Loose Skin - My Experience

rides4sanity

I have seen soooo many threads asking about this lately. Some of them honestly bug me, because people are more worried about the possibility of loose skin than benefits of reaching a healthy weight...

For starters, I'm 40 years old, 5' 1" currently weigh 110-115 pounds . My heaviest weight was 196...

I have 2 kids, work full-time, run 2 youth programs at church and have a wonderful full life.

Yesterday I posted a few pictures in a success thread and I had friends ask me how I went from

January of 2014 (From blog http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/rides4sanity/view/time-to-share-the-belly-photo-ughhh-616669)

"I’m okay with how I look in my clothes, but the years of up and down have caused major issues with my tummy. People scoff when I mention not being where I want, I can probably drop another 5-10 pounds, but I don’t know that it would change the area I struggle to accept. According to docs surgery is the only real option to change this. Unfortunately, that is not a safe option for me, due to bleeding issues. This is where I am. I have never even taken a picture where this is visible, let alone shared it, but I need to learn to accept it so here it is in its lumpy bumpy glory. This is from this morning…"



to this in August of 2014


First of all I'm lying down, and we share the more flattering pictures. Secondly I dropped another 10-15 pounds over the course of 6 months. But honestly it just takes time for your skin to adjust... My belly still isn't perfect, but it is better. Hopefully if I continue with my healthy lifestyle it will continue to improve...

For the sake of comparison. I took a picture this morning in the same pj bottoms... SIGH... I love you people...




I don't moisturize daily. I don't use wraps. I don't drink enough water according to MFP.

The biggest change I made between picture 1 and 2 is I began working with a trainer who told me to back off the intensity and bump up the calories... My body had been stuck at Picture 1 for 2 years. I busted my *kitten* and restricted my calories and 120-125 was where I stayed... He looked at my schedule and said we need to let your body recover so that it can begin to function properly. What did that mean? I lift heavy & teach spin class 2 days a week. I do shorter (1 hour or less) 2 days a week, 1 long ride on the weekend... and REST 2 DAYS... That may seem like a lot, but for me it was less... I eat back my exercise calories and stick to a high protein and fairly low carb diet (I have reactive hypoglycemia and this works for me).

Once my body recovered a bit, I was able to add a bit to my rides and such. When I do as I'm told I progress. When I do my own thing, which tends to be over train... I slide back into a stalemate...

I guess I just want you guys to see that yes if you lose a bunch of weight you may have loose skin... It may or may not go away, but it isn't the end of the world. I am healthier than I have ever been. My kids see a healthy active lifestyle as normal... They see me walk around in my imperfections and accept them. This isn't easy for me, it is a conscious choice I make. I still see my flaws before I see my progress, but I'm working on that.

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futuresize8

First, you're beautiful inside and out.

Second, I think it's so awesome that you shared this. It never occured to me that time, patience and exercise could help skin retract. I know there are limits to that, especially as our elasticin begins to break down in our skin over time. But what a difference you've made all on your own!

Thank you for this post...truly useful and helpful and honest! HUGS!

mbcaldwell123

Well said. I struggle with loose skin issues also.

jchurch9

I'm not really worried about having loose skin, I would rather be healthy above all else. But I have to say, your post made me feel a lot better about my journey Thank you!

shoufek2

Well, We are very proud of you for loosing the weight and you look terrific! congrats!

StrawberryJam40

Thank you for sharing. You look amazing.

earlnabby

Looking good! Thank you so much for posting.

I have a lot more to lose than you and expect permanent loose skin. I am also 58 and menopausal so the skin retraction is much less likely plus I will have what I call "National Geographic" boobies. I have no problem with the idea that I will be in body briefers and spanx under dress clothes for the rest of my life. I see it as an equal trade for being fit, healthy, and the person I want to be. On the other hand, it is good to see that there will be more skin retraction over the years and that the body I have when I reach my goal weight is not necessarily the body I will have for the rest of my life.

Ladybug1250

THANK you for sharing!! You look great :-D

ihad

What a great post.

:flowerforyou:

AbbyCar

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

VAClydesdale

I don't usually comment much but great post. Every body has flaws. And from a guy's perspective, you look amazing.

Hearts_2015

I'm not really worried about having loose skin, I would rather be healthy above all else. But I have to say, your post made me feel a lot better about my journey Thank you!

:drinker:

katimama

fantastic post! Thanks for sharing your experience.

I come on these boards daily and look for the day's "motivation boost" ... you have given me that boost today (and for many days to come!)

logg1e

Brilliantly informative and compassionate post! I'm really taking a message from this about over-training. Thank you.

loadsandloads

Great post! Very encouraging and you do look amazing! I'm sure those kids are proud of their Mom.

AHealthyMe1lbAtATime

You look great! Thanks for this! Very nice post!

auddii

Awesome post. This is something everyone needs to read and remember.

dtwflygirl

Thank you for your great post! I'm sure it took courage to put it all out there, but I (along with many others!) really appreciate the honesty. Great job getting healthy, body and mind, and you have given me a little dose of inspiration for the day. I would be lying if I said I haven't been thinking about issues with loose skin...it's something that's on my mind, even though I am well aware that the benefits of being healthier far outweigh the negative aesthetics of loose skin, but we live in a culture that puts so much pride in appearance and for all my intelligence, I fall into that trap too. You posted this at a great time for me, thank you!

Kaelitr0n

Awesome post! Thank you for sharing both your struggles and triumphs with loose skin after massive weight loss. All too often, people get hung up on this issue as though it's worse than being morbidly obese.

You look amazing, by the way Truly an inspiration!

JenAndSome

Very well said!! I struggle with being okay with the loose skin and stretch marks on my stomach, but I deal with it much better now than I have in the past.

Jennisin1

I seriously have the same pj bottoms and skin issues........

zezelryck

Great post OP you look fantastic. I have lost 12 stone (168lb) and have some extra skin but it is still shrinking. I know it will never be the way it was when I was 17 but hey I'm 46. The most important thing to me is my health. I can't be there for my loved ones if i can't stand up or get around through being so overweight. No one has ever said to me that I need to put my weight back on to hide the excess but many people have said I look great now. So if anybody is concerned about excess skin and use this as a reason not to lose weight then I can promise you life is so much better in every way at least it is for me. Thanks OP for a great post. :-)

purple180

You look Fabulous and thank you for this!

astroophys

Thanks for the post! I appreciate your honesty!! Though, I'm not sure that being concerned with loose skin automatically coincides with valuing aesthetics over health. I'm a bit concerned with loose skin and am choosing to drink lots of water and moisturize. I don't know if that will make much of a difference but trying won't hurt! I think for most people, it's just a concern, not a priority. We're on MFP, not a dermatology forum, which hints that weight loss/health/fitness are the priorities.

Great post!!

Asherah29

So brave for posting! Thank You!

Valeen2013

I've been researching loose skin, and I read somewhere that it takes up to two years for body recomposition to occur and for your skin organ to adjust to less bulk. I would be very interested to see if people who had a lot of loose skin (tricep flaps, belly) had the loose skin disappear after a while. How long did it take? Does anyone still have loose skin after say, 2-3 years?

I wouldnt mind waiting the two years because (A) I'm cheap and (B) Excess skin removal is major surgery.

Songbirdcw

Thanks so much for sharing this. Very encouraging.

vmckinzey

Great post! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm sure loose skin will be an issue for me, but this extra weight is an even bigger issue. Your post gives me the extra motivation I need to keep going and helps me keep things into perspective.

KrissyRawrz

Thanks a lot for sharing! I'm really scared about loose skin, I've never been a "normal weight" even as a child so I'm scared my body isn't going to take the change well but your pictures make me happy to see! such a difference!

Shereewhitney88

Thank you for the post, you are very inspirational and you look wonderful! :drinker: