HELP! Looking For NON-Surgical Solution For Excessive Arm Flab Due To Weight Loss - SEE PICTURES
#183647 - 06/05/05 10:37 AM
|
|
|
|
Shell Marr
Reged: 08/04/03
Posts: 14959
Loc: Seattle, WA USA
|
|
|
Oh you guys... I need your help...does anyone know of any "natural" solutions to reducing excessive arm flab? I've lost so much weight and I'm building muscle, but the skin is so stretched out that it is not shrinking like my tummy skin is... any suggestions??
I already do Tri-cep extensions and Tri-cep Push-ups....
I so want to be able to wear short sleeves... but this "giggle giggle" is preventing me from doing that.
I really don't want to have surgery done to fix it...
#1 insurance will not cover it due to it being cosmetic
#2 the way my scars heal will not be pretty
#3 the recovery time is 4-6 weeks (NO exercise...) well, maybe I could do cardio but that is it.
**IF surgery is the only option...it will not be until I've reached all other weight loss goals.
Doc said a few months back to use lotion...which I do.
The reason I'm REALLY concerned NOW...is because Heather my Personal Trainer made comments on Saturday when she did my measurement (which I still need to report on the Fitness board  ) that she did not think SHE was going to be able to make it go away. 
Here are pictures of my nasty arm flab....HELP!!
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Edited by Shell Marr (06/05/05 11:14 AM)
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Wow, Shell, that is just another tribute to your extraordinary weight loss! And your arms are really defined...too bad you cant wear short sleeves to show them off!
I have only seen surgery used to get rid of excess skin, on all those makeover shows. And you're right, the recovery from that is a nightmare, and I'd imagine that there would be some pretty nasty scars. Have you asked your doctors if theres any other non-surgical means to shrink the skin? SOrry I can't offer any solutions, but gosh, I would be hella proud if I were you!!!
One thing, though, if you keep losing weight, you will only get more extra skin, right? So any surgery you do now might might only have to be repeated in the future? (Assuming you keep on the same trend).
--------------------
Heather
"Quod me Nutrit me Destruit"
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
Wow, Shell, that is just another tribute to your extraordinary weight loss! And your arms are really defined...too bad you cant wear short sleeves to show them off! thanks... it is frustrating...
I have only seen surgery used to get rid of excess skin, on all those makeover shows. And you're right, the recovery from that is a nightmare, and I'd imagine that there would be some pretty nasty scars. Have you asked your doctors if theres any other non-surgical means to shrink the skin? well, when I talked to him about it a few months back (it was not a saggy then) but he said just to use lotion on it....which I do) SOrry I can't offer any solutions, but gosh, I would be hella proud if I were you!!! Thanks
One thing, though, if you keep losing weight, you will only get more extra skin, right? So any surgery you do now might might only have to be repeated in the future? (Assuming you keep on the same trend). Your so right...I edited my origainal post...I forgot to mention that **IF surgery is the only option...it will not be until I've reached all other weight loss goals.
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I think you're doing all that you can do. The weight training should take care of it, it's just going to take some time. Your body has been through HUGE changes this year, some parts of it just need some time to "catch up". That's my guess anyway.
--------------------
Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I think the only thing that will get rid of ti is surgery! I know what you mean1 I know when I lost weight I got the same thing with my arms! I am going back on my diet this week so we will be is the same boat soon! BIG HUGS!! You can realy tell how defined your arms are tho!! GOOD JOB!!!!!
--------------------
Heather7476
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I think you're doing all that you can do. The weight training should take care of it, it's just going to take some time. Your body has been through HUGE changes this year, some parts of it just need some time to "catch up". That's my guess anyway.
I don't know.... see my original post...I edited it... that is what I thought too...
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Unfortunately, I think surgery is the only solution. Exercise will not make the skin shrink back. The only thing you can do to help that along is to keep your skin hydrated and supple - drink lots of water, use lotion and vitamin E - and hope for the best. But honestly, I think surgery is the only option for that kind of amount of skin.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I think the only thing that will get rid of ti is surgery! I know what you mean1 I know when I lost weight I got the same thing with my arms! I am going back on my diet this week so we will be is the same boat soon! LOL we can be flabby arm sisters!! hehehe BIG HUGS!! You can realy tell how defined your arms are tho!! GOOD JOB!!!!! Thanks!
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
Unfortunately, I think surgery is the only solution. Exercise will not make the skin shrink back. The only thing you can do to help that along is to keep your skin hydrated and supple - drink lots of water, use lotion and vitamin E - vitamin E.... will start with that then too... do I take it in a pill form or apply directly to the skin? and hope for the best. But honestly, I think surgery is the only option for that kind of amount of skin.
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Here is a reply that I got from a body building website board.
Quote:
There isn't a way to target fat storage, so you just have to continue on what you are doing and as your body fat gets reduced, the flap will go away.
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Hmmm...
#183686 - 06/05/05 01:41 PM
|
|
|
|
Linz
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 8242
Loc: England
|
|
|
...fat on your arms is NOT the problem tho is it? I'm afraid to say I've heard that some people had to resort to surgery for that. But really looking after the skin will help.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Alright so I did a touch of research on this for you, though I'm sure you've already done tons yourself.
It seems that generally after a lot of weight loss the skin will be a little stretched but that some elasticity will come back to tighten it up a little or a lot (i.e. on pregnant women).
It also seems that having a lot of extra skin is generally the result of losing *weight* but not changing your body composition - i.e you're losing muscle too, not just fat. What this is saying is that people who rush to lose weight really quickly by slashing their calories and not doing any resistance (weight) training are, most likely, losing muscle and not (a lot of) fat, thus the inter-cell fat remains and they get that droopy skin look.
But quite honestly, I don't think that quite applies to someone like you who has lost *so* much weight. Generally the more weight you have to lose the faster it comes off, especially at first. Plus, you ARE weight training, paying attention to your body composition (body fat %) and quite obviously you lost a lot of fat, not just muscle. I think the sheer amount of weight that you lost (and are continuing to lose) is going to kind of make this kind of thing slightly inevitable, and probably that much more difficult to get rid of - as your trainer implied. (Sigh, probably not what you wanted to hear.)
So, keep up the weight training *definitely*. From what I've read, most surgeons will have you wait a year after you're done losing the weight anyway to see how much your skin naturally tighens up; I think that you should expect this to happen to some degree - maybe quite a bit (especially with yoru weight training). And like you said, if you're not done losing the weight you shouldn't consider the sugery yet.
As for the insurance thing, I found this on a Yahoo! Health site: "Insurance may cover the surgery if there are associated health risks, such as repeated bacterial or fungal infections in overhanging skin folds." I don't know if that's an issue/option or whatever... ???
I remember watching an episode of Oprah a while back (a WHILE back, after she had just lost all that weight) swinging her arms folds around proudly for all to see on TV  (But then, she's filthy rich and probably got the surgery eventually, right? lol)
Anyway, hope that helps, but sorry I couldn't be more helpful
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Here is another response from the body building site....
Quote:
"Wow! Fabulous transformation.
On the under arm skin problem. Just hang in there. It will eventually shrink. A friend of mine in town is having the same problem and she's starting to see a difference now, her second year into her weight loss. I'm also having a similar problem with my lower abdominal area due to a surgery that created a loose area. It's shrinking slow but sure"
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
WOW Laurel.... thank you so so so very much... i'm emailing this info to my PT right now... I NOW HAVE HOPE!! THANKS!!
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
a friend of mine has lost 300+ pounds and most of the flab on her arms has shrunk, though it did show up for awhile... its her stomach that has the folds that didn't go away (she lost her leg, and is now wheelchair bound BEFORE the weight loss)... those will be surgivally removed and her insurance has agreed to cover it because she got several infections in the folds and they interfere with her ability to wear a prosthetic leg without someone else to put the leg on her!
Amie
--------------------
Dietetics Student (anticipating RD exam in Aug 2010)
IBS - A
Dairy Allergic
Fructose and MSG intollerant
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
a friend of mine has lost 300+ pounds and most of the flab on her arms has shrunk, though it did show up for awhile... its her stomach that has the folds that didn't go away (she lost her leg, and is now wheelchair bound BEFORE the weight loss)... those will be surgivally removed and her insurance has agreed to cover it because she got several infections in the folds and they interfere with her ability to wear a prosthetic leg without someone else to put the leg on her!
Amie
Wow Amie.... sorry that happened to your friend... but it sounds like she is doing good now... let her know that I'm very proud of her too!!
--------------------
www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
