Question:
What can I do to bring it back north?

Has anyone here lost the stomach fat(maybe not washboard, but at least somewhat flat) and got firmer breasts without surgery? I do not want to have to go through surgery again, but am afraid of what I will look like as far as my stomach, breasts, and butt after I lose the weight. I am walking and doing weights. Will doing crunches cause hernias? I really do not want elective surgery again. Any advice?    — dixieb (posted on June 9, 2003)

June 9, 2003
I have lost 106 pounds and have been exercising doing Curves (a circuit) up until a month and a half ago...now doing weights and crunches. I have a very tiny pooch on my tummy that seems to be shrinking up and my butt is firming up well. The only place that seems pretty saggy is my breasts...may have to lift those...but I think with exercise in the pectorals they may lift up too...I feel like you do as well, do not want to have to gounder the knife again! I have not had a hernia doing crunches, but I would check with your doctor..my surgery was lap.Hope this helps you out...253.5 7/16/02 now 147 goal 125
   — missmollyk

June 9, 2003
I had to give bad news, but you're probably not going to be able to exercise yourself to the body you want. I thought I'd have it easy - I was a lightweight, young, never had kids, worked out A LOT. My tummy is saggy and poochy, as well as my thighs, and my boobs are hanging LOW. I have a PS consult next week. 235/142/125, size 6 now. 8 1/2 months post-op.
   — Angie M.

June 10, 2003
I'm sorry Dottie, but no amount of exercise or toning can restore the elasticity of your skin, and you can confirm that with plastic surgeons. Whether you will need plastics or not is a combination of age (young is better), how long you have been overweight (how long has the skin been stretched out), have you had kids (pregnancy is not good-loosens the muscles), water (lots of water is good), how fast you lose weight (slow is better) and your genes (all pure luck).
   — Cindy R.