Belly fat or loose skin?

Posted by want6pack @want6pack, Jun 29, 2019

I had serious health problems which left me bedridden for two years, during which time I put on an additional 70 pounds.

But I recovered, and through a regimen of intense cardio training and strict dieting over a period of 9 months, I took that 70 pounds back off.

But although I’m now at my ideal weight (according to the Mayo Clinic and WebMD), I still have some belly fat that seems extremely resistant to coming off.

Or so I thought. But by squeezing a fold of this “fat” in the palm of my hand, I note that it’s only about 3/4 of an inch thick, and seems to be getting slightly less thick with continued training.

Here’s what I think it REALLY is: a bit of belly fat, but mostly just a lot of very loose skin, I guess because that skin was stretched so far when I got so overweight.

So here are my questions: will my skin eventually shrink back so that it’s no longer loose? And if so, how long would that take?

Or is there any other way to get rid of it, short of surgery? I’m pretty sure my health care insurance won’t pay for any elective surgery.

Or could a doctor prescribe an appropriate procedure as NON-elective surgery, on the grounds that this condition is dangerous to my health?

By the way, I’m 65 years old, so a couple people have suggested that my skin may have lost the elasticity needed to shrink back to what it once was. And for what it’s worth, I recently started a full-body weight lifting regimen, in addition to my cardio training and continued dieting.

Besides the fact that I hate this, I’m also under considerable pressure to get rid of it. So ‘just getting used to it’ isn’t an option.

Thanks for any help anyone can give me.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Skin Health Support Group.

Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | Jun 29, 2019

Hi @want6pack and welcome to Connect! That must be so exciting to have lost so much weight, but frustrating to see your weight loss result in so much excess skin.

I wanted to share these articles about how to tighten loose skin after weight loss.

Healthline https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/loose-skin-after-weight-loss

U.S. News & World Report: https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/2017-02-27/how-to-deal-with-extra-skin-after-major-weight-loss

Back to you @want6pack have you discussed this with your doctor? What have they had to say?

want6pack | @want6pack | Jul 5, 2019

In reply to @ethanmcconkey "Hi @want6pack and welcome to Connect! That must be so exciting to have lost so much..." + (show)

Hi, Ethan -

Thank you for replying and for providing the above links, which I found quite helpful.

I have not yet discussed this with my doctor, but I will. I'll post to this thread anything he has to say on the subject.

Thanks again.

beachgal8 | @beachgal8 | Aug 23, 2019

Hi! I have the same problem with my skin after losing weight. Even though I'm not a young person any more, I still want good skin and want to wear clothes that show my skin. Best of luck! Carol

cindylb | @cindylb | Aug 23, 2019

Thanks for this discussion. I lost 30 pounds very quickly (within a month) after breast cancer surgery. I was glad to see the weight go but I too have this 'glob' of skin or fat or ???? on my abdomen that just sort of sits there looking distressing. I believe it's loose skin....I'm grateful for the tips and I'm going to try them and see if there is some improvement. I'm in my early 60's and in pretty good shape now so I'd like to see that belly 'glob' go as well.

celia16 | @celia16 | Dec 1, 2023

I’m in a similar situation after losing 51 pounds since March. I’m exercising, working out, cardio, weights, eating tight diet, taking supplements, etc. Still, i have loose belly skin.

I really hate that I did it to myself by gaining weight a few years ago. Now, I’m embarrassed. I’ve had some health issues lately, but I still want an intimate relationship right now. I feel like each day is precious and we are not guaranteed tomorrow. So, I really want to start a relationship or at least have some intimacy soon. Yet, I’m embarrassed of my loose skin.

I used to have such a nice figure. My boyfriends would compliment me on my breast and butt. But, now…..idk. I look pretty good clothed, where you can’t see the skin.

I don’t have the confidence to go forward. I miss that aspect of my life. I think surgery is out of the question. As a Type 1 diabetic, I wouldn’t take the risks involved. I haven’t talked to my therapist about it yet.

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