Jello-Mushy Belly.

I have lost 62 pounds since December. I have been eating right, doing tons of cardio on the treadmill and walking as much as I can during my lunch hours. I just started trying to add some weight lifting into my days and a little less walking (not much time during my days) because of this problem of sag. I try to do about 1 hour or more per day. I lift 3-5 pound weights while walking on the treadmill, and lift now the same amount without the treadmill on most days. I also am trying to do about 50 sit ups per day. Problem is the stomach, it is like a wrinkled, saggy, giant sac of jello which make the stretch marks look more horrible than they did when I was bigger. Has anyone else had this? Also, between my legs. It's the same, only looks like bubbly fat, distorted. I am working hard, and hope and pray that most of this is hopefully going to tighten up and flatten out. It's sadly discourageing to me, seriously makes me cry. I was 235 pounds, and now weigh in at 173. Has anyone else had this appearance while loosing the weight?

Thanks,

Jan

How tall are you?

Had this problem when I was about 10 pounds heavier (was close to 220 pounds at my heaviest a few years back, then went down to 141...now I'm 131), but it's improving as I'm losing more fat, I'm actually starting to see abs!

Hi Desert Rose,

Did you exersize about as much? I am glad to hear that it is improving for you. I know how it feels to have that.

Jan

Oh, I am 5' 2"

You'll see a difference after losing atleast another 30-40 pounds, I promise you. Just continue lifting weights, eating right and doing cardio! Don't get discouraged, you can do it! Whatever you do, never ever crash diet...your skin will end up looking worse...aim to lose 1-2 pounds per week and not more. Much of the sagging has to do with excess body fat hanging on to the stretched out skin, so it's not just the excess skin that's causing it, you can definately improve the tone and look of your stomach and the rest of your body by losing more fat and getting your body fat percentage to a healthy level (below 30%...you can get your body fat percent checked at any gym)...stretched out skin by itself will firm up over time (not completely, but you will see an improvement), the trick to improving the look of it is taking care of the fat that's underneath the skin. Continue lifting weights (lift heavier as you get stronger), and keep up with the cardio! Don't give up :) After you've gone down to a healthy body fat percentage and you still find that your tummy is still saggy, then and only then can you opt for surgery. Try and do it the natural way for now (watching what you eat + cardio + weight training)...you will definately see major improvements at the very least.

Thank you so much for your encouragement. I have come very far. I started the 100% cocoa butter and put it all over ever night after showering. You never know.

Jan

btw congratulations on your weight loss!! I know what it feels like...it's great that you're moisturizing your body, that'll definately help...do take atleast 2-5 mins to massage the saggy/stretched out areas...it helps stimulate the skin to tighten...nd keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water...all the best!

Congrats on the weight loss! :) I'm 5'3" and started off at about 185 and I feel you on the jelly belly. I didn't even realise I had stretch marks on my tummy before...then the weight went down and voila there they were. But your skin will tighten up as you lose more weight as d_rose says. I'd advice you to start lifting heavier though, 3-5 pound dumbells don't do much of anything for building muscle. 10lbs and heavier if you can. Do some ab workouts too. Strengthen the muscles under the jelly and you'll see an improvent not to mention as the weight comes off you'll already have definition.

Great advice the others have provided!

Just as a very quick 2 cents of mine :)

I have been running every alt day - run 30mins but on the treadmill for an hr - fast walk the rest. Then I would swim on the other days. I was also doing my own mini workout in my room every morning doing situps and girlie push ups using my own weight to gain strength. Did this for about 3 weeks and was really starting to feel fit. But wasn't really losing anything. To my dismay.

I just joined a new gym and decided that I was going to treat myself to a personal trainer for a month. I go 3 times a week.
Well all I can say is that I have never worked so hard in my life!!!
What I mean is this:
Cardio to start 30mins on a thing that you like (running, cycling, crosstrainer, step) and then 20mins on something else. (1 of the choices)
Then we did situps - I thought, this is going to be easy peasy since I've been doing them at home and I don't even break a sweat...well let me tell you how wrong was I!!! I couldn't even do 3 sets of 10!!

They, the trainer, has shown me the most intense situps that I have ever experienced in my life!
Then we do strength training for about 40mins.

It has been 2 weeks and everything is tigher!!!
The flab on my stomach has diminished in huge amounts- like huge amounts, the uneven tone on my arms have smoothed and all my clothes are loser - I don't think I have lost anything but its the tone. Want to buy this dude a house I'm so happy.
But I have also cursed him terribly in my head when doing the situps and shaking all over the place...:)

Moral of the story.
I thought what I was doing at home was serious brilliant, with the situps - but when I got another opinion - I was horrified at how I was not doing it correctly.

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Great idea with the body butter! What you can also do is by some rosemary essential oil from a health shop and add it to the body butter.
The ratio is 1 drop to every 5ml
Rosemary is brilliant for tone, cellulite, revitalizing, refreshing, blood flow, its a major stimulant. Very strong stuff. I add a couple of drops to my bath water too to relax the muscles.

heehee... just whipped out my aromatherapy book!

use the essential olis in the bath (works via osmosis)
general fat attack essential oils:
orange, basil, lavender, grapefruit, rosemary, sage, thyme, pettigraine, lime, lemongrass.
The blend 1:
4 drops Lavender
8 drops Grapefruit
5 drops Cypress
3 drops Juniper
4 drops Basil
(mix all together in a bottle and then add 6 drops of the blend to your bath)

The blend 2:
4 drops lemongrass
5 drops oregano
3 drops Fennel
8 drops Pettigraine
4 drops basil
(mix all together in a bottle and then add 6 drops of the blend to your bath)

Toning blend 1:
5 drops grapefruit
3 drops basil

toning blend 2:
5 drops rosemary
3 drops pettigraine

toning blend 3:
4 drops lemongrass
4 drops lavender

toning blend 4:
6 drops orange
2 drops thyme

Enjoy!!! :)

I just found this great video!!
Shows some of the exercises that I have been doing with the personal trainer lately. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVog4y4Ziww

Thanks, I checked it out, and tried a few. Even though I thought it would be easy, it wasn't for me. However; it is something I am going to incorporate. My thing is I am a single mom of two, with no help, and am lucky if I can find that hour to do it. Treadmilling is easy, weight lifing I am just getting used to, and can't afford the gym. I read about mixing coffee grounds and olive oil with vitamin E tabs. Just tried it today for the first time. Thanks for pointing that out to me, I will use it.

Jan