Yo-Yo Weight and Loose Skin

Arperjen

Hi there, this might be my first post here, despite being a member since 2012 ✌  So this might be a bit long.

To begin, I've browsed several threads here: questions, success stories, articles, etc., on the topic of loose/saggy skin.  I'm aware that factors will vary, such as genetics, age, weight history, skin condition, exercise regimen, diet, etc.  So I know results will vary.

I guess I'm looking for someone who's been in a similar boat as me, so I know what I could realistically expect.  I'm 37, female, 5'7, currently 183.  My weight history is very up and down, and roughly looks like this:  was always a larger girl, was mildly chubby as a kid.  In my mid-teens I was on the road to anorexia, got to about 150, not bone-skinny, but definitely not healthy.  Turned that around and went up to 170-175, right before I got pregnant at 20.  I kept getting told I "carried it well" (AKA didn't bloat up) and put on about 40 lb.  Dropped back down after my son's birth (not sure of #) but started gaining about 2 years in due to my own negligence.  Started going to the gym, got down to ~198 at about 24 yrs old, but then "a lot of life stuff happened" and ballooned up to my highest of around 280 when I was around 27-28. Turned that around, and reached 240 before joining MFP in 2012.  Been on and off since then, but at least in an overall downtrend.  The last 2 years I've been mostly good.  (If it matters, I'm currently at around 1500 cal/day.  I'm still fixing my relationship with food, but I think I'm the best I've been in years. Doing some bodyweight, HIIT, and playing RingFit mostly every day, and considering adding lifting, since I have some weights at home. Anyway.)

I'm currently 183, the lowest I've been since I've had my son (who's 16 now, holy cow!), very close to my prebaby weight of 175, then I'm going to reassess where I want to go.  I do have some sagging on my lower tummy and signs of it on my arms, which to be fair, is not as bad as it used to be, but its still there.  I know there is still fat to lose, but with the length of time I've had this weight, the up-and-down history, and the addition of pregnancy stretch marks (which don't bother me), it adds more factors.

So all that out of the way... anyone have a similar situation?  If your skin shrunk back, how long did it take, and what actions worked for you?  I know my story sounds overly specific, but I can't imagine I'm the only one with this kind of history.

I understand skin shrinkage/healing is going to come with time, the question is how long.  I'm not against the idea of surgery, but I'd prefer that as a last resort.

TL;DR, up and down weight and a pregnancy over a 16 year period, is my skin going to recover?     

142jmh

I'm a bit taller, 5ft 10, female, 31. I was an athletic kid, then during preteen and early teen years I got larger and larger. I peaked around 240. Lost 30 my last year of high school. Lost more weight the following year. Lost the last bit of 100lbs total loss the following year (20 years old). I was about 140 (which is pretty small for my height). By 22, I had put 25 back on. By 25, I'd put on more. By the time I was halfway through being 29, I was up at 275. I lost 35 pounds, which was great. Then had a very stressful time and shot right back up. This May I was at 285. I'm in control now. At 31, I'm back down to 230, and I'm managing stress a lot better.

My first time losing 100lbs, I really didn't have any loose skin. I was young, and my loss was gradual. This time, I probably will.. but we'll see how it goes. I'm hoping for minimal, and will give myself the time needed to see how it changes before looking at surgery (if surgery is required, so be it). Its very dry where I live, so right now I'm trying to treat my skin well with what I put inside my body, and what I put on the outside. I know there is no "miracle cure" but I like to think that if you treat your skin well its better than if you just disregard it entirely.

Related but a bit weird: I had an accident while spending time in the mountains and underwent a crazy surgery to put my arm back together. For 4 months my right arm was literally twice the size of my left, and it stayed considerably larger for over a year. Its now been nearly 5 years since that accident. Its still a little bit bigger, you can't really tell, but I can feel the difference when wearing fitted sleeves and can see it when looking in the mirror. My arm did have quite a bit of loose skin (quite a lot actually), and it has gotten better. But it took a couple years.

For myself: I think I'm going to give it a good 2 years from hitting maintenance before I really look at surgery. Just basing it off my arm experience, it takes a while to settle into a new normal. Sorry I don't have anything concrete for you... I'm an optimist though, and I bet your situation won't be as bad as you think it will be.

Best of luck on your journey!

Arperjen

Hey thanks, I appreciate the response, any insight is helpful. And I'm glad you (and your arm) are doing better!

I'm relatively optimistic, but it's been hard for me to gauge what I could expect.

142jmh

Thanks so much! It really is hard to know what to expect. I didn't expect my arm to get better, then all of the sudden it was like "hey, this looks different"... which was great, and may have led to a day of me poking and prodding and examining my arm haha