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Weight loss weird place

Lemonie

Well-Known Member
Messages
244
Location
Fylde Coast
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I've been steadily losing weight since last November and am now down 4 1/2 stone. I am 7lbs from my lowest ever weight of 10st 10lb and am down from size 22 to a 14 bottom and a 16 top. I lost 8 1/2 stone 20 years ago crash dieting and then quite quickly put it back on within a year or so. All my weight that's left is on my tummy area and I have another 2 1/2 stone to lose.

I am having more problems adapting this time to my weight loss as I have done it through a complete lifestyle change which I have to keep up after I get to my goal weight for health reasons. I haven't done any exercise yet this time and am really suffering with loose skin as I guess I am older now and things aren't going back as quickly although I have increased my day to day activity which I thought may be enough. I also don't see myself as thinner and am struggling to wear clothes that fit as I am really uncomfortable with clothes touching me as I've avoided that all my life. Also now the people who have always been on about my weight are telling me to not lose anymore even though I am still overweight at 11st 3lbs and 5ft 2in. I'm not going to lose all this and then stop before I get to where I want to be!

Over the last 8 years I have gone through periods of restricted mobility which has left me with no so many muscles and am having pain at night as I have no cover on my hips and bum and I keep waking up in pain if I lie in the same place too long. Am sorry for the moan as I should be feeling fab about losing weight but I just feel a bit weird and not like me at the mo.

My next plan of action is to start training with kettlebells to build up a muscle structure which will hopefully help with my continued mobility and strength. Am also upping my water intake to 2 litres per day and have started dry brushing to help with the skin. I know it is never going to snap back but am hoping it will improve a little over the next year as things settle down. My neck especially.

Any help and advice gratefully received
 
Firstly, well done on your AWESOME weight loss!

I think people underestimate what a huge transition it is, losing that amount of weight, both emotionally and physically. Body image is astonishingly hard to change, isn't it? I have never been as successful at weight loss as you, but have experienced all the same things, to a lesser extent.

Skin brushing will help, and there are some moisturising lotions and oils that are supposedly formulated to help. I used one, but how do you actually gauge whether it is making any difference?

When (in my mid 30s) i lost 5 stone, i found my bingo wings the most irritating 'leftovers'. Lol.
It took a full 2 years for them to improve as far as they were ever going to get.
Now, at nearly 50, i shudder to think how long the shrinkage would take. If ever.

Good luck with the kettlebells. I found mine astonishingly good at building core strength.
 
The kettle bells will also build muscle which will help fill out the loose skin.

I'm 54, And have lost almost 6.5 stone, had some loose stomach skin, but it's almost gone now as a result of intensive core training, (Russian twists with 16kg KBs and lots of Plank)

I can't believe I now have a 6 pack for the first time in my life..haha


Sent from my iPhone using DCUK Forum
 
Shrinking the skin is a difficult one as we age. I'm 68. I lost the same as you, and went down 3 dress sizes in about 10 months (expensive!). My tummy is fine for some reason, but I do have some bingo wings, and my worst part is my turkey neck. I find I need a scarf or piece of jewelry round my neck these days, but I am so enjoying being slim. It is difficult to break the habit of buying loose clothing, certain styles and plain, but once broken you realise just how much better and colourful you can look. I also got the sideways looks and the comments that I was too thin, but these mainly came from people who aren't as slim so I put it down to jealousy and ignored them. You will get there in the end.
 
Thanks for the replies. Some good advice and encouragement. I am getting my kettlebell at the weekend but have started planking today to build up some core strength. Shaky and short are the words of the day. Onwards and upwards. Am going to take some pictures of myself in undies (just for me, don't want to put anyone off their tea lol) each month so I can see how my body changes with the exercise
 

Lemonie, if you don't already, I really suggest you start now and moisturise every day, and more for your face.

I have always moisturised, but as we clock up the years, our skin usually becomes drier, irrespective of any weight loss/gain. My weightloss wasn't anything as stellar as you and the others posting on this thread (I am now very slight and around the same height as you), but my skin looks a whole heap better after the application of copious quantities of shea or coconut butter. The act of massaging the cream in also stimulates skin's blood vessels which probably also helps with whatever contraction there's going to be.

It can't be helping you when others tell you not to lose any more weight, but they're probably just similarly to yourself, just getting used to the new you.

Regarding more fitted clothing, do you have a friend who has a great sense of style who could help you on a clothes shopping trip when you next have one? One thing I have always found is sizing can be tricky, so I almost always take two sizes into the fitting room, and try to choose which I'll have based on how it looks, rather than the label. I'm very fortunate to live close to a factory outlet store, and their bargains can be fantastic. There's one particular assistant there who had a great eye, so I usually try to engage with her when I go in, as she brings me stuff to consider. OK, sometimes it's a bit random, and it could be an evening dress, when I've gone in for jeans, or the like, but she has found me some absolute gems and was just so helpful when I was looking to refresh my wardrobe, as we tend to have to do on a reduced carb diet.

Stick with it, drink loads of water and moisturise like crazy. Be proud of that weight loss and have a bit of an adventure with your diet.
 
I am just starting to try and see what kind of styles I like as have always just had to buy whatever they had in my size that wasn't horrendous. Hubby is treating me to a whole new wardrobe when I get where I want to be so looking forward to that. Have gone through all my clothes and am currently in his t shirts and some jeans and shorts from the charity shop I am moisturising but could probably do more so on that and still drinking my water. Have uploaded pictures I've taken along the way to a private Instagram account which I may make public at some point depending on people wanting to see a size 24 me in mi Sloggi's lol
 
Hi Lemonie,

Great to read your post. Very inspirational for me. I have lost over 13kg now so still have a long way to go to do as well as you, but hopefully I will get there one day. Feel really pleased with yourself for having the determination to stick with this. Enjoy your newly diminishing body although I do understand what you mean about wearing clothes that fit as I have always tended to go for loose fits in trousers and tops and am now finding it difficult to wear tops that now "fit" as I feel they are too tight! I am oiling every day in the hope of preventing loose skin but do realize that might be an issue I can't help as I can't exercise at the moment. Onwards and downwards with your weight.
 
Trick I have just started to do i buy clothes from e-bay assuming you don't mind second hand -think of them as vintage... I have been buying stuff as I am now the lightest I have been for about 15 years and everything is too big! Got some great bargains that I won't feel so bad about ditching (or reselling) if they get too big as well..
 
I have just started buying clothes from local charity shops for very little money but means I can have a bit of a play with styles
 
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