[melissachambers]

My Question says it all, I really hate my stomach, I rarely use the word hate when it comes to my body, but I really do strongly dislike the portion that sits a few inches below breasts and about one inch above my belly button. The skin below my belly button is flat, tight, and beautiful, unlike most women I seem to have carried my kids high, and the skin... I guess, was streched to maxiuum capacity! And will not go back. I was lucky to not have any strech marks anywhere, good genes.. I guess. The skin I'm talking about is a wavy, dimpley, and loose skin. I can pull it out and hold it in my hand, sounds gross, but true. I am 37 and have two children(6 and 4). I have been very active my entire life and feed my body whole foods and lean meats. I have not consumed a soda in about 15 years or fast food. Really, I eat properly and think of food as fuel and not an obsession. I am 5,5 and weigh between 118-120. Prior to having children I never went above 130. I am thinner and leaner after having kids, and I really like the rest of my body. I also train and love doing triathlons. I swim about 4 miles a week, bike about 40 miles a week and run too... I do pilates, yoga, and weight training off and on. For my body, a lot of weight training makes my body too heavy in my legs as well as core and shoulders. Last year I had a consultation for a tummy tuck. I left the doctors office sad and confused. The doctor said in general, that he did not feel comfortable with doing one on me because I am already small and the skin to be removed is in a smaller area and higher than the usual below the belly button kind. Basically the one I need would be a full one where he would remove more skin and have to have a large scar from hip to hip, or larger. Then I might end up with a weird result because the weird skin would be now streched, near my belly button. Liposuction was not an option because the fat from under the skin would be removed, but the skin has no elasticity and would look worse, deflated... :( After my sad doctor visit I went to the gym a lot and began doing the classes, like power lifiting with lots of carido in between and the next day pilates, the next day swimming, next day a cardio class,then power lifting again... ect... I was determined to change my core and reshape the muscle inside. By month 4, I had gained about five overall pounds. My core was very hard on the inside, but the outside was the same, no visible muscle tone. Now, I looked bulky, and my size 4 and 5 jeans were tight, everywhere. I stopped the power lifting and went back to normal about a month later. All that to say I am so frustrated about this. Sometimes I confide in friends, the usual reaction is "I can't believe you are conplaining, you look better than most (meaning them) at your age, you should just be happy with what you have". O Well, poor me, that's my problem, and no, I don't want to except it!. Has anyone had this problem and what have they done to fix it, cure it, burn it off(work out), cut it off, etc. I don't need diet tips, I could teach a class on food and diet, really!

[spitvenom]

Wow I wish I had some advice for you but everything I would have said You already know and do. I don't know what else you can do.

I workout all the time and eat properly and there is one piece of me I hate also and that is where my chest and armpit meet. No matter what I do it is still a little bit fat there and it drives me insane. Sorry I couldn't give you any advice. My wife thinks Im insane because of how great of shape I am in but I will not accept this part of me will not get toned.

[Hypnogal]

You had two beautiful children. This was voluntary. Go hug them and remember that your body made them and start loving yourself for who you are - like they do.