Excess Skin Prevention

jackbaker8423

Hey all,

I am seeking some advice in regards to what steps I can take to prevent the impact of baggy excess skin.

I am a 6’2” 18 year old boy, my starting weight was 288lbs (20st 8lbs), I have since lost 51lbs (3st 9lbs) in 130 days bringing me down to 237lbs (16st 13lbs), I seeking to lose 2st more. The majority of my fat is forming a ‘muffin-top’, which is concerning when it comes to excess weight.

Was wondering whether anyone had any advice as to what preventative measures I can take? Recently started attended the gym in order to tone up and I drink plenty of water.

Any and all help appreciated,

Cheers!

Jack

toxikon

Good news! Since you're so young, you do have a much better chance of your skin elasticity bouncing back than someone older than you.

Loose skin is mainly genetic and age-related, unfortunately. Topical creams don't do squat. Body wraps don't do squat.

Your best bet is to lose the weight slowly, add some muscle to fill out a bit, then let time do its thing. Or get surgery.

jackbaker8423

toxikon wrote: »

Good news! Since you're so young, you do have a much better chance of your skin elasticity bouncing back than someone older than you.

Loose skin is mainly genetic and age-related, unfortunately. Topical creams don't do squat. Body wraps don't do squat.

Your best bet is to lose the weight slowly, add some muscle to fill out a bit, then let time do its thing. Or get surgery.

Thank you

Based on this I think I might have to slow down my weight loss! Quite keen to develop my muscles, do you know what I could be focusing on?

Cheers,

Jack

toxikon

jackbaker8423 wrote: »

toxikon wrote: »

Good news! Since you're so young, you do have a much better chance of your skin elasticity bouncing back than someone older than you.

Loose skin is mainly genetic and age-related, unfortunately. Topical creams don't do squat. Body wraps don't do squat.

Your best bet is to lose the weight slowly, add some muscle to fill out a bit, then let time do its thing. Or get surgery.

Thank you

Based on this I think I might have to slow down my weight loss! Quite keen to develop my muscles, do you know what I could be focusing on?

Cheers,

Jack

2lbs a week or 1% of total body weight is a good rate for most people with a decent amount of weight to lose. If your deficit is too low, it's gonna be really hard to put on any muscle. Some people like to strength train during their weight loss, others like to do it in separate phases (cuts and bulks). I think doing some strength training during your weight loss is a great way to preserve your muscle mass and put on a bit of muscle too.

The Fitness board might be able to help you out more with specific programs and more advice.

ggirgis44

Awesome job on the weight loss, Jack! According to your current stats, you'll be golden! You will be pleasantly surprised at the end results. Three notes of advice: Strength train, take things slow, and eat well (minimize junk, don't skimp on healthy fats). Foods filled with vitamins and minerals will nourish you from the inside out, helping your skin overall. One additional factor to consider, a small side note, is how long you've carried the excess weight. If you hit puberty while obese and continued gaining, there's a greater chance for loose skin. Regardless, you'll be incredibly pleased with your results. I've lost 140 pounds and loving it! Godspeed!

150poundsofme

Hi, Congrats on your weight loss!!!!! The gym you joined - most of them should be able to give you a trainer one time for free (to show you machines and how to do them). Maybe the trainer could help you with which machines or weights would help you tone. Very proud of you!!!!

AnnPT77

Another thing to know, frustrating though it may be temporarily: It's hard to judge what your final results will be, until you get there.

There can even be a worrying phase where our fat mass gets less dense, maybe you'd say squishy, and can seem a little more hang-y for a while . . . kind of like how a full water balloon stands up firm and round, but one half full of water (no air) is kind of droopy or floppy. But don't let that stress you: It's temporary.

True loose skin is quite small wrinkles, almost like in fabric. Folds that are, say, 1/2" thick or more . . . those probably still have some subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep the skin there stretched out.

Until you reach quite near goal weight, you won't really have a clear idea exactly where you stand.

Even at goal weight, true loose skin (the thin wrinkles) can keep shrinking, possibly for quite a long time. Fat loss - even at a sensibly slow rate - can be faster than skin shrinkage. My loose skin kept shrinking well into my second year of weight maintenance (but I'm old - 62 ). The point is, even what you see at goal weight may not be the final story.

If, at goal weight, you still have some areas of subcutaneous fat stretching skin, you can continue working on adding muscle weight (via regular progressive weight training), and losing fat (by body recomposition or bulk and cut cycles).

As a young male, you're perfectly situated to get the best possible results from smart weight training. Young men make the fastest progress, compared to others!

I recommend that you start weight training now. You will preserve existing muscle, at minimum. By the time you reach goal weight, you'll also be knowledgeable and practiced, ready to take advantage of the opportunity to build muscle mass at full calories.

This is an excellent thread about how to select a weight training program:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you

Best wishes!

ninerbuff

Get where you gotta get. Skin is an organ and doesn't respond to shrinking back by any OUTSIDE means. The main factors have been discussed as to whether or not you'll have loose skin, but if you get it, the ONLY ways to get rid of it (after waiting up to 2 years to let it retract), to regain the weight you had that pushed out in the first place, or get surgery to remove it.
The goal here is to reach your goal weight and unfortunately you can't dictate how the skin is going to react once you do.

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

MissyCHF

Just to say congratulations in losing 3st 9lbs so quickly. You're an inspiration. Onwards and downwards - weight-wise!

NancyYale

All the advice here is great. But remember what it felt like to be way too heavy, and imagine how you would feel if you kept going that way for 10 or 20 or 30 more years. You are smart to change now and even if there is a little loose skin in the end, that is so much less of a problem than the extra weight would have been. You could choose to flaunt it, wear clothes thar mask it, ou have surgery to remove it. Choices.
Many more choices than carrying the weight around. Great job!

jackbaker8423

Thanks for all the advice and positive encouragement guys, appreciate it!