I get emails with training and diet questions all the time. I also get this question (or version of it a lot)
<<<Q: I used to be a size 18 and now am a size 2. I eat clean, weight train and do cardio, but I still have this loose skin. How can I tighten my belly?? (or I have loose skin after pregnancy)>>>
these stretch marks will not go away, but her skin most likely will still tighten more
There are many factors
*age
*amount of weight lost
*how long you were overweight
*how fast you gained the weight
*how fast you lost the weight
……….and a lot of genetics.
Some people gain and lose a ton of weight and have hardly any issues while others are covered in stretch marks and are trying to fix that sagging skin.
You can cry about it or just learn what you can do and accept what you can’t.
There are tips for preventing stretch marks; like cocoa butter and moisturizing, but honestly, if you’re bodies’ genetics are likely to get stretchmarks, no amount of cocoa butter is going to stop that. At this point, the damage is done. So….what is my answer for what you can do?
Assuming you already eat clean, lift-weights and “do what you’re supposed to”…. you may not like the answer.
Preparation-H does not work.
Saran Wrap does not work.
Crunches, reverse crunches, planks or any abdominal exercise you can think of will not work.
There are a few lasers (usually very painful, expensive, and not largely effective) that are available that MAY have some effect on small areas or small amounts of skin “wrinkling”
this picture is more likely a candidate for a tummy tuck ** always consult a board certified plastic surgeon and get more than one opinion**
The only true thing that can actually get RID of loose skin is a tummy tuck.
They actually CUT. IT. OFF.
Even this only works if you have a significant amount of skin…. annnnnnnnd $8-$10k and about 3 months to recover.
Sooooo– the BEST thing you can do is: love yourself, don’t stress over it (its probably worse in your head) and think of it as a symbol of your hard work or your souvenir of your beautiful child or your hard work on losing the weight.
Surgery is a personal choice but realize that if you aren’t ok inside, it’s not going to fix everything. That being said, if you worked hard, there’s no reason you should be held back because of some loose skin.
Whatever you choose, be ok with that.
I would never judge and I’d be in line for a tummy-tuck if I worked my ass off to lose a bunch of weight and it was really bothering me.
We don’t all look/stay young forever.
Just be strong, be healthy, be beautiful.
and sorry I wish I had some better tips… but I am here to tell you the truth, not what you want to hear. Please Leave your comments!
you are MORE than some silly scars :)
