is it possible to avoid loose skin?
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Did you get stretchmarks from gaining 100 lbs in a relatively short period of time? That might be an indicator of how elastic your skin is.
If I were you I'd lose the weight slowly, but also not put off starting the process. Your skin has it's best chance of bouncing back right now. The longer you wait, the older you get - and skin gets less forgiving with age.0 -
I can relate to this question. I have over 200 pounds to loose and the last time I lost a large amount of weight I had all this skin in my arms & thighs and put the weight back on cause I hated the loose skin. I have already lost 33 pounds and can see the skin again. Thanks for asking the question.0
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I'm doomed I think, I get stretch marks very easily. I'm losing slowly, but I'm worried mostly about my lower stomach and my arms... UGH0
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Did you get stretchmarks from gaining 100 lbs in a relatively short period of time? That might be an indicator of how elastic your skin is.0
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Did you get stretchmarks from gaining 100 lbs in a relatively short period of time? That might be an indicator of how elastic your skin is.
I would say that's good! You skin stretched to accommodate 100 lbs without without cracking so you probably have pretty good elasticity. I still have stretch marks just from just from getting hips and boobs when I hit puberty, so my skin...probably not so much. lol0 -
Personally, I think its just genetics and there is very little you can do to avoid it if it's going to happen. I'd much rather have a little loose skin than the fat though.0
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wondering it there any older members who have lost 50+ pounds found what helps our ol'folk's skin?
I'm 60 and lost 58 pounds a couple of years ago, mostly from my torso. I sagged initially as though the skin all over my torso was a size or three too large, but have tightened up almost completely since then. No obvious evidence of loose skin shows up in the mirror at all now, so long as I keep my still somewhat misshapened belly button covered with the palm of my hand. Well... my boobs sag, but I am 60. I probably could have expected that in any case.
My big worry wasn't loose skin, which I didn't even think about until more than half of the weight was gone. It was muscle loss. I had been naturally slender as a young adult and blamed metabolic rate lowering muscle loss from advancing age and the change in my hormonal status for the fact that I needed to lose weight in the first place. And I knew it would be really hard to regain any muscle at my age, so I was strongly motivated to hang on to as much of my remaining muscle as I could. That meant:
A well balanced, nutrient rich diet with plenty of protein.
A moderate calorie deficit, aiming for a pound/week loss for the first 30 pounds or so, then a half pound/week.
Strength training, typically around an hour per session, 3 times a week. I used the resistance machines at the gym.
Rarely more than a half hour at a time of steady state cardio, which can shred more than fat if you over do it.
I ate back my exercise calories (At least 2/3rds to correct for MFP's obviously inflated estimates).
I think all of that benefited my skin even though that wasn't the primary motivation. The one thing I did just for my skin was apply coconut oil from head to toe after every shower, which - if nothing else - is at least a great moisturizer.0 -
I've heard the entire human body replaces the cells every 7 years. That being said skin cells change every 2-3 weeks.
Of course this does not mean that your body will eat away the extra skin, but it will not be there forever, I guarantee you that.
Make sure you keep your body hydrated, brush your skin with a body brush or loofah for 2-3 minutes from head to toes. I know people who do this everyday to invigorate their lymph system.
Hydrate, Bathe, eat your VITAMINS AND MINERALS, and I would also recommend jojoba oil. It helped me wonders to tighten skin after puberty when I gained loads of stretchies. They even went away temporarily (until 2 kids later).
Anything that we can tell ourselves to keep us from walking the long road to skinny we will say. Don't let the idea of skin hold you back. Its not even a reality and I do know many people who look like they never looked heavier.
I don't care now that I have a skin fold under my size 12 shorts . (sorry if tmi) I'm pleased as all hell that they are fitting even if I gotta twist a few things to get em on!0
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