[mkroyer]

youd be suprised how much of that is water and glycogen, and NOT fat

[Crystalx5]

Okay here are some photos and background (yes, I hate the stretch marks- they came from my first born). Maybe someone can better see the fat now. I do not believe it is loose skin, maybe someone can shed more light on this though???? I am 28, four kids. First child I got pregnant with I was really young and skinny (16 had the first at 17), second child came along (17.5 got pregnant had at 18). Children number three and four are more recent. I started on my weight loss journey in 2006. Then got pregnant in 2007, so stopped. Gave birth and got down to 148 before getting pregnant with my last and final child (now 1 years old). That brings me up to now at 127- from starting at 203. Before ever getting pregnant I was young and 108 (and I am assuming shorter lol). Therefore my original goal weight was 124, but look at me!! Will exercise help this??? Please don't remark badly on how terrible my stretch marks look. I'm really embarrassed to post these, but am DESPERATE for help!!!!! Thanks

[Crystalx5]

Okay, I tried to add the pictures, but they just ended up in my user cp under attachments- how do I get them here??

[Crystalx5]

IMG_9479.jpg[attach][attach]IMG_9484.jpg[/attach][/attach]

Okay finally got the pictures lol!!!!

[pinkflower]

you look great! I do think it's loose skin. I have the same wrinkly tummy (thanks kids!). I also recommend new rules for weight lifting, it's changing my body like crazy!!!

http://www.amazon.com/New-Rules-Lift...0027594&sr=8-1

[VermontMom]

Crystal - first, congrats on your current weight!! You've lost over 70 pounds whoa!

And I 'think' that it's just loose skin in that area, because I can see your waist dips in and your arms looks great. If you're 5'7" and that weight...I am envious!

I know for sure regular strength training (and that sounds so formal doesn't it, like working out at a gym - it just means working against resistance, like squats, leg lifts, using dumbbells (sorry - 'free weights' - I'm old ) will help. When you asked, how do you motivate when it's icky out - I RELY on exercise videos and tapes.

A member here, I forget who it is, has in her siggy line something like 'eating less makes you look good in clothes...workout out makes you look good without clothes'

[Eliana]

Oh my gosh, I'm so glad I asked! Did you doctor see your tummy? If he did and if he didn't tell you that's loose skin, well why didn't he? I'm pretty sure that is just loose skin!

I can't tell you how to fix it, but I can tell you I've read on here that it improves with time. I know that's not a nice answer. A lot of people, men and women, complain about that area especially.

You do look wonderful!! Not fat at all! I can see why your doctor was concerned. But I can also see why you were concerned. I hope that helps knowing that it's probably just loose skin.

[sacha]

As someone who recently had a near 10lb baby and whose cute popped-out belly button now hangs over, I empathize Yes, it's loose skin. If you want, you can build abdominal muscle to 'fill in' some of the area but surgery is the only 'cure'. Sucks, I know, but such is the life of us mommies

[Crystalx5]

Thanks for all the replies. I really feel as though there has to be *some* fat left there. It seems otherwise that, that would be a LOT of loose skin.

Vermonmom- I'm scared to do anything that involves my legs, as they are actually my favourite part of my body, and it's a part that my whole life I have always been complimented on. I'm scared that working them out will make them look bulky and not sleek and lean- would that happen??

Pinkflower- the book actually looks pretty good- is it easy to follow though?

Eliana- No, my doctor did not look at me with my shirt up. I will search the boards here to find more about loose skin if I can.

Sacha- Does building muscle there take a long time to see results? I most certainly cant afford surgery and wish so desperately that I could I'm so embarrassed and ashamed of my body now, my stomach, my boobs ugh!! My smallest baby was my first baby at 7lbs 15oz. My heaviest was my last at 8lbs 12oz.

There has to be a way outside of surgery to correct some of it. Any ideas on how long it would take on its own to go away some?? I would love to feel good about me some- I got cursed with stretch marks bad enough, I could live with those if my stomach and boobs at least looked better!

[sacha]

Building actual abdominal muscle (lean mass) yes, takes years for women. And it takes a surplus of calories, not fat loss calories. So once you are "comfortable" with your weight (in general), you will have to eat above-maintenance calories and do heavy weight training, for years.

Which is why you need not worry about being bulky. Being bulky (actual muscle) requires a good decade of training or more - plus some chemical enhancements. Do not confuse high body fat (which every single woman seems to do) with muscle.

This is unfortunately how actual lean mass is built - which is why very few women actually do it. However, if you decide to put in the effort (and food!) into it, you can get some really nice results. But it takes a lot of work and patience.

[katkitten]

weight training!

[SouthLake]

Definitely loose skin. How recently have you lost the bulk of your weight? Your skin should firm up some on its own in time. Also, remember that in a lot of ways, untoned muscle can look just as bad, if not worse, than fat. Get started on a lifting and cardio program- it should help a lot with remaining problem areas, and make you feel great!

[Crystalx5]

My weight loss has went something like this;

mid 2006- mid 2007 = 40 pounds
Got pregnant then had to re-lose about 12 of those pounds again which tool until about 6 months or so....
Nov. 2008-February 2009 lost about 3-5 more pounds
Got pregnant with baby number 4
Had my last baby in November of 2009, and very rapidly lost the initial baby weight gain (2 weeks it took to get down to pre=pregnancy weight)

After that, I've slowly lost the rest of the weight up to this point, so 21 pounds in about a year.

I think my weight loss has been slow enough, so I do hope my skin will firm up. Are my chances good, or would surgery be the only option? (which for the life of me I can't afford!)

[DEDIKAYTED]

Dry body brushing will most definitely help that loose skin!

[Crystalx5]

What is dry body brushing????