HELP sagging skin !!!

Jayme34
Jayme34 Posts: 160 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so my highest weight was 400 lbs :sad: and my current weight is 340ish. I have lost about 30 lbs in the past 6 weeks through a major overhaul to my lifestyle and food choices and working out 5-6 days per week using the curves circuit and zumba.

Does anyone know if its even possible to get rid of the sagging skin left over from weightloss, i have bat wings BIG time and my stomach is starting to be a problem too. I do plan on having weight loss surgery in a few months but that will only compound the skin issues. I am so worried about the outcome to rapid weight loss and it scares the heck outta me.

Can anyone recommend something to make this more bearable?? I hate how it looks, i know its my fault for letting it get this far but is there any amount of excercise that will change this??

Replies

  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but only two things can truly fix this issue. One is time, and a LOT of it. Basically, your skin's structure has spent a lot of time being stretched well beyond it's intended limit. As such, it can take a VERY long time to retract, and it probably never will do so fully. That leaves option two, which is surgery.
  • Bevkus
    Bevkus Posts: 274 Member
    I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but only two things can truly fix this issue. One is time, and a LOT of it. Basically, your skin's structure has spent a lot of time being stretched well beyond it's intended limit. As such, it can take a VERY long time to retract, and it probably never will do so fully. That leaves option two, which is surgery.


    THIS
  • Nanadena
    Nanadena Posts: 739 Member
    So true! I only had 50 lbs to lose but my skin is still very lose after more than a year:sad:
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    On the bright side, if your bat wings persist, you can learn to glide! I would LOVE to be able to glide!

    So envious.
  • sophayz
    sophayz Posts: 592 Member
    i have the same issue and has for about a year now .. the skin does contract back but very slowly and you have to do a lot of workout .. but even with all that work i still have a lot of skin left ... personally i am giving it an other year before surgery because scars are as bad as a bit of skin hanging.... but in my case it was just from weight 187 to 118 ... sorry:frown:
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    i have the same issue and has for about a year now .. the skin does contract back but very slowly and you have to do a lot of workout .. but even with all that work i still have a lot of skin left ... personally i am giving it an other year before surgery because scars are as bad as a bit of skin hanging.... but in my case it was just from weight 187 to 118 ... sorry:frown:

    Fortunately for you, medical science has come a long way in this area, and surgical scars can be made all but invisible. The same can't be said for loose skin. ;)
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member
    Strength training will help, lift and lift heavy. There is lotion with collagen in it, and while it isn't a fix it will help in the same way cocoa butter does for prego tummies. These are both things I do to help my skin cope with the weight loss.

    Not to sound un-helpful but I have purposely been losing weight slow just to try to steer clear of the loose skin problem. I'm 5'2" and started at 191 and my goal is 130/140, currently at 164. I joined MFP in Jan. (SO yea I am going WAAAAAY slow lol) Slowing down your weight loss will help also....These are the only things I can think of that may help, and if they didn't sorry....

    Good Luck and you have been doing fantastic in your journey!!!!!!:bigsmile:
  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    Check out Ed. He had to have the surgery to remove the excess skin. You might too. But his is an amazing journey.

    http://www.gettingfit4life.com/circumferential-body-lift-surgery-9242012/before-surgery-pictures-922012/
  • kramalicious
    kramalicious Posts: 143
    I agree with the above poster who advocated heavy lifting. You will get more definition from lifting weights than from a Curves circuit, IMO.
    Lifting heavier weights is quite empowering for women, too.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    congrats on your weight loss!!!

    i also vote for heavy weight lifting. it does a body good
  • Thin1979
    Thin1979 Posts: 48
    I lost 150 pounds over ten years ago and have worked out religiously. Hate to be negative but the skin doesn't go away.
  • jynxxxed
    jynxxxed Posts: 1,010 Member
    Instead of unnecessary weight loss surgery (since you're losing weight fine on your own) why not save your money and get surgery after you've finished losing weight to remove the excess skin?...
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I started having this issue til i started weights and yoga
  • LaurasClimb
    LaurasClimb Posts: 211 Member
    Check out Ed. He had to have the surgery to remove the excess skin. You might too. But his is an amazing journey.

    http://www.gettingfit4life.com/circumferential-body-lift-surgery-9242012/before-surgery-pictures-922012/
    Thank you so much for posting this! I was wondering just last night how he was doing but didn't know how to find him.
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    I was only 220 though
  • chocl8girl
    chocl8girl Posts: 1,968 Member
    The loose skin is better than the fat that was underneath of it...it is a badge of honor. :flowerforyou:
  • bethygirlie
    bethygirlie Posts: 311 Member
    I dunno, I had a tummy tuck done because I had so much extra skin left on my stomach...and now I have that same problem with arms and thighs. I guess it's just gonna have to be surgery again when I have enough money to afford it. A trainer told me my arms could be fixed if I bulked up but I don't want to do that. Idk.
  • melonclarinet
    melonclarinet Posts: 163 Member
    You will have loose skin. I've lost 50 pounds and have a little, but not too much...yet. I still have 50 or so to lose so I'm sure I will have loose skin. I'm losing slowly as I was told that gives the skin time to adjust (I've been working on weight loss since January and really a bit before that). Make sure you moisturize and do weights. I do a circuit like Curves at my gym, but that as part of my cardio training and I still lift weights.
    Good luck and remember that even if you end up with tons of loose skin you will look better in clothes after weight loss and more importantly, you will be healthier!
  • tidesong
    tidesong Posts: 451 Member
    I'm worried about this, too. I've lost a total of 85 pounds now with another 30-40 to go, and I hate hate HATE my bat wings, and know my stomach is going to be terrible, too. I'm scared of the idea of surgery for my arms, as I am a violinist and don't want to risk anything being nicked that shouldn't be. That, and I can't afford two sets of surgery (one for arms, one for tummy). Sigh.
  • jeanwolff
    jeanwolff Posts: 1
    Your skin's elasticity also depends on your genetics, and it changes with age. Years ago, I had a friend who was 20 when she had her first child, and she didn't have a single stretch mark. She wore bikinis, and you'd never know she'd had a baby. But she was really young and had great genes, less prone to stretch marks to begin with. I've yo-yo'd for years, and when I was younger I didn't have as much of a problem with loose skin as I do now. The younger you are, the more likely that the working out, slow weight loss and moisturizing will help. Your skin is just more likely to bounce back. Pun intended! :)
  • zotnika
    zotnika Posts: 5
    Same here..I was around 190 lbs and now I am at 128(and still want to go 8 pounds down)
    I got lucky and my upper body is ok but my thighs - total mess. I have muscles like an athlete does because I workout religiously 5-6 times a week but it doesn't go anywhere.
  • KendaVSG
    KendaVSG Posts: 147
    You will hear people say that you are going to suffer from more loose skin by losing faster. That if you lose it slowly that the skin will have more time to retract, shrink, ect. This is BS. Now, you are on my friends list and have seen (I hope) my progress. No matter how slowly, or quickly, we lose the weight we are always going to have hanging skin. Yes, it will shrink. SOME! We have stretched our skin beyond belief with our weight (I was 530 pounds, so I do know what I am talking about). Mine has shrunk. I do weights and aerobics. That helps. However, for us, the only option to get rid of the excess skin will be surgery.
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member
    You will hear people say that you are going to suffer from more loose skin by losing faster. That if you lose it slowly that the skin will have more time to retract, shrink, ect. This is BS. Now, you are on my friends list and have seen (I hope) my progress. No matter how slowly, or quickly, we lose the weight we are always going to have hanging skin. Yes, it will shrink. SOME! We have stretched our skin beyond belief with our weight (I was 530 pounds, so I do know what I am talking about). Mine has shrunk. I do weights and aerobics. That helps. However, for us, the only option to get rid of the excess skin will be surgery.


    If I lose 40 pounds in 3 months I will have saggier skin than if I lose 40 pounds in a year...that is true. Plus everyone is different, like others have said genetics play a role. Not everyone loses weight the same, she asked for peoples thoughts and advice...apparently you didn't like that advice, just because it doesn't pertain to you doesn't mean it's BS. No need to be rude, which I thought that comment was.
  • KendaVSG
    KendaVSG Posts: 147
    [/quote]

    If I lose 40 pounds in 3 months I will have saggier skin than if I lose 40 pounds in a year...that is true. Plus everyone is different, like others have said genetics play a role. Not everyone loses weight the same, she asked for peoples thoughts and advice...apparently you didn't like that advice, just because it doesn't pertain to you doesn't mean it's BS. No need to be rude, which I thought that comment was.
    [/quote]

    There was no rudeness in my comment. If you interpreted it that way, I want you to know that was not the way it was intended. My point was that FORTY pounds and saggy skin, or not, does in absolutely NO WAY compare with losing or needing to lose a couple hundred! Regardless of how fast we lose our weight - those of us starting at a higher weight - we will ALWAYS have saggy skin. Had you read my entire comment, instead of focusing on the first sentence or two, you would have seen that exact statement. Yes, SOME of the skin will shrink, and resistance and weight training will help this, as will bulking up. However, the OP stated they began this journey with a HW of over 400 pounds. Regardless of genetics, age, or body building, they will always have sagging skin unless the excess is removed by surgery.

    Jayme, you are doing this healthy. I am very proud of you for exercising and weight lifting from the beginning. It is very important. Whether you have wls or not, it will be necessary for you to reach your goal. Don't let the hanging skin deter you. Clothes cover a LOT, and yes, your bat wings will shrink the more you work and strengthen your muscles. Work your triceps as well as your biceps and deltoids. You are doing great!!
  • JBott84
    JBott84 Posts: 268 Member

    There was no rudeness in my comment. If you interpreted it that way, I want you to know that was not the way it was intended. My point was that FORTY pounds and saggy skin, or not, does in absolutely NO WAY compare with losing or needing to lose a couple hundred! Regardless of how fast we lose our weight - those of us starting at a higher weight - we will ALWAYS have saggy skin. Had you read my entire comment, instead of focusing on the first sentence or two, you would have seen that exact statement. Yes, SOME of the skin will shrink, and resistance and weight training will help this, as will bulking up. However, the OP stated they began this journey with a HW of over 400 pounds. Regardless of genetics, age, or body building, they will always have sagging skin unless the excess is removed by surgery.

    Jayme, you are doing this healthy. I am very proud of you for exercising and weight lifting from the beginning. It is very important. Whether you have wls or not, it will be necessary for you to reach your goal. Don't let the hanging skin deter you. Clothes cover a LOT, and yes, your bat wings will shrink the more you work and strengthen your muscles. Work your triceps as well as your biceps and deltoids. You are doing great!!

    "Had you read my entire comment, instead of focusing on the first sentence or two, you would have seen that exact statement."

    I did read your whole comment and I still felt it was rude, and I also think that the above statement was rude as well. Losing a significant amount of weight does not mean you know all and can speak/type to people in such a tone. I as well as others were merely offering ideas and thoughts which you have no control over. They took a moment out of their day to try to be helpful they didn't belittle or claim to know all like you did....You specifically called out that what others were saying as BS and though you thought is wasn't rude, where I come from calling anything BS when it's intended as helpful is in fact rude.
    So on that note I will be logging off and not returning to this thread which is a shame because others had offered sound advice which you chose to bulldoze over.

    To the OP: Good luck and I hope you get something out of what others have said they took time out of their day to offer sincere suggestions.
  • Jayme34
    Jayme34 Posts: 160 Member
    Thanks everyone for the good advice, i am definately considering changing gyms in the near future. I love "curves for women" as its helping me lose the weight but in the long run I am going to need a lot more.
  • donyellemoniquex3
    donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
    Strength training will help, lift and lift heavy.

    ^^
    THIS
  • mdb543
    mdb543 Posts: 219 Member
    I had the same problem. I lost 70lbs and noticed where my stretch marks were with my last pregnancy, that's where it sagged the most. It would disgust me when I tried to do pushups and just saw my stomach basically hanging in mid air.. It literally took from January to about July until it got better. It takes time. What I found what helped was to use an exfoliating sponge in the shower on that area and scrub.. I read somewhere online that it increases the circulation and removes the dead skin cells which will help. Also drink a ton of water. Dehydrated skin will appear more "saggy" than not. Hope that helps.

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