stretch marks don't go away - period! a stretch mark is analogous to getting a run in your nylons - it's permanent. but picture if you took your nylon off - there's less "stretching" going on and the it's less taught, therefore the stretched part is less obvious.

stretchmarks are red in color when they're developing and they turn a translucent white color when they're not being pulled taughtly (ie. when you lose weight).

i've been up and down the weight scale a few times and the funny thing about weight gain is that i didn't gain weight in all the same places as i had previously. i got strech marks in places i didn't have them before (after gaining - losing - and gaining weight back)... and i wasn't NEARLY as heavy as i once was. very odd.

Hi, I suppose it could be blood pressure - my family tends to have low blood pressure which makes us more liable to dizzy spells. I routinely have these sort of spells in the first few weeks of a diet. I ended up sipping a large glass of cold diet coke, and felt fine afterwards. I don't think it's anything to worry about, but I do wonder what causes it, and if there is a way to get it to end quicker!

CYN.... can you tell me the exercises you did for your bat wings to be gone?.. I don't have huge arms, but I am 52 yrs old and can see them coming already, need to do something about this asap.. can you be specific to what you did and how many of them etc.. Tks so much.

Loly:

I really wish I could tell you "okay, I did this or that isolated exercise and my bat wings vanished" - but I can't. First, because I never actually developed them...I was just afraid I would after I lost weight because I seemed to carry so much fat in that area. So what I did was more pro-active than after-the-fact...I have no idea if it can actually be reversed (short of surgically removing the excess skin), but I'm sure it can be minimized.

So, basically what I did was to try and eat in such a way to prevent lean muscle loss (high protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, not resticting cals to less than 500 below maint.) while doing weight resistance training 3 times a week - with each work-out including some focus on that area (either with compond or isolation exercises). I'm not so sure that just doing any specific isolated exercises alone (ie. tricep dips) would have been as effective as the "total package".

I really don't want to sound either vague or discouraging...but I think it would be irresponsible of me to just encourage you to do some random, isolated arms exercises. I will say that I think if you develop a weight resistant training routine that incorporates your whole body as well targets your triceps you'll be very happy with the results.

I am so glad I saw this! My husband pointed out I've been pretty pissy recently, so at least I have an excuse, lol.

Thanks CYM for your reply. I don't have the "bat wings" yet either, but I do want to prevent them, although my problem is worse on the back fat, like that fat in your underarm and around the bra... which is very very anoying, and don't know how to get rid of, I have been eating a lot healthier also, and have seen somewhat of a difference in feeling thinner and better, but can't get rid of this back fat... it is very anoying... Anyone's input on how to get rid of this would be greatly appreciate it... Tks