At how many pounds lost do you start seeing loose skin?

Nmarine1996

I am just curious. Loose skin has always been a fear of mine, but not large enough to make me stop losing weight. I'm at almost 60 pounds lost and have no signs of it yet but I was wondering if I should of seen some by now? I know I sound silly, I just can't help but wonder if I'll avoid alot of loose skin or I haven't lost enough to see it yet.

SafioraLinnea

I think how much you have to lose factors in. I'm at about 60% of my intended 90-100 pound loss and I started seeing loose skin about five pounds ago. I don't mind. It actually makes me smile to see my progress in physical form.

Nmarine1996

SafioraLinnea wrote: »

I think how much you have to lose factors in. I'm at about 60% of my intended 90-100 pound loss and I started seeing loose skin about five pounds ago. I don't mind. It actually makes me smile to see my progress in physical form.

Loose skin definitely shows all the hard work you put in!! I am still a little scared.

OliveGirl128

I lost 50lbs and never had loose skin.

VintageFeline

60 down 20 to go. None so far. Genetics will mostly be the dictator. And how long you were your biggest. I didn't spend much time at my highest weight so I think that's a factor too.

rmgnow

Some people never get the loose skin. It maybe a genetics thing it maybe a diet and workout thing.

whitpauly

Some people aren't even very big yet have loose skin,I second genetics

Nmarine1996

VintageFeline wrote: »

60 down 20 to go. None so far. Genetics will mostly be the dictator. And how long you were your biggest. I didn't spend much time at my highest weight so I think that's a factor too.

You are almost to your goal!! How does it feel?

VintageFeline

Nmarine1996 wrote: »

VintageFeline wrote: »

60 down 20 to go. None so far. Genetics will mostly be the dictator. And how long you were your biggest. I didn't spend much time at my highest weight so I think that's a factor too.

You are almost to your goal!! How does it feel?

It's a funny old place. Physical size wise I'm as small as I have been previously. Aesthetically, time isn't friendly to someone who stopped physical activity for a good ten years and I'm a lot blurrier round the edges! But I'm looking forward to seeing what's underneath the last layer of fat.

I am finding there's a psychological battle at this stage and it seems to happen to a lot of people. You get to your lowest before gaining and it's almost like your subconscious is like, we're good, you can stop now. So currently pushing through that. after a couple of months arguing with myself I think I'm back to being consistent with my intake. I also never put time goals on myself. I have a lifetime of maintaining and improving my aesthetic and fitness (creakier body allowing), so taking a little longer to get that get to that initial goal is totally fine with me.

Nmarine1996

VintageFeline wrote: »

Nmarine1996 wrote: »

VintageFeline wrote: »

60 down 20 to go. None so far. Genetics will mostly be the dictator. And how long you were your biggest. I didn't spend much time at my highest weight so I think that's a factor too.

You are almost to your goal!! How does it feel?

It's a funny old place. Physical size wise I'm as small as I have been previously. Aesthetically, time isn't friendly to someone who stopped physical activity for a good ten years and I'm a lot blurrier round the edges! But I'm looking forward to seeing what's underneath the last layer of fat.

I am finding there's a psychological battle at this stage and it seems to happen to a lot of people. You get to your lowest before gaining and it's almost like your subconscious is like, we're good, you can stop now. So currently pushing through that. after a couple of months arguing with myself I think I'm back to being consistent with my intake. I also never put time goals on myself. I have a lifetime of maintaining and improving my aesthetic and fitness (creakier body allowing), so taking a little longer to get that get to that initial goal is totally fine with me.

I understand, it seems like 'the end' is a destination that we'll never reach. Even though we reach our "goal weight", we still have to tone or work on maintaining or we will fall back into old habits. Congratulations! You deserve some recognition!

Mads7878

Nmarine try rosehip oil every day, rub it on quite expensive but I think its helping me. Moisturize like mad. Get enough Vit C on the inside too. Zinc ointment try that as well. A bit sticky thou.

JeromeBarry1

"Pounds lost" is not the only thing that determines the appearance of loose skin.
Progressive heavy lifting while losing weight preserves muscle and may even prevent the appearance of loose skin.
I wouldn't know because I didn't do it. I call it the shar pei look.

canadianlbs

VintageFeline wrote: »

funny old place

i completely agree. i'm one of those 'gee, if i'd only appreciated what i had then' types after finding an old old picture. aside from other factors i was just plain curious to get back to that mid-20's weight to see what my more-mature late-40's self would think of it now.i did get there, but i discovered you really can't step into the same river twice

it wasn't [just] skin and years in my case though. i got obsessed with strength training at the same time, and i was disappointed to find that me with muscles didn't look the way me-without-muscles looked back in those days anyway. know i'm supposed to say 'delighted' but there were things about it i hadn't planned for.

SCoil123

I think it also depends on how fast you lose. I lost 86lb when I became a mom, of course I gained 80lb in my pregnancy. I gained it fast and then when I got serious about losing was very aggressive in doing so. I have loose skin on my lower tummy. It isn't much though and I wouldn't gain the weight back to get rid of it.

Purplebunnysarah

Was 250 lbs. Lost 46 lbs. No loose skin. Got pregnant. Gained 67 lbs (up to 271 lbs). Had baby. Down to 235ish lbs. No loose skin. Got pregnant. Gained 28 lbs. Had baby. LOOSE SKIN.

I blame my second child.

Down 65 lbs from my heaviest post-baby 2 weight (263 lbs) and my stomach skin has stayed relatively unchanged during the entire loss period. I think it has something to do with the way I carried him during the pregnancy, or who knows, maybe even the fact that I had gestational diabetes that time.

I dunno. I got nothing.

Muana1005

I got loose skin after losing 20kg. It tightened over many years. Am now losing the last 10kg and got loose skin after 3kg!

Some black women don't get it in the same way though. My best friends are heavier than me, and even after losing nearly 50-70kg have no loose skin or stretch marks & we have the same routine (I'm a dumpy Indian girl)

karenswett1

I think this is more of an age problem. Younger people have healthier skin that recovers. As we get older our skin loses its elasticity. On 58, and I'm afraid to see what I end up with after I have lost the weight I want to lose.

Nmarine1996

sarahthes wrote: »

Was 250 lbs. Lost 46 lbs. No loose skin. Got pregnant. Gained 67 lbs (up to 271 lbs). Had baby. Down to 235ish lbs. No loose skin. Got pregnant. Gained 28 lbs. Had baby. LOOSE SKIN.

I blame my second child.

Down 65 lbs from my heaviest post-baby 2 weight (263 lbs) and my stomach skin has stayed relatively unchanged during the entire loss period. I think it has something to do with the way I carried him during the pregnancy, or who knows, maybe even the fact that I had gestational diabetes that time.

I dunno. I got nothing.

"I blame my second child", that made me giggle!

Nmarine1996

karenswett1 wrote: »

I think this is more of an age problem. Younger people have healthier skin that recovers. As we get older our skin loses its elasticity. On 58, and I'm afraid to see what I end up with after I have lost the weight I want to lose.

I'm sorry to hear that

Nmarine1996

Muana1005 wrote: »

I got loose skin after losing 20kg. It tightened over many years. Am now losing the last 10kg and got loose skin after 3kg!

Some black women don't get it in the same way though. My best friends are heavier than me, and even after losing nearly 50-70kg have no loose skin or stretch marks & we have the same routine (I'm a dumpy Indian girl)

Wow thats interesting! Seems like genes play a huge role!

jenniferinfl

Genetics. I had loose skin before I even started losing weight.

Tabbycat00

I think genes play a major role (roll? Lol) I'm 5'2" my highest weight was 119 on the day I gave birth to my daughter. I've maintained 92-100 pounds all of my adult life and I've always had loose skin. Always. Came in handy when I was pregnant, no stretch marks. I asked a plastic surgeon about it once and he said there was really nothing I could do about it because of my size and my build. I have friends who have had multiple children, no loose skin.
I bet you don't have to worry about loose skin. Congratulations on your weight loss.

PandaCustard

I've lost 105 pounds and have quite a bit of loose skin, especially around my abdomen and thighs. It is very slowly tightening up, and it's better than having 105 extra pounds of fat on my body.

Nmarine1996

PandaCustard wrote: »

I've lost 105 pounds and have quite a bit of loose skin, especially around my abdomen and thighs. It is very slowly tightening up, and it's better than having 105 extra pounds of fat on my body.

Agreed!

acorsaut89

I think it depends . . . I started at 350, went down to 250 and have (unfortunately) recently gained 25 back but I don't have very much loose skin at all. I have another 100ish to lose so I might have some then, not too sure but it will definitely be worth it.

I lost it slow, though so that probably plays a factor in how much loose skin I have.

womanisadevil

I've lost 22 since April and I have a small amount.
Although my highest weight a few years back was 215lbs and I'm 163lbs now. Only 5"1'!

Luna3386

I dunno. I got loose skin from pregnancy. So I can't tell.

spiffychick85

I have some below and above my belly button...20lbs down...but I did have 3 children. I have a feeling this is their fault

Syneea

canadianlbs wrote: »

VintageFeline wrote: »

funny old place

i completely agree. i'm one of those 'gee, if i'd only appreciated what i had then' types after finding an old old picture. aside from other factors i was just plain curious to get back to that mid-20's weight to see what my more-mature late-40's self would think of it now.i did get there, but i discovered you really can't step into the same river twice

it wasn't [just] skin and years in my case though. i got obsessed with strength training at the same time, and i was disappointed to find that me with muscles didn't look the way me-without-muscles looked back in those days anyway. know i'm supposed to say 'delighted' but there were things about it i hadn't planned for.

I'm so curious @canadianlbs, what were your disappointments?!

I'm 54 lbs down and have loose skin below my belly button (I'm thinking my four children played a role for certain).... I can say that when I'm bloated it's not discernible.... Of course I won't gain weight back to fill in the loose skin as my stomach/ torso has gotten pretty darn small (when I'm not eating like mad and bloated) ....going to continue lifting and see what happens..... I also "had" loose skin on my arms (my old trouble spot) but it's very minuscule now... again I think the weights played/are playing a role in that... these things used to flap even when the rest of me was tiny! I hated it (!!)... I lost a bit more weight (making the rest of me smaller than I wanted to be) kept up the weights and VOILA... they are pretty decent now. :-)

canadianlbs

Syneea wrote: »

I'm so curious @canadianlbs, what were your disappointments?!

we.e.e.e.lll . . . don't want to hijack from the op, but thanks for the opportunity to talk All About Me

- skin tone was a factor, yup. i didn't get actual folds, but i could see fine wrinkles in certain places (that bum dip when you clench your glutes]. and that fold-over thing at the top of the kneecaps? i have that and was really sad about that when i realised where it was from. never really expected this, but basically the boniest part of my whole anatomy became the part i was least comfortable with showing the world.
- lol@this, but i realised that when i stamped my foot, the flesh on my thigh would wobble laterally. idk how to explain that but not posting a video that was a surprise and it disappointed me.
- and then having muscles themselves. please nobody start the 'women can have muscles' spiel because that is not what i mean. i like muscles. i wanted them and i worked to get them. but again idk how to explain . . with me, the muscles i got didn't look quite the way i had wanted them to. sort of a slabby brutalist look, like fascist architecture. i looked like if you tried to stick a spear into me it would bounce off.

so basically, very very solid-looking muscle (too solid imo), under a layer of too-loose remaining fat. now that i'm thinking about it for this response, i think i was uncomfortable with what i felt was a really marked tone difference between fat and muscle. squishy overmobile body fat and solid undermobile muscle tissue.

i more or less scrapped that first year and regained weight while still lifting and paying more attention to things like stretching and hydration and eating better. now i'm carefully re-losing weight at a super-slow pace, and still trying to manage that a bit better than the first time.

idk if that explains anythign or just sounds like gibberish. but there you go.

ceiswyn

I've lost 140 lb (over a third of my bodyweight) so far, and I'm starting to notice folds.

There's a lot of loose skin under my upper arms, and believe me that is NOT a good look swinging back and forth on the elliptical trainer! My tummy gets wrinkles if I bend in certain ways. My upper thighs at the back and the inside are definitely getting droopy.

There are also some wrinkles under my chin where my second chin used to be, but I've got no stretch marks there so I'm guessing that will tighten somewhat.

Eh. Still a lot better than having fat there. And also, one day I may have a load of ugly folds but they will be signs of what I've achieved. And I'm PROUD of that.