to relevant factors, the skin will improve over time to an acceptable level for me personally. and heck: it's still SO much better than it was before, it's kind of hard for me to get worked up about it.

[Stephlce]

I can tell you all my personal experience on this having lost about 100 pounds several years ago and then becoming certified as a personal trainer just because I felt it would give me more knowledge. I lost at a slow pace, I worked out with weights, I jogged and I ended up with loose skin on my stomach. It really depends on how you carry your weight. If you carry it in your stomach, I would pretty much expect to have the loose skin. I see people post over and over that if you lose slowly this won't happen and that is simply not true. I went to see a doctor after I lost it all and I was told it just didn't matter at what rate you lose the weight.

One thing the doc did say is that if you wear a girdle tightly while losing weight, you can try and train the skin as you lose. So, some of you might want to give that a try. I never got the surgery because with clothes on and support hose, it was never noticeable and I figured one day I'd have kids and it would happen again so I would wait. Well, now I"m thinking I want it done. Here is a big problem with loose skin...TOM. If you have that extra skin at TOM you can seriously go up a good 2 or more sizes every month. It's insanity, annoying, depressing, etc. I've had to keep bigger sizes around for TOM because of this. However, if you really watch your salt intake, carbs, etc. after losing that does help you not bloat up quite as much. At times when I went off this WOE I noticed the skin bloated up more at TOM.

Finally, genetics plays the biggest role. Ask yourself, what does your mother's skin look like?

It is an unfortunate situation. You work hard to lose the weight and end up with this skin. It's one of those things that you just gotta make the best of it if you don't get surgery.

[Jennifer Miller]

Argh, what a horrible vision...my mother's stomach. Thanks for your input everyone...I guess I'd better get to those crunches I keep promising myself I'll do!
jennifer

[Rob]

"Argh, what a horrible vision...my mother's stomach.."

ROFLMAO

My take on loose skin is if it happens, it happens.

[celest24209]

Im with Rob, if it hangs then i'll live with it. Im still so much better off healthwise and appearance wise than i was 8 months ago. For me the risk of surgery is not really worth it for me. But then again ive never had any type of surgery, so the idea of the pain is another turnoff for me, lol. But i will work my but off exercisewise to do whatever i can, will even wear a girdle if i have to, but noooooo surgery.

[teelbee]

I read on a cosmetic surgery site that sometimes people can get medical insurance to pay for the skin reduction surgery if they are subject to rashes, etc. in the skin folds.

I think it depends on genetics and age - the skin loses it's elasticity with age anyway, so a significant weight loss is likelier to result in skin folds than with a younger person.

I am over 50, but I have noticed my loose skin has continued to improve in the year since I reached my goal weight. I'll never have tight skin on my neck, thighs, and upper arms, but I think they do look better than they did this time last year.