Losing Weight……Helping Your Flabby Tummy
As we get older, our skin loses it’s elasticity. We’ve all seen those horror stories of excess skin after a dramatic weight loss. I’ve lost over 100 pounds 3 times. (I know, I know, how could I be dumb enough to gain it back.) Each time I lost the weight, I was able to maintain my skin tone. The last time I lost all this weight, I was 48/49 years old.
The key is to lose the weight gradually and exercise as you do it. I started with walking about 35 minutes a day. We had a track near my home and I use to do it at night. I remember, eight times around the track was two miles. I gradually worked myself up to an hour a day after about 3 weels (two separate walks am and pm) I then moved on to jogging. I started that on a treadmill. (I didn’t want people to see me trying to jog in the neighborhood.) I use to speed up then slow down until I felt comfortable enough to jog for any length of time. I finally was able to add an incline to my jogging. In addition to toning, it also burns more calories.
Your best bet is to check with your doctor first to see what he thinks is best for you in terms of exercise. There isn’t a blank routine out there that works for everyone.
Aerobics is another way to help in toning all the muscles and help the tummy shape up. I have a few videos I use for my aerobics. (I’ve never been brave enough to take a class.) I must say, my form isn’t anything like the video but I sure feel more energetic when I’m done.
Althoug I’ve never tried Pilates, doctors say this is another good way of toning up your muscles. I found a great site called Healthy Weight Forum. This site is chuck full of information. You can read about the history of Pilates as well as the benefits of this form of exercise. It also displays various weight loss programs and tools to use to help track your weight loss. There is something for everyone at this site.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
You are so right! I lost my weight fairly quicly and my skin had no time to “snap back”. I actually had to get a tummy tuck to remove the extra skin on my belly. I admire your ability to work out it is the one thing I can’t get a handle on.
December 15th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I had a little loose skin when I only had 50 something to lose
when I was 17
December 16th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
Thank you soooo much for this post. All those shows freaked me out and I sorta used that as an excuse for awhile. I am on day 7 of my “new life.” I walk 30 min a day and try to do yoga every morn (as long as the one on tv is beginner.) I tried to follow pilates on tv, that is sooo hard, but I’m sure very beneficial when it comes to toning so I’m going to keep searching for a beginner one.
December 31st, 2006 at 11:29 am
I’m gonna lose my tummy starting in less than 24 hours.
January 10th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Problem: Lost 80 pounds in roughly 10 months, a little quick (went vegetarian). Spent the last 3-4 months on a 3-4 times a week, hour a day weightlifting set. I now hit the abs good, with switch-off between straight situps (35 per set, 4 total and between my curls, etc) and legups (15 a shot, same amount of sets, usually switching between them every other week in my routine). I can certainly feel a definite tightening and even somewhat of a rock hardness. However, when i bend over it is a mass of horrendous skin (other than that, very little loose skin to speak of). Am i being impatient? I was approx. 279 and am now 189 even, every week, despite the muscle i have put on. Am i being impatient or am i the lucky one in a group for whom surgery is the only option? It is seriously discouraging. I know i lost it fast.. should i make an ab workout a daily thing, or can this be counterproductive?
January 12th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
You have done so well going from 279 to 189. Each person is different. You best bet would be to go to a doctor and see what other alternatives he recommends other than surgery. Congratulations on your weight loss!!!
January 17th, 2007 at 7:54 am
weight loss is about control-so to prevent the loose skin (i am 59 and have lost 48lbs in 6 months)i have put my diet on hold (i am now at 185)to give my skin a chance to catch up-i have increased calories to 2000 to almost stop weight loss-it’s nice to eat more for a change-but i still watch fats and portion sizes–and eat at least 5 meals a day-i drink club soda with bi-card to help the tummy adjust to the extra food-good luck!
January 18th, 2007 at 9:24 am
anonyomous…congratulations on losing 48 pounds in 6 months. Thanks for sharing what has been working for you with the loose skin. I’m 56 years old and have never tasted club soda. I’m going to pick some up next trip to the store.