100 pound weight loss and loose skin

nowolga

Has anyone had success losing 100 pounds and avoided loose skin? How long did it take you to lose the weight? Did you do anything to prevent loose skin?

I am 5'8, started at 250 pounds and have 100 pounds to lose. I know end the end being healthy is the ultimate goal but if there are things that have work for others, I would like to give it a shot. Please help and provide some insight! Thank you all

ThePoeToaster

I haven't ever lost that much, but a couple of close friends of mine told me that weight training during the process helps with loose skin. I don't know if that's true, but it makes logical sense. Good luck!

nowolga

roanokejoe50 wrote: »

I haven't ever lost that much, but a couple of close friends of mine told me that weight training during the process helps with loose skin. I don't know if that's true, but it makes logical sense. Good luck!

I have heard of this and plan on doing strength training along with my calorie deficit and cardio.

Is 100 pounds significant enough loss to cause loose skin?

ThePoeToaster

I wouldn't think significantly. 100 lbs is a lot, but most of the people with severe loose ski issues have lost over 250 lbs. Plus, at 25, you're very young. Nice age for having resilient skin.

nowolga

I am 5'8 and have been losing from 1-2 pounds per week. My goal is to lose all 100 pounds in 1.5 - 2 years from my starting date. As much as I would like to lose it all in a year, time is a factor to avoid loose skin. I am 25 years of age.

ThePoeToaster

I Think at the end of it, not only will you NOT have loose skin issues, but you're gonna be HAWT!

nowolga

Haha. I hope so. Stretch marks are already not my friend so fingers crossed! I would still like to hear a success story if anyone out there has one!

Spliner1969

As long as you keep it to no more than 2lbs a week loss you should be fine. Also you're young enough for it to have time to snap back. The key is going to be staying hydrated (it's very very important for your skin), and strength training will help. I'm 47 and have loose skin after losing 120lbs but it's getting better over time. I've heard it can take a couple years after you've lost the weight. Re-filling some of the empty space left from fat loss with muscle can only help.

Purplebunnysarah

I've lost ~41 lbs with about 80 to go and I have horrible loose skin. I think most of it is from pregnancy though. It's way worse this time (with the same size loss) as it was when I was losing before (pregnancy is why I stopped last time).

It bugs me a little but I'd rather be healthy with a bit of loose skin than diabetic and fat, which is where I will end up otherwise.

RedsGirl73

There are several factors that will determine how much loose skin you will have. Age, genetics, how fast you lose the weight, and weight training. I have a severe fear of loose skin because I'm older and am taking care of my mother so my gym is not an option right now. I have lost a little over 40 lbs total so far and have about 50 more to go. I am focusing on being healthy right now and trying to worry about the skin issue when I have to. Good luck on your journey

positivepowers

I don't know how you can avoid loose skin after that much of a volume loss. Here is a picture of 5 lbs of fat, now multiply that by 20!



Once all of that volume is gone, the skin, now probably streched tight over the extra fat, will become deflated, like a balloon. Having said that, extra skin can be mitigated somewhat. Spliner1969 and RedsGirl73 are correct. Slower weight loss, genetics, age, health status and weight training can reduce the damage. Just for laughs, here is the difference in volume between muscle and fat:



All in all, the health benefits of losing the weight outweigh (pun intended) the extra skin potential.

Good luck to you!

bemyyfriend0918

Hey! I am 25 years old, and I have lost almost 100lbs since February. I lost the weight quickly (95lbs in six months). My starting weight was 298, current weight 203. I don't have any loose skin, but I still have 45lbs to go to my goal...I'm pretty sure I won't get much, if any at this point though.

Also, I had stretch marks before and they're gotten way lighter! I love it

pdxwine

I have just hit 100.2 pounds lost. I am now 10 pounds away from my former weight. Yea!

It has taken me a little over two years. It came off quickly, at first, and then slowed, which is good.

Do I have any lose skin? Yes, a little bit. I have some on my upper arms and a little on my stomach. It is not a big deal. I do use coconut oil to help moisturize, which has helped too.

Hoohoohaa

I've lost about 30, lots of it from my gut, and the skin is already starting to sag. Where I had a tire hanging out and over my pants, now it is drooping over. I lift a lot, so my chest is doing better, but yeah, I'm already seeing it...

elisa123gal

dry brush, use cereva cream, massage..and don't lose too fast. obviously if you lose super fast..the skin won't keep up..

ole496

I'm happy to see you are so open and realistic about issues involving losing that much weight. Excess skin scares a lot of people and almost makes them afraid to lose the weight. If you continue to lose weight as a slow/steady rate, stay hydrated, use good creams twice daily on the stretch marks and are lucky, you won't have much. I think genetics and the areas where you wear the most weight play into that as well. As a man, I tend to get it all in the middle so if I had to lose 100lbs then I could definitely expect to have skin problems in the stomach area. But, if your body is good at spreading it out then it might make a big difference in the end.

jbatinker

What are the good creams to use on your skin as you are losing the weight?

I have to say that was my biggest fear about losing weight because of all the television shows about it. However I think those are the extreme. I am almost 50, have had two kids, and know I will not snap back like someone in their 20's who have not been pregnant. My husband is great because he keeps telling me that we (together ) will deal with the lose skin as it comes.

DanZiehm

I lost 134 pounds over 18 months and I don't have any lose skin. Due to injuries, all of my exercise was swimming. I worked up to spending 60-90 minutes a day swimming, 5 or 6 days a week. I think being in the water had something to do with my lack of lose skin. You can check out my pictures on my profile and see where I was and where I got to.

Raptor2763

The body will resorb the loose skin and tighten up - just takes time. IMHO, you're on the right track. Keep going - you'd be amazed at what you can do

jessiemcc

I previously last 95lbs - with healthy eating, cardio and strength training (I'm now trying to lose it again - ugh). I was in my early 30s when I first lost this weight and only had a little loose skin - noticeable only when I bent over - my stomach skin would hang loose. This is my second time trying to lose this weight and I've had two kids, now in my 40s and starting at a higher weight so I know I'm going to have some loose skin in my stomach. Hopefully I wont have it elsewhere.

DEBOO7

Let's face it.... as you age the skin doesn't snap back like it used to! I'm 55, have had one child (a long time ago, lol) and have lost 77lbs over the past 2+ years with another 8-9 to go. Slow and steady. Had been overweight 30+ years. Exercise, creams and diet will not turn the clock back. Sometimes it's all about genetics. However I did read a while ago that it can actually take a lot of years for skin to mould itself to your new shape.. so that's what I keep telling myself :-P

elisa123gal

I totally disagree…if you tend to your skin like you do your logging and exercise it WILL make a difference. Of course losing weight too fast like on Extreme Body Makeover is a huge mistake. Don't think you're over 50 and lose skin will be a reality, do your best to control things.

RachelElser

there's a wrap around band thing that some of my friends used after having a baby that they wrapped around their tummy and it supposedly helped tighten the skin back up. I can't think of what it's specifically called, but they liked it.

dillylilah

I'm 33 years old and I was 231 pounds (105kg) and I dropped down to 163 pounds (74kg) in over a year due to illness, it was rather quick. There was no loose skin but I noticed my tummy and thighs were slightly softer (jiggly) but hardly noticible. Sadly I put the weight back on but in no way has it detoured me from losing it again. I feared the same thing about loose skin but my mind has been put at ease. I guess it also depends where your problem area is.
Regarding creams and oils, I never used them when losing weight but through my pregnancies I used almond oil, bio oil vitamin e (what ever was on special that week) on my tummy which helped with stretch marks. I don't think it matters what you put on your skin just as long as long as you're hydrate it

gregsbutler13

I'm 32 and weighed in at my highest a weight of 346 lbs. I'm thinking I may have some loose skin around my stomach area, but still up in the area because I have 30lbs to go.

ashcky

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have loose skin, mostly due to the pregnancy with my daughter. Before her my stomach was big but didn't sag and after her it definitely sags. I've always been overweight so that's another thing that will probably mean I have loose skin. I just want to look good in clothes. The only one seeing me naked is my BF and I and since he doesn't care I think I'll be just fine!

VeggieClaire

I've not got quite as much to lose (almost though!) and loose skin worries me. Hence why I've started Callanetics. Look it up!

ald783

If you're losing 100 pounds there is inevitably going to be a little bit of loose skin but hopefully not a lot. I don't really think there's much you can do to control it because it's really more about genetics, and even with good genes skin only snaps back so much. Strength training and hydration and losing at a reasonable pace are all good but I'm not sure how much they really play in to things in the end. But, you will be happier and healthier and it is more than worth it!

Keladelphia

I've lost 100 pounds from my highest weight. I definitely had some loose skin, mostly around my thighs and lower abdomen but it wasn't too bad. I think the fact that I lost slowly and lifted from day one really helped. Also don't be too discouraged at what your skin first looks like when you are done losing, I've just hit a year of maintenance and my skin has drastically improved over the last year.

mommarnurse

If you're still young, it will be in your favor.
If you work on lifting during your journey, it will also be in your favor.
Also in your favor is a slow weight loss.

My skin is definitely not elastic as evidenced by my Majorly stretch marked abdomen (had twins) and family history. I lost 102 lbs and I'm very thankful to not have the evidence of That. Most people are shocked to learn that I lost so much weight because "I don't look like it". Now, my belly just plain out looks like I've been pregnant; it's bit of looseness is from that. Tummy tuck is being planned.

ninerbuff

From experience with clients, it's usually been 80lbs+ where most have dealt with some loose skin. As mentioned age, genetics, and how much one has to lose will dictate if one will get loose skin or not.
Because it's an organ (and has several layers), topicals like creams and oils only affect the epidermis and not the dermis below, so there's not a lot of use for it. Give it 2 years to snap back. If it doesn't by then, then you either: gain some mass to fill it our, learn to accept it, or get plastic surgery to remove it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition