Home exercises for toning really saggy body skin?

littlebabekitty
littlebabekitty Posts: 398 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
In my teens I used to weigh 220lbs. When i turned 19 I started a new health journey and lost a lot of weight by eating healthy and exercising at the gym. I went down to 150lb .But then I stopped going to gym as it was no longer affordable. Fast forward now after having two pregnancies and stilk at the 150s, goal weight being 130. I am unhappy with how my skin looks.

Because of the past obesity my skin has stretched out and it sags. Mostly on my arms stomach and thighs. I want to tone up but I can't go to the gym.

What are some good whole body exercises that really work to tighten and suck in all that sagginess?

I already have an at home elliptical but my stomach is mainly my biggest concern.

Thank u

Replies

  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    Unfortunately toning exercises do not work on skin. It can tighten up on its own in time, but if you have had loose skin from weight loss for more than a couple of years the only option is surgery.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,610 Member
    Skin doesn't tone. Sorry.
  • Bechler77
    Bechler77 Posts: 65 Member
    I would try strength training. Unfortunately your skin will only shrink to a certain point. I've lost 150lbs and have some loose skin. Adding muscle will help take up some of that. Squats, planks, hollow holds and push ups are all excellent body weight exercises you can do at home.
  • Muscleflex79
    Muscleflex79 Posts: 1,917 Member
    As others said, you cannot tone your skin. Adding muscle/lifting weights will only help your appearance though - you should look up a structured lifting program and start ASAP.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    OP, your skin shrinks/recovers more slowly than you lose body fat. It is normal for it to continue to shrink up for a couple of years after the point where you hit your goal weight. It sounds like your skin has had several opportunities to stretch and re-stretch but hasn't had the opportunity to recover. Focus on losing the weight (and I would echo the suggestion to follow a resistance program, whether it is weight lifting or bodyweight exercises or a combo) and remember that what you see right now is not going to be the end product. You may very well have some stretched skin in the end but it is going to look better than what you see right now.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Adding or defining muscle makes you look better but it does not fill out loose skin. Muscle is more dense than fat so you need about 20 lbs of new muscle mass to replace 10 lbs of fat lost. Ain't gonna happen for "most" people.
  • littlebabekitty
    littlebabekitty Posts: 398 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Adding or defining muscle makes you look better but it does not fill out loose skin. Muscle is more dense than fat so you need about 20 lbs of new muscle mass to replace 10 lbs of fat lost. Ain't gonna happen for "most" people.

    I can see u lost a lot of weight by ur image. Congrats. Is ur skin saggy?
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I’m a fiftysomething grandma who lost eighty pounds. I’ve got lots of excess skin. I keep it tucked in with spandex.

    Congrats on getting your health back.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,610 Member
    "They" say that if your skin is going to tighten up, it will happen within 2 years of losing the weight. It did for me ... mostly. But then I only lost about 50 lbs.

    If it doesn't happen within 2 years, it's probably not going to happen.

    As for weight lifting, it did seem to help fill things out a little bit ... particularly my arms. It doesn't hurt to try that, but I wouldn't have any great expectations.

    The whole saggy skin thing is a great incentive for me to keep the weight off!! I know that if I gain weight again, and then lose it, I probably won't be able to get rid of the saggy skin.
  • littlebabekitty
    littlebabekitty Posts: 398 Member
    edited November 2017
    Okay thanks guys. Its not too bad like 3 inches of sag but its better than being obese. Ill just keep working out
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    rodsteph777 wrote: »
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Adding or defining muscle makes you look better but it does not fill out loose skin. Muscle is more dense than fat so you need about 20 lbs of new muscle mass to replace 10 lbs of fat lost. Ain't gonna happen for "most" people.

    I can see u lost a lot of weight by ur image. Congrats. Is ur skin saggy?

    I do but I don’t post pics of it (like some people do) and I’m not gonna stress over it. I’m so much better off now.

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