Loose Skin

I am 52 & was worried about loose skin when I started to lose the excess 25 lbs I have gained over the last 5-6 years.
I lost the weight slowly, 1 or 2 lbs every week or so but have been making sure to work out regularely & am actually firmer than before because of it.
I think putting off losing weight because of that fear is sometimes just another excuse.
IMHO
 
beadmakergirl, I'm definitely not using it as an excuse to not lose weight, I'm on track so far even being abit worried about loose skin, but I could definitely see that being the case..

Wrangell, thanks for another good explaination. I think the explaination you offered makes the most sense, but the things I was saying is all according to reasearch I'd done. This is the thing that makes me the angriest about healthcare professionals. It almost seems like no two people ever agree on anything. I've searched through pages and pages and talked to many different people and it seems like the advice people offer has more to do with their particular practice than the truth. It's so difficult to find the truth on many different topics, especially related to weight loss. It's no wonder its a 35 billion dollar a year industry (might be more by now, that number is a little old).

Earlier after I was posting I got so frustrated I just had to leave and go do something else for a while because of all the crap I was reading through.
 
kilauea said:
beadmakergirl, I'm definitely not using it as an excuse to not lose weight, I'm on track so far even being abit worried about loose skin, but I could definitely see that being the case..

Wrangell, thanks for another good explaination. I think the explaination you offered makes the most sense, but the things I was saying is all according to reasearch I'd done. This is the thing that makes me the angriest about healthcare professionals. It almost seems like no two people ever agree on anything. I've searched through pages and pages and talked to many different people and it seems like the advice people offer has more to do with their particular practice than the truth. It's so difficult to find the truth on many different topics, especially related to weight loss. It's no wonder its a 35 billion dollar a year industry (might be more by now, that number is a little old).

Earlier after I was posting I got so frustrated I just had to leave and go do something else for a while because of all the crap I was reading through.
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No worries. I know the feeling . Been there - done that. .:)

It can be frustrating trying to ' separate the wheat from the shaft ', when it comes to trying to fugure out what is fact and myth on certain health & fitness topics.

For example, it's been my experience that many of the main stream health an muscle magazines are more prone to contain misleading information or embrace some myths than perhaps some books you might see on fitness. This is particualrly true of the propaganda you see in their ads for various supplements to lose fat or add mass etc. etc. . Magazines or magazine sites with articles written by former pro-bodybuilders or trainers are always suspect IMO. I'm always much more comfortable with authors that have strong academic credentials in kinesiology, exercise physiology, nutrition etc. etc. and cite studiess to support their claims / protocols. That said, while there are some claims that are just plain wrong, in most other cases, there is no wrong way to do things - some ways are just more " opitmal " than others.

Best advice ? Just read as much as you can...an eventually you'll be able to make up your own mind about what is fact and fiction and what works best for you. :)
 
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One way to prevent the loose skin I find is probably to lose weight slowly and also go for massages as well. For me, the massages helped me in preventing any loose skin and in fact, good for the body in general.( plus it feels really good and helps to destress after a long day at work ) :)
 
kilauea said:
Ever since I started working out and dieting, I've been wondering about loose skin. I am afraid of having gross flabs of skin hanging around all over, I'd rather be overweight like I am now if it weren't so unhealthy. I try hard to not care about the looks, but in this area its just hard for me. Its just raining on my parade to think of once I lose all the weight, I will have loose skin hanging around everywhere.

My question is, is loose skin unavoidable? Is it reparable (sans surgery, I couldn't afford it and even if I could, theres no way I'd do it) or is it something you can do during your diet that avoids it?

If there is a certain type of exercise that would change the body composition to avoid loose skin, what is it? What would I need to be doing?
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I am scared about that as well!
 
I already have a lot of loose skin in my belly due to childbirth. I had 2 sets of twins in 2 years and each baby weighed 7 pounds or more. I have vertical and horizontal stretch marks and by the end of my pregnancies, they were starting to split and bleed. The fact that I KNOW I'm going to be a loose, hanging mess if I ever get down to my goal (150lbs from 331lbs) is what kept me from starting this sooner. I'm sure in a lot of ways, I'm going to look worse, and to be honest, I'm USED to being fat...I always HAVE been. I just finally decided that my health is more important.
 
Only think i have been told about loose skin is that is you lose the weight slowly you are at a higher risk not to get the larg eabout of loose skin. Also toning your body, ab exercises, 10-20lb weights help, if you dont build muscle you will have the loose skin more commonly.

That's what i'm trying, but i dont know if it will work. Other than that.. umm Tummy Tuck?
I honestly dont want that loose skin but i would rather have that then being overweight and unhealthy. And if when I reach my goal I am left with that, I am going to try and get rid of it, but if it's with me for life, it will be my reminder on what I did to get this way. I'll show my skin proudly! (okay i probably won't, but i'd rather have excess skin then excess fat)
 
donia said:
I already have a lot of loose skin in my belly due to childbirth. I had 2 sets of twins in 2 years and each baby weighed 7 pounds or more. I have vertical and horizontal stretch marks and by the end of my pregnancies, they were starting to split and bleed. The fact that I KNOW I'm going to be a loose, hanging mess if I ever get down to my goal (150lbs from 331lbs) is what kept me from starting this sooner. I'm sure in a lot of ways, I'm going to look worse, and to be honest, I'm USED to being fat...I always HAVE been. I just finally decided that my health is more important.
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I also have loose skin already because of two pregnancies. No twins thank the lord! But terrible stretch marks. Mine weren't quite as bad as yours, but the loose skin has always bothered me. I've never believed in surgeries that were not necessary but at one point I did go in for a consultation... Never acted on it, but wanted to know what was all entailed in surgery. I'm afraid my stomach will look terrible, especially my already very deformed belly button.

Michelle
 
Anyone ? My belly is dangling a bit when I go to a press up like position(For example)
I could really do with knowing if it's fat, loose skin, and what to do.
 
hi, sorry i cant answer your question, but i would like to know the answer myself. ive still got to lose a fair bit, but i am getting a bit of a dangly, wrinkly belly already :eek: slim
 
Loose/Sagging skin after weight loss

Alright so, I'm 25 and weigh about 260lbs. I'd like to lose 120-140lbs and, I'm not too concerned with how long it takes me. I'm planning on using a reduced calorie/fat diet and daily exercise. I know there are a lot of factors to consider but, how much loose/sagging skin should I expect? I'll obviously do what I can to tone what I have while losing the weight and, that any weight loss will likely boost my confidence and self esteem but, at my age, I'm not sure losing the weight and, looking like a raisin is really what I want. I'm also not meaning to offend anyone, very sorry if I did. Any input is greatly appreciated.
 
wishes posted a thread in the before after and inbetween that thoroughly addresses this issue. wishes is an amazing person, I read her diary all of the time. if you have questions my best guess is that i would probably seek her out.

Good luck with your weightloss!
 
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Correcting weight/bmi for loose skin?

Some small background in case there are any tailored responses: In November of 2006, I was about 240 lbs. I'm currently around 185 lbs. However, due to the relatively fast weight weight loss, coupled with an unfortunate lack of proper lean muscle growth (something I'm trying to correct at this stage), I've started to see a great deal of sagging skin, mainly around my torso.

Now, regarding the skin, I'm trying to avoid a surgical solution, and plan on waiting a year before even considering that, but that isn't what I am concerned about.

My question is: when looking at your weight and bmi, how does one correct for the fact that you have "useless" skin hanging off your body? I don't want to lose too much, or start approaching unhealthy levels of body fat.
 
I've also read its common for there to be a lot of scarring after having the loose skin removed. It seems like theres only more problems at every solution. I'm really hoping that my plan to lose my excess fat weight then bulk up muscle will cause the loose skin to go away if I get it.

I'm also glad I won't have to deal with having a baby. I'd make a blanket suggestion to everyone to not let the possibility (or inevitability) of loose skin stop anyone from becoming healthier. However, I am on a quest to find a natural answer to the problem, even if it is just from trying my own ideas after I've lost weight.
 
hello evryone, i am 29, have lost about 110 pounds, kept it off for last 4 years, but now i have sagging skin under arms and a "buddah belly"...can i tone this skin so it no longer sags? i cannot afford to have surgery....any help please would be much apreiciated...i was 218 now about 110 and 5'4
 
i have lost over 70lbs so far with another 25 - 35 to go. i am 42 and have got some saggy skin, which is worse on my belly (when i lean forward it does look like a giant raisin im afraid) followed by my bingo wings etc. it isnt as bad as i thought it would be however. i recently spent 2 weeks on holiday with my family which i spent running round on the beach, building sandcastles with the kids and climbing medieval castles chasing my kids. 6 months ago i couldnt have done that, probably would have spent the holiday wrapped up in a voluminous skirt, fending off the kids when they asked me to join in. it was this that made me realise how glad i am to have lost the weight.
my advice for what its worth is dont try and lose the weight too quick, eat healthily(lots of protein) and get more active(include some weights). also ive been told that it can take a year or two after youve lost the weight for your skin to shrink back (as much as it ever will). slim
 
I know little about your problem however no one has replied yet, so I'm just making a sensible comment:

I would not concentrate on BMI so much but on body composition if I were you. BMI is a general indication, and while I am not sure what actually loose skin does/weighs, I'd get my body fat % measured, and ensure it's in normal range. This will also give you an indication of muscle build up progress.

Additionally, I don't know how accurate they are, but a body composition scale (does water, muscle, fat % and bone mass) might give you an indication. I dont think it matters so much for a non athlete/pro if they're not that precise.
 
Wondering about excess flab / loose skin

ok let me reintroduce myself, I'm 18 6'3 since jan.. might be 6'4 now. I started dieting and exercising since the beginning of janurary. I started the process at 396. Now almost 6 months later im down to 307 since last week. I have been weight training with dumbbells for the past 3 months to help reduce excess skin and to get muscles :D. I eat like... 2000 calories a day max probably because i only eat healthy foods most of the time. I also snack on healthy things like almonds or half a fruit to speed my metabolism up and what not. I speed walk and do my exercise routines too rarely missing days of not doing each.
I realize now when i look at my big problem areas which are my arms and thighs that i see some problems.
When i strech out my arm it looks like a normalish arm but with a lump of fat under it... and u can tell where it stars just from lookin at it. It also has little skin ripples but it feels like fat not really excess skin. same for my thighs but i could care less about those. My questions are :
1) Will I eventually lose all the flab on my limbs and everywhere else by continuing my diet and exerices ( or increase when i get the strength to do so ).
2) Should i slow down on my weight loss, like take a break so my skin n crap can heal?
3) If I dont slow down which I wanna do how will it effect me and will my body eventually revert to normal (no flab or excess skin)

thanks :cool:
 
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