The FastDay Forum

I have a long way to go but I am already aware that as I lose weight my flabby bits are more obvious now particularly bat underarms & er not quite sure how to describe it but a sort of apron like stomach area?
Has anyone experienced this & as they have further reduced weight found that the sag goes & the skin shrinks back to what it approximately was before weight gain? Also if so did you do anything special to help it along? I do keep my skin well moisturised & only have a few pregnancy stretch marks from years ago. Would stomach exercises help?
Please share your experiences.
Thank you

From my experiences my bum disappeared first! Then my legs looked a better shape. Taken ages to get my tummy and waist back, but finally getting there. I'm doing a body balance class twice a week (like Pilates/Yoga/Tai Chi in one - brilliant), Pilates once a week and regular swimming along with walking almost every day on the hills with the dog. It probably depends on your age too (I'm 54), and also how much you have to loose - I didn't have very much. Perhaps a chat with your local gym might help so they can help you target specific areas and give you things to do which are suitable. Good luck!

Good question. I think that a lot depends on your age, how much weight you have gained and lost and your genes! Generally speaking the older you get the more difficult it is to regain skin tone, so for bat wings (mine are truly huge) the only solution is to tone up the underlying muscles which will take up some of the slack. I believe that they are something older people, like me (64), have to learn to live with, either by ignoring them or covering them up.

If you're younger and your genes are on your side, so that you have good elasticity in your skin, then a slow weight loss should allow the skin to shrink as the fat disappears and toning exercises will help the underlying muscles. Some unlucky people have very little skin elasticity and weight loss and/or pregnancy leave them with a huge apron of fat which is never going to disappear on its own. My niece was like this and eventually, despite being slim, at age 29 she paid for a 'tummy tuck'. This was a major operation but to her mind it was worth every penny she paid. However, I would not advocate this unless all other avenues have been explored. It is potentially dangerous, very expensive and does leave a degree of scarring which may be just as unacceptable as the 'apron'.

Hope this helps. My main point is that toning exercises, such as those suggested in the post above, can do no harm and for most people will help. Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Thank you for your replies Tass & StowgateResident. I am 65 & not a great exerciser but I do some aerobic dancercise that does have other exercises on the DVD. Sadly the bat arms in the long term may have to be hidden & I don't fancy an op although I have previously investigated a combined breast reconstruction with tissue taken from the stomach that is in effect like a tummy tuck. But was told I would have to have a much lower BMI for it to be done. However on this WOL I do hope to get down to my correct BMI.