[cinnabunny]

Basically, at one point, I weighed about 330lbs. I dieted (in an unhealthy way) myself down to 190lbs. 4 years later, I'm still at 190. Because of my unhealthy diet, my body isn't the greatest. It's flabby and saggy in places.
I was watching tv and saw an informercial for Slim in 6 and all of these overweight women ended up with flat stomachs and toned bodies. So, what I'm asking is, do you think that I've done too much damage to my body to tone it up and get a flat stomach? Haha. These past 2 weeks I've been riding my bike to school and I've lost a few pounds, but will crunches do anything to help my goal of a toned abs? Has anyone else lost a lot of weight quickly, was left with "loose skin" and toned it up? I just want to know if there is hope for me.

Thanks!

[Heather]

CONGRATS on maintaining your weight loss for 4 years!!! That's awesome!!

Your question is common, and I think you should check out this sticky: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/body...skin-faqs.html

Bottom line, given your situation, I don't think you'll ever look like a woman who was never morbidly obese. I don't know about losing the weight quickly, but the fact that you were that heavy, and have been at your current weight for years without seeing a 'tightening up'.

But strength training and core work can help tone your abs... but it won't make extra skin go away. Some people have surgery to address the issue, others are just glad they are no longer morbidly obese!

Congrats again!

[beerab]

It's never too late to at least start trying- if you have the money invest in a personal trainer that can help you tighten up as much as possible

ETA if you can't afford a personal trainer I'd look into some tightening up and toning up exercises you can do and start doing some weight lifting at the gym to help.

[Idealmuse]

Even a personal trainer isn't going to help most likely... you can "fill out" some of that empty space with muscle (which will also raise your metabolism and help you keep that weight off) and you'll have more "shape" but you'll likely still have excess skin over it.

I've heard things do "tighten up" after a year or two but given you're 4 years out I doubt you'll see any more progress by itself.

I've already got loose skin. I'm not looking forward to seeing how bad it is at goal having been over 300 as well.

[fitnessgal]

Go for it girl! Life is in the journey.

[crcossel]

I've always wondered about this because you see these biggest loser people lose tons of weight and not have skin problems. What is up with that?

[Aclai4067]

Well, you may notice they stop weighing in with their shirts off towards the end. Are you so sure none of them have excess skin?