Loose Skin: 50lbs loss at 60+, 4+ years maintenance

ladyzherra

Bodies are amazing vessels. I am always so glad when people are open to sharing their body journeys. 💪🏼 Thanks for the inspiration!

nexangelus

AnnPT77 wrote: »

How far are you cutting the calories? "Tired, grumpy, unmotivated' sounds like maybe a little deep of a cut? I 100% get that we want to just drop that weight fast and get on with life, but life is also happening during the cut, and if it's not happy life, that's kind of a waste in a different way, IMO.

Thank you AnnPT77!

Not a huge cut, have been on 2100 and now 2000 cals for a while now, so a 500 ish calorie deficit. I guess the activity is making the deficit big enough on its own. Going below 2000 cals per day is just not doable, I feel really hungry and then it is binge inducing mood/stress/triggers....so I think I need to just focus on a slow loss (as you have well illustrated, I feel so much more comfortable doing it really slowly and gradually) with manageable side effects (slight to no tiredness and definitely no energy bonks).

Time to re-assess and work out a more live-able solution...

manderson27

Love you so much. Thanks for this post. xxxx

MadisonMolly2017

Dear Ann,
This is a Very Important Post. I hope it will be tagged at the top.

The reason I say that?

I’m also 64. When I was younger, I re-gained all my weight at least once, if not twice, solely because the sagging & wrinkles upset me so much. Vanity really. What I looked like did not match my inner vision of how I would look.

Now, at 64, I’ve lost the weight & maintained 2 years for Health.

As I was closing in on my goal weight, I got quite upset again Re: the skin changes. I told myself “health first: great labs > vanity”

It still bothered me, especially in the summer. SO, just before you posted this VIP post, Something clicked in my brain - you will think I’m crazy, but it worked- so in case it will help someone out there...

As I do my yoga or catch a glimpse in a mirror & I see some thin lines on arms or some phlumphy 😂 stuff on upper inner thighs, I think “It’s good those lines/phlumph are there; it means I’m NOT OBESE with more flexibly, strength, low bp (not on meds any longer), normal cholesterol (not on statins any more), can climb big mountains easily & for fun” or something like that LOL

They are my Victory Reminders after a lifetime of obesity. 🏅 Health First

Thank you Ann. You help so many of us so often. I’m very grateful for you! 💞

RunsWithBees

Great post, you are an inspiration! I remember when I was trying to lose weight for vanity reasons and could never stick to it. Once my health was threatened by my obesity I’ve been able to keep the excess weight off for 6+ years and counting. I didn’t even consider whether or not I’d get loose skin, I just didn’t want to end up with type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, aching joints, etc. For me, vanity and looks are secondary... being healthy and strong is what’s beautiful!

gcibsthom

69 yo and lost 120 lbs over 4 years...2 years maintenance...No matter what I have tons of loose skin. As for my stomach I had a panniculectomy to help with that, but under the arms, and thighs....even under the chin...forget it. I look worse naked now than I did when I was obese....lol

Onedaywriter

Thanks Ann!! As I mentioned in a different thread that you responded to - I definitely have some skin issues, but I haven’t gotten all the way “there” yet.

Now I have hope that as I lose the last bit, the loose skin - especially the turkey neck will get a little better.

I need a job at 59 and a trusted recruiter tells me it’s important I give a “young” and energetic appearance. The energetic is not a problem With my healthier lifestyle but the “young”......

JFKoskey

Your weight loss accomplishment is incredible! You look great! Can I suggest that you might want to try a really good Multi-Collagen supplement and other supplements that are known to help increase your skin's collagen production. Topical creams only help a little, but supplements that go to the heart of the issue are much more effective. Having massages or using a massager on some of those areas can also help increase blood flow and kick up your collagen production to firm your skin again. Great job!

AnnPT77

JFKoskey wrote: »

Your weight loss accomplishment is incredible! You look great! Can I suggest that you might want to try a really good Multi-Collagen supplement and other supplements that are known to help increase your skin's collagen production. Topical creams only help a little, but supplements that go to the heart of the issue are much more effective. Having massages or using a massager on some of those areas can also help increase blood flow and kick up your collagen production to firm your skin again. Great job!

Collagen = not vegetarian, so I'm not going there, myself. Others, with different eating patterns, may benefit, I don't know - I haven't researched it, personally, for obvious reasons. I've gotten regular massages (biweekly, for years), but neither I nor my evidence-oriented MT think there are skin benefits, FWIW. My blood flow is pretty good - CV fitness takes decent care of that, IMO.

P.S. If you're getting excellent results with collagen and other supplements, I'd encourage you to post photos and details, too - I'm sure that would help others who aren't vegetarian like I am.

Annie42019

At 58 I went from over 210 pounds to 135 ( also 5 foot 5 but 36DDD bra which has not budged). I was resigned to loose skin. But through genetic luck my skin just bounced back.

sl1200mkII

Massive courage and congrats on the cut and even more for keeping it off! Could you help with some advice on two questions?

With your skin type, do you know if the loose skin would have been there if the weight loss was slower (spread out over another year or two?

Do you know how much loose skin there would have been if you lost 30 rather than 50 pounds?

Thank you for your bravery!

AnnPT77

sl1200mkII wrote: »

Massive courage and congrats on the cut and even more for keeping it off! Could you help with some advice on two questions?

With your skin type, do you know if the loose skin would have been there if the weight loss was slower (spread out over another year or two?

Do you know how much loose skin there would have been if you lost 30 rather than 50 pounds?

Thank you for your bravery!

I don't have any scientific basis for my opinions, but I have opinions, and will share them.

I don't think there would be less loose skin from slower loss just from the speed of loss as such. I suspect that cumulative stress has negative affects on overall health (so maybe negative effects on skin health), and that fast loss is a higher contributor to systemic stress than slow loss is. (The stress of calorie deficit may increase systemic stress from other sources in life, would be my guess - that's what I mean by "cumulative".)

Because different fat areas deplete at different rates, in a slower loss scenario, it's possible that the body areas where loss happens first might have some skin shrinkage happening in overlapped time with ongoing fat loss in other areas, so one might arrive at goal weight with a little less loose skin at that point because of some already having shrunk - I don't know. Getting to goal weight faster may mean that more of the loose skin is all present at once, rather than in phases, is what I'm trying to say.

BTW, I don't think I lost "fast", other than a brief period where I ate too little on first joining MFP, because MFP underestimates my calorie needs. Losing slower than I did is a fine, perfectly reasonable option, but an average of a pound a week for a year isn't super fast, IMO. (I did lose a bit faster than that at first, when still pretty heavy, and slower when close to goal, by intention.)

Personally, I don't think I would have less of what most people would call "loose skin" if I'd only lost 30 pounds. I was still pretty over-fat, frankly, at 150-ish pounds. At that stage, there was more subcutaneous fat (those 1/2" or more rolls and folds, with squishy fat still in them). That tends to keep skin stretched out. I don't know whether it would ever get redistributed and let the skin shrink, because I didn't do that so lack relevant experience.

In my experience, it's the very thin wrinkles that will shrink, the ones that look more like wrinkles in midweight fabric like a soft denim or corduroy. I think that thin-wrinkles stuff is true "loose skin", and the slightly thicker folds are not just skin but remaining subcutaneous fat.

I do think I'd have less loose skin now if I hadn't just finished slowly (re-)losing 10+ pounds over the last few months. I expect that skin to shrink if I stay at this lower weight, and I expect some of the slightly thicker rolls to deplete and shrink, too, if I lose a few more pounds. It just takes time.

I'm not an appearance motivated person, in general terms. Even so, speaking for myself only, I very much prefer my appearance at this weight (maybe +/- 10 pounds is OK) vs. how I looked at any heavier weight. I think I look healthier and just overall better - better color, vitality, visible muscularity, etc. I used to lumber and shuffle around, now I'm much more spry and nimble, which I think is a positive for appearance (but doesn't show in still photos at all).

Furthermore, I *feel* much, much better in many ways, not just pain reduction but also subjective sense of general well-being and even mood to some extent. My health markers are very good, and were formerly quite bad. I move more in daily life, which I have to believe is good for me. (For example, I didn't realize I was budgeting/limiting my trips up and down the flight of stairs in my house when I was fat, until I found my thin self running up and down those same stairs many more times per day as I got lighter.) I can do more things, more easily, than fat Ann could (despite my being athletic while still obese).

My life is better at this weight, period, than it was at my starting weight or even weights in the 140s-150s.

AnnPT77

I feel like I should say, after some interaction on this thread: I'm personally pretty happy with my body at this point. I didn't hate my body when I was fat, but I like it even more now. My body does good things, is strong, and I'm pretty pleased with how it looks given my age and history, arrogant though that may sound.

In the OP, I made an effort to honestly point out potential negatives, in the interests of realism. If I left the impression that I'm unhappy with the end results, that is a *major* MISimpression. Even though I'm not very appearance motivated, I still look around me at other women of approximately my age, and feel satisfied with how I look, in that context.

Y'all might not be satisfied to look this way, which is fine. Everyone should pursue their own aspirations, with energy and optimism. It's part of what makes us each wonderfully unique. If my personal objective were to optimize my appearance in a culturally-encouraged way, I'd be dyeing my hair, wearing makeup, maybe getting breast reconstruction, and maybe more. No, thanks - not interested.

papayahed

Oh my gosh, Thank You! I lost 70 lbs with ~40 more to go and I have a hard time believing my deflated, cottage cheese looking stomach will ever look like normal. This gives me hope.

AnnPT77

Hey, y'all: If this thread was helpful to you in some way, might I suggest you also check out @springlering62's thread, especially her recent updates? So inspiring!

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10763291/my-turn-to-overshare-my-adventure/p1

Berniebutt773

Well done keeping up your maintenance and thanks for sharing.

MadDogManor

I think you look great!

strongandsilver

Thank you @AnnPT77.. very inspiring!

poisonesse

Every time I come over the forums, I see something you've posted and I am always inspired! I'm 69 myself, I've lost over 60 pounds, but regained 15-20 since the pandemic. But my point is that at no time did I look as good as you do! In my book, you are awesomeness incarnate! Fantastic story, great photos, and you look fantastic! Some day I hope to do as well!

StephanieStC

I agree with 00markw: Your posts are an inspiration, AnnP! And you look great

Thank you also for your honesty. It's really reassuring to know that, while it takes some time, most of the loose skin regains its shape. As you said, still better than being obese for so many reasons!

AnnPT77

Y'all say such nice, supportive things - thank you so much! Your positive replies help me come to terms with the risky-feeling post kinda putting myself out there. Thank you, I appreciate you!

healthysmrs

Thank you for sharing.. it helps @AnnPT77!!

tinaslim

WOW....Just WOW! I can't even thank you enough for your insightful "share"! You are so kind to post your pictures as well because that really shows something. Fabulous job on your weight loss and thank you for inspiring all of us!❤

mssoniamyers

I am 55 years old, and have lost 32kg from 115kg to now 83kg. I will be very happy to end up like you.

dsgoingtodoit

Thank you for posting. I am on a journey to lose twice what you have lost. Your hard earned loose skin seems to be a beautiful reminder of your commitment to good health. Your profile pic is a goal of mine - fabulous. I'm turning 50 in February...and I say bring on the loose skin. You are very kind to walk with us through your journey a bit.

sjlsjll

Thanks for posting! Your story is helpful in general but also specifically since it is similar to what mine is (or will be since I still have weight to lose). I am 62, a vegetarian, starting weight was 183 and am down to 160 at a height of 5'3". The weight loss was very slow (18 months now), but I have been watching (and worrying) about the loose skin. I decided it was something I would have to live with to be at a healthy weight. The photos were super helpful.

Just a few days ago I decided to do a 21 day weight loss challenge to kick start the rest of the weight loss. I tend to plateau or in other words really "stick" at a weight, then lose some and then "stick" again at the lower weight. Your post has alleviated some of my remaining worries about the loose skin. Thanks!

springlering62

Time truly does heal all wounds, or at least helps things rearrange yet again. I realized this morning my face doesn’t look as harsh and angular as it did two or three months ago. It’s got new curves, and has softened up a bit. (Whew!)

The only place really showing spare skin these days is the inside of my elbows, and my belly, but that seems to be going down slowly, too. Time? Recomp? Happy combination of both, probably.

It’s been an endlessly interesting process. “Myself as science experiment” in many ways.

AnnPT77

This is only loosely related here, but goshdangit, it's my thread, and I can do what I want. Both these photos are from today. They relate to one of my pet peeves.

Photo 1: This is my arm, relaxed:



Photo 2: This that very same arm, mere moments later, flexed good and hard:



Ladies - anyone, really - DO NOT hold out your relaxed arm as in photo 1, and assume that anything hang-y is fat or loose skin. It's not. I guarantee, *some* of the hang-y bit is muscle. How much of muscle, fat, skin - that varies individually. In any case where I've ever had a woman do this in real life, and hold onto the "flap" of "fat and loose skin" right up to near the bone as she flexed hard . . . some - usually lots - of that hang-y stuff got firm when she flexed. That part is MUSCLE. Please don't hate it when it's relaxed: It's supposed to be more slack then!

jenshaines

Thank you so much for this! I'm 62 and have lost 70 lbs. since joining MFP a number of years ago, and 92 lbs. since highest weight. Much of me looks like the photos you posted. When I get closer to goal (still have 36 lbs. to go to "healthy BMI" I will post something similar. We need to be CLEAR about our bodies, our health and we don't have to fit anyone else's image. I've always been about health rather than what magazine life might consider "beauty" for my worth. Again, my thanks!

Cthomasbydesign

Thank you for sharing. I think you look great. I just turned 48 and I have lost 40lbs. this year but have a ton to go. I was worried about loose skin but your post helped me.