saggy skin

erikjacki

So, I am 41 years old and currently 185 pounds- half way to my goal weight- down 35 lbs. so far. Since I had so much to lose from the beginning, I have really only been doing cardio exercises- elliptical or good ol' treadmill. However, now that I am at this point, I am noticing a lot of sagging skin around my belly and a major plateau in my weight loss. Any (specific) exercise suggestions as to how to keep losing while trying to tighten up that sagging skin? Is it even possible?

usmcmp

Tightening skin takes time and good genetics. Lifting weights can help firm up what is under the skin and can improve how it looks overall.

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

leggup

How to minimize saggy skin:

• Lose weight slowly but steadily. The more accelerated your weight off loss, the more muscle you will lose with it. You will also not give your skin as much time to bounce back and you're possibly missing out on skin-healthy vitamins and minerals.
• Drink plenty of water. Dehydrated skin won't bounce back as well.
• Moisturize. Added circulation of massaging in moisturizer can help with color and texture of skin. It's a limited effect.
• Lift weights. You'll lose more squishy fat AND the muscles under the skin will be firmer, making the skin appear firmer.
• Avoid the sun. Sun damage will make it worse.
• Don't smoke. Duh.
• Fight Free Radicals. Eat antioxidant-rich foods to fight the damaging effects of free radicals.

That said, I lost 72 lbs at one point over the course of a year and a half at age 26 and I had some pooling skin. I'd still rather be fit with saggy skin than overweight with full skin.

batorkin

Some people can lose 20 pounds and get saggy skin, others can lose 100 and have none. It's mostly genetics/age. Lifting weights doesn't actually tighten skin, but it will give your body more mass which may help mask it. Skin takes up to 2-3 years to fully tighten after weight loss, but in cases with extreme loss and/or bad genetics it may never fully tighten.

Also, losing weight slowly does not mean you will have less saggy skin. That's just a popular myth. It only means you will notice it less because your skin will have more time to catch up as you are losing. I assure you in 2-3 years, you'll look the same no matter how fast you lose.

The best things you can do are drink lots of water and moisturize your skin every single day.

Cherimoose

erikjacki wrote: »

Any (specific) exercise suggestions as to how to keep losing while trying to tighten up that sagging skin?

No, exercises don't target skin, sorry.
You probably should add strength training for fitness reasons, but it won't fill in your abs, since ab muscles don't grow much, especially in a calorie deficit.
Search the forum for other opinions - it's been asked a lot.

duskyjewel

Nothing fixes stretched skin except surgical removal. I had five ten pound babies, and my youngest is 10. The skin on my abdomen is NEVER going back to how it was. As suggested, you might be able to improve overall appearance by building muscle mass underneath it, but there is nothing that "unstretches" skin.

erikjacki

Thanks all!

littlebabekitty

Overtime as u continue to lose it will lessen but it wont ever be tight tight until u are actually at low body fat as a throphy weight lifter. I have seen it happen though so its possible. Right now focus on the weight loss. I am on my journey myself. After being obese throught my child and teen years and having two kids my belly was a saggy mess. Its improved quite a lot but slowly.

whitpauly

I have stretched out,wrinkly skin on my belly,4 kids,up and down weight loss,I may be able to get the surrounding area to look better but its never gonna be smooth and perfect aaaah!

leggup

tyrindor wrote: »

Also, losing weight slowly does not mean you will have less saggy skin. That's just a popular myth. It only means you will notice it less because your skin will have more time to catch up as you are losing. I assure you in 2-3 years, you'll look the same no matter how fast you lose.

This is not true. The more rapidly you lose weight, the larger the percentage of loss will likely come from muscle. Slow loss with a lifting program means more fat loss. The short answer to why this affects skin--- under your skin is first a layer of adipose ( fat) followed by muscle tissue directly beneath. Fat and muscle "push" up against the adjacent layer of skin. The skin is taut before you lose weight.

When fat and muscle tissues shrink, skin is loose. Yes, fat takes up far more volume and fat loss will have a larger effect, but lost muscle is far harder to gain back than it is to maintain by losing weight slowly and lifting. Yes, time will help a lot, but maintaining muscle will help skin tautness and overall physique.