Anybody else look lumpy as they are losing weight?

[milee]

Every year from about Halloween or Thanksgiving through year end, I indulge in all the yummy goodies and drinks of the season. Predictably, that adds about 5-10 pounds of weight. No worries, it's worth it to me to join in the fun with my family and friends I'm OK with the idea that in January and February, I need to eat less and up the exercise intensity to work it off.   But as I get older, I'm noticing something weird.  Not sure if it's been this way all along and I'm just starting to be more aware of it or if this is yet another one of those fun things one discovers happens with the years.

When I gain weight, it's fairly evenly distributed and - to me anyway - looks OK.  As I start to lose it, things look kind lumpy for a little while.  Odd.  Like on my legs, as I'm gaining, they look just smoother and plumper.  It's as I'm losing that they get a little bit of dimpling or don't look smooth.  Like the loss happens in small pockets rather than evenly all over like the gain happens.  The lumpiness doesn't seem to last long and over the next few months as the weight evens out, I think things will smooth out like they have in the past, but it looks weird while I'm losing weight.  Which is not really nice because it's not encouraging to look down and even though you know the scale says the pounds are coming off, you don't like the way things are shaped.

Hopefully it will all smooth out and just be temporary, but it looks strange now.

Anybody else notice they don't gain and lose in the same places?

[milee]

Just realized that this was a bad time to ask this question. Most of you guys live in places that are so cold, you probably haven't seen your legs for a while, right?

[Deleted]

Jan 7, 2014 11:06:43 GMT -5 milee said:

Just realized that this was a bad time to ask this question. Most of you guys live in places that are so cold, you probably haven't seen your legs for a while, right?

That and we are keeping every bit of extra fat we can until this shit passes!!!

It takes a while for the skin to bounce back and as you get older it won't. It'll just stay wrinkly.

[milee]

Jan 7, 2014 11:11:20 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

Jan 7, 2014 11:06:43 GMT -5 milee said:

Just realized that this was a bad time to ask this question. Most of you guys live in places that are so cold, you probably haven't seen your legs for a while, right?

That and we are keeping every bit of extra fat we can until this shit passes!!!

It takes a while for the skin to bounce back and as you get older it won't. It'll just stay wrinkly.

  It's not really wrinkly, but now of course that is something I'll be worried about as well.  Thanks.    It's more like uneven padding underneath.  Gentle waves, bulges or slight divots more than wrinkles.  Like when the fat goes away, my body's not using fat equally from all areas.  More like it's using the fat in this little area, then moving on to the fat in that little area and leaving random deposits for later.  Ugh.  The description is worse than the reality, so I'll stop now.

And yes, if I lived where you do, I'd happily pack on an extra 15 pounds to keep me warm and just enjoy it.  Nothing wrong with insulation.    Unfortunately, I live in the land of the year round bathing suit and it will probably be 80 again in a week or so.

[milee]

Jan 7, 2014 11:15:50 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

Yes.  I've lost 40 lbs in the last year and I almost feel like my belly is jigglier, probably because that's the last place I lose weight. 

Great job on the 40 pounds!        As it was coming off, did it come off from all over or did certain things lean out first? Is it still a work in progress or are you at a comfy place?

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 7, 2014 11:06:43 GMT -5 milee said:

Just realized that this was a bad time to ask this question. Most of you guys live in places that are so cold, you probably haven't seen your legs for a while, right?

I do shower and change clothes every day. I'm not doing that with my eyes closed!

I lost nearly 40 pounds over a year and half. I didn't notice any lumpiness. But I lost weight slowly and was doing strength/toning/cardio work. I don't do fast gain/fast lose.

[milee]

Jan 7, 2014 11:21:32 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Jan 7, 2014 11:06:43 GMT -5 milee said:

Just realized that this was a bad time to ask this question. Most of you guys live in places that are so cold, you probably haven't seen your legs for a while, right?

I do shower and change clothes every day. I'm not doing that with my eyes closed!

You're braver than I am. When my bathroom is below 70, I'm so cold I'm moving so fast, even if I looked in the mirror, things would just be a blur until the warm clothes are on. 

Congrats on the 40 pounds lost.    Are you where you want to be?  Anything interesting you discovered on your journey?

[milee]

Jan 7, 2014 11:24:06 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

My legs and arms tend to lean out first.  I did lose some weight around the waist but proportionally it doesn't feel the same.  It's still a work in progress.  I'd like to lose another 30.  Right now I'm on the fitness board trying to motivate myself.  I already look and feel so much better and can maintain this weight without much effort so it's hard to keep going.

The funny thing is I got zero compliments or notice until the last 10 lbs. It's nice that people are saying good things but apparently there is some tipping point where you look really different and lbs 30-40, and nothing before them, are it for me.

That is frustrating that people don't notice until the last 10 pounds. Wonder if the shape of your face changes during that particular range, which is what causes people to notice? It's subtle, but I notice my face changes shape a little bit at different weights.

[milee]

Do you notice that the exercise has any impact on the cholesterol level?

[ners]

Milee not sure if was the weight loss, change in diet or increased exercise my cholesterol dropped about 40 points.

[Cookies Galore]

Jan 7, 2014 11:24:06 GMT -5 milee said:

Jan 7, 2014 11:21:32 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

I do shower and change clothes every day. I'm not doing that with my eyes closed!

You're braver than I am. When my bathroom is below 70, I'm so cold I'm moving so fast, even if I looked in the mirror, things would just be a blur until the warm clothes are on. 

Congrats on the 40 pounds lost.    Are you where you want to be?  Anything interesting you discovered on your journey?

Thanks! I am happy with where I am (size 8) but I do want to tone more. I am stronger but I want to see that result. I started losing weight even before engagement was on my radar but I am glad I lost 20 pounds before hubs proposed because I didn't feel too much pressure to lose a crazy amount of pre-wedding weight. I am delighted with how I look in our photos!

As far as my journey, I discovered a love for working out, especially running. I think my favorite body part would be my thighs, which surprised me. They make me proud of all I've done.

I'm 32, so I'm glad I got started when I was 30 and not later. I was lazy for most of my life so I would have had issues down the road, I'm sure.

[cktc]

Jan 7, 2014 10:47:14 GMT -5 milee said:

When I gain weight, it's fairly evenly distributed and - to me anyway - looks OK.  As I start to lose it, things look kind lumpy for a little while.  Odd.  Like on my legs, as I'm gaining, they look just smoother and plumper.  It's as I'm losing that they get a little bit of dimpling or don't look smooth.  Like the loss happens in small pockets rather than evenly all over like the gain happens.  The lumpiness doesn't seem to last long and over the next few months as the weight evens out, I think things will smooth out like they have in the past, but it looks weird while I'm losing weight. 

Interesting, I'd just accepted that I'm meant to be lumpy, thought perhaps I didn't have enough connective tissue and I was a hopeless cause. Now I'm thinking maybe I've never lost or gained enough to even out the adipose fat.

[michelyn8]

Jan 7, 2014 11:17:24 GMT -5 milee said:

Jan 7, 2014 11:11:20 GMT -5 laterbloomer said:

That and we are keeping every bit of extra fat we can until this shit passes!!!

It takes a while for the skin to bounce back and as you get older it won't. It'll just stay wrinkly.

  It's not really wrinkly, but now of course that is something I'll be worried about as well.  Thanks.    It's more like uneven padding underneath.  Gentle waves, bulges or slight divots more than wrinkles.  Like when the fat goes away, my body's not using fat equally from all areas.  More like it's using the fat in this little area, then moving on to the fat in that little area and leaving random deposits for later.  Ugh.  The description is worse than the reality, so I'll stop now.

And yes, if I lived where you do, I'd happily pack on an extra 15 pounds to keep me warm and just enjoy it.  Nothing wrong with insulation.    Unfortunately, I live in the land of the year round bathing suit and it will probably be 80 again in a week or so.

Sounds like you're describing the cellulite that is trying to take over my thighs.  I used to have gorgeous legs but since I've become more sedentary and put on some needed weight a few years ago, my legs look absolutely horrid. 

I really need to do something about it before shorts weather returns. I am so not one for capri's and last year shorts did not look good on me at all IMHO. 

[milee]

Jan 7, 2014 13:27:24 GMT -5 michelyn8 said:

Jan 7, 2014 11:17:24 GMT -5 milee said:

I am so not one for capri's and last year shorts did not look good on me at all IMHO. 

I hear you on the capri thing.  Even though my legs are proportionally long for my height, I'm short enough that capris are not a good look for me.  IMHO, most women need to be relatively tall (like 5'7" and above) and very thin to make capris look good.  Otherwise, capris aren't a flattering look - make your legs look shorter and wider than they are.

[tloonya]

Why would anyone want to lose weight anyway? its warmer 'fat' way.
Also now when it is 6 degree outside I have leggings on me that aren't coming off. So I don't bathe...until it is...spring?

[Spellbound454]

It never comes of the right places.

My face and chest can lose weight quite quickly..... so I end up with hollow cheeks, a flat chest whilst my rear remains the same size.

I feel I need some sort of suction to drag the flab off my stomach back up top.

I'm not particularly over weight... it just needs redistributing a bit.

[sapphire12]

The 8 pounds that I am trying to lose needs to come from my thighs and rear. I'm not being overly aggressive as it is too cold to walk outside. Ironically, the extra fat on my thighs does nothing to provide warmth so away it must go. I also have the problem of needing to lose muscle from my thighs as well. This is proving to be challenging to lose muscle and fat from the same place. I have lost an inch from my thighs. The cellulite is slowly disappearing. I'd like to lose at least another inch of fat. But, I'm also at the point where I have to consistently exercise to keep them toned after I lose the desired weight.

Good luck on reaching your goal.

[swamp]

Whenever I lose weight it comes off my boobs first. 

ETA:  and when I lose significant amounts of weight, it comes off my butt and upper thighs last, so I look weird.  My butt is too big for the rest of me. 

[sarcasticgirl]

My boobs don't go. I am only up one cup size from high school even though I weigh like 60 pounds more than I did then. 

My face is one of the last things to thin out... which I hate. I swear I have the face of someone that weighs 300lbs. Luckily, I'm still hot! 

[tloonya]

Jan 7, 2014 15:15:08 GMT -5 swamp said:

Whenever I lose weight it comes off my boobs first. 

ETA:  and when I lose significant amounts of weight, it comes off my butt and upper thighs last, so I look weird.  My butt is too big for the rest of me. 

-rofl-swamp, I am soooo...happy for me.
At last you have SOMETHING wrong about you.