apron fat muscle exercises, please?

[Wendee]

As some of you know, I am grossly obese.
I have lost 30 lbs so far, but am very hesitant to loose more as my apron of fat that hangs on my thighs seems to be sagging even more then when I was heavier, although it is softer. I donn't want to end up with my stomach dragging the floor by loosing another 30 lbs and b eyond.

Iss there anyone who is a personal trainer or somebody knowledgeable in how to loose a sagging apron, and hopefully make it dissapper with the raw foods and an exercise program?

I am too e mbarassed to have a personal trainer help me in person at our hometown gym because I am too fat.

I will take all the help I can get and appreciate every persons respose more then you can ever know.

thank you for taking the time to read this.


wendee

[rawbeliever]

Hi Wendee: I believe Angela Stokes addresses skin issues and so forth after losing a lot of weight. You might want to check out her website http://www.rawreform.com/.

best wishes, stay raw,
Robbie

[Wendee]

Thanks. I didn't see much of a help there about exercises for this condition, though!


Thanks again :)
wendee

[codajess]

You really can't spot-reduce fat. Obviously building muscle is a good thing, whether you can see it or not. Muscle burns more calories than fat at rest, and it's denser. I'd say just keep working on losing the weight, through weight training and cardio. Once you get down to a comfortable (for you) weight, you can start working on toning/defining specific areas. You're not going to be pleased with the toning results because if it's under fat, you won't be able to see it, although it's there!

I seem to look worse when I first start to lose weight. I liken it to an overstuffed sausage. *lol* When something (i.e. our skin) is packed so tightly, it looks kind of firm, but big. When we start to lose fat, we lose the fat faster than our skin can bounce back, so it looks more jiggly and looser and grosser. Of course there's ZERO science behind that. That's just what I tell myself to get over looking worse at first! :p

[star1919]

Hi... I was wondering if some of the Richard Simmons exercise tapes might work. He has worked with people with a variety of weight loss goals and physical ability when they start. Here is his official site link... you can click on his store to see DVD's etc. (He has titles listed like... SuperTonin, SuperSweatin, SuperStretchin, SuperWalkin)
http://www.richardsimmons.com/welcome_richard.php

If you're most interested in building muscle... you can get books and dvd's to learn more about it working with weights to do this. There are different dvd's that work with hand weights and exercises to tone and build muscle.

Also, I have a friend that is dealing with some of what you mentioned. We became walking buddies... once a week for our schedules... and she started to enjoy walking. After a few months, she has new walking buddy that is able to go more often. It has made such a difference and she loves it! Walking is such a great exercise... on a treadmill, an exercise tape for it, or even better with a walking buddy. :D

[luvmyfruit]

First, congrats on the 30 lbs you've already lost!!!
For me walking is such a great exercise and I can certainly feel it in my abs after a fast long walk.
Also, have you tried pilates, great workout and not too intense.
Good luck

[Veganforlife]

YES, YES, YES!!! That is Rawsome your 30 pounds! Way to go girl!

Another great (no strain) exercise program is T-Tapp. Teresa Tapp has worked with very obese people, top models and the everyday person. She does have spot exercises which DO WORK! She has a try before you buy section on her web site.
www.t-tapp.com
I'm telling you - t-tapp is the way to go. Fifteen minutes a day or a complete hour - you set your pace.
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17398&highlight=t-tapp

With t-tapp, less is more.

[Wendee]

Hi all and thanks.

I didn't see that thread.

I will read it as soon as possible, though.


Wendee

[codajess]

Regarding the T-Tapp..RIGHT ON. I went to the website out of curiosity and they advertise that they now have them captioned and with interpreters for the deaf/HH. WOOHOO!



....I wonder how much that pays! I'd love to do that. :D

[Sheryl]

Congratulations on your weight loss Wendee! Fantastic!

When you first start losing fat, the fat tends to soften. It's later after you lose a little more that the skin starts to take up. Many find on raw their skin recovers better and faster than losing weight by alternate means.

You can ask yourself though which you'd prefer. Being overweight at your current level, or being slim and having a little extra skin? I think as far as how you feel, and general quality of life a little extra skin would be the better option.

Some ideas to promote healing of the skin: a little gentle dry skin brushing to increase blood flow and circulation (and therefore healing). Even rubbing upwards with your hands to move things and increase blood flow will help. And do make sure you stay well hydrated! And a nice cream to rub on - I like a combination of melted cacao butter mixed with almond oil and my favourite essential oils (then poured into a container). WOW!

All the best - you are doing GREAT!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[Wendee]

Thank you ALL!
wendee

[mongomango]

Way to go Wendee!

Don't worry about your skin. It will get better as you lose weight and it will shrink considerably. It will never be as it was before, but it won't be as bad as you're thinking. Spot exercises will only tone the muscle under the skin, and not affect your skin whatsoever.

If you are very heavy, gentle aerobic exercise like walking is just the ticket for you. Don't worry about toning at this point. As you lose weight toning will be more appropriate, but walking at least 20 minutes non stop should be your goal. It doesn't matter how fast you do it, just keep moving for 20 minutes. If it becomes easy, quicken your pace bit by bit.

If you can start your walk 20 minutes after eating it will be more beneficial. Your metabolism kicks up after 20 minutes of continuous movement...that is why it's good to walk the 20 minutes. Your metabolism also kicks up 20 minutes after you eat. So, if you eat, your metabolism is moving faster 20 minutes later, if you begin your walk at that time, at the end of the 20 minute walk your metabolism will get another boost, creating a faster metabolism for a longer period of time.

You're doing great!

[rawpriestess]

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WEIGHT RELEASE!!!!



I was 288 pounds, and have released 78 pounds so far, sometimes it melts off me, other times it sits there for a couple of months, then drops off in one big piece, LOL, not really, but it feels like that.



I don't exercise, but I do work in my garden, alot of bending over, dragging sprinklers, digging, harvesting, carrying, picking, slicing, dehydrating, walking in and around my garden. So, although it's not at a gym, I do lots of stretching, and moving.



I do think that movement is important, as we are physical beings, in a physcial body, but I've tried exercise, and the only thing I can say, is that you must do what you love, or at least will continue doing on an ongoing basis.



I don't like to go to a gym, be inside, and have all the beautiful thin men and women look at me, so I don't.



I do love to work in my yard, and to dance, so that is what I do.



I don't over do it, I don't mind sweating, but I don't want to fall over either.



As you continue to lose weight, you will continue to move more, doing what you love.



One of the things that I do now, is I park as far away as I can from the entrance to anything.



If I am going to the store, I park on the other side of the parking lot, and I don't power walk, I just walk at a comfortable pace across the parking lot.



This is the opposite of what I used to do, I used to have my bf drop me off at the door, so I wouldn't have to walk even a few steps, now that doesn't happen any more.



I feel so much better now.

[Wendee]

Thank you everyone!
wendee

[Sharon in Colorado]

ITA with RP about movement. Movement is important along with eating fresh whole raw foods.

The both of them together will tighten your skin.

And what she said - doing what you love - is key. Some of the fun things I have done -

Taking a Belly Dancing class (trust me all kinds of shapes and sizes in there)

Tae Kwon Do

Rebounding

Riding Stationary Bike

Riding Mountain Bike

Walking

Hiking

Just some things I've done - I don't care much for "exercise" as RP says, it's too structured for me. Keeping busy is much better.

It may take a while, or it may not do it to the extent you expect it to - surely it will take time. I still have a flap and a lot of excess business in the mid section from having my third child, that I accept may never go away, but it has improved drastically on raw.

[Wendee]

Thank you! :)
wendee

[Frecs]

Hi Wendee!

Eight and a half months ago I was morbidly obese -- 308lbs. It was hard to walk for 5 minutes straight. I went from eating a SAD Christmas dinner (which lasted all day!) to 100% vegan raw the day after and haven't looked back since. I have lost 105 pounds and several "incurable" diseases. I can now walk 11 miles and am training for a half and then a full marathon (racewalking, not running).

The dreaded apron (and other saggy skin areas): The truth? There is not exercise that will tighten our skin. Exercise will tighten the muscles under the skin. Exercise will bring oxygen to the skin and increase it's healthiness. But, exercise will not directly affect the skin or make it shrink.

I am part of an online support group for obese women using raw to lose weight and regain their lives. This has been the topic of many a discussion, believe me! Our leader, who lost 140 pounds in one year, only has sagging skin on her upper arms. So far, that's the only place I have sag, also.

I read a website about sagging skin that made good sense to me. It said that once the fat is gone from under the skin, the skin will shrink to fit. That the problem that people who lose allot of weight but have "sagging skin" really have is they still have too much fat! While that might be a bit too simplistic a notion, I think it does have some merit.

I think with exercise (walk is fabulous! It's my new addiction!) and raw, you will not have nearly as much problem with sagging skin when you achieve a healthy weight as you think you will. Even if you do, sweetie, you'll be so much healthier! It will be so worth it! Imagine what you can do with your life without all that weight to carry around?

[kmik]

(hey Frecs! How's it going? You're doing awesome! Are there any pictures of you online anywhere that I can see your amazing results? I keep thinking about you and all my old friends at RFBC... wondering how you're all doing :) )

[Frecs]

(hey Frecs! How's it going? You're doing awesome! Are there any pictures of you online anywhere that I can see your amazing results? I keep thinking about you and all my old friends at RFBC... wondering how you're all doing :) )

Hey! It's going great! We miss you at RFBC. No, I don't have a website, unfortunately. Once, I started a blog on yahoo but didn't like the way their's works so didn't maintain it. Haven't tried anywhere else. Suggestions?

How's things going with you? How about message me through Yahoo messenger if you still have me on your friend's list...or I'll message you....don't want to hijack this thread! :)

[kmik]

you can always post pictures here :) in the 30 day gallery

I'll put Yahoo back on my computer... see you there!

[Wendee]

Hello and Thanks to you ALL! :) :)
Wendee

[Rawma]

Wendee,
I am a Personal Trainer and my belief is that if you remain raw, incorporate walking and weightlifting into your life and lose the weight SLOWLY so that your body can adjust, your loose skin will tighten-up. Once you feel more comfortable moving, I do recommend incorporating Pilates and even yoga into your program. But for now, walking for at least 30 minutes 4-5 days a week and lifting (you can do this in your home) 3 days a week and staying raw will do the trick. Here is a good website for a beginner workout. You do not need a ball or weights. Just use the back of a chair for the squats and sit in a chair instead of on a ball for any exercise that requires sitting on the ball. Also on the deadlifts, just use a detergent bottle. And for the arm movements use soup cans or water jugs. You can invest in a few light weights from WalMart or wherever. Start with 3lbs and 5lbs and buy as you need more. A ball is always good to have because you can do so much with them and they are great to sit on when you are at the computer. Good for your abdominals too!
http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners/l/blbegstrength.htm
Good Luck and if you have any questions, just email me at rawtrainer@comcast.net
Lisa
Living on Live Food Teacher

[Rawma]

Wendee,
I am a Personal Trainer and my belief is that if you remain raw, incorporate walking and weightlifting into your life and lose the weight SLOWLY so that your body can adjust, your loose skin will tighten-up. Once you feel more comfortable moving, I do recommend incorporating Pilates and even yoga into your program. But for now, walking for at least 30 minutes 4-5 days a week and lifting (you can do this in your home) 3 days a week and staying raw will do the trick.
Here is a good website for a beginner workout:
http://exercise.about.com/cs/exbeginners/l/blbegstrength.htmYou do not need a ball or weights. Just use the back of a chair for the squats and sit in a chair instead of on a ball for any exercise that requires sitting on the ball. Also on the deadlifts, just use a detergent bottle. And for the arm movements use soup cans or water jugs or detergent bottles. If you prefer using weights, you can invest in a few light weights from WalMart or wherever. Start with 3lbs and 5lbs and buy as you need more. A ball is always good to have because you can do so much with them and they are great to sit on when you are at the computer. Good for your abdominals too!
Good Luck and if you have any questions, just email me at rawtrainer@comcast.net
Lisa
Living on Live Food Teacher

[Wendee]

:) Thanks!
wendee

[spicyfull]

Congratulations on putting the fat back where it belongs. Hope all goes well with the rest of your body.............

[luckitri]

I think that I read on Dr. Grahams site that it takes two years for the skin to firm up but that it most surely will and without surgery.

[free]

CONGRATULATIONS Wendee on the weight loss.;) ;) ;)

Weight lifting will shrink the loose skin. Cathe Friedrich has several tapes that incorprate weight lifting modify to fit your level of energy.

The best of luck to you.