Loose skin/Stretch marks ?

AwkwardAlycia
AwkwardAlycia Posts: 5
in Health and Weight Loss
This is mostly a question for people closer to their goal weight (no offense others).

Has anyone experienced a problem with loose skin? (I haven't yet but its a fear of mine)
How do you combat it?
and Stretch marks from when you were bigger.. How present are they? as in.. are they as obvious?
(not that I hate mine.. I consider them scars and scars tell our stories)

Replies

  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    I've lost almost 50lbs and I still have visible stretch marks, but looking at your profile picture, I can't imagine you are very old and would have no problem with loose skin - it should spring back. I thought it wouldn't either - and it most certainly has!

    But, with my stretch marks, they're visible - but only if you look for them. They are more the silvery colour, and cocoa butter is helping to smooth them even more!
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
    Ive lost 184 pounds....my stretch marks are quite pale and to be honest i dont even pay attention to them. I do have excess skin (to be expected when you lose as much as I have)...but I find if I dress well its not a issue (I have no plans to have surgery). Eat well...drink your water...do resistance work. As previously said age and genetics are a big factor in them as well....but no matter what...its better to be healthy internally with excess skin...then to be unhealthy. :)
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I've last 60lbs and I do have some stretch marks and loose skin, but I've had 2 children. My youngest is 22 moths. My stretch marks are just silvery and pale and not very obvious. I don't mind them to be honest, I have 2 beautiful children, so they were worth it. The loose skin on the other hand.....well, it has definitely improved and I've seen photos on here of women who have really improved their bellies, so I will keep trying!
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    I have loose skin and stretchmarks from pregnancy, I was also obese during/after both pregnancies, so that would be a contributing factor too. I *only* have this problem on my abdomen, so I think pregnancy is the main factor, being obese during pregnancy and after almost certainly didn't help though.

    I lost weight slowly and healthily and have done weight training throughout and also I still do the weight training.
  • oliviabog
    oliviabog Posts: 101
    Two babies born 13 months apart and a big weight gain gave me a pretty bad stomach... Lost a lot but stomach wasn't really improving so i started running again a couple of weeks ago and its bringing my stomach in a bit. Still carrying more around my belly but in expecting to see a lot more improvement in the next couple of months. I know ill still have pretty bad stretch marks but i really don't mind that for having my two little lovelies.
  • wavedancer123
    wavedancer123 Posts: 47 Member
    I have lost 46 lbs and age is against me now also! When everything goes south! But at least I have lost 46lbs which is extremely good for the body, joints, hearts and my self esteem and of course my general well being.
    My gym instructor advised me today to start using going to the gym to use weights, that would help with the loose skin. He also advised that once the body skin has been over stretched like a elastic band the elasticity goes........and it will go all ripely ! There may be products out there that might help with this problem like Bio Oil, shear butters, massages., firming up creams, etc..So naturally I am slapping that on to the old body now!

    I suppose what I should have done, was not to let myself get fat in the first place...... or at least have done something about it sooner! Thats what no one tells you when you start to put on weight, how much damage you are doing to your self and your skin.
    They just see it that you can't squeeze into those trousers...
  • MissPeppers
    MissPeppers Posts: 302 Member
    In total I've lost around 30 kgs (66 lbs) and have maybe 5 kgs left to lose if I go low, and I was worried about loose skin but after I started strength training it seems to solve itself. I have stretch marks on my arms, boobs and stomach (have had this after having 2 kids) but they've faded to almost nothing, just a silvery mark really not that visible anymore. The only area I have loose skin now is on the front of my belly but I can really see the progress there too, it just takes commitment and patience (my two biggest struggle areas...) but they DO disappear little by little.
  • AllyCatXandi
    AllyCatXandi Posts: 329 Member
    19 years old, down 15kg and at goal weight.

    Never had any problems with loose skin, but I've seen people on MFP who have had great success with weight training.

    As for stretch marks...those I have. They're mostly on my thighs/butt, and faded to white a long time ago. I did look into treatments and tried oils/creams that were supposed to help (apparently tanning/fake tan is supposed to be good as well), but I didn't really notice a difference. Most things are only really effective on marks that are relatively fresh and still in the red/purple phase. Some people go the laser treatment option, but it appeared expensive, painful, and without any guarantee of decent results. So it looks like I just have to learn to live with them :P
  • Laura8603
    Laura8603 Posts: 590 Member
    As young as you are, it should not be a problem. I lost 75 pounds twice before the age of 25. Never had a problem. Fast forward to my 40's, after losing 200 pounds, I did have tons of it. Nothing can prevent it. Age and genetics are the biggest determinants. I could not mentally handle having excess skin so I had plastic surgery. Others accept it. Just take care of your weight issues now so you're not still worrying about it in your later years.

    Good luck in your journey!!
  • AwkwardAlycia
    AwkwardAlycia Posts: 5
    Wow thank you all, I didn't expect so many replies in such a short period of time, you guys(er, gals) are amazing(: and you're all so informative too.
    I'm actually 19 by the way and am definitely going out and buying some Shea butter!
    (Though my dads ex swears by that neosporin scar cream, its just too expensive for that tiny amount!)

    I did read somewhere that your skin will slowly start to fit your smaller body size better but it can take a few years.. also that keeping hydrated helps your skin bounce back more easily.

    Again thank you(:
  • MelanieAnneWoods
    MelanieAnneWoods Posts: 15 Member
    Loose skin - no but I do weight lifting/resistance training which helps. Stretch marks - yes, but they don't bother me that much. I look at them as badges of success to commemorate my weight loss to date.:smile:

Categories