Another loose skin question

orinoss

Yes, I am one of those people terrified about loose skin after losing weight, haha. I'm just starting out again on dieting, and I was wondering what women 5'5 or so who began at 220ish lbs faced as they lost weight?

sweetpea129

I'm 5'5 and started at 277. Im now 150. Honestly i do not have much skin at all. I have been very lucky. I have a little on my upper inner thighs, thats it so far. It's all about genetics but the loose skin is better than the fat any day!

ktcomplicated

I'm 5'6 and started at 217 and I'm currently 164 with no loose skin to speak of. It's partially genetics and partially the rate at which you lose weight; you want to give your skin time to catch up to your shifting weight.

princesstoadstool82

Bump

smc864

I'm 5'3 and was 224 at my heaviest and I am now 165 with no loose skin. I plan to get down to 130 -- not sure how my situation will be at that point, but I'm hopeful.


When I was at my biggest I worried about loose skin, but I'll take the skin over being fat ANY DAY.

kowajenn

I'm 5'5", started at 243 and am now at 161ish. I've got loose skin. My inner thighs are the worst, but I have a little on my upper arms (I think that will tighten up) and some on my stomach. I'm also 45 and was fat for 20 years, so my skin won't bounce back the way a younger person's would.

I don't care one whit about the loose skin. I was fat, am less so now, and this is my body's way of reminding me what I did and what not to do again.

BabyLovesToRun

When I was 21 I decided to go on a major diet. (I was stupid and did it the unhealthy way, but I'd been very heavy my whole life and I was just done with it. I basically ended up being an anorexic for a year. DON'T EVER DO THAT! ... anyway). I'm 5'6". My start weight then was 248 lbs. I went down to 125 lbs in 6 months. The only issue I had was just a little bit of loose skin on the stomach. Not a lot. You only noticed it when I sat. If I'd worked on toning up in the mid-section a little bit you would have never noticed it. So, don't be afraid! You'll be fine! It takes time for your skin to firm back up after dieting, anyhow. Up to 2 years after. The younger you are the better off you are.

I'm back here at it again. Started at 214 in Jan 2012 down to 173. I'm 29 now. My skin seems a little more loose this time around, but then again I still have a little over 40lbs to go so I'm not making a judgement just yet.

kimad

My highest weight was 280, I am currently in the low 160's.... I have alot of loose and extra skin, but I attribute it to the twin pregnancy that got me to 280 lbs. Lifting weights helps, but I chose surgery becuase I know alot of my issues can't be corrected otherwise.

allison_ortiz

I'm a little bit taller 5'8", but I only have minimal loose skin and I started at 350lbs. They say even once your in maintenance mode for 6 mths - 1 year your skin will strink even more...the faster you lose tho the more likely you are to have more excess skin.

777Gemma888

Yes, I am one of those people terrified about loose skin after losing weight, haha. I'm just starting out again on dieting, and I was wondering what women 5'5 or so who began at 220ish lbs faced as they lost weight?

Age can certainly improve matters for most who do have to tolerate the "loose skin phase," only that one's GENETICS plays a greater part. Elasticity and Collagen levels can be low even amongst teens, so placing all hope on age for 'bounce back-ability is a tad risky ~ a road to disappointment /depression stemming from mass mentality ideals of an unrealistic end result. There are medical intervention techniques available outside the parameters of the extreme(tummy tuck/body lift et al) ~ Research!!

orinoss

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm 23 years old, and hoping to lose weight in a healthy manner.

FitBelleVie

I've lost 80 pounds over 18 months and was really scared of the loose skin because I have horrible skin elasticity. But as I've lost, I've worked out every day and I do core work and weights two days a week and I'm pleasantly surprised that I am tightening up more than I thought I would. I think losing more slowly has helped me above anything else.

77tes

I'm 5'5" and started at 213,so I'm pretty close to your stats ; however, I'm 58, so some loose skin is a fact of life.

Although I never plan on rocking a bikini on the beach,
slow and steady loss and bodyweight exercises have me looking pretty sleek for a grandma. You are young, so that will help a great deal.

Also, your body will continue to change after you stop losing, so don't freak out if you get to your goal weight and are still a bit loose. Remember that a woman's body is designed to expand and then return to a regular size. Give yourself a year of maintenance before you even think that you have a problem.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

judyde

I'm 5'5" and started at 213,so I'm pretty close to your stats ; however, I'm 58, so some loose skin is a fact of life.

Although I never plan on rocking a bikini on the beach,
slow and steady loss and bodyweight exercises have me looking pretty sleek for a grandma. You are young, so that will help a great deal.

Also, your body will continue to change after you stop losing, so don't freak out if you get to your goal weight and are still a bit loose. Remember that a woman's body is designed to expand and then return to a regular size. Give yourself a year of maintenance before you even think that you have a problem.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

This is awesome and sensible advice! So glad to have you on my friend list!

feitian

Drink a lot of water. It helps. I have been very fortunate to not have loose skin.

nicoleisme

Bump, saved for later!

_jayciemarie_

I'm 5'5 and started at 277. Im now 150. Honestly i do not have much skin at all. I have been very lucky. I have a little on my upper inner thighs, thats it so far. It's all about genetics but the loose skin is better than the fat any day!

I am 37, 5'6, started at 230 and down to 189. The only loose skin I notice this far is my upper inner thighs. I should be upset, because loose skin is less than desireable, but I saw it today and I was happy. It was the first real change I have been able to see in my body.

ibleedunionblue

Male - 5'8" 47 years old, started at 225, lost 82-82 pounds. Yes, I have loose skin on arms and stomach. But its better then being fat. I asked my Doctor about it, and he said younger persons, their skin wont be as loose, but because I was obese for years, he doesnt expect it to tighten up much.

JagerLewis

I totally agree that loose skin is way better than being fat! Though, I lose weight slowly, exercise (cardio and weights) and still have loose skin. I drink tons of water 10-12 a day. I guess I got a bad set of genes! I'm increasing my fat intake (good fats within reason) to hopefully help the situation.

l_clc

I started at 220lbs and after an 80lb loss I have no loose skin. As long as you are working out and not losing too quickly I don't think you should worry too much about it! Good luck!

the_great_unknown

I started at 310 (5'4 female) and got down to 193. I don't have loose skin, I AM loose skin. I think it is the result of being at least 60 pounds overweight for over 20 years. I tend to wear elbow length or longer sleeves and pants, so it isn't too obvious, but I also wear oversized shapewear to keep the loose skin on my torso from being too obvious. I wear a large in shirts and a 2x in shapewear, because I don't really want it to hold me in, just smooth the extra skin.

I am single and it makes me very uncomfortable to think of being with someone new and having him see the loose skin.

ETA - I need to lose another 40-45 pounds and when I have, I will probably have surgery to remove the extra skin.

QuietBloom

I'm 5'6 and started at 217 and I'm currently 164 with no loose skin to speak of. It's partially genetics and partially the rate at which you lose weight; you want to give your skin time to catch up to your shifting weight.

Add age to this. The older you are, the less your skin is able to shrink due to loss of collagen and elastin. But it's better to have loose skin than to be unhealthy OP! And our skin DOES have amazing abilities to shrink over time.

Gebri93

I am worried about this too what do you think are my chances of loose skin. I'm 5 "7 and 180 pounds?

sweetpea129

I am worried about this too what do you think are my chances of loose skin. I'm 5 "7 and 180 pounds?

Your pictures dont show up but i wouldnt worry one bit . 5'7 and 180 lbs isnt that overweight, i doubt you will have any loose skin problems. Most of us here with the worries are those who are overweight by 50, 75, 100+ lbs

juliasays77

I am about 5'4.5" and my highest weight (that I know of- I didn't own a scale for a long time) was 207, my MFP starting weight was 202.

I am now down to 132, and I do have some loose skin. However, I hit my goal weight 2 months ago and have already been able to see that the elasticity is coming back, and that skin is starting to tighten up.

My loose-skin areas are on my belly, just above my c-section scar, and the area where my butt & legs meet.

linsey0689

Im 5 foot 8 and 21 years old. January 20, 2013 I was 285 now I'm about 235 and I have quite a bit of loose skin on my midsection specially. It's starting to look like love handles in the middle of my back from extra skin. I have 2 rolls under my breast and my bellybutton really isn't there it a slit being excess skin covers it.

Hope I don't discouraged anyone but I would want to lie about it because you may have loose skin. Even though I might look weird naked I look a lot better in clothes and that's the way almost everyone sees me.

bobbi_jo2

Hey, valid concern. As you can see, everyone is just so different and its so hard to tell what will happen. I am 24 years old, and I am 5'5" and was at around 220-230 at my heaviest. After my first kid, I worked hard and dropped down to about 155 lbs. Then I got pregnant and went back to 210. After my second child, I was able to get to my lowest of 142 lbs. I definitely have some loose skin on my lower stomach, and perhaps a small amount on my upper thighs and upper arms. My stomach isn't super noticeable unless I am doing plank or something where gravity really takes over. But I have heard it can tighten up months after maintaining and I have already noticed mine getting slightly better.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

bump

FJcntdwn2sknyluv

Highest was 283, now 155 5'9".... 34 and I have it on my stomach, back of arms and my thighs are disgusting!

I try to stay positive and I've been lifting more weights and the arms are getting better.. 1 30 day squat challenge and 1/2 of 30 day glute challenge later I'm star-ting to see a very small difference in my thighs.. been over weight my whole life till the last 2 years. and learning how to dress 3/4 length sleeves and burmuda shorts have gotten me though..
SO well see

Good luck!

shaynepoole

I'm 5'5" -- started at 340, now around 166 and just about to turn 43. I have been heavy ever since my teen years

I have loose skin, but while it is there -- most days it doesn't bother me at all

problem areas are thighs and arms - stomach area isn't really that bad and I look awesome in my size 6 jeans -- much better than I looked in the size 26 jeans (when I could fit them)

I am wearing my sleeveless shirts and tank tops, because I am not ashamed about it - I wore tank tops before, why not now? (I live in Phoenix AZ, where it is hot most of the year, and hotter than hell for at least 3 months July through September)

I will see where I am in a year after maintenance, but I have to figure that it's going to be part of me for the most part and like some of the other commenters said, I would way rather have the skin than to have it all filled in again

EDITTED:
I do work out with a trainer twice a week -- I think that has worked on minimizing some of the effect - but the muscles contrast nicely with the flab hanging underneath them

Lauriej0426

I am 5'2 started at 226, I'm 36, and now I'm 130. I do have loose skin. You cannot see it in my clothes. But I have noticed over time it is getting better. I hate, hate the loose skin on my belly but it is way better than the fat. And no one else knows it.