This is a difficult thing for me to talk about but...

[RawSinger]

I will anyway. I'll try not to ramble on too much.

Basically, I gained 80lbs in the last year and a 1/2. As a result, I have stretch marks all over my lower abdomen. They have already faded but I have a more frustrating concern. When I lose a lot of weight (which I plan to do, at a normal rate), will I have a lot of sagging skin in that area? A friend of mine who knows a lot about anatomy told me that when you get stretch marks, the skin never retracts. To get a second opinion, I asked one person who knows a lot about fitness and nutrition (I even showed her my stretch marks). She said that it's possible for the damage to mend itself, but I may be left with some sagging skin. I was so horrified. I cannot afford a tummy tuck, and would obviously prefer not to have a major procedure like that.

I'm so worried that I'm going to go through all this hard work to lose the weight I need to lose and then my body will be left looking aesthetically worse than it does now. Please, what are your thoughts on this?? Just so you know, I'm not that big. I weigh 225lbs but I'm really not that big (I must have a decent amount of muscle because I don't think that I look my weight). My stomach doesn't hang over my pubic area or anything. Usually the people you see on those plastic surgery shows with a lot of sagging skin used to be at least 300lbs and up from there. Do you think if I exercise a lot and build up a good amount of muscle in my abdomen that that will decrease the sagging (if it was ever going to occur in the first place)? Do you think that raw food will help with the skin's health and elasticity to the point where I'll be able to get a flat stomach without the sagging skin?? Have any of you been in my current position (being left with a lot of stretch marks on the stomach after gaining a lot of weight pretty quickly) and now have a flat stomach without the sagging skin??? Please, any input is greatly appreciated. Even if it's not what I want to hear (although one piece of good news would be nice). Please. I'm freaking out here.:( :eek: Thanks in advance.

[moonstar]

I think that someone asked Chilove this question. She looks amazing!

[Aleesha Sattva]

it's called MSM. MSM is naturally occurring in food which is grown and watered by the rain. Since much of our food is grown in green houses... the natural MSM is not in the food.

So get yourself some... I buy mine here (http://bio-alternatives.net/msm.htm) and it's a really high quality MSM. You add a tsp (up to a few Tablespoons) mixed with freshly squeezed orange juice first thing every morning. It'll take care of this! I've released 130 pounds in the last 10 months and I have NO saggy skin at all!!!

Add in some skin brushing and you'll be good to go!

[Raw Yogini]

It seems to me also that the longer you have the extra weight the more likely you will be saggy.

For example, if you've had it for 30 years compared to 1-2 years. The less time the skin is stretched out I think the more likely it will go down w/out sagging.

I think age makes a difference, too. It you're younger and your elasticity is still good it's not as likely to sag either.

This is just what I've been told from others and it makes sense to me. I have no experience w/ it and I haven't done any research on it. Best wishes.

[domestic goddess]

I can only speak from my own experience.
Most of the stretch marks I have have faded over time. I can barely see most of them. However, I am not that fair-skinned, and my summer tan hides any that may be seen. As far as excess skin...well, I had stretch marks in my abdomen from my 3rd baby (none with the prior 2...go figure) I have found that with regular exercise and being raw, the sagging stretched skin is MUCH better. Perfect? No. Flat and smooth? Not totally. But, certianly better now that I am raw. For me, I am ok with it. But, I do not believe in cosmetic surgery for vanity's sake.

Would MSM work? Who knows. Can't hurt and sounds like its worked for some here. I would suggest coming to a place of more love and acceptance of your body, knowing you are doing a wonderful thing for it by being raw...and see where that takes you. You may find you evolve to a place of being ok...then actually find that you *are* ok :D

[shashibala]

I thought about this when I was more overweight. I worried that my skin would look bad and that my face would look old. Now that I've lost 52 pounds, I realize that a little less than taught skin would be far better than putting my body, organs, knees, heart, and spirit through the excess work of dealing with the extra weight.( I have 23 more to lose.) My skin is actually better now. I use msm and I eat coconut oil. That might be helping, but I also think that the healing powers of the fruits and vegies do wonders for the skin. I also worried that I'd lose weight too fast! No worries there for me! Slow as a turtle, but it's all good!
Best wishes!!!!!!!

[phedre]

I went from 215 to 135 over a year and a half or so in college. I had always been heavy before that and did have lots of stretch marks and such. I had absolutely no issues with saggy skin at all. People actually used to ask me if I did all the time, lol :D I didn't notice stretch marks causing any bit of weird skin issues for me, except for the stretch mark itself. Good luck in your goals! I've since gained all my weight back so I'm in the same position all over again :)

[juliebove]

I think age has a lot to do with it. I had a baby at age 39. Although I didn't gain a lot of weight, my stomach certainly did stretch a lot. I did oddly gain some weight after I had the baby though. I am now 49 and have a lot of excess skin. I don't think it's ever going to go back to the way it was.

My SIL lost over 1/2 of her body weight. She had to have an operation to have muscles tighened and excess skin removed.

[RawSinger]

I really appreciate everyone's input. More than you know. Thank you sooooo much!

[rawbutterfly]

I know I am not gonna say what you want to hear, but I went from 202lbs to 103lbs in about 2 yrs (lost 80 of those lbs on raw). I was 240ish when pregnant and had a 12.3 oz baby so my belly was huge. Anyway, to look at me people think my body is very fit and firm, but only my hubby knows the truth. When the pants come off at night, the belly hangs! Nothing I have done, and I have tried everything, has helped my tummy. I am only 27 and it is a very hard and depressing thing to deal with and even my closest friends don't know what I really look like. I am tiny but still have to wear a girdle because my skin just hangs there. It is just so much skin I don't see how anything could ever make it right again. But would I rather be 200 lbs again? No stinking way! Once I put on the girdle I look smokin! :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

ah but did you release the weight while being raw?

being raw and releasing weight and eating SAD while releasing weight are two different things. rawbies don't usually experience the same sagging stretched skin... due to the fact that they are eating live food and it heals so deeply.

i'm not totally thin yet... somewhere are 160... but i started at 300 and was that weight for 10 years. i'm turning 45 in a few days... still have my stretch marks from my three babies though... and i'm cool with that. i earned them LOL

so... i guess what's important here... for the OP is... continue your journey and find out what YOUR story will be! (((hugs)))

[shashibala]

At risk of sounding "out there", I have found that this raw journey has helped me accept and love myself. I am learning to be loving and compassionate toward myself despite outward flaws. Take the trip and embrace yourself however you are on the inside and the outside;) !!

[fruitandveggies]

Oh dear lord, this is a super-big fear I have, too. I do have a big icky belly that hangs over my pubic area with lots of old, white stretch marks. I've had it since I was six (I'm 23 now). I'm scared to death I'll never know what a youthful body looks like! Aleesha, you're my only thread of hope here!

[firefaery]

You know what? ANYTHING can be healed. There are no sets of rules out there and one person's experience does not govern yours. You have your own paradigm. Yes, losing on raw is different than just losing. Yes, there are supplements and things that can help. Yes, it depends on your age to some extent. But all the "facts" in the world are irrelevant to YOU. They are not based on your life, you thoughts, your body or your experience. Even if it's the "norm" to have sagging skin, who says you are part of the norm? Focus on health, your perfect body, the lovely food you are consuming and allow beauty to be a part of your life. The sky is the limit.

I have worked with people who have lost alot more than that and not had sagging skin. I myself after having a pretty bad autoimmune disease lost over a hundred pounds. I had stretch marks and the most I weighed was 240. Granted it was only for a few years as the disease really took hold, but I did lose it all and have no sagging skin.

What if the difference was that I looked at my body every day and appreciated it? What if that's all it was? I'm not saying that is the case, but a little self love goes a LONG way.

Skin is elastic. Zinc, vitamin C and fats all keep it that way along with a whole host of minerals. Eat beautifully and expect the best. You'll be suprised at how often those that do get it. ;)

[RawSinger]

Well said, firefaery.

[RawSinger]

It's really good to know that it's at least possible for my stomach to look normal again. It's also great to know that a major way to help achieve that is to be raw/lose the weight on raw. Thanks everyone.