My woes: love handles on a fatless body - JP Fitness Forums

JohnW · 08-25-2005, 06:32 PM

Hello everyone, I was hoping I might be able to pick up a little advise from someone in the know.

While the problem of love handles is one many of us know well, I am coming up a little short on advise pertaining to my particular situation. Basically, I am a 21 year old male, approximately 6 foot tall, and I am around 10 stone 6 weight wise. So, as you can imagine, I am not a chubby chap!

I am fairly skinny, but have pretty good shape and muscle in my arms, torso, upper back, and legs. BUT: a few weeks ago I went to the physio for a checkup - I have had awful pain in my back and neck for years. It turns out due to issues with my feet, I have been standing funny (one leg more than other, which has twisted my pelvis or something!). Anyway, to cut a long story short my pelvis and lower back area has been doing almost no work for 21 years and my middle and upper back has been compensating and taking alot of the strain.

I am not sure that is all totally accurate, my physio could explain it alot better [img]smile.gif[/img] but to get to my real problem - I am a skinny, toned fellow, who has *insane* love handles. I can feel no muscle to speak of, it a little bit of fat as lots of skin. I can stretch the skin (lol) for inches and inches, its a real eye-sore and Im really embarrased. I should note that I used to be pretty chunky, and the excess skin issue has kind of come a bit from that too.

The advise I read for love handles is:

1 - do cardio and burn calories: I am in the gymn 3+ times a week for around an hour on the bike, treadmill, etc, so I am kind of on top of this and it has never seemed to help. People also say its all just about overall weight loss, if I lose any more weight my rib cage is going to be showing =/ seriously. I have been at 9 1/2 stone and looking *very* gaunt, and my love handles have still been going strong.

2 - do side bends, various twists etc: although I also read alot of stuff that says DONT do side bends as it will only make love handles more prominant. Is this true? since I have no developed muscles to speak of, wouldnt it be good to do some weighted side bends to tighten things up? Im very much a cardio kind of chap, these kind of exercises never seem to give me alot of joy, but if they will genuinely work I can give them a go!

Anyway, I was hoping someone might have some advise for a chap in my position, as I am at a loss really.

Cheers
John

Lost Dog · 08-25-2005, 06:58 PM

I have a similar issue with belly fat and loose skin there (I was fat). As I continue to lose fat, it gets smaller/better... Other than surgery, that's about all you can do.

I'm afraid that you can't tighten them up with any sort of exercise. I doubt it would make them look worse, but you'll just have more muscled sides, covered up with the same fat and loose skin.

10.6 stones is about 146 lbs, right? That's really light for 6ft. Sounds like you need to put on weight. With more muscle, it won't really matter if your ribs show.

When I was 6'1" and 165lbs and 16% body fat, my wife commented on my ribs showing. Now, I'm 180lbs, but 12%. My ribs still show, but now I've got muscle there, too.

Ogedei · 08-25-2005, 08:59 PM

If you used to be pretty chunky and you lost weight by doing cardio alone, you most likely lost alot of muscle as well as fat.

Not sure what your situation with your back is so check with your doc. I would seriously look into eating a crap load and lifting weights. Build up some muscle. Losing fat and muscle at the same time just ends you with a body that is skinny, not muscular and fat deposits that are very prominent because your so skinny.

Also I would look into figuring out your bodyfat, either get it done profesionaly or maybe use www.mybodycomp.com.

I am sure more people will add stuff, but for now, I need to get back to work!

Og.

JohnW · 08-26-2005, 11:48 AM

Hmm. So does this mean that there is no real way to tighten them up?

Or was there a suggestion there that if I gained weight and put on muscle, then lost the weight (while keeping the muscle) that I may shed the excess skin? or have I read into what was said wrongly?

Thanks for the speedy replies [img]smile.gif[/img]
John

Lost Dog · 08-26-2005, 09:11 PM

Here's a recent article on the subject of loose skin, etc.

The FFB Handbook: Proper Care and Feeding for Former Fat Boys

Time (and losing more fat) will tell if you can lose the loose skin on your own. It may always be somewhat loose, but without the fat underneath, it may yet cling to the body and be far less of a worry. Perhaps not even noticable.

But, it will take shedding more fat to tell for sure. Some people's skin eventually tightens up, some people's don't.