Training & Nutrition - Body image.

I think I'm on the onset of a body image problem.

Now, my body looks pretty good overall; my arms are well-toned as are my legs, and there is some definition in my abdominal and chest region. However, the crux of this problem resides in that area. Every time I sit down, I see little rolls of something that bother me like crazy. From my reference point they look concerning, but from an external reference point (say, a mirror or another person), they're nothing.

What bothers me even further is the something that these rolls consist of. I have no idea whether it's body fat or loose skin that's causing them, but whatever it is is driving me nuts. I haven't gained weight; in fact, when I stepped on a scale last (two weeks ago), I weighed in at 160 lb with clothes on, which is well in my range (155 - 160). My waist size has not changed; it has remained at about 30" since last year. (It used to be 34" several years ago.) Finally, I know that my diet is nothing crazy; I do have some foods that might be better removed, particularly cereal and bread, but they aren't drastic.

Has anyone come across this problem after they lost the desired weight? If so, how was it resolved?

I appreciate everyone's advice! Thanks for reading.

Honestly, I have the same issue.
I still see the 210 lbs guy when I look in the mirror not the current 150-155lb guy.
I have read that when one looses weight and gets fit your self image lags behind reality for some time.
However, I have always had self image issues.

I had the same problem back when I was 185 and "chubby." I looked at myself in the mirror before I took a shower practically every day and was pretty bothered by my appearance. That didn't motivate me directly to take on cycling, but even after the bonus weight loss, it bothered me for quite some time. It gets a bit bad if I don't ride for a few days (like 3 or so).

Same thing here, too. I'm at ~135-140, 5'7.5, and get those same rolls you're talking about. I'm going to work on losing body fat by gaining muscle and staying the same weight. It's pretty disconcerting to me, though. I'm always told that I look lean, cut, whatever. Still doesn't help me realize, for some reason, and I remain unhappy with my body image.

Oh well.

there was once this guy called chopper who used to have this real good quote. "harden the f*ck up!"

That silly comment contributes nothing to the discussion.
Honestly, after spending so much time in the road cycling forum where that term is bantered about by every little newbie it gets tiring.

Trust the mirror and other people... the brain plays tricks on you when you look at yourself.

Realize that when you are sitting down that folds of skin over the abs are normal, especially if you are over age 35 I would think. A waist of 30" is obviously way below average and carries no health risk implications, not to mention problems with appearance. The good thing about bike jerseys is they seem to conceal this area when you are in the riding posture. I too have experienced body image distortion, which is weird once you realize it. Like I'm 6'1" and don't realize how tall I am and am surprised when I see pictures of myself with my wife.
Body image distortion could range from a minor annoyance to a major disturbance. Take hope: I think I've paid less attention to my body image distortion when I realize that my overall appearance does not depend on one body part, and that only I am noticing it really. It's how I interact with people, how self confidently I project myself, things like that. Those are the things that are worthy of effort to try to improve because they really matter. Good luck.

Body image distortion could range from a minor annoyance to a major disturbance. Take hope: I think I've paid less attention to my body image distortion when I realize that my overall appearance does not depend on one body part, and that only I am noticing it really. It's how I interact with people, how self confidently I project myself, things like that. Those are the things that are worthy of effort to try to improve because they really matter. Good luck.

Well put. I agree with that. I too lost about 20 pounds a number of years back and occasionally I'll still look at myself in the mirror and think that my legs look too large or my stomach isn't flat enough. Then I remember that my eyes and mind are just playing a game on me. There definitely are other things to improve that do matter more.

That silly comment contributes nothing to the discussion.


Welcome to the internet, enjoy your stay and htfu sally.

I'm trying to get used to the idea/concept/new reality that I'm skinny. I've lost just shy of 65 pounds from 210 to 146. Waist is now at 28.25. Was at 40 a year ago. That said...

I also notice those same rolls or bulges when I sit down or get on the bike. In my case, I'm pretty sure it's excess skin resulting from the weight loss. I don't know if it will ever go away. About the only thing that can be done is exercises that specifically target my abs and really tone up the muscles there. I don't think I'm going to do that for a number of excuses :lol:

Aren't those little rolls just skin? Most of my gym-freak friends get them too and they're pretty ''ripped''.

is it related to your posture? I probably have bad posture and get that too. That said, your skin is going to stretch and/or fold as needed, depending on if you're arching your back or curling forward.

If your abs are visible at all you're prolly near single digit body fat and just need to get over it or just don't sit down ever.

Don't know your age, but as you get older your skin loses its elasticity and tends to hang more "loosely". I'm 54 and in the single digits for body fat, my ribs are visible almost all the way around to my backbone, but a few loose folds have gradually accumulated around my stomach in spite of no weight gain. I wouldn't be concerned in your situation.

How old are you OP?

As others have noted age + gravity = saggy skin. Unfortunately, at some point it becomes unavoidable no matter what your level of fitness/body fat

I have the same problem. I started out around 360 and have now dropped down to 175. My body fat is hovering around 9% yet I still hate the way I look with my shirt off. My dietitian basically told me that losing so much weight the skin probably won't snap back and surgery is an option.

I have actually heard that certain places now take the excess skin and use at as grafts for burn victims etc. etc. I am considering looking into it in the future when I stabilize my weight where I want it to be. Of course then again I might be an extreme case.

how old are you op?

As others have noted age + gravity = saggy skin. Unfortunately, at some point it becomes unavoidable no matter what your level of fitness/body fat

21

As far as the 'rolls' issue goes, its just how skin works. Go ahead and google 6pack aps, abercrombie model, whatever you want and you will notice 1 recurring them. They are all standing, typically leaning back some. Why? It stretches the stomach skin more. 6pack abs are actually pretty weird... they don't occur naturally for most people. You typically have to be a nearly-dangerous body fat level to have those amazing abs. Most people know this and you will see that most people with the abs are only in that shape for a few weeks. Think about it, even Olympic level athletes can only keep up there peak for a few weeks at a time. Go look at Michael Phelps when he got the golds and then right after. He immediately started gaining some body fat back.

Those rolls are just the skin doing what it does.. I know its hard to accept it, but it is true. That is how I deal with it, I just keep in mind that realistically I can't be at that level for long.

EDIT:

OH! You're 21! I'm 22, that adds something to this :P

Ya, our generation has been raised with this BS image of 6 packs, 4% body fat, etc etc.. go look at any movie made before 1980 and notice you don't see that. Why? Because its total BS. Hell, go watch UFC. Those guys rarely even have 6 packs. Girls LOVE 6 pack abs and stuff... I am assuming thats why you are REALLY doing it. That being said, if your body fat is under 15% you are WAY ahead of the pack.. the rest of the guys are age are out being drunk all night and eating a ton.

body transformation is a slow process. losing weight doesn't mean you are building muscle mass. to fully realize your potential you need to also build muscle through weight training. the increase in muscle mass will help burn more fat, further improving your body image. you must be patient and diligent. measure things in months and years, for example, this time next year you will have an even better form. I think people who lose a lot of weight have to deal with the extra skin, yes, but I think it gets, absorbed over time. skin is also stretchy like balloon rubber. change your diet even further and get some weight training in. crank it all up a notch, but be careful to protect yourself from injury ... rule #1 - do no harm! :-)

After losing more than 300 pounds, I've had 20k+ worth of surgery to remove excess skin on the abdomen, inner thighs, and arms. There was no way that stuff was going away on its own. I couldn't even bike in the summer time without wearing long winter tights because the stuff on my legs would flap against the top bars. Just one of those things you have to expect.


I have actually heard that certain places now take the excess skin and use at as grafts for burn victims etc.


Sorry, not true. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006052228382

After losing more than 300 pounds, I've had 20k+ worth of surgery to remove excess skin on the abdomen, inner thighs, and arms. There was no way that stuff was going away on its own. I couldn't even bike in the summer time without wearing long winter tights because the stuff on my legs would flap against the top bars. Just one of those things you have to expect.



Sorry, not true. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006052228382

See what I have read has been quite the opposite.

http://www.mtf.org/donor/living_skin.html

Then again I guess it depends on who you believe, a nonprofit group who supposedly does the skin grafts, or someone on yahoo answers linking to someones personal web page. :lol:

I think it is helpful to refocus your attention on performance factors. There will always be some flaw you can be unhappy with if physical perfection is your focus. Instead look at how much improvement you've made in your athletic skills (however you choose to measure them). Your lipid profile, blood pressure and pulse have probably improved too. Don't think in the long run the scale or measuring tape tell you much useful from a health or performance perspective. Relax and enjoy your new athleticism and try to stop critiquing and weighing yourself.

JimF22003 and mtclifford, congrats to you both for your amazing weight loss.

I still mentally see myself as the Fat Guy. I see my reflection in a door or something and look behind me to see who's walking up behind me. :p I'm not kidding!

Weight loss and getting used to the "new you" will take a long time to get used to. I lost over 50 pounds in 8 months and kept that weight off for a very long time. I started to cycle and gained muscle and larger legs but my body size hasn't changed. During the years I felt the need to jump on the scale and look in the mirror. I am used to this body and don't give it too much thought anymore. I think others notice more than we do. If they are saying negative things, drop them. If they are supportive, keep them and live a happy life.

As far as the 'rolls' issue goes, its just how skin works. Go ahead and google 6pack aps, abercrombie model, whatever you want and you will notice 1 recurring them. They are all standing, typically leaning back some. Why? It stretches the stomach skin more. 6pack abs are actually pretty weird... they don't occur naturally for most people. You typically have to be a nearly-dangerous body fat level to have those amazing abs. Most people know this and you will see that most people with the abs are only in that shape for a few weeks. Think about it, even Olympic level athletes can only keep up there peak for a few weeks at a time. Go look at Michael Phelps when he got the golds and then right after. He immediately started gaining some body fat back.

Those rolls are just the skin doing what it does.. I know its hard to accept it, but it is true. That is how I deal with it, I just keep in mind that realistically I can't be at that level for long.

EDIT:

OH! You're 21! I'm 22, that adds something to this :P

Ya, our generation has been raised with this BS image of 6 packs, 4% body fat, etc etc.. go look at any movie made before 1980 and notice you don't see that. Why? Because its total BS. Hell, go watch UFC. Those guys rarely even have 6 packs. Girls LOVE 6 pack abs and stuff... I am assuming thats why you are REALLY doing it. That being said, if your body fat is under 15% you are WAY ahead of the pack.. the rest of the guys are age are out being drunk all night and eating a ton.

To be honest with you, the weight loss was consequential more than anything. I really missed being on the bike, and when I was able to afford my first one, I rode it like I stole it. The weight kind of came off on its own, and it was after I noticed all of the weight going away that I wanted to take better care of my body and overall health. It should be noted that my health is inherently very good, as I hardly ever get sick or have bad reactions.

I guess a part of my mind proclaims that having the mythical six-pack image would bring in the chicks, but I'm not even attracted to those kind of women anyway. (I would elaborate, but then this would be Foo material :p) In reality, I hardly flaunt it, especially considering that a good deal of my clothes are too big to "highlight" the figure. I'm also noticing that the healthier, fitter and more "normal" people (with normality being defined by actually having a life that doesn't involve constant sports, training scheduled, etc.) also have some tone, but not an overbearing amount.

Overall, I'm really happy with the image that I have now, but those rolls can get to me sometimes. In fact, I stepped on a scale two days ago, and I'm actually at the lightest weight I've ever been at! (150 pounds, give or take a pound or so).

NOTE: Have you ever noticed that those A&F models have horribly undefined arms to match their toned-out midsection?


I think it is helpful to refocus your attention on performance factors. There will always be some flaw you can be unhappy with if physical perfection is your focus. Instead look at how much improvement you've made in your athletic skills (however you choose to measure them). Your lipid profile, blood pressure and pulse have probably improved too. Don't think in the long run the scale or measuring tape tell you much useful from a health or performance perspective. Relax and enjoy your new athleticism and try to stop critiquing and weighing yourself.

Yeah, I'm trying to shift my focus more on how much faster I've gotten lately. It's kind of uncanny; I've been on the bike less this year so far, but I'm a lot faster than I was last year...


body transformation is a slow process. losing weight doesn't mean you are building muscle mass. to fully realize your potential you need to also build muscle through weight training. the increase in muscle mass will help burn more fat, further improving your body image. you must be patient and diligent. measure things in months and years, for example, this time next year you will have an even better form. I think people who lose a lot of weight have to deal with the extra skin, yes, but I think it gets, absorbed over time. skin is also stretchy like balloon rubber. change your diet even further and get some weight training in. crank it all up a notch, but be careful to protect yourself from injury ... rule #1 - do no harm! :-)

Thanks for the advice. I realized that getting in some strength training would provide a good balance between fitness and form, so I started doing some light bodyweight routines (10 minutes before bedtime), and am thinking of spending more time on working my upper body this winter.

Go ride your f'in bike, geez

lol next time it's 2:42am, I'll think of that :)

When I was a child, I could only play "seek."

I think I'm on the onset of a body image problem.

Now, my body looks pretty good overall; my arms are well-toned as are my legs, and there is some definition in my abdominal and chest region. However, the crux of this problem resides in that area. Every time I sit down, I see little rolls of something that bother me like crazy. From my reference point they look concerning, but from an external reference point (say, a mirror or another person), they're nothing.

What bothers me even further is the something that these rolls consist of. I have no idea whether it's body fat or loose skin that's causing them, but whatever it is is driving me nuts. I haven't gained weight; in fact, when I stepped on a scale last (two weeks ago), I weighed in at 160 lb with clothes on, which is well in my range (155 - 160). My waist size has not changed; it has remained at about 30" since last year. (It used to be 34" several years ago.) Finally, I know that my diet is nothing crazy; I do have some foods that might be better removed, particularly cereal and bread, but they aren't drastic.

Has anyone come across this problem after they lost the desired weight? If so, how was it resolved?

I appreciate everyone's advice! Thanks for reading.

Hit the weight room. I recently upped my lifting (weight and frequency) and over the last month, my man boob fat and ab fat have decreased dramatically. I've only dropped maybe 3 pounds, but the difference is very noticeable.

I have started strength training a bit and can already tell this is going to help out.
Also, having friends and strangers tell me that I look fit is slowly helping me change my self image. At the moment I am trying to project confidence and hopefully my actual confidence will catch up. Not to forget finally getting out of a crappy marriage is helping me more than anything.

I think I'm on the onset of a body image problem.

Now, my body looks pretty good overall; my arms are well-toned as are my legs, and there is some definition in my abdominal and chest region. However, the crux of this problem resides in that area. Every time I sit down, I see little rolls of something that bother me like crazy. From my reference point they look concerning, but from an external reference point (say, a mirror or another person), they're nothing.

What bothers me even further is the something that these rolls consist of. I have no idea whether it's body fat or loose skin that's causing them, but whatever it is is driving me nuts. I haven't gained weight; in fact, when I stepped on a scale last (two weeks ago), I weighed in at 160 lb with clothes on, which is well in my range (155 - 160). My waist size has not changed; it has remained at about 30" since last year. (It used to be 34" several years ago.) Finally, I know that my diet is nothing crazy; I do have some foods that might be better removed, particularly cereal and bread, but they aren't drastic.

Has anyone come across this problem after they lost the desired weight? If so, how was it resolved?

I appreciate everyone's advice! Thanks for reading.


Without having read the rest of the responses, why not have a body fat analysis with the skinfold calipers? They just don't lie, and when someone's pinching skin vs. fat vs. muscle, you darned well know exactly what's under the skin.

I wouldn't obsess too much. If you're a healthy weight, eating right, and exercising and you have your health, focus on that instead.

koffee

LOL. My problem is the opposite. I still see myself as the muscular guy I was in college, even though I'm far from it now and certainly don't ride like it. :)

Well, this one is all about expectations.

Fat is generally stored subcutaneously. That means under the skin. Since you have a layer of fat under the skin, it obscures the definition of the muscles beneath the skin and fat. You can have tremendously developed muscles but if you have a certain amount of fat, no one will see their definition.

People tend to lose fat in a stereotypic fashion. It goes first from some places and later from other places. There ain't anything you can do about that. The body builders I know, tell me that the last place they lose their fat is right on top of the abs. In order to get really good definition on the abs, you need to get your body fat down so low that you feel nearly dead. That is not a good thing. Of course, Hollywood with its addiction of abdominal definition has skewed the game. Why should women have all the problems with body image anyway?

The other thing is straighten your arm. Look at your elbow. Horrors? Merde! Rolls of fat! No that is loose skin. Pinch the folds. They are really thin aren't they? That means it is just skin with virtually no underlying fat. If you did not have loose skin at your elbows, you would not be able to bend your arm without splitting your skin. What good would your joints be?

So think about it. Stand up and while standing bend your back as far back as it can go. The skin on your tummy will go tight if you go as far back as you can. You have extra skin there. If you sit down, that skin does not disappear. You get little folds of it. Pinch the folds. If they are thin rather like the folds at your elbow, you do not have much subcutaneous fat. If that folds are thick like 2", 4", 6" well then you have subcutaneous fat. Remember this is the place that men's bodies most like to store fat. Fat is an energy reserve and have some is really a good thing. If you get sick and can not eat for a few days, you have a reserve you can use without ripping up your muscles for energy.

No matter how thin you get, when you sit down, you will always have some excess skin in your abdomen. That is just how you are made.

Now we can start talking about moobs. :innocent:

I still mentally see myself as the Fat Guy. I see my reflection in a door or something and look behind me to see who's walking up behind me. :p I'm not kidding!

I to have had the double take on myself a few times. I was 305 at my peak now around 220 and although I have a way to go I don't mind looking in mirror. Now only if I could get rid of the moobs.

Shoot... I'm 155 and still have a pair.

I have the same problem with rolls when I sit down. My normal weight range is 140-145, 5'9", 22yrs old. I have been as low as 130 and high as 155 the last two years, the rolls look the same!

I lost 70lbs last summer i went from 260 to about 190 and since ive been cycling for 5 months I weigh about 180. However, I cant help but notice that loose skin though, it does bother me, but doesnt seem to bother my fiance :D so I try not to worrry to much