The not so pretty side to losing weight- lose skin :-/

Elise_healthy4life

So I have a pretty amazing story I started my weight loss journey tipping the scales at 160kgs the day I had my daughter I knew I had to make a change and so many people have been contacting me asking about lose skin


Now sitting at 79kgs I couldn't be happier I'm so much more healthy and happier






So I lost most my weight doing cardio which didn't change my shape just made me smaller and as anyone would think I have some lose skin I think I am pretty lucky in the fact that its very minimal and easily concealed by clothing, I've had so many people asking what I'm doing about well two months ago I started lifting and I am seeing a difference already, I am also waiting as much as I would love a tummy tuck and boob job I want another baby and if I still want one after that then I will

So here is some not so nice photos some from a few months ago and some I just took
















So as you can see lifting is helping so much.
This is a NSV in itself no way would I have posted photos like this over a year ago but this is for all my MFP that have asked

nas061

Amazing weight loss success - very inspirational

Hearts_2015

You look wonderful! I agree... you are inspirational... YAY for lifting!!:drinker:

tessa175

Great job, amazing results! Keep up the good work!

itsmechris

It takes time. your skin will adjust eventually. But if you are over 30 it will never be unblemished like when you were young. Just keep working those weights and firm up. Seems to work for me.

Elise_healthy4life

Thanks guys I feels good to know I can inspire someone to make a change

MercenaryNoetic26

Keep up the awesome progress! I can relate to a slight degree on the postpartum tummy and stretchmarks and excess skin. Thanks for sharing! great NSV! :flowerforyou:

iquiltoo

well, you give me hope! I have to lose about as much as you have lost, and this does worry me! I have quite a ways to go, though, and am waiting for surgery so I can't do any lifting right now, but I am using the arm strength machines at the gym in addition to the cardio. I hope that will at least help the ol' batwings! Shorter sleeved shirts and t-shirts just don't look good.

jennpaulson

Awesome job!! Keep up the good work and you may not even need any surgery!

JuliesZenpuppy7400

I soooo totally feel your pain. I was at 380 pounds for at least 10 years and finally topped out at 420 pounds. I am currently around 220 pounds and oy vey the lose skin is killing me. I not only have the "apron" on my lower stomach but ALSO a second smaller "apron" above my belly button :sad: I also have what I call angel wings with my arms and I even have excess skin on my thighs!!!! Good golly if that's not depressing you!!!! Sorry but it's the horrible truth. I am hoping for skin removal surgery by the end of the year for my stomach and possibly my arms too. Oh, and I forgot my boobs!!!! Boobs??!?!?! What boobs??? They have pretty much disappeared!!!! So with all that said I am so incredibly lucky to be in a relationship with a man you love me fat or skinny! Excess skin or not!!!!

Congrats on your great success!!! The excess skin sucks for all of us but staying fat just isn't an option, is it?!?!!?

Elise_healthy4life

I soooo totally feel your pain. I was at 380 pounds for at least 10 years and finally topped out at 420 pounds. I am currently around 220 pounds and oy vey the lose skin is killing me. I not only have the "apron" on my lower stomach but ALSO a second smaller "apron" above my belly button :sad: I also have what I call angel wings with my arms and I even have excess skin on my thighs!!!! Good golly if that's not depressing you!!!! Sorry but it's the horrible truth. I am hoping for skin removal surgery by the end of the year for my stomach and possibly my arms too. Oh, and I forgot my boobs!!!! Boobs??!?!?! What boobs??? They have pretty much disappeared!!!! So with all that said I am so incredibly lucky to be in a relationship with a man you love me fat or skinny! Excess skin or not!!!!

Congrats on your great success!!! The excess skin sucks for all of us but staying fat just isn't an option, is it?!?!!?

This cracked me up my boobs are gone to booo to no boobs

GreenEyedDork

AMAZING! And not to mention you're so gorgeous!! Your smile.. I'd kill for!
Good luck on continuing to shrink down the loose skin.. Great job!

jgood21

You look amazing! NO need for a tummy tuck

HeatherRyann

You look great! That makes me feel way better about lose skin. That doesn't look bad at all. You can totally see the progress. Thanks for sharing!

mjay26

thank you for sharing :flowerforyou: you have such a gorgeous smile, and have come so far. It's great to see that the lifting is helping

LinaS1976

Your arms show a massive difference. Well done on the massive weighloss. You should be very proud. You have done something good for you and your family. A total inspiration

onemumsmission

You look great! I worry about the excess skin too, but I've told myself I need to get to goal, maintain that for a year and then I can look into surgery if still needed. I'm hoping once I get that far along that it will have tightened up enough on its own!!

JBearsMom21

My stomach looks JUST like yours! You give me hope! I'm starting a lifting program in July so I'm crossing my fingers I can get results like you. Great job

triciab79

Give it time. I am 9 months past my goal weight and I have seen dramatic improvement.

SkyLion

The unfortunate truth...if you are an adult and lost a significant amount of bodyfat and have loose skin, it will NOT go away on it's own. Yes, bulking up muscles to fill out the space formerly occupied by fat can help, if it's not that much loose skin. However after that the only way to deal with it is surgery. The skin is elastic, and will shrink back SOME...but if you are older, have had kids, etc, no amount of toning or exercise is going to make you look like before.

Sorry, but somebody had to say it. Still...better strong without body fat and extra skin than overweight, undermobile, and dying early...

Elise_healthy4life

The unfortunate truth...if you are an adult and lost a significant amount of bodyfat and have loose skin, it will NOT go away on it's own. Yes, bulking up muscles to fill out the space formerly occupied by fat can help, if it's not that much loose skin. However after that the only way to deal with it is surgery. The skin is elastic, and will shrink back SOME...but if you are older, have had kids, etc, no amount of toning or exercise is going to make you look like before.

Sorry, but somebody had to say it. Still...better strong without body fat and extra skin than overweight, undermobile, and dying early...

I'm not expecting it to go completely I was just wanting to show to people that need to lose a considerable amount of weight like I have that it can be not that bad if you had read the post properly then you would have realized I understand that I will most likely need to have surgery to get it to go completely you see all these photos and videos around the web with people that have had huge weight loss an have skin just hanging everywhere

beattie1

Brilliant job Elise! I hope you'll find that the spare skin will tighten up to some extent on its own, but I read that there's a time lag. You've made such a difference to your health and appearance - you're doing great! Thanks for sharing your pics and inspiring so many others too.

xALEXANDROx

I *Applaud you *

Lupercalia

Congratulations--you've lost a lot of weight! That's hard work.

Regarding your "loose skin"....that is fat, not loose skin. I've got that stuff too (excess body fat on arms, tummy, etc.). You need to continue to lose fat until you get to a very lean state to assess whether or not you truly have loose skin or not. Loose skin that isn't full of fat doesn't look like that--it's very flat, paper thin.

You get rid of that by simply losing more body fat. Lifting weights (if you don't already) combined with a moderate caloric deficit is a great way to shed fat and contour and shape your form.

Best wishes. :flowerforyou:

JDBLY11

What is your weight and height? You look great with clothes on. You can't even see your stomach issues. That is encouraging. It should go down over time as you maintain/ lose more weight and gain muscle, though it may not. I am worried about my stomach as I lose weight but at least I will look good in clothes.

JDBLY11

I soooo totally feel your pain. I was at 380 pounds for at least 10 years and finally topped out at 420 pounds. I am currently around 220 pounds and oy vey the lose skin is killing me. I not only have the "apron" on my lower stomach but ALSO a second smaller "apron" above my belly button :sad: I also have what I call angel wings with my arms and I even have excess skin on my thighs!!!! Good golly if that's not depressing you!!!! Sorry but it's the horrible truth. I am hoping for skin removal surgery by the end of the year for my stomach and possibly my arms too. Oh, and I forgot my boobs!!!! Boobs??!?!?! What boobs??? They have pretty much disappeared!!!! So with all that said I am so incredibly lucky to be in a relationship with a man you love me fat or skinny! Excess skin or not!!!!

Congrats on your great success!!! The excess skin sucks for all of us but staying fat just isn't an option, is it?!?!!?

It is amazing that you lost 200 lbs. Great job!

JDBLY11

Congratulations--you've lost a lot of weight! That's hard work.

Regarding your "loose skin"....that is fat, not loose skin. I've got that stuff too (excess body fat on arms, tummy, etc.). You need to continue to lose fat until you get to a very lean state to assess whether or not you truly have loose skin or not. Loose skin that isn't full of fat doesn't look like that--it's very flat, paper thin.

You get rid of that by simply losing more body fat. Lifting weights (if you don't already) combined with a moderate caloric deficit is a great way to shed fat and contour and shape your form.

Best wishes. :flowerforyou:

I agree. I think it is fat too.

alisaprince1

AMAZING job! Build them muscles ;)I personal believe most of it will tighten up. You have done and are doing a wonderful job!

Elise_healthy4life

What is your weight and height? You look great with clothes on. You can't even see your stomach issues. That is encouraging. It should go down over time as you maintain/ lose more weight and gain muscle, though it may not. I am worried about my stomach as I lose weight but at least I will look good in clothes.

I'm 5'6 and 79kgs (179lbs)

Rockstar_JILL

Amazing job!!! You look fantastic!!!!

So_Much_Fab

Just chiming in to say you've made amazing progress and you look great!