Stretch marks

Poetik Proze · Sun, February 22nd, 2004, 03:49 AM

I'm a 17 year old teenager with a big (well, I feel so) problem. I have a lot of stretch marks covering certain areas of my body. They're found around my stomach, on my love handles, by my underarms, crossing over to my pectorals, some near my sides, on my lats & a little around the lower back, around my bicep area, a few around my thigh/pubic area, and some by the knees and hamstring. I might have gotten them when I went through a big, sharp growth in my early teens.

It's so bad that I can't take off my shirt around people, not even my own family. Because of it, my face, arms, and legs are much darker than the rest of my body. The contrast is embarrassing. Everytime I look in the mirror, which is something I always try to avoid, the image I see disgusts me. I don't go to the beach when I wish I could go with my friends and family. I don't wear tank tops anymore, no more shorts in public, and I wear long sleeves (they cover the stretch marks that seem to be crawling from my biceps to my forearms) and pants everyday. Funny how out of my whole class in PE I was the only one with any stretch marks. It kept me from taking showers and swimming.

Many bodybuilders get excited with their first patch of scars or their present striae but not me. I'm no bodybuilder but I want to get fit. I will most likely feel ecstatic when losing bodyfat and getting lean but knowing that I will still have stretch marks disturbs me greatly. They have faded but are still very noticable because of the depth of the scars and it's slight sheen when in light.

Now, am I suppose to feel good or feel proud about this? What can I do? I don't see any way for me to get out of my melancholy, depressed state.

Sheepish · Sun, February 22nd, 2004, 06:39 AM

I too have lots of stretch marks, both from my weight and latterly from muscle gains. I've got to say, I don't fancy walking around without my shirt off myself, but that's because of my weight. The reason I'm getting thinner is so that this summer I can lay about in the sun (hah!) and get a tan. I certainly won't give a damn about some stretch marks, I'm no vision of beauty and worrying about some wiggly lines on my skin is only the start of my problems! Hehe.

Remember, you may never get the body that you dream about, for whatever reason. You've got to train your mind to accept and even enjoy what you are, be confident in yourself. You say your seventeen... I'm only three years older than you, and in those last three years my life has totally changed. I was house bound from the age of eleven to seventeen, and yet now I live an active, social life.

If you make the effort, you can change the way you think about yourself. Accept the stretch marks are gunna be there, that life is sometimes shit, and move on.

Good luck!

***John Stone*** · Sun, February 22nd, 2004, 10:13 AM

Sheepish, that's some damn good advice. Take it to heart, Poetik.

Danielle · Sun, February 22nd, 2004, 10:22 AM

Hey Sheepish...

You mentioned you were housebond and it has peaked my curiousity...can you elaborate? I too was and so am quite interested. I tried to PM you but for some reason, I wasn't able too! And..by the way, you are looking terrific!

Danielle

Sheepish · Sun, February 22nd, 2004, 11:04 AM

Heya Danielle, I don't want to hijack Poetik's thread so I'll be brief! I'd always been very fit and active when I was a kid, but about the age of eleven I got diagnosed with M.E. - it knocked me for six, I never had enough energy to do anything, my muscles always ached like I'd just done a huge workout, and I caught any illness that was going around.

I had ups and downs, and with lots of hard work I managed to get some kind of education done at home. Eventually, I just started to feel better. I started out small, having my evening meal with my family instead of in my room! I then started slowly loosing the weight I'd put on while I was bedbound and gaining some muscle mass.

I could barely press a (non-olympic) bar even a year ago, now I have a 1rm of 100kg! It did screw my up socially, as I lost an important part of my life. But time passes, and I now have my own house and a whole bunch of good friends. The brownian motion of life seems to sort most things out as long as you're pointing in the right direction!

So, that's me. Tag, you're it!

LiveWire · Wed, February 25th, 2004, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poetik Proze

I'm a 17 year old teenager with a big (well, I feel so) problem. I have a lot of stretch marks covering certain areas of my body. They're found around my stomach, on my love handles, by my underarms, crossing over to my pectorals, some near my sides, on my lats & a little around the lower back, around my bicep area, a few around my thigh/pubic area, and some by the knees and hamstring. I might have gotten them when I went through a big, sharp growth in my early teens.

Stretch marks fade over time. Mine were nice pink stretch marks around my belly, pecks and arms. Most of them have faded and now match color wise the rest of my skin. They are still there, but they don't show up as much. I asked my wife and she says cocoa butter is supposed to reduce stretch marks and bring elasticity back into your skin. I don't know if it works, but you might research it.

Man ... my wife and I were just dreaming about being back in Hawaii this morning.

Debujanai · Thu, February 26th, 2004, 02:06 AM

OP, I don't want to sound harsh, but it sounds like you have some self-image problems that need to be resolved. There is no reason you need to be 'disgusted' with an aspect of your body. While I have no counseling experience, I think it would help you to find someone you can trust and confide in talk about this problem. If you feel like you can't address this situation with your parents or relatives, ask at school about someone who can help you. I don't want to sound reactionary, but your post sounded very serious in tone and I want to give you some serious advice.

Stretch marks are normal, and everyone here that has undergone fitness changes have said they faded and blended away. Use this knowledge as motivation to get in shape! But if your stretch marks continue to occupy your mind more than anything else when it comes to your body, it sounds unhealthy and enacting something to channel that energy towards something positive can only help you in the long run. You can't dedicate yourself to getting fit if you are worried only about your stretch marks.

Poetik Proze · Thu, February 26th, 2004, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Remember, you may never get the body that you dream about, for whatever reason. You've got to train your mind to accept and even enjoy what you are, be confident in yourself.

Yeah, you're right. This thread, hopefully, will help me accomplish that. "I certainly won't give a damn about some stretch marks, I'm no vision of beauty and worrying about some wiggly lines on my skin is only the start of my problems! Hehe." LOL, great way to put it.

Quote:

Stretch marks fade over time. Mine were nice pink stretch marks around my belly, pecks and arms. Most of them have faded and now match color wise the rest of my skin.

Man ... my wife and I were just dreaming about being back in Hawaii this morning.

Well, I use to have the pink/purple stretch marks but they have faded. Unfortunately, they've faded to a color that is much lighter than my skin's color, which I think is probably a cruel, but normal result. I don't want to try cocoa buter because from what I've read (I haven't researched much about the use of it) it is mostly used when you have stretch marks that are new, or pink/purple.

BTW, Hawaii is great. I wish I could be wading in the crystal, clear waters and walking on the sand that I have not touched for more than 4 years and of course, if I was I wouldn't have made this thread.

Quote:

OP, I don't want to sound harsh, but it sounds like you have some self-image problems that need to be resolved. There is no reason you need to be 'disgusted' with an aspect of your body. While I have no counseling experience, I think it would help you to find someone you can trust and confide in talk about this problem. If you feel like you can't address this situation with your parents or relatives, ask at school about someone who can help you. I don't want to sound reactionary, but your post sounded very serious in tone and I want to give you some serious advice.

Stretch marks are normal, and everyone here that has undergone fitness changes have said they faded and blended away. Use this knowledge as motivation to get in shape! But if your stretch marks continue to occupy your mind more than anything else when it comes to your body, it sounds unhealthy and enacting something to channel that energy towards something positive can only help you in the long run. You can't dedicate yourself to getting fit if you are worried only about your stretch marks.

You're not being harsh at all. I realize the depth of my problems and I know that the way I'm feeling is unhealthy. Thus, I let my feelings out on this board to recieve helpful and reassuring advice and opinions from people who have gone through the same problem that I'm currently going through right now.

I feel stretch marks and the bad contrast are anything but an aspect of my body, more like a curse and burden but you're advice and the replies in this thread have been very helpful.

funtax · Thu, February 26th, 2004, 04:02 AM

Hate to be part of the hijack, but I just wanted to say that Sheepish's previous post was insanely impressive. That kind of dedication (to say nothing of the success) is just awesome.

Sheepish · Thu, February 26th, 2004, 04:56 AM

Uh, thanks man

It wasn't really something I chose to do, getting better when you're ill is kind of a default desire. I've much more respect for the folks out there who think, "damnit, I can be even better than I am!" and get off their arses and join a gym. Now that is impressive!