Large weight loss, excess skin and an “Ideal” weight

bikecheryl

I started on MFP last April. I was 57 5’4” and 288 lbs.
I’m proud to say
I’m getting close to reaching my initial weight loss goal of 160 lbs
- 96 lbs lost, 34 lbs to go.
The more weight I lose and the closer I get to my goal the more I wonder what my goal weight should ultimately be? BMI says 140 lbs.
I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around what my Body is going to look like at that weight. If got some pretty impressive folds going on now !
It’s not that I’m expecting to wear a bikini - not that there is anything wrong with anyone who is comfortable in their own skin doing that - but I think you know what I mean.
It’s just well, will my clothes fit well despite the excess folds? Lol does everything tuck in?

I am not considering surgery for various reasons.

Am I over thinking driving myself crazy for nothing?

pinuplove

Congratulations on your weight loss so far! That's fantastic

My experience has been that the middle portion is when it looked the worst. At your heaviest, the skin is like a full water balloon, round and taut. As you lose, the remaining fat just sort of drags everything down with it, like a droopy half-filled water balloon. Then as you continue getting leaner, the skin - while still stretched - isn't pulled down as much and starts to improve.

seska422

Excellent progress!

I think you are overthinking things. You won't really know how you feel about those potential goal weights until you get there and settle in for a while. Ultimate goal weight is a personal decision. My doctor suggested a goal range that was basically the BMI overweight range. That would provide more calories and (perhaps) be easier to maintain in the long term. My upper body looks gaunt in the normal BMI range but I'm hoping that the remaining fat will redistribute itself over time.

You may be less "fold"y at a lower weight because there's less subcutaneous fat pulling down your skin. My high weight was 320 and I'm actually pretty happy with my skin tightness at my current 145ish pounds. Others might be horrified with this much loose skin but I'm just glad that it doesn't impede my movement or get rashes. I look great in clothes and 99% of the people who see me will only see me in clothes.

ceiswyn

seska422 wrote: »

I look great in clothes and 99% of the people who see me will only see me in clothes.

That’s the conclusion I’ve come to as well I started at about 385 and currently weigh about 180. With clothes on I look great (with collarbones to die for; all my weight is in my thighs). Without clothes on it’s all a bit sad and deflated. But frankly, anyone who is close enough to me to see me without my clothes had better be able to cope with a few imperfections. Or they don’t deserve me anyway!

bigjonb4116

clothes hide a multitude of sins (skins) . i started at 456lbs at 50yrs old, i'm 182lb down after 26months, and have wrinkles on my wrinkles. but its healthier having loose skin than the fat!. as the skin hollows out it will be easier to conceal.compression clothing is great. wear the skin as a badge of honour and commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

AnnPT77

+1 to the water balloon analogy, unpleasant though the short-term implications may be. When you get closer to goal, you'll have a better idea of what the loose skin situation will be at goal weight.

Furthermore, loose skin can continue to shrink for quite some time after we reach goal. Even at age 60-61, my true loose skin (the thin wrinkles) kept shrinking well into my 2nd year of maintenance. The areas that still had subcutaneous squishy fat conspiring with gravity to stay stretched (i.e., thicker folds), didn't shrink much.

Even then, I've seen others around here have good success with those stubborn areas via recomposition at goal weight (basically lifting weights to add muscle and reduce fat while staying at constant weight).

So: The final results at goal may be better than you're anticipating, and long term results a bit better still. It's likely you'll have some loose skin, but maybe quite a bit less than you fear.

You might want to take a look around in the Success Stories part of the forums to see people's before/after pics. Some are quite open about loose skin. There's a list of especially dramatic Success posts linked in the"Most Helpful Posts" area over there.

Best wishes!

nowine4me

OP - @pinuplove is 100% right. The part in the middle is by far the worst - your skin gets loose and flabby and is weighed down more by remaining fat. I promise it will get better, just keep going.

rainbow198

Congrats on your transformation OP!

After I lost 80 pounds I had a some deflated skin in my trouble spot areas. Since I was older and had been overweight most of my life I thought it was something I would just have to deal with. At the same time I didn't think it was bad enough to get surgery, but I thought about it.

I'm in my 5th year of maintaining and each year of maintenance my body composition got better and better.

During year 2 my body became tight and firm everywhere (except for my lower tummy), but it now looks like I've never been overweight/obese. This has been quite an experience!

I would keep going, have patience and do strength-training and see how your body changes first. Good luck!

MissMaggieMuffin

Nothing to add to the conversation except congratulations on your accomplishments!

bikecheryl

Thanks so much everyone!!!

And to be honest I’m thrilled I can have this conversation!

I’m hoping to hit 160 sometime this summer.

I’m getting a knee replacement in the fall so I may work on maintenance at 160 till I’ve recovered and then try to bring it down a little lower and work on recomp.

kittybenn

ceiswyn wrote: »

I started at about 385 and currently weigh about 180. With clothes on I look great (with collarbones to die for; all my weight is in my thighs). Without clothes on it’s all a bit sad and deflated. But frankly, anyone who is close enough to me to see me without my clothes had better be able to cope with a few imperfections. Or they don’t deserve me anyway!

@ceiswyn Been following your journey for quite some time and you are a total inspiration. LOVE your attitude and congrats on your incredible success!

ceiswyn

kittybenn wrote: »

@ceiswyn Been following your journey for quite some time and you are a total inspiration. LOVE your attitude and congrats on your incredible success!

Awww, thankyou! *blush*

You’ve not been doing so badly yourself, I’ve noticed