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Menopause plus weightloss = saggy skin. Any hope?

10 replies

SpanishFly · 14/01/2022 10:52

So just that, really. I've lost a couple of stone, combined with age and menopause, I have very saggy boobs and a saggy tummy.
Is there any real/nonsurgical way to improve this, or am I saggy forever? 😭

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 14/01/2022 10:54

Yes. Walking, a lot, for a couple of years and arm weights. It’s slow but it will work. Tummy’s like a drum now for the first time in my life (58)

SpanishFly · 14/01/2022 17:27

Oh thats encouraging to hear. Thank you. Did you have excess saggy skin?
My boobs just haaaang now 😭

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 14/01/2022 21:02

No, not now. I did for the first maybe two years or so.
Around 7 years ago I lost six stones, in my early fifties. My goal was to complete the moonwalk, hence the cheer for walking Grin.
Believe me, until then, I loathed “exercise”. The goal turned out to be absolutely key though. I signed up with a friend and that kept me going for nearly a year of training, through sun, rain, wind and hailstones (in the NW where the wind speed rarely drops below 20 😁)
Until then, I’d have said my willpower was negligible but signing up with someone else and seeking sponsorship made a massive difference mentally. I owed something to these people for their faith in me. At the same time, I made an effort to cut down in complex carbs and up my fruit and veg massively.

The arm thing came about because my husband was having a big birthday. We hosted a (as it turned out, epic) dinner for a dozen friends, a couple of whom I hadn’t seen for 20 years. I’m really not a vain person, generally but have to say that personal pride kicked in and I thought I’m dammed if they’re going to think “she’s let herself go” 🤣

I had a lovely dress which fitted my body nicely three months before the event but I was unhappy with my upper arms. Until then, I had just been walking. So after googling, I started walking with my arms, too. Felt really stoopid at first but gradually realised no-one else cared and after a month or so I actually felt uncomfortable walking without using my arms. At the same time, I started lifting with small dumbbells, each evening before my bath. There are lots of You Tube tutorials, mine consisted of just 5 exercises and it took just 10 minutes.

Three months before his dinner, I had lace sleeves added to my dress. Two weeks before, I took them off 😃

At the same time, I used Nivea Q10 firming cream every day, after bathing. No idea if it helped.

Move forward, two years. Post lockdown and like everyone else I’ve gained just about a stone (CEV husband, couldn’t walk for a year and well, hell, life’s been a bit shite and I’ve eaten and drunk too much like everyone)

On 2nd Jan I weighed just about over a stone more than fighting fit weight two years ago (wine, mostly, I fear Grin.)

But, and a big but, my tight as a drum tummy is still there, underneath the inch of fat, it’s rock hard. My arms need a little work but after my previous experience, I know they’ll be there in a couple of months.

I got back on track on Monday (another challenge, this time with my daughter) and I’ll be there within a couple of months (that’s key, don’t expect miracles).

Interested in this thread?

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MrsSkylerWhite · 14/01/2022 21:03

Jeez, didn’t mean to write an essay 🤣

TwinkleToesStrikesAgain · 14/01/2022 21:15

@MrsSkylerWhite I liked the essay!

When you say walking with your arms, do you mean sort of swinging them? I'm trying to picture it - as my arms need help!

CatNamedEaster · 14/01/2022 21:29

That's very inspiring.Smile

I was thinking about stuff this week. I need to make a lot of changes: I'm about a stone overweight; peri-menopausal; various joint/bone issues that have made me procrastinate about exercise, etc etc.

Your post has made me think I just need to get on with it. Any change is better than what I'm doing now, and procrastinating about the "ideal" exercise means I'm damaging my long term health by doing nothing.

I don't want to look like a frazzled middle aged mess anymore. It's good to hear such a positive story about turning things around.Smile

SpanishFly · 15/01/2022 08:51

@MrsSkylerWhite thank so much for the info. It's been so interesting to see a success story. I was feeling pretty fed up about it all, so reading your experience has been helpful 🥰

OP posts:
lljkk · 15/01/2022 09:07

Was it just 2 stone (28 lbs) you dropped, OP?

MrsSkylerWhite · 15/01/2022 10:43

TwinkleToesStrikesAgain

When you say walking with your arms, do you mean sort of swinging them? I'm trying to picture it - as my arms need help!“

Yes. I don’t know if they still do long distance walking races but in old films you can see walkers using their arms, not just swinging but bringing them right up. There are lots of YouTube videos about how to use your arms effectively when you walk. It increases your speed too. You will feel daft at first but that won’t last too long.

SpanishFly · 15/01/2022 12:42

@lljkk

Was it just 2 stone (28 lbs) you dropped, OP?
about 2.5 total, but I put on 0.5 again over xmas etc. I already had a saggy mum belly.
OP posts:
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