Stubborn Belly Fat -- or Loose Skin?

[ouroborous 519]

So, I'm about a year out and about 100-105 lbs down (haven't weighed lately). I'm getting to the point where "most of me" looks "pretty good" -- my face and neck are much slimmer, my legs are much slimmer and more defined, and my "gut" is way, way smaller.

There is a little loose skin on my arms, thighs, and chest that I'm sure I can fix with weightlifting (and I'm getting a personal trainer and I'm going to hit the gym HARD this summer).

However, now I'm down to a roll of... something around my midsection. My BMI is still 30 -- obese -- so it could well be fat. However, given my build (large, with a side of lumberjack genetics!) this is probably off; I'm probably around 28 or so "real" BMI (I should do a tank test to see!) No matter how you slice it, I still have fat to lose; my final "stopping" weight would probably be around 205-210, so I have nearly 20 more pounds to lose.

That being said, what's around my tummy doesn't feel as much like fat as before. There are parts where you can pinch it and there's still clearly blubber in there, but not much.

So... I'm wondering what to do about it? Just keep on trying to lose weight? And, if it's loose skin, should I be considering plastic surgery, or can I counteract it with e.g. hardcore crunches and obliques workouts? It's not much -- I've seen people with DRAMATIC aprons of loose skin, and if this IS loose skin, it's NOTHING like that, but still... I've come THIS far, I don't want to be embarrassed to be outside with my shirt off!

Sorry this is rambling, and thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice. If I get up the courage, I may post a picture soon so you all can see what I'm talking about. If I get up the courage!

[coops 1,790]

Great question... one I had with my husband just yesterday about my own apron area!

For me, there is still a lot of f at there... but there is also a lot os loose skin too - I have a great excuse of two kids to add ... lol- and I am wondering the same as you!

I started boxing training back in Feb/March and I now go twice a week. I have seen a MASSIVE difference in the shape of my stomach area, from the ribs down. The rib area is much tighter and firmer that before as is the lower abs but not to the same degree... I am sure that underneath my layer of fat I have a good, strong core now.

If I was you, 'cos you said that there isn't a lot of fat/skin around your stomach, I would do some serious core training and see where that gets you...

Good luck and let us know what you decide! =]

[ouroborous 519]

Thanks for the response. I'll post some shirtless pics Real Soon Now . That should make it clear what I'm talking about.

I'm pretty sure that it's mostly a layer of belly fat still, and the fact that my core is weak (this summer is going to be my "stop being a lazy ass summer!") makes it MUCH more apparent that that last "spare tire" is there.

I guess I'm just so used to being morbidly obese -- where you don't have these little bulges... you just have one enormous giant MASS of fat! -- that I'm not used to what "close to in shape with a few trouble spots left" looks like!

[KellyL 173]

Hi,

The other night on the show Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, they were discussing with the Plastic Surgeon about removing the girls loose skin, and said that it is mostly skin with some fat. But he wanted to go ahead and remove her skin even though she had not reached her goal cause he said that a lot of times the excess skin actually gets in the way of losing the remainder amount of fat there. I wish I knew exactly word for word. I know for me personally, I am sure i will have to have plastics for 2 reasons. The first reason is because I can tell from looking at it now, if I kinda have a low hanging lower abdomen from the extra fat, losing the fat or exercise isn't going to get it the way I will want it. The second is because when I was at my smallest and working out at the gym every single day and very active on the weekends BEFORE kids, I had a problem with excess fat there, the lower abdomen. Not to the extent it is now by any means, but I could just never get rid of this extra poofiness there, and I've never had a flat tummy since maybe when I was like 10, prepuberty I guess. I was doing crunches and everything for quite some time and it just wouldn't go away.

It doesn't sound like you have the kind of issue I am talking about at all, and working out could very well resolve most of the issues you are having. But I thought it was interesting what they said about the loose skin kinda being in the way of getting some of the fat in that area to leave. Good luck!!

[Janae 12]

Check out this link for the"best complete ab exercise!"

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/training-day/201105/single-best-ab-exercise-and-its-not-crunch

[ouroborous 519]

So I snapped a couple of pictures, and they made it abundantly clear: it's still fat. I'll work on losing that last 25-30 pounds (it's probably more than I thought!) and building my core muscles up. If I am still having this problem in another year or so (I'm only a year out from surgery), THEN I'll consider the plastics.

Thanks for all the responses!

[ouroborous 519]

So, I snapped two pictures, what I call the good news/bad news pictures.

The good news: my chest and upper abs, as well as my arms, are looking good. I just need to bulk up the muscle a little, and I think I'll be fine. There's a TINY bit of flab around the side of my pecs, but my chest bulks up REALLY quick, so I think some flys and outer pec work should take care of that.

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

The bad news: my belly still has a fair amount of fat, and it's starting to show a little bit of that "deflated tire" thing (WARNING: not pretty!)

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

Also note that you can see some stretch marks where my poor abused skin was stretched out to nearly 350 pounds at my heaviest, and then shrunk back. I've literally had those since my teens, so I doubt they're going away

So I'm thinking the answer to my question -- "can I just work out really hard and build muscle and burn fat, or do I need to have plastic surgery" -- is going to have to be "both." But at least I can put off the plastics for a while while I get rid of that last 20-30 pounds of stubborn fat. Who knows, maybe in that time, my skin will improve a little if I do all the right things (hydration, moisturize, avoid sun damage, etc.)

I was HOPING to avoid plastics, but... oh well

[mommyofLDS 52]

First off, let me say that your weight loss is awesome! Great job! Looking at your pics, to me that looks a lot more like skin then it does fat. There is a big contrast between your upper body and lower body, In the first pic, your upper body looks normal, no extra skin or fat. That really makes it hard to believe that its anything but mostly loose skin.

I know what you mean about not wanting to have another surgery. I was feeling the same way, but lately it seems more and more like it will be a reality. Sucks, but I want to have a flat stomach for once in my life.

Have you thought about consulting a plastic surgeon to get a medical prefessional's opinion?

[ouroborous 519]

First off, let me say that your weight loss is awesome! Great job! Looking at your pics, to me that looks a lot more like skin then it does fat. There is a big contrast between your upper body and lower body, In the first pic, your upper body looks normal, no extra skin or fat. That really makes it hard to believe that its anything but mostly loose skin.

I know what you mean about not wanting to have another surgery. I was feeling the same way, but lately it seems more and more like it will be a reality. Sucks, but I want to have a flat stomach for once in my life.

Have you thought about consulting a plastic surgeon to get a medical prefessional's opinion?

I have thought about it. I know someone who just had "some work done" post-WLS and she is VERY happy with the results (despite the fact that post-surgical care was... not trivial). To be honest, though, that surgery scares me -- it is in some ways more of a major surgery than the VSG itself (I know it's hard to believe, but you basically get flayed, and skin loss of that magnitude is risky). Also, I guess I'm really just hoping that the skin will "pull back" on its own. I know that I'm not going to consider it for at least another six months; I'm only about a year out, and according to the BMI charts, I still have almost 40 lbs to lose (although given my build, which you can see in the picture, I'd guess that that's closer to 30 lbs). So I want to try to be patient and wait to shed some more weight; it sucks because I won't get to feel all sexy this summer -- maybe next summer? -- but at least I've filled the summer with all kinds of fun, outdoorsy physical activities.

I have considered consulting my friend's plastic surgeon, but honestly how could I trust that his opinion was unbiased? Of course he's going to tell me that he could do it, and I would look FABULOUS, but how can I know he's being completely candid when he's got a financial stake in the answer? That's why I was asking here; I assume that folks on here have much more of an unbiased (and hopefully first-person) opinion on the subject.

[Eyfura 3]

So, I snapped two pictures, what I call the good news/bad news pictures.

The good news: my chest and upper abs, as well as my arms, are looking good. I just need to bulk up the muscle a little, and I think I'll be fine. There's a TINY bit of flab around the side of my pecs, but my chest bulks up REALLY quick, so I think some flys and outer pec work should take care of that.

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

The bad news: my belly still has a fair amount of fat, and it's starting to show a little bit of that "deflated tire" thing (WARNING: not pretty!)

https://picasaweb.go...feat=directlink

Also note that you can see some stretch marks where my poor abused skin was stretched out to nearly 350 pounds at my heaviest, and then shrunk back. I've literally had those since my teens, so I doubt they're going away

So I'm thinking the answer to my question -- "can I just work out really hard and build muscle and burn fat, or do I need to have plastic surgery" -- is going to have to be "both." But at least I can put off the plastics for a while while I get rid of that last 20-30 pounds of stubborn fat. Who knows, maybe in that time, my skin will improve a little if I do all the right things (hydration, moisturize, avoid sun damage, etc.)

I was HOPING to avoid plastics, but... oh well

Okay, so good news and bad...the good news is that your upper body looks pretty good, you tummy though looks like mine (except much more hair!) it will not go away unless you have surgery. I am 2 years out and I have loose skin all over, not huge amounts of hangy skin, but obvious loose skin. A small amount in my arms (probably wont get that done), my tummy, thighs, butt and chest will all need some touching up with a surgeon. I am a size small 8 but would easily be a small 6 possibly a 4 with my skin gone. It is hard to see that some things are out of our control even though we have done our part and lost the weight, but sometimes we can't avoid the knife...well unless you leave it, which it is not too bad, you will be more bothered by it then anyone else! You really need to wait until at least 6 mths after you are at your goal weight though. I have heard of Dr.'s that do it earlier, but that is insane unless you were extremely large before the surgery and then have so much loose skin that you cant fit it into cloths as you go down in size, then you could do it earlier, but in your case you really should wait until your weight is stable for 6 mths. Good luck! :-)

[SouthernSleever 236]

I could take the same pics as you well...except I have some bewbs on top. My top 1/2 looks fine and it looks like a size 10/12 but then from right above my belly button and down I still just look like a smaller version of my fat self. I still have two fat rolls that are driving me mad! I read an article the other day about how our bodies conserve estrogen in our midsections, a lot refer to them as the "spare tire" and it's the last to go in weight loss usually coming off at the VERY end. As far as loose skin goes I know I will have some, my thighs already look like drapery curtains but I plan to build muscle in there instead. I, like you, do not like to think of another major surgery. The risk of infection and just not being 100% happy with results isn't worth it...not to mention the money.

[coops 1,790]

Well, I have to admit, I looked at the pictures too... your top half looks fantastic,,, no way would I of thought that it used to belong to a 350lb male.

On to the tummy area, honestly... it isn't bad! Ok, I understand that you want a flat, strong core, but honestly fella, it looks good! It is a lot prettier than mine! I'm not sure that there is another 30lbs left on you to lose... and I am not being kind, just honest!

I think you have the game plan sorted... get in that gym, work your core and see what happens... if you are still unhappy in 6-9mths, look into other options.

However, in saying that, and I don't mean to sound like a hypercrite... but I would have my apron chopped of tomorrow!!! =]

[ouroborous 519]

I could take the same pics as you well...except I have some bewbs on top. My top 1/2 looks fine and it looks like a size 10/12 but then from right above my belly button and down I still just look like a smaller version of my fat self. I still have two fat rolls that are driving me mad! I read an article the other day about how our bodies conserve estrogen in our midsections, a lot refer to them as the "spare tire" and it's the last to go in weight loss usually coming off at the VERY end. As far as loose skin goes I know I will have some, my thighs already look like drapery curtains but I plan to build muscle in there instead. I, like you, do not like to think of another major surgery. The risk of infection and just not being 100% happy with results isn't worth it...not to mention the money.

Interestingly, I've had some hormonal difficulties in my life, with my testosterone being a tad low and my "female" hormones a tad high. It got traced down to a non-cancerous growth in my brain -- which is being treated -- but the end result was that my testosterone was always "borderline" between good enough and too low. And I always felt soft, pudgy, and not super "masculine" -- not a really defined feeling, just not always aggressive, assertive, sexual, etc.

Since losing 100 lbs, my testosterone has nearly doubled, and I've noticed dramatic changes in my libido, more facial and body hair (although I'm not a yeti, thank goodness!) and much better muscle bulk and assertiveness. I spoke with my doc about it, and he wasn't surprised; he said that fat is responsible for converting (aromatizing) testosterone to estrogen, and that the number one way that guys can improve testosterone, increase libido, etc., is to lose fat -- particularly belly fat.

So I wouldn't be surprised to hear about the estrogen thing.

Yeah, I'm not thrilled at the idea of another major surgery. I'm going to dedicate myself to packing on as much muscle as I can -- it's a fun challenge and it will improve my health, self-confidence, and appearance. But ultimately I'm not willing to spend the rest of my life not liking my appearance, so if that means I need plastic surgery at some point in the future -- so be it.

[ouroborous 519]

Well, I have to admit, I looked at the pictures too... your top half looks fantastic,,, no way would I of thought that it used to belong to a 350lb male.

On to the tummy area, honestly... it isn't bad! Ok, I understand that you want a flat, strong core, but honestly fella, it looks good! It is a lot prettier than mine! I'm not sure that there is another 30lbs left on you to lose... and I am not being kind, just honest!

I think you have the game plan sorted... get in that gym, work your core and see what happens... if you are still unhappy in 6-9mths, look into other options.

However, in saying that, and I don't mean to sound like a hypercrite... but I would have my apron chopped of tomorrow!!! =]

Well thank you for the compliments. I also unfortunately have a lot of loose skin/remaining flab on my inner thighs (I didn't snap a picture of that because I couldn't figure out how to get a G-rated one!), so I think it remains to be seen whether bodybuilding alone will solve my problems, or if I'm going to need plastic surgery.

[chilo1 62]

That tummy looks a lot like mine, and to be honest I think you will need surgery, because your pecs and your stomach look like they belong to 2 different people!

I have already booked my surgery(tummytuck) for december, and will be having it even if I don't get to goal. I exercise a lot now, but the flab around my belly isn't shifting!

Just keep doing what your doing cause it's obviously working!!!