Anyone lost lots of weight NOT had excess skin????

emcdonie

I am very curious. As someone who has a long way to go, I guess I am kind of looking for a little hope in the excess skin dept. :-)

Has anyone lost MAJOR amounts of weight (like 100-200 pounds approximately) and NOT had big issues with excess skin????

I always hear or see stories/videos from people who do....rarely if never from people who don't.

It seems like many who have the issue end up getting surgical removal. I know many gastric bypass people have the problem due to losing so quickly. I realize age and other things can be a factor.

I admit, it worries me because I know even in the end, if it happens to me, and even if insurance would cover it (I assume doubtful), just my portion alone would not be affordable. I am hoping and praying, even if it is an extreme long shot, that it won't be too bad. But at the same time I am trying to be realistic in my mental prep for what may be to come.

hockey7fan

After losing 129 pounds I haven't yet. But I still have a long way to go so I am not sure what will happen when I am at goal.

emcdonie

Well we shall hope neither of us do! :-) Congrats on such an awesome loss so far!

contingencyplan

I lost 130 lbs. Had to get the skin on lower abdomen surgically removed. I just finished the recovery process now.

fleur_de_lis19

I've only lost about 20lbs and still have about 25 to go, and I already have excess skin. I'm thinking its genetics maybe?

microwoman999

I lost almost 60lbs and I have excess skin but I have been really working on toning! I don't know yet how this will work for me.

bachooka

105 lbs since I started this, I am taking it slow and steady so I have no loose skin. I have had three kids really close together and I have stretchmarks, but not loose skin.

suzieqcookie

i lost 120 before (from size 24 to size 4) and had NO excess skin.

shorty35565

185.2 to 123.6 & i have a little bit on the bottom of my tummy. I still have a belly, so I really wonder how it's gonna look when I get it flat. It's about genetics though. I've seen ppl lose 100s of lbs & not have loose skin, but I've lost 62 and have a little. So it really depends on the person. They say if can take a couple years to catch up, so that is my little hope tht mine will tighten since I'm young and it's not but a little bit. *crosses fingers* Good luck~

McBully4

Me, I've lost a lot of weight and don't have any, my stretch marks are still there. They aren't nearly as bright red as they were but that's all that remains of my big ol' belly.

Cheri_M

I'm not there yet, but I have the same concern and kept this research under "my blog" tab:

Posted on 08/25/2012 by Cheri_M

A concern I have as I reach my ideal weight is excess skin.

I've cut and pasted highlights that caught my eye, then the link is attached if you would like to read the full article:

How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss

As you lose fat and your loose skin begins to appear, the first rule is: don’t panic! Because it is a living organ, your skin will slowly return to a shape that fits your new body. But since that process can take up to two years, here are steps you can take to make your skin tighten more quickly:


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.

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

Men, get down to around 10-12% body fat before you start considering surgery or anything drastic. Women, get down to 15-17% body fat before taking any surgical steps.

First and foremost, any weight loss regimen must be accompanied by resistance training. Yeah, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you have to be lifting heavy things in order for the best things to happen to your body composition. There are a few genetic outliers who can put on muscle as easily as breathing, but those folks probably won’t have the problem of loose skin anyway. For the rest of us, however, we need to lift weights in order to maintain and/or build lean mass during weight loss. If your loose skin is caused by a rapid diminishing of body mass, packing on a bit more mass in the form of muscle can mitigate the problem

One study found that dietary gelatin improved skin elasticity (PDF). Eating real bone broth, fatty gelatin-rich meats like oxtail, poultry feet, or short ribs, or even using gelatin powder as a supplement might be able to restore or preserve skin elasticity. You’re already getting dietary gelatin anyway, right?

Another study found that a proprietary blend of nutrients, including selenium (salmon, brazil nuts, seafood), zinc (oysters, red meat), vitamin C (vegetables, fruit, raw liver), and various carotenoids (fruits and vegetables, red palm oil), was effective at increasing skin elasticity.

Vitamin C is important for collagen formation, which is vital for skin elasticity. Make sure to get enough vitamin C.
If weight loss occurs and you’re at a low-enough body fat percentage to determine that you truly have excess skin, give it several months before you turn to the scalpel. My guess is that for Primal eaters who are eating a nutrient-dense diet (including plenty of the aforementioned nutrients), truly excess skin won’t be as big a problem as it might be for the general dieter."


Read more: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-get-rid-of-excess-skin-after-major-weight-loss/#ixzz24ZiR7Hy0

"Subjects randomized to oral
supplementation with gelatin, and
combination borage seed oil/fish oil
demonstrated greater skin elasticity
at the end of the study than at
baseline as measured by cutometry.
Those subjects supplemented with
green tea had increased skin
conductance and decreased
perivascular inflammation. Those
subjects supplemented with gotu
kola, and hyaluronic acid for 8
weeks did not improve TEWL, skin
conductance or elasticity."
http://www.nuskin.com/global/library/pdf/products/tegreen_study_01.pdf


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Cheri_M/view/excess-skin-after-weight-loss-412462

ninick

I lost almost 100 lbs from my heaviest, but since I lost the weight slowly, the skin wasn't too bad the tummy is the biggest issue. Now that I'm closer to my goal weight and i started weight training, I DO see improvement! so dont worry!

ladymiseryali

Several years back I was 232 lbs. I got myself down to 142 in the most unhealthiest of ways. I was lucky to have not had excess hangy skin, but then again the way I carry weight may also have a lot to do with it because I never looked like I weighed as much as I did. Four years ago I was 200. I'm now 149ish, and still no excess skin.

CyberEd312

This will ultimately come down to an individual basis, and I was not fortunate enough to not have loose skin but I knew early on it was going to be a problem. I lost 311 lbs. so my skin was stretch out and was not going back to where it once was. I had circumferential body lift surgery 16 days ago and they removed between 15-20 lbs. of excess skin. I talk to MFP and they approved me creating a website and sharing it on here for others that may need to have the surgery or one like it (tummy tuck) so I documented everything leading up to and now am blogging on the Post Op side of it.. If you would like to read it my site is www.gettingfit4life.com I wish you the best on your journey and hope you don't have to contend with loose skin in the future... Best of Luck.....

tlnurse

bump to follow

annarouni

Hi Ed, I was just thinking about you this morning. Hope that your recovery is still going well. :flowerforyou:

CyberEd312

Hi Ed, I was just thinking about you this morning. Hope that your recovery is still going well. :flowerforyou:

Hi doing pretty good , got 2 of the 4 drains out this morning..... the other 2 hopefully out at the first of the week.. (Sorry OP don't want to thread steal)

Linda_Kaye

I've been worried about loose skin also. I have a lot to lose and do expect to have some excess. I've had 2 vertical c-sections and I know my stomach will never be flat. But i'm praying for as little loose skin as possible by the time i'm finished. Surgery is definitely not an option for me.

UsedToBeHusky

I've been worried about loose skin also. I have a lot to lose and do expect to have some excess. I've had 2 vertical c-sections and I know my stomach will never be flat. But i'm praying for as little loose skin as possible by the time i'm finished. Surgery is definitely not an option for me.

I've had 2 c-sections also. I fully expect to have a flat stomach but with significant loose skin in that area. I might also have it in my arms. Time will tell. I still have a lot to lose in my arms. My legs are fine, but they have the most muscle and do the most work so it is pretty likely that is the reason. The only other place I am concerned about loose skin is on my butt.

Primarily, though, I expect to have firm, flat abs with a fold of extra skin over my scar tissue. I don't know yet if I will consider the skin removal option. I'm waiting to get to goal to see how bad it looks.

emcdonie

Thank you for all of the replies! I suppose all I can do is hope and wait and see. I imagine I would be so thrilled with a different way of living to be thin that I might not care. I don't wish to be consumed with vanity by any means. However, I would just like to be able to feel pretty for my beloved again some day. Time will tell I suppose.



Oh, and my last csection was a vertical cut on the outside and you are right, it REALLY already affects the ways things hang so I totally know what you mean.

LJCannon

:drinker: McBully has done his Research!! Very Good, Accurate Information from what I have read here on MFP and on other Sites too.

The only thing I wanted to add was that I lost my weight with Weight Training from Day One. I drink probably a Gallon of water a day, including Tea, Coffee, and Milk. I have Never Smoked. I reached my Goal Weight October 2010, and although my skin will NEVER be tight, I think it is FINE. I do have "Angel Wings" and a bit of loose skin around my middle, but I don't have any issues or problems with it.

cherilyn221

What an incredible amount of support the replies have given us who are concerned with the skin issue, but also I've found in the stories here something extra....the encouragement I needed tonight to not give up. Ed I've subscribed to your surgery blog. It's inspirational where you have come from. Thank you all for supporting one another here.

barky586

Down about 185 pounds so far...from 307 to 124. I won't say I'm bikini ready and that I don't have ANY floppy skin, but I don't have anything like what I would have expected. My mom's favorite saying is, "you don't have a big floppy belly." lol I start month 18 tommorrow, and I have done weights and cardio since day 1, which might have something to do with it. I see it mainly in my face - there is no exercise for my face. I see some on my upper legs, but again, nothing like what I expected.

karmahunger

Hm. I'm not trying to lose that amount, but I worry about excess too. Would working out and getting muscle prevent it?

jsherrill92

The speed in which you lose weight determines how much excess skin you will have.

warriorsdontbitch

So far I have lost 120 ilbs and still no excess skin. But I still have 30 more pounds to go. It has taken me 3yrs to lose it. And i've been doing weight/strength training thru most of it

jinjin8

I have 120 pounds or so to lose all up and I'm at around 73 pounds down (in around 10 months), so far no loose skin *touch wood*

It doesn't look like it would had I never been overweight but it still looks fairly tight and totally fine.

Weight training has really worked wonders. I think drinking loads of water and moisturising helps too.

Miss_dannii

I've lost 73 pounds and I only have loose skin on my boobs, nowhere else luckily. It's not too bad, just a bit. I didn't do any exercises so I'm not sure what to advise lol x

Miss_dannii

I have 120 pounds or so to lose all up and I'm at around 73 pounds down (in around 10 months), so far no loose skin *touch wood*

It doesn't look like it would had I never been overweight but it still looks fairly tight and totally fine.

Weight training has really worked wonders. I think drinking loads of water and moisturising helps too.

73 - snap! Well done x

jinjin8

I have 120 pounds or so to lose all up and I'm at around 73 pounds down (in around 10 months), so far no loose skin *touch wood*

It doesn't look like it would had I never been overweight but it still looks fairly tight and totally fine.

Weight training has really worked wonders. I think drinking loads of water and moisturising helps too.

73 - snap! Well done x

You too! You look fab!

Velum_cado

It seems like some people (like me) will get excess skin no matter what. I'm losing fairly slowly (nearly 100 lbs in about a year and a half), I drink loads of water, and I'm doing weight training, which are the things I guess I'm supposed to do to prevent excess skin. I'm still fat, but I have quite a bit of excess skin already. I think a lot depends on genetics, really.