Worried about losing a lot of weight...

MochaFox91

... and having lose skin after?
My ultimate goal is 140, and I started close to 260. I've lost 40~ pounds or so so far, and am pretty young ( 22 in a couple months. ), but I'm one to always imagine the worst. Losing over 100 pounds I'm scared that I might end up with excess / loose skin? If it possible for someone my age and weight loss amount? Or am I just overworrying like the nut I am? I'm hoping there won't be if I lose it steadily like I have been, but what do I know?? I'm not good at this stuff.

( sorry if this isn't even the right subforum. I didn't know quite where to set it down at. I apologize in advance if so. )

itsscottwilder

I'm no expert. But the best way to avoid loose skin is to lose weight at a sensible pace.

1 pound a week seems to be a universally accepted rate of healthy weight loss.

kazsjourney

Even if you end up with loose skin its a better option then being unhealthy. I have lost 185 pounds and yes I do have loose skin, but I would prefer that then health issues. All you can do is try and minimise it,,,,,weight train, stay hydrated, eat a good diet including good fats, get appropriate levels of sleep.

Cyliesmom

I think it all depends on the elasticity of your skin, which is different for everyone. I lost about 100 pounds and had lots of loose skin. I had been obese for a long time. With a shaper under my clothes the loose skin was not visible. However I was not happy with it. I took out a line of credit and got a tummy tuck in 2008. Money very well spent. Much cheaper than a new car, about the cost of 2 vacations, or one really fab vacation. So basically what I am saying is that you 100 % do not have to have loose skin. If good skin genes are not on your side, a good plastic surgeon will be !

LadyBenihime

I feel the exact same way....

I tried to find information about it from multiple people that have lost a large amount of weight...

From what I understand... the most important thing is to lose weight at a slow pace (no more than 1.5-2lbs per week)..

Also the younger you are the better and the less amount of time you've been overweight the better as well..

Another tip I was told was to drink a lot of water because water supposedly increases skin elasticity..

So I'm drinking a lot of water each day 72oz + and I'm trying to lose weight at a slower/healthier rate...

Oh I was also told that building muscle and exercising as you lose weight should help as well..

MochaFox91

I see... I've been overweight since the middle of elementary so I may be in trouble... Also surgery may be impossible for me because we don't make a lot of money over here. It's pretty worrysome

LadyBenihime

Try not to worry... I'm in the same boat as you (been overweight since I was like 8) just drink a lot of water... and don't lose weight too fast (as in don't have a deficit of more than 500 - 1,000 calories under your BMR that includes your average daily activity)...

And make sure you are exercising along with your calorie deficit.. but keep in mind that you should make sure that what calories you burn are figured added in to your daily count and make sure you don't have too big of a deficit..

For example - I'm eating at about a 1,000 calorie deficit from my BMR with daily activity included (basically how many calories my body burns in a day on average with my normal daily activities) ... so I'm eating just under 1600 calories a day.. but since I work out each day I actually eat more then 1600 calories each day to even it out..

Like I'll burn 500 calories exercising.. so then rather than only eating 1600 calories that day.. I'll eat closer to 2100 which keeps my net calories for that day around 1600..

Don't worry about the possibility of having loose skin.. and just focus on changing your life

MochaFox91

So.. basically if I finish my day and it says "500-1000" calories remaining then that's what I should be around? this thing can be very confusing. I'm so sorry!

EDIT: Okay.. my daily calorie intake thing says about 2100. So I should eat anywhere between 1100 and 1600? I burn about 700 calories in my workout so I should eat 1700 - 2300?
Still so confused! Haha

LadyBenihime

I sent you a message explaining that once you enter your goals in and myfitnesspal tells you how much calories you should net per day then you don't need to also have a deficit.. the number that myfitnesspal tells you already will include the deficit

Oh and if your daily calorie intake says around 2100 and that includes your "daily activity level" and you tell myfitnesspal that you want to lose 1.5lbs per week then it will probably tell you to NET around 1400-1500 calories per day.. that also means that if you're burning 700 calories a day with exercise then you would want to add 700 on top of the 1400-1500 calories. So you would basically be eating your full daily calorie intake but you would be burning the amount you need for your deficit...

I hope this helps

MommyisFit

I have loose skin and I have never been overweight. I am small and I had two babies that were well over 9lbs. That plus csection = crazy loose skin on my tummy. Maybe one day I will get it taken care of. For now, nothing I can do about it. I would rather be healthy!

Numbah_5x

It doesn't matter how fast or slow you lose the weight. You WILL HAVE LOOSE SKIN. Losing weight slower just means its less noticeable because your body is adapting as you go along.

For example, if you lost 100 pounds in 6 months it might take a year for your body to absorb the loose skin OR you can take a year and 6 months to lose the weight and NOT really notice the loose skin.

**** What really matters is whether or not this excess skin stays with you or not. ****

The YOUNGER you are the more elasticity your skin has after weight loss. Your skin can adjust to your new size faster. The OLDER you are the less elasticity your skin has and the more likely for it to sag and hang because it can't adjust to your new body. This will also vary by other factors such as race, skin tone, heredity, etc.

I am 49 years old and lost 66 lbs so far. At first I had a lot of loose skin but so far its balancing out nicely. I stay hydrated and do resistance training to build muscle so I'm loving my new body.

MochaFox91

Oh goodness, thank you everyone for everything. you've all been such a great help, and I've since calmed down about it! the tips I will take to heart and will do my best to lose accordingly and stay hydrated! I hope everyone takes care and once again thank you for taking the time to help me!