Anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight...

kaseysospacey

Do you have a ton of sagging skin or anything like that? I'm terrified that I'll lose weight and just look like a deflated sack. My mom (who is very overweight) is kind of against my dieting and has said that I'll look bad because of having been so heavy in the past, I'll just have skin to my knees and deflated boobs, etc. Is it really that bad?

dbrightwell1270

If you want to lose 174 lbs tou'll most likely have some saggy/loose skin when you are done. I'm 6'4" and have lost about 160 lbs so far. I have a little bit of loose skin (but not as bad as I've seen on other people) and stretch marks. I am losing it rather slowly compared to other people my size that I know, about 1.5 lbs per week. I also lift weights three days a week and do cardio three days a week. I think that helps. The loose skin and stretch marks aren't nearly as bad as looking as fat as I did 160 lbs ago though.

needamulligan

I'm curious, as well. There have been previous posts on this topic. The prevailing thought was that if you lose it slowly your body has time to bounce back. But I'm glad to hear it from people with first hand experience. Thanks dbrightwell for letting us know and great job!!

vickyd205

Given how much weight you want to lose, chances are you will have some saggy skin. I've lost 162 lbs in total and I definitely have saggy boobs and some saggy skin but I do have to say that it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I think losing it slowly helps, along with your age (I'm 47 so you're a lot younger than I am), but I think the biggest thing that helped me was exercising throughout the entire journey - a combo of cardio and weights.

In the end, a little loose skin is worth it to be able to live a healthier, happier life dontcha think?

EpicChristy

It depends on how well you take care of your skin, and how fast you lose weight. If you drink lots of water, use lotion, take vitamins, and eat a healthy diet your skin should keep its elasticity. You are young, so it will be much easier for you. Also, if you lose weight at a steady pace your body will be able to keep up. I wouldn't let my mother discourage me if i were you. Keep reading this site, and focusing on getting healthy!

cobaltis

I lost a good deal of weight, I did have surgery to help with extra skin and may have another. With that said...
LOST THE WEIGHT! You will not regret it! The benefits to being healthy far outweigh the downsides of loose skin! I would do it again in a heartbeat, everyone who sees you clothed will think you look better, only differences are naked and that really comes down to 1 person. My wife still fell in love with me despite the saggy skin, but supported me having surgery to have it removed! You have a while before you have to worry about it but you will feel a lot better if you drop the weight and enjoy life!

needamulligan

Given how much weight you want to lose, chances are you will have some saggy skin. I've lost 162 lbs in total and I definitely have saggy boobs and some saggy skin but I do have to say that it's not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I think losing it slowly helps, along with your age (I'm 47 so you're a lot younger than I am), but I think the biggest thing that helped me was exercising throughout the entire journey - a combo of cardio and weights.

In the end, a little loose skin is worth it to be able to live a healthier, happier life dontcha think?

Amazing progress! Your success is inspiring! And one day, I hope to be a little saggy and lot healthier too!

BeckyLH

I lost 77lbs and had saggy skin on my tummy, like a post baby belly, ice put some back on now so it's not as bad but it's still there and will be when I lose more. I peaked at 245lbs.

dlwyatt82

My mom (who is very overweight) is kind of against my dieting and has said that I'll look bad because of having been so heavy in the past, I'll just have skin to my knees and deflated boobs, etc.

As opposed to looking bad because you haven't lost the weight? I'd rather have the loose skin, if the choice is between the two. That said, many people just have their skin adjust to the new size over time. Others have surgery to remove the extra skin. Either way is fine.

kaseysospacey

I expect to be a bit saggy, but overweight people I know keep telling me I'll look deflated and terrible. I don't know why all of the overweight people I know are against me getting in shape? I am doing circuit training so I'm hoping to tone up a lot, I don't just want to lose weight, what I care about is losing inches of fat and gaining muscle. I care less about numbers and more about having less fat on my body and being stronger/having energy. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit! Maybe added muscle mass will help with minimizing the saggage. I do use coconut oil on my skin/hair so maybe that will help too.

chatterbox3110

Sadly for me, I've got a lot of excess skin on my tummy, but I've also had 4 children which hasn't helped.

If you're young, chances are your skin has its natural elasticity to pull it back into shape, but I know I will struggle without surgery, and I accept that. Keep up with the lotions to keep your skin in good condition, and the exercising will certainly help you loads.

At the end of the day, to me, my health is far more important than my appearance, but if I ever won Lotto....... watch this space!

CarleyLovesPets

#1 thing I am worried about.
If I wasn't saving for college, I would be saving up for surgery just in case to be honest.

I do think it's worth it either way.
I would rather have some sagging skin then being big, plus there is always the chance that it won't be that bad.

Louise1247

Yes! my belly hangs now- will never have firm skin anymore.
You can see it in my curent pic- the pouch!

http://bluemorpho1247.wordpress.com/2012/07/11/360-me-updates/

NMJosephs

Lose slowly and make sure you weight train! Good luck on your journey!

Bobby_Clerici

No, because I lost the weight SLOWLY!
Less than a pound per week.

nelsonad1

I did you lost some much so fast?

OnWisconsin84

You can check out my pics. I didn't work out much while I was losing, and haven't had many issues with skin. Since starting strength training I've noticed some of my trouble spots (triceps, thighs) tighten up, and it's not so noticeable. Still a little saggy though. It'll be different for everyone, but I don't think whether or not you'll have loose skin should deter anyone from getting healthy!

MrsB123111

I've lost 115 pounds in about 15 months, and honestly, the sagging is not that bad. I have a little bit of a pooch still and some inner thigh and arm flab, but nothing really noticable.

b0t23

I think that as long as you are losing the weight slowly and exercising you will definitely notice a tightening up of your skin along with stretch marks getting smaller and lighter.

yes this takes a long time and NO it should not stop you from working on your own personal health.

tell your mom to stfu because you are doing this for YOU
not her

Cindy311

I've lost over 100 and the places where I carried the most weight are saggy.
Not to be rude, but a large weight loss will more than likely leave saggy skin.
There are some great surgeries to take care of excess skin if you're willing to
pay the money and are able to have the time to recover properly. No matter
what you choose to do in the end just know that you will have lost 175 lbs and
that's one hell of an accomplishment! Start saving now and have a lift as a
gift to yourself if it's needed

kmm7309

Maybe you should re-evaluate the opinions of those who have no experience? Yes, there will be some sag. I am only 34% of the way to finishing my goal, and my boobs aren't as perky, and my tummy needs tucking. But the confidence, strength, and health that I have will outdo the emotional damage of not looking like Cameron Diaz :sad: :laugh:

myfitnessnmhoy

Do you have a ton of sagging skin or anything like that? I'm terrified that I'll lose weight and just look like a deflated sack. My mom (who is very overweight) is kind of against my dieting and has said that I'll look bad because of having been so heavy in the past, I'll just have skin to my knees and deflated boobs, etc. Is it really that bad?

No. If you lose the weight slowly and exercise while you are losing it, you'll probably do just fine.

If you crash diet and/or don't exercise, loose skin might be a problem.

More importantly, that loose skin used to contain fat. So if you're one of the unlucky ones, the skin does tighten up if you work out a bit and drink plenty of fluids, and revel in the loose skin and what it USED to contain!

jimmeezwyf

The most I had to lose was 110 lbs. after the pregnancy with my first and I lost it all with a bikini body. I see that my weight loss is not as much as some people but I do know and have seen people do it without really bad saggy skin. A mixture of heavy weight lifting sessions and walking/cardio will help, if not alleviate the saggy loose skin. Genetics, age, and losing quickly play a part. Unfortunately you really won't know what is going to happen until you start losing the weight, but do not underestimate heavy weight lifting to really make a big difference. Just my two cents...don't know if this will help, every body is different. Good luck!

nancykhayes

I lost about 160 lbs. just before I turned 40. I found that drinking a lot of water and exercising throughout your dieting does help with your skin. I did have some sagging skin but it was nothing like it could have been. I feel like everyone else, it was worth it!
I am dieting again now at 52 because I have put the weight back on. 50 lbs. in the last 4 years. I will use the same philosophy this time, water and exercise.
Good luck and don't let anyone discourage you! It is sad to say but there are saboteurs everywhere!

rdbennett2000

... overweight people I know keep telling me I'll look deflated and terrible.
... I don't know why all of the overweight people I know are against me getting in shape?
I am doing circuit training so I'm hoping to tone up a lot, I don't just want to lose weight, what I care about is losing inches of fat and gaining muscle. I care less about numbers and more about having less fat on my body and being stronger/having energy. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit! Maybe added muscle mass will help with minimizing the saggage.

I wonder what makes the overweight people you know think they're experts on the matter?

As to why they're against it? For the same reason unreformed alcoholics are the worst people for a recovering alcoholic to hang around with ... they're part of the 'old' you and think they're going to lose you.

As the others here have said, the weight training will help. Also as they've said, the rate at which you lose the weight will impact it significantly, as will your relative youth.

Good luck in your pursuit!

stanvoodoo

You can't really compare and we are all different and you are young so with exercise you have a could chance.

I am 50 so yeah I have saggy skin but I will take that over being the size I was every day of the week and twice on sundays!!!

Best of Luck!

isis2triple0

Honestly I would not worry about it too much like someone else on here said just take care of your skin as you loose weight lots of water, vitamins, healthy diet with plenty of greens which help tighten up skin, and most important keep your skin moist lots of good lotion like coca butter or Shea butter. Your still young so if you EAT CLEAN, LIFT WEIGHTS (serious weights make mom buy you some dumb bells or pay for gym membership instead of doughnuts), add in some sweat dripping heart pumping CARDIO and I think your skin will all tighten back up even your stomach you have to work for it though and work HARD!!! But, most importantly it's better to have some saggy skin then to stay fat and all due respect to Mom this is your body and you are entrusted to keep your temple fit she will come around and probable even join you!!

MB_Positif

I personally do not have loose skin, but I've only lost about 50 pounds. That said, one of the most important things I can tell you is to do some kind of strength training throughout your weight loss. A lot of people wait until they get to their goal weight to "tone." You will be so much happier if you start working on it earlier in the process!

cassie5017

I've lost close to 120 lbs and am glad I lost the weight. I do have some loose skin on my arms and thighs but nothing excessive. I say lose the weight. You'll be happy you did. As for the skin....it doesn't look as bad as the excess weight did. I notice it more than anyone else does. I am also almost 50 yrs old. If you are younger your skin should bounce back easier. I went from a size 26 to a size 6. I also have been lifting weights and have seen an improvement there. Lose weight slowly, lift weights, stay hydrated and use a tightening lotion. I did that and like I said I am happy with the results and my loose skin is tightening up. Don't let your mother's comments deter you from losing weight. You need to stay positive and surround yourself with people who encourage you. Good Luck.

gailashton

Of course you're going to have some sagging skin. But if you smoke, have sunbathed a lot, heavy alcohol, age they all play factors in this. I've lost over 100 pounds 3 times in my life starting at the age of 30. I exercised lifting weights, aerobics, etc. the entire time. At 30 i didn't have hardly any at all, at 40 not as good as 30, but not bad. At 50, well, lets just say it's not like 30 and 50. A lot of it depends on your skin, your heritage and your habits as well as your age. Keep exercising, lifting weights, etc. Of course you'll have some but it's way worse being obese and carrying all that around. I feel great and I'm proud of my skin. If it bothers you that much they make compression garments that keep things in place. Other than that save your money and get surgery at some point, but you've got to lose it first. Good luck. Just remember your hard work will show and you will be happier and healthier. No ones perfect.....

Ellas_Time_4_Change

Please google Amy Barnes the bodybuilder. She has lost 340 pounds without surgery and has no saggy skin. She looks incredible and should be an inspiration to us all.
Goodluck on your journey.