Excess/stretchmarked skin

[Kaloobear]

I was already pretty fat when I got pregnant and although I didn't gain that much weight during my pregnancy I did get appalling stretch marks-my stomach alone had about 40 in circles around my tummy button. (BioOil is shit!) Now that I'm losing weight (3st so far and 1 more to goal) the skin on my stomach is quite flabby, but worse, is all puckered because of the stretch marks. It's pretty horrid to look at :(

Any tips for making it smooth out or is that impossible now?

Bump.

I have now got a flat stomach and skin has shrunk back. Still a bit crepey but not that bad.

Advice - cut out carbs, esp white ones, (ideally eat protein and veg) will help to lose tummy fat, plus do lots of core exercises to develop / strengthen muscles underneath. Eventually if you keep on going long enough there will be no tummy fat left (for me that means BMI 20.5 with around 18% body fat) and so although skin is a little crepey at least not puckered or flabby.

I had to lose a stone more than I originally intended to get to this point and as I have very well defined muscles (all over now) I suspect that my bmi would be under 20 if I had only developed stomach muscles.

However if the stretchmarks are very bad might be that nothings (bar surgery) will help. And if you aren't committed to getting rid of tummy fat (ie BMI target at upper end of healthy range) then I suspect your tummy with stay flabby.

Thanks, that's good advice. I'm at the top end of healthy now and losing another stone will take me to the middle. When I get there I'll re-consider my goal as it sounds like I'll need to go lower to get rid of this! I haven't been able to exercise as my joints have been awful post pregnancy and I feel so unfit as a result. I'm hoping I'll get the ok from the GP to start exercise again soon. I did myself a bit of damage by trying too early.

Hey FOD your advice is always so good! Have you thought of going into personal training, or something related? You obviously have a passion for it!

Hehe thanks I work in tax! Have thought about it but would have to retrain and would get paid less and I love tax as well!!!

I hate tax almost as much as I hate my tummy, could you sort that for me too?

Me too...I liked FOD until she admitted that!