Could you tighten hanging skin successfully through exercise

Verity1111

I am pregnant and I have some skin that hangs a little from our last baby that I am scared won't tighten if I exercise. :[ It is not extremely dramatic, but it is dramatic enough to make me worry. Sorry if this picture is disturbing at all, but my shirt is where my tummy should be up at and you can see the little bit of loose skin/fat(?) that is out of it. You think there is hope for me yet?

miss_shell89

Unfortunately i have this and ive never had kids lol. It seems id lose about 5 dress sizes if i just got rid. I heard Zumba is really good for that area x

Twinsmama75

Do you have a lot of stretch marks? From my friends experiences who did NOT have stretch marks (so their skin never stretched to an extreme degree), were able to get their skin back to looking normal.

I however, have a circle of stretch marks and quite a bit of loose skin, from my twin pregnancy. When I lost all the weight through diet only, the skin just hung there and even though there was not much fat behind it, the extra skin remained. Now, 2 more kids later, I need to lose the weight again and I'm exercising and eating healthier, I hope exercising will help, but I really doubt it will make it "normal" by any stretch of the imagination :grumble: Goodluck!!

aimesuk

Twinsmama (hi there I have twins too!) is right.

If you have stretch marks you will definitely not get it back to how it was. If not, then the possibility is there. You have a pretty neat bump so you should be able to get it back, but once the elasticity is gone in the skin it won't go back.

waterhaunted

I had 3 children. First was c-section, last was in my mid 30's and until the age of 42 I had a tight tummy. It did take exercise and desire to get back in shape.
I will Say I did carry that thicker skin feel from having kids.

Verity1111

Unfortunately i have this and ive never had kids lol. It seems id lose about 5 dress sizes if i just got rid. I heard Zumba is really good for that area x

Wow well none for me I went up a lot of weight real fast with our first kid..not a lot with this one. I gained about 50+ lbs the first time though and went up to 215 I will try Zumba thank you for the idea by the way!

Verity1111

Do you have a lot of stretch marks? From my friends experiences who did NOT have stretch marks (so their skin never stretched to an extreme degree), were able to get their skin back to looking normal.

I however, have a circle of stretch marks and quite a bit of loose skin, from my twin pregnancy. When I lost all the weight through diet only, the skin just hung there and even though there was not much fat behind it, the extra skin remained. Now, 2 more kids later, I need to lose the weight again and I'm exercising and eating healthier, I hope exercising will help, but I really doubt it will make it "normal" by any stretch of the imagination :grumble: Goodluck!!

I have the worst stretch marks I have ever seen so that scares me I could never be happy with it that way, but I don't think I could live with myself if I had plastic surgery so I don't know what I will do except try! I'm 21, so I am hoping my skin elasticity is still in tact. I have no muscle damage so maybe that will help too..

Verity1111

Twinsmama (hi there I have twins too!) is right.

If you have stretch marks you will definitely not get it back to how it was. If not, then the possibility is there. You have a pretty neat bump so you should be able to get it back, but once the elasticity is gone in the skin it won't go back.

I have stretch marks, but I have seen people tighten them before so I am not sure.. I will try my best and I guess that is all I can do! I have a lot of stretch marks, but really just loose skin at the bottom, which showed up while I was still pregnant the first time?! Like I had a neat bump with hanging skin so I partially wonder if it is some weird water build up too..not sure if that is possible.

Verity1111

I had 3 children. First was c-section, last was in my mid 30's and until the age of 42 I had a tight tummy. It did take exercise and desire to get back in shape.
I will Say I did carry that thicker skin feel from having kids.

I definitely don't mind and I don't expect perfection! I just expect perfect enough for me to look in the mirror and feel good about myself.. I can't stand that my tummy hangs so low! I don't even mind if it is a little loose at the bottom like wrinkly because of my stretch marks as long as my abdominal muscles can tighten despite the skin. Thank you for the hope at least. You're all wonderful for letting me know your experiences. xoxo

pspetralia

I have read that if you strength train while you lose weight you won't end up with as much sagging skin. I hope it is true!!!

lilcupcake213

I've had three kids within 5 years..my first pregnancy i gained 50 lbs and my body was never the same after that. i just had little girl 9 months ago and with a 1200 cal diet and doing turbo fire and some ab routines it has gone down a signifigant amount. i also use palmers tummy butter to help with the fading of my stretch marks. it works a little bit but nothing drastic. but i do notice the thinner i get under my boobs, the more the little pouch sticks out. once you have loose skin i dont think it really ever fully goes away, but if you keep working at it, you can shrink it down quite a bit. just hang in there !

ahavoc

Listen, your skin will go back to normal, but it takes it longer to get there then the rest of your body. Keep exercising, moisturize, and give your body time. The rule of thumb is that if it took you 3 years to get to your top weight, it will take 3 years for your skin to go back to normal. You slowly stretched your skin over that time, and it will take your skin that long to shrink back.

Weight loss, strengthening, skin recovery, non of this will happen overnight. It's all a process. Get on board with it and go for the ride from beginning to end. You can't speed it up, it is what it is, but you can be realistic and enjoy the journey.

Verity1111

Sorry if this is TMI, but these are my stretch marks..I know it will be difficult to tighten at all because of them, but I am hoping with my muscles in tact it will work out okay. The marks don't bother me now yet the skin bothers me a lot.

Verity1111

I have read that if you strength train while you lose weight you won't end up with as much sagging skin. I hope it is true!!!

Thank you I'll try that too dear. :]

Verity1111

I've had three kids within 5 years..my first pregnancy i gained 50 lbs and my body was never the same after that. i just had little girl 9 months ago and with a 1200 cal diet and doing turbo fire and some ab routines it has gone down a signifigant amount. i also use palmers tummy butter to help with the fading of my stretch marks. it works a little bit but nothing drastic. but i do notice the thinner i get under my boobs, the more the little pouch sticks out. once you have loose skin i dont think it really ever fully goes away, but if you keep working at it, you can shrink it down quite a bit. just hang in there !

I think the problem is too much hanging lmso. No need for more! I see your point though I am willing to take my time, I just want even slight results.. I don't mind the marks at all to be honest with you, just the skin bothers me for some reason.

Verity1111

Listen, your skin will go back to normal, but it takes it longer to get there then the rest of your body. Keep exercising, moisturize, and give your body time. The rule of thumb is that if it took you 3 years to get to your top weight, it will take 3 years for your skin to go back to normal. You slowly stretched your skin over that time, and it will take your skin that long to shrink back.

Weight loss, strengthening, skin recovery, non of this will happen overnight. It's all a process. Get on board with it and go for the ride from beginning to end. You can't speed it up, it is what it is, but you can be realistic and enjoy the journey.

Thank you! Like I said even if I can just get thin and feel like I don't look like I have skin drooping all over me I will be okay with it. I would like to at least tone some on my own before deciding I need some sort of surgery for it and a lot of people I know seem to run for plastic surgery instantly which is not what I want for myself or not yet at least.

piebird79

I've had 3 children and gained about 50 pounds each time. After my third pregnancy the hanging skin and fat was really bad because I hadn't taken care of it after the first two pregnancies. I've lost all of my pregnancy weight plus an additional 7 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight over the past 5 months. I've significantly reduced the belly fat and hanging skin, primarily through weight lifting. My exercise consists of about 1/3 cardio and 2/3 lifting. After you have this child and are cleared to exercise again I'd start a lifting program if I were you. It's very effective!

f_bluhe

Hi There,

Probably no the place for a guy to hang around, I do remember seeing something on the Discovery channel a few years back about reversing the ageing process. There they were talking about something called Seymour systems. Effectively I think they were massaging the skin heavily to increase the collagen in the skin. They showed a woman who wanted to get rid of her tummies loose skin and did so after a few months (including exercise). I'm not sure how vigorous they were with the massages but I think it was at the point where it might have been a tad uncomfortable.

I had a look at their website back then to see if they had any products to sell but it said the website wasn’t completed yet and looking at it tonight it hasn’t changed

They also implied that all the creams and lotions used by beauty companies actually worked because people were actually massaging them into the skin, and that the action of massaging was creating the "age defying" results, not the creams.

Not sure if this is of any use, or if it actually works. But I figure it can’t hurt?

ZurvitaLeader

My hubby and I are BLESSED with 10 children. We have one set of twins in the mix! ;-)! I have a noticeable tummy FOLD of skin now after the twins! :-( Oh well! :-) I've heard of dry skin brushing helping with this issue. I am trying to be consistent w/ it myself.

It feels good and I know that I taking better care of my skin in this way.

You can "google" it or better yet, go to youtube. "dry skin brushing"

Blessings,
Cheri S.

Helloitsdan

Skin issues are generally fixed by what you eat.
Look into eating foods higher in vitamins that help the skin!

Verity1111

I've had 3 children and gained about 50 pounds each time. After my third pregnancy the hanging skin and fat was really bad because I hadn't taken care of it after the first two pregnancies. I've lost all of my pregnancy weight plus an additional 7 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight over the past 5 months. I've significantly reduced the belly fat and hanging skin, primarily through weight lifting. My exercise consists of about 1/3 cardio and 2/3 lifting. After you have this child and are cleared to exercise again I'd start a lifting program if I were you. It's very effective!

Wow! I would probably go nuts if I gained 50lbs again.. I have been so paranoid this time and I think it takes a lot of strength to relax about weight gain when pregnant. It is amazing to hear you reduced the skin a lot. I definitely will look into weight lifting because this isn't the first time someone suggested it to me. Thank you so much for the tips!

Verity1111

Hi There,

Probably no the place for a guy to hang around, I do remember seeing something on the Discovery channel a few years back about reversing the ageing process. There they were talking about something called Seymour systems. Effectively I think they were massaging the skin heavily to increase the collagen in the skin. They showed a woman who wanted to get rid of her tummies loose skin and did so after a few months (including exercise). I'm not sure how vigorous they were with the massages but I think it was at the point where it might have been a tad uncomfortable.

I had a look at their website back then to see if they had any products to sell but it said the website wasn’t completed yet and looking at it tonight it hasn’t changed

They also implied that all the creams and lotions used by beauty companies actually worked because people were actually massaging them into the skin, and that the action of massaging was creating the "age defying" results, not the creams.

Not sure if this is of any use, or if it actually works. But I figure it can’t hurt?

Nope sounds like it can't hurt at all to me! Thank you so much because that is a unique idea I'm sure no one else would think of. The website seems to be seymoursystems.com/menu.htm and if nothing else it has some very calming music to it..lmso. I don't care if men hang around because I appreciate any ideas.. I am just worried and want to make sure I try everything to look somewhere near my age. I'm only twenty-one years old and I will be twenty-two in April, a little less than one month after our second baby is due. Thank you. :]

Verity1111

Skin issues are generally fixed by what you eat.
Look into eating foods higher in vitamins that help the skin!

Thank you. That will definitely be a good idea because I am Vitamin D deficient by a lot and just found out.. I think it is best I try to up my intake and take my pills regularly because I read Vitamin D can help the skin a lot. Thank you for the suggestion for sure and I will look into it some more. :]

EmCarroll1990

My mom's had three kids and has stretch marks and has been able to tighten her stomach back to almost perfect. She uses Bio-Oil to help with the stretch marks and has gotten herself down to about 105 lbs, with killer abs.

Verity1111

My hubby and I are BLESSED with 10 children. We have one set of twins in the mix! ;-)! I have a noticeable tummy FOLD of skin now after the twins! :-( Oh well! :-) I've heard of dry skin brushing helping with this issue. I am trying to be consistent w/ it myself.

It feels good and I know that I taking better care of my skin in this way.

You can "google" it or better yet, go to youtube. "dry skin brushing"

Blessings,
Cheri S.

I must say first am so jealous because I would love twins! Next I will google that a little later and see what I can find because that is a new concept for me too. It may be effective though because there is still a lot science is learning every day. I wouldn't be surprised if the cure to a lot of common ailments was something very simple and not yet entirely discovered. :] Thank you.

BobbyMorgan

I was doing some research on this myself. Maybe this will help.

http://weightloss.about.com/od/obesityhealth/a/blexcessskin.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/loose-skin-after-weight-loss/

http://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-tighten-loose-skin-after-weight-loss.aspx

Tip #1: Don’t Lose Weight Too Quickly

In addition to weight loss, age, poor nutrition, dehydration, excessive sun exposure, and smoking can all affect the elasticity of the skin.
Crash diets and excessive amounts of time spent exercising can rapidly shed both muscle and fat, resulting in a double-whammy on your skin--the supportive underlying muscular structure that holds skin against your body is lost, as is the fat that keeps the skin stretched out. Quick and dirty tip for not losing weight too quickly: Aim for 1-2 pounds of fat loss per week, and make sure your weight loss program includes weight lifting so that you do not lose lean muscle. Check out more weight lifting and strength training tips here.

Tip #2: Stay Hydrated

Attend to your hydration needs. Water is a crucial component of maintaining skin elasticity. From both food and drink, you should be taking in at least two liters of water each day. A wonderful resource for learning more about proper hydration is this article from Nutrition Diva: How Much Water Should I Drink?

Tip #3: Eat Properly

Two necessary ingredients that keep skin plump and elastic are collagen and elastin. Protein-rich foods such as cottage cheese, milk, legumes, tofu, beans, seeds, nuts, and fish all contain collagen and elastin forming components, as well as oils to help maintain healthy skin. Quick and dirty protein tip: For optimum absorption, squeeze 100-200 calories of these protein sources in immediately after your workout. For more on what to eat when working out, see my article on what to eat before and after exercising.

Tip #4: Take Care of Your Skin


Nourish and care for your skin. Daily exfoliation can help to remove dead skin cells and increase skin circulation. A hot bath with sea salts and minerals can improve skin tone. Skin tightening creams with herbal formulas and ingredients such as aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, yeast extract, soy protein, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A can help to hydrate and increase collagen and elastin formation in skin.

Stay away from harsh detergents, such a sulfates in soaps, shampoos and dishwashing liquids, limit your sun exposure and stay away from tanning booths, and limit your exposure to hot and chlorinated water—all of these things will decrease skin elasticity. Quick and dirty tip: If you swim for fitness, use soap and shampoos that are specially designed to remove chlorine.

Dayna154

Unfortunately i have this and ive never had kids lol. It seems id lose about 5 dress sizes if i just got rid. I heard Zumba is really good for that area x

Wow well none for me I went up a lot of weight real fast with our first kid..not a lot with this one. I gained about 50+ lbs the first time though and went up to 215 I will try Zumba thank you for the idea by the way!

I do zumba a couple of times a week and it works wonders on the underlying muscles, so when you do lose the weight the muscles are tight and it helps to pull everything in tighter. I am in a smaller size jean than I used to be at the same weight.. I love it, it feels like fun not exercize.

ZurvitaLeader

We are BLESSED w/ our twins, they are fun. We actually prayed for them. They turn 6 this Thurs. :happy:

Dry skin brushing, it's got a lot of benefits that's fer sure! :-) Obviously, when done with all the other focus of taking care of the body; it works well. Diet, exercise, vitamins, a good night's sleep, ect....

Stay Blessed,
;-)

Helloitsdan

Skin issues are generally fixed by what you eat.
Look into eating foods higher in vitamins that help the skin!

Thank you. That will definitely be a good idea because I am Vitamin D deficient by a lot and just found out.. I think it is best I try to up my intake and take my pills regularly because I read Vitamin D can help the skin a lot. Thank you for the suggestion for sure and I will look into it some more. :]

D can be fixed by drinking 2% milk!

Verity1111

My mom's had three kids and has stretch marks and has been able to tighten her stomach back to almost perfect. She uses Bio-Oil to help with the stretch marks and has gotten herself down to about 105 lbs, with killer abs.

Your mom sounds amazing and a lot of people mention bio-oil so I think I need to become familiar with it now! Thank you xoxo

Verity1111

I was doing some research on this myself. Maybe this will help.

http://weightloss.about.com/od/obesityhealth/a/blexcessskin.htm

http://www.livestrong.com/loose-skin-after-weight-loss/

http://getfitguy.quickanddirtytips.com/how-to-tighten-loose-skin-after-weight-loss.aspx

Tip #1: Don’t Lose Weight Too Quickly

In addition to weight loss, age, poor nutrition, dehydration, excessive sun exposure, and smoking can all affect the elasticity of the skin.
Crash diets and excessive amounts of time spent exercising can rapidly shed both muscle and fat, resulting in a double-whammy on your skin--the supportive underlying muscular structure that holds skin against your body is lost, as is the fat that keeps the skin stretched out. Quick and dirty tip for not losing weight too quickly: Aim for 1-2 pounds of fat loss per week, and make sure your weight loss program includes weight lifting so that you do not lose lean muscle. Check out more weight lifting and strength training tips here.

Tip #2: Stay Hydrated

Attend to your hydration needs. Water is a crucial component of maintaining skin elasticity. From both food and drink, you should be taking in at least two liters of water each day. A wonderful resource for learning more about proper hydration is this article from Nutrition Diva: How Much Water Should I Drink?

Tip #3: Eat Properly

Two necessary ingredients that keep skin plump and elastic are collagen and elastin. Protein-rich foods such as cottage cheese, milk, legumes, tofu, beans, seeds, nuts, and fish all contain collagen and elastin forming components, as well as oils to help maintain healthy skin. Quick and dirty protein tip: For optimum absorption, squeeze 100-200 calories of these protein sources in immediately after your workout. For more on what to eat when working out, see my article on what to eat before and after exercising.

Tip #4: Take Care of Your Skin


Nourish and care for your skin. Daily exfoliation can help to remove dead skin cells and increase skin circulation. A hot bath with sea salts and minerals can improve skin tone. Skin tightening creams with herbal formulas and ingredients such as aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, yeast extract, soy protein, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin A can help to hydrate and increase collagen and elastin formation in skin.

Stay away from harsh detergents, such a sulfates in soaps, shampoos and dishwashing liquids, limit your sun exposure and stay away from tanning booths, and limit your exposure to hot and chlorinated water—all of these things will decrease skin elasticity. Quick and dirty tip: If you swim for fitness, use soap and shampoos that are specially designed to remove chlorine.

Sounds like a plan and thank you for sharing the ideas with me!