excess skin?

humanismu

Hi!!!

I hope this is the right forum because I didn't know where this question would go

So I started at 275lbs and am currently 266. I'm losing weight at ~3lbs a week. I've heard stories that when well, fat people lose weight there is excess skin that hangs loosely? Is there a way to combat that? I do 30 mins of elliptical running and ~30 minutes of strength training 4 times a week, but I'm really nervous about that @_ @...

I guess what I'm asking is: Does this really happen and if so how do I prevent it?

now_or_never13

Best way to try and minimize the amount of loose skin you end up with is eating properly, being hydrated, and losing the weight slowly.

Slow weight loss is best to help minimize how much skin is left. Lifting HEAVY and building muscle will help as well.

humanismu

Ah! That's what I had thought but I wasn't 100%. Thank you soooo much!!!

caribear1984

I have worried about this in the past too, but it's such an individual thing that it's sort of pointless to worry about. It's not something that should stop you from losing weight. Even if you do get some loose skin, it will shrink over time, so it may be a few years before you really have a good idea of what is permanent and what is not. All you can do is what the previous poster suggested: hydrate, lift, lose slow.

tif83

i'm currently freaking out about this. i'm watching some show about my 600 lb life and this woman has lost a bunch of weight and just had surgery to remove excess skin. granted, i was never 600lbs, but still i need to lose about 100lbs (have lost 47 so far) and that is a lot of weight. i'm totally freaking out right now watching this show (i can't stop b/c i want to see the results....). i always thought maybe i'd have to have a tummy tuck, which should be no big deal, but this lady was walking too much and not eating enough and her wounds didn't heal. anyways- clearly i'm freaking out. i'm wondering if any of these people out there that have lost 100-200 lbs can comment on what happened with their skin, did they have it removed, is it just still there and saggy???? BLAH.

krissy_krossy

With that much weight to lose, your only option to get rid of it will probably be surgery (esp. if you have stretch marks.) My highest weight was 190-something and I have a bunch of stretchmarks and I know my skin will always be saggy unless I get a tuck or something.

DexterDarko

I'm also afraid of this, considering I dropped 20 pounds week 1 and I'll most likely drop another double digit number week 2.

I'm not going to stop doing all I can do, though. If it happens, then I guess I'll have to deal with it. Argh XD

I'm in my teens so show me mercy body

ShannonMpls

I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about this.

Some people have an issue, some don't. There isn't a whole lot you can do about that except follow the advice of others in this thread...slowly lose weight, lift weights, drink a lot of water, and feed your body nutritious foods. In the end, though, it likely depends the most on age and genetics.

I'm a lucky one. I've lost 135+ pounds. Loose skin is a non-issue. Granted, my skin doesn't look like someone who has been stick thin my whole life...I have some saggy areas. But I don't spend a second giving a *kitten*. I'm basically thrilled with how I look and feel.

Some people aren't so lucky and end up needing skin removed for medical reasons. but cross that bridge when you come to it. Those individuals often have luck getting insurance to cover the procedure.

liesevanlingen

The younger you are, the quicker your skin will bounce back. It will shrink back eventually, but it depends on so many factors (your age, the amount of weight loss, the speed of weight loss, heredity, type of skin (dry skin may wrinkle more) number of pregnancies, and so on, that you really can't predict what will happen. That said, I'm 41, I had four babies, I lost 40 pounds and have very dry skin--and I haven't got loose floppy skin. It tightened up okay as I slowly lost the weight over the course of about 10 months. Losing the weight faster may mean you will have some loose skin for a while. But it does usually shrink back eventually, from what I've read and heard.

runefairy

Skin is elastic. Given time it may reduce back to shape. Eating right helps, you want protein and oils in your diet, and may want to consider a collegen supplement. Drink enough water, moisturize, and exfoliate to keep the skin supple. Take care of your skin and it will do fairly well.

If you are concerned about it, make an appointment with a plastic surgeon. You can get all the answers to your questions and look into some of the new treatments available, as well as get a better idea of what to expect and when to start really worrying about wether the skin wil return to a better shape. Initial consultations are usually cheap or free. There are also other treatments like Thermage if you only need a little bit of work. It's always best to talk to the professionals and get the full information rather than stressing over something that may not even be an issue for you.

I plan on getting some corrective surgery once I get to the weight I want, but I know for a fact that even with the excess skin I'm going to look and feel so much better than I did before. (I already do!) Focus on how well your body is starting to function, how much energy you have and how strong you feel now compared to when you started, and enjoy what you can do!

humanismu

Thanks for all the replies guys It really put my anxiety to rest. I'm still young so hopefully that does help a lot!!! I'm definitely not worried about stretchmarks (because I have a ton already so what the hay) but I can't afford a tummy tuck @_ @ I have 100lbs to lose over all, and that's just why I was concerned. I'll definitely be watching my water intake and keeping the loss per week down. ccc:

bodiva88

Lost 100 pounds in my 20s and it was no big deal. No hanging skin, just stretch marks. Now I'm in my 50s and will be losing 159 and already I know my stomach will be an issue, but if it's bad enough, I'll get a tuck. I don't really worry so much about it because I'm doing this to be healthier, stronger, fitter, and live longer and better. I don't ever plan to go nude sunbathing. ;-)

AbsoluteNG

There is some research that says there is a link between HGH proteins and skin elasticity. You can increase your HGH proteins in two ways. First is by exercising, particularly Hiit workouts, endurance doesn't help. Second is by fasting. Sleep is a natural fasting state so you shouldn't eat carbs before you go to bed.

tif83

I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about this.

Some people have an issue, some don't. There isn't a whole lot you can do about that except follow the advice of others in this thread...slowly lose weight, lift weights, drink a lot of water, and feed your body nutritious foods. In the end, though, it likely depends the most on age and genetics.

I'm a lucky one. I've lost 135+ pounds. Loose skin is a non-issue. Granted, my skin doesn't look like someone who has been stick thin my whole life...I have some saggy areas. But I don't spend a second giving a *kitten*. I'm basically thrilled with how I look and feel.

Some people aren't so lucky and end up needing skin removed for medical reasons. but cross that bridge when you come to it. Those individuals often have luck getting insurance to cover the procedure.

Ah- this post made me feel so much better! Thank you for the insight from someone who has been there. i just hit 30, so not really young, but not old yet, either- hopefully that will be in my favor. And I've been losing it slowly (47 lbs in just over a year). I love that you don't care about the parts that are a little saggy, though. I'm def going to keep giving this all I've got, I was just really stressing and happy to see this post! Deep breaths. And i'll try to stop worrying until i get to that point- hard thing for me to do!

ShannonMpls

I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about this.

Some people have an issue, some don't. There isn't a whole lot you can do about that except follow the advice of others in this thread...slowly lose weight, lift weights, drink a lot of water, and feed your body nutritious foods. In the end, though, it likely depends the most on age and genetics.

I'm a lucky one. I've lost 135+ pounds. Loose skin is a non-issue. Granted, my skin doesn't look like someone who has been stick thin my whole life...I have some saggy areas. But I don't spend a second giving a *kitten*. I'm basically thrilled with how I look and feel.

Some people aren't so lucky and end up needing skin removed for medical reasons. but cross that bridge when you come to it. Those individuals often have luck getting insurance to cover the procedure.

Ah- this post made me feel so much better! Thank you for the insight from someone who has been there. i just hit 30, so not really young, but not old yet, either- hopefully that will be in my favor. And I've been losing it slowly (47 lbs in just over a year). I love that you don't care about the parts that are a little saggy, though. I'm def going to keep giving this all I've got, I was just really stressing and happy to see this post! Deep breaths. And i'll try to stop worrying until i get to that point- hard thing for me to do!

I'm glad it helped. Honestly, everything is easier now and I simply enjoy life more. So my washboard abs are covered by a little saggy skin...I don't care. I know they're strong in there. I love how I look in clothes. I've had a baby. I have minimal expectations

I do know some people who have lost a lot of weight, especially if they are apple-shaped, and end up with hanging skin that really impedes their health in some way or simply detracts from their enjoyment of exercise, for example. But both of the people I know in this camp had insurance that covered the removal for medical reasons.

But again...no need to worry about this until you've lost weight and waited a year or so to see how your skin tightens up and things "settle." Trust me, loose skin or not, losing the weight is worth it for your physical AND mental health