Is this loose skin or fat?!!!

[noexcuses88]

I have been dieting and doing cardio for a very long time now and I have gotten around 10% in body fat according to dex. I have never had a flat lower stomach beause I believe there is loose skin laying there from droping nearly 80 pounds. It annnoys me when people that are 15% have a completely flat stomach and dont have to work for it.

I attached a couple of pictures. Hopefully you guys will know if it is fat or skin.

Thanks in advance

[jjfman]

I'd say fat my man keep with the diet and cardio and give it time if you've been trying to cut it down for a lonnngg time then maybe the diet is wrong, post it up and get it critiqued

[noexcuses88]

I'd say fat my man keep with the diet and cardio and give it time if you've been trying to cut it down for a lonnngg time then maybe the diet is wrong, post it up and get it critiqued

Thank you! I would much rather it be fat than skin. It is confusing cuz I have oblique vascularity and but streches marks and elasticity along the belly button area

[gbrice75]

Wow, that looks alot like my stomach - same deal, I dropped nearly 80lbs, and while I know i'm not at 10% bf (I don't think you are either though), i'm probably around 14% and have the exact same problem. There is still some fat, but I think there is loose skin as well... not sure if anything can be done about that. It does suck, super frustrating! Keep at it bro, that's all we can do!

[noexcuses88]

Wow, that looks alot like my stomach - same deal, I dropped nearly 80lbs, and while I know i'm not at 10% bf (I don't think you are either though), i'm probably around 14% and have the exact same problem. There is still some fat, but I think there is loose skin as well... not sure if anything can be done about that. It does suck, super frustrating! Keep at it bro, that's all we can do!

I definatley agree that I still need to loose fat but I can tell there is elasticity in my lower stomach. So much so that I can pull at with two fingers. It comes to a point where that portion hangs over my belt. Other people who are much higher in bf don't have this problem.

Thanks. I would rather it be fat than skin. At least I can do something about the fat.

[noexcuses88]

any other options? And if it a little skin what can I do. attached is a picture of me 4 years ago at 290. Now 220

[noexcuses88]

picture from 4 years ago

[gbrice75]

any other options? And if it a little skin what can I do. attached is a picture of me 4 years ago at 290. Now 220

I know first hand how frustrating it is bro... working SOOO fu(king hard and still having imperfections... possibly some that cannot be changed other than with surgery.

However, look at your before and after pic - you have come light years bro... and that's something to be very proud of. I have to remind myself of the same thing - it's hard to remember being as fat as I was, but the pics don't lie - I was miserable and depressed. My current body is far from my ideal/dream body, but at least I can be out at a social situation and eat without feeling like everybody is watching the fat fu(k eat.... it's liberating!

[elpropiotorvic]

Honestly man congrats... Hope u get rid Of that but honestly u have come a lookng way ...

Great Job !!!

[energizer bunny]

i dont know if thats fat or skin.......BUT i can say congrats on the transformation! keep up the hard work..

[evil30]

Awesome transformation!!!!! What and how did you do it?

[JinNtonic]

any other options? And if it a little skin what can I do. attached is a picture of me 4 years ago at 290. Now 220

For what its worth you look(no homo) real good to me.

We have a very similar build, I still have about 10lbs more to lose before I am as lean as you though. I also used to be about 280lbs myself. I am sitting at about 208 right now.

I am getting leaner & leaner but that bottom part of the belly is the worst part to get rid of.

["DIRTY D" SANCHEZ]

I would say fat if i thought it really were man, but i had the same problem where you can see some abs but there is what feels like abnormally thick skin right? I thought that i may have caused a thicker skin with gear or something, but i know that mine is/was fat from being lazy and eating like i was training hard...

But i really have a hard time saying that all of that is fat with you my man. I do know there is obviously still a little bit in there, but i would imagine that after losing weight like that, you would have to have somewhat "thicker" or extra skin.

Good luck,

"dirty d"


P.S.- THE LOWER BELLY IS THE HARDEST AND LAST FAT TO GO IN MY EXPERIENCE

[Rockin Z28]

i agree with most of the others..its a combination of the both, but you look good so i wouldnt let it put a damper on how you view your physique

[tboney]

Wow, that looks alot like my stomach - same deal, I dropped nearly 80lbs, and while I know i'm not at 10% bf (I don't think you are either though), i'm probably around 14% and have the exact same problem. There is still some fat, but I think there is loose skin as well... not sure if anything can be done about that. It does suck, super frustrating! Keep at it bro, that's all we can do!

I agree... Congrats to both of you on the weight loss. You guys look great.

[tballz]

but I think there is loose skin as well... not sure if anything can be done about that.

hgh 176-191 is best used for that loose skin.

[noexcuses88]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I will continue to drop in bodyfat but it is extremly depressing to see that extra skin. Especially after I spend 4hrs in the gym nearly every. I can never reach the level that I desearve. Nor can I reach the perfection I have been striving for years. That is why I was hoping it was fat. Thanks for ur help as always guys.

[FireGuy]

I would say the vast majority of it is still body fat. Loose skin will tend to hang down even while standing straight up. In your middle picture I dont see any loose skin. It might become loose as you get leaner but I dont see a problem yet.

[mg1228]

u can get there---post up ur diet in the diet section---maybe ur missing something

after dropping that kind of weight u will have loose skin---but the good news it can tighten up just like it can stretch---this just takes time---i am not saying it is loose skin cause idk---but if it is

[amcon]

I have been dieting and doing cardio for a very long time now and I have gotten around 10% in body fat according to dex. I have never had a flat lower stomach beause I believe there is loose skin laying there from droping nearly 80 pounds. It annnoys me when people that are 15% have a completely flat stomach and dont have to work for it.

I attached a couple of pictures. Hopefully you guys will know if it is fat or skin.

Thanks in advance

fat...

[dhriscerr]

Its fat, you can tell because you are still carrying a good amount of fat in your love handle area in that first picture. Hell of a transformation though and it will tighten up for you. Think how huge 5lbs of butter would be (20 sticks) now put that 5lbs around your waist and lower back. If you weight 200lbs thats 2.5% thats a huge difference when you think about 15% and 12.5% body fat.

[cobra305]

Either way great work you are lokking much better. Keep it up

[Ferdinand]

picture from 4 years ago

Awsome job man, keep it going!
After dropping so much fat you might wanna think of a clean bulk for some more size then cut down the last fat after??...

Just a thought.....

[noexcuses88]

Its fat, you can tell because you are still carrying a good amount of fat in your love handle area in that first picture. Hell of a transformation though and it will tighten up for you. Think how huge 5lbs of butter would be (20 sticks) now put that 5lbs around your waist and lower back. If you weight 200lbs thats 2.5% thats a huge difference when you think about 15% and 12.5% body fat.

That actually makes sense. I am seeing vascularity in the most odd places, even my quads. I guess I expected to at least have a flat stomach at this point. 4-5hrs a day at the gym will get you obsessed with your image.

I would say the vast majority of it is still body fat. Loose skin will tend to hang down even while standing straight up. In your middle picture I dont see any loose skin. It might become loose as you get leaner but I dont see a problem yet.

Thanks for you post, as I do value your opinion.

u can get there---post up ur diet in the diet section---maybe ur missing something

after dropping that kind of weight u will have loose skin---but the good news it can tighten up just like it can stretch---this just takes time---i am not saying it is loose skin cause idk---but if it is

I have revamped my diet to a T multiple times using the diet forum. eating carbs morning and post workout (oatmeal, and sweet potatoes) and chicken and tuna and eggs. It is getting to a point where I dont know what else to do.


Thank you guys for all your support as always.

[Ferdinand]

Like i said in my previous post, maybe stop thinking about losing weight for a few months, gain some mass and go back at it.
You look pretty fit now anyways bro.

I dropped about the same amount as you in my youth, and i know how hard the last lbs can be after losing weight for a long time.
I stopped worrying about losing fat and started gaining some lean mass and then i got new motivation for fat loss dietting after a few months.

Best!

[gbrice75]

I guess I expected to at least have a flat stomach at this point. 4-5hrs a day at the gym will get you obsessed with your image.

Amen!

I have revamped my diet to a T multiple times using the diet forum. eating carbs morning and post workout (oatmeal, and sweet potatoes) and chicken and tuna and eggs. It is getting to a point where I dont know what else to do.

Again, same here bro - I feel your frustration 100%. I look at myself and I see a person who doesn't look like they've spent a day inside a gym... at least you look the part IMO. Maybe the post above this one has a point - try a very lean/clean bulk for a few months? That would at least throw our bodies into chaos. Personally i'm on a CKD at least until I go to Mexico (April 14th). When I get back, I am going to give some serious thought as to the direction I want to go. My concern with even a clean/lean bulk is gaining ANY fat back... that would really suck!


Thank you guys for all your support as always.

Comments in bold

[noexcuses88]

Like i said in my previous post, maybe stop thinking about losing weight for a few months, gain some mass and go back at it.
You look pretty fit now anyways bro.

I dropped about the same amount as you in my youth, and i know how hard the last lbs can be after losing weight for a long time.
I stopped worrying about losing fat and started gaining some lean mass and then i got new motivation for fat loss dieting after a few months.

Best!

I agree with you. However, I psychologically can not handle the weight gain right now. Along with all the stresors in my life (ie: being a paramedic, family problems with haiti, 26 hrs of school, 4+ hours 7days a week in the gym), I mentally cannot see myself gain any weight. I am willing to sacrifice muscle to get to the point where I am happy. Just want to be at the point where I can finally not be self conscious about myself. I actually find myself getting nightmares about gaining weight and loosing sleep over it. Maybe this is more of a thing for a psychologist.

Again, same here bro - I feel your frustration 100%. I look at myself and I see a person who doesn't look like they've spent a day inside a gym... at least you look the part IMO. Maybe the post above this one has a point - try a very lean/clean bulk for a few months? That would at least throw our bodies into chaos. Personally i'm on a CKD at least until I go to Mexico (April 14th). When I get back, I am going to give some serious thought as to the direction I want to go. My concern with even a clean/lean bulk is gaining ANY fat back... that would really suck!

Thanks man. It is good to know that I am not the only one in this position. I honestly believe there is no one that works as hard as I do. Maybe I am not working as smart.

[DaBullet]

Congrats on all your weight loss, your abs look good bro. Just goes to show how hard work pays off. Keep it up!