flabby skin / prenatal vitamins Q's

I have sort of 2 questions I've been struggling with lately..

1. I've begun to notice some flabby skin... mainly on my underarms and then my thighs... it's not terribly noticeable but it's definitely there and I'm afraid it's going to get much worse since I still have another 40lbs to lose. The problem is, I've always had huge thighs (elephant-like, someone once not-so-kindly called them) because I'm a classic pear shape... Anyways, I'm looking for ways to start preventing and/or working on evening it out... I recently started walking/slightly jogging w/my friend, so I bought myself ankle weights to give it a little bit of a boost (I don't have pre-existing knee issues, so I think i'll be fine) and I was thinking I'll prob alternate the weights on my arms vs. legs every other day or whatever. I also bought one of those elastic exercise bands... and I have a bike at home (currently not being used), along with some dance videos and Tae Bo videos and yoga/pilates video (none being used at the moment either).

So what I'm really asking is- What exercise routine best helps to get rid of flabby skin on the arms/thighs? What else should I be doing besides walking/jogging for an hour each morning? (I know strength is important- but what kind? And for how long?) and are there any creams/lotions that people had sucess with, when coupled with exercise and whatnot?

2. I heard that prenatal vitamins are really good, especially for helping hair growth.. anyone have any experience with this? I'm having a really hard time finding chewable ones without a prescription, and I'm wondering if it's OK to just get the swallowable GNC vitamins, though I've heard/read that chewables are best for post-op (my doctor doesnt' have an opinion on the matter...)

Thanks!
xoxo,
Irina

 Hey! 

It's hard to say if any exercise will help your arm/leg flab (I have it too)....everyone is diffrent and every body's skin will kind of do what it  wants to.  Maybe you will be lucky and it will firm up...that's what I'm  hoping for.  

I go to 3 toning classes a week and we do a mixture of free weights/bands/weighed bars/medicine balls.  If you don't belong to a gym, they have great exercise toning how-to's in magazines like Women's Health or Shape.  I also do machine weights a few times a week, alternating pushing motions and pulling.  Pretty much the weight/resistance work is going to help you toning up.  I still have jiggle and expect to probably always have some regardless of what I do but I can tell it's much better than when I first started losing weight and I chalk it up to the toning. 

Walking/jogging is great but I've heard a lot of people will get ankle problems using ankle weights.  I would suggest never using them to jog, only walking.   Have you tried any workout DVD's like kickboxing or bootcamp?  I am going to be purchasing some yoga ones I can do at night.  

I don't know about pre-nat vitamins only to the extent I took them when I was pregnant.  I think they are about the same as regular vit. only with more folic acid, etc.  You can also get the hair/nail benefit from biotin.   I no longer take chewable vitamins, I take the swallow kind and they have been fine for me.  

Good luck!

~Emily~

UTTER BUTTER! LOL

It a thick cream they rub on cows utters but if u use it like lotion it helps keeps the elastisity in your skin so it dosnt get as flabby! a few of my friends and aunt swear by it!