Loose Skin

I've lost 95 lbs so far, and I think that there will be some "loose skin" but I think it can be avoided a little bit or atleasty managed with strngth training. So a good mix of HIIT and weight lifting could reduce the appearance of flappy skin.

I am also 5'6", SW 224, CW 171, GW 150 (this has been revised a few times along the way). I do have loose skin around my middle, but I am 51 YO, and overweight or obese for 25 years so I think it is to be expected. I have been doing strength training since I started my weight loss journey 2 1/2 years ago, and that has kept most everything else looking pretty good (other than normal gravity issues that ladies of a certain age have LOL). I would advise not worrying about it - what will be will be - but strength/resistance training is probably your best bet.

BTW - you ARE a success story - congratulations on your loss so far! Don't discount the mini-goals along the way.

I'm 30, and was "grossly overweight" for most of my life. I've lost about 75 pounds, now (in about 18 months), and my skin is just hanging off of me. I pull it around and "play with it," which my boyfriend tells me looks like I'm being mean to myself; which may be true. I just want it to catch up with my body so I can feel better about myself, so I can be proud of all my hard work, instead of ashamed. I think I'm more self-conscious about my naked body NOW than I was before I lost the weight. I've done a lot of research on the matter, and the basic consensus is that strength training helps, but depending on the length of time your skin was stretched out, it could take up to two years for it to catch up to your weight loss. I tried to lose weight as healthily as possible (about 10lbs per month). I've heard those "it works!" things are only a temporary fix, so I don't want to risk the money for possibly MORE heartache. if it hasn't caught up by the time I'm done, I guess I'll have to save up to have my skin cut down to fit my body.

I have lost over 160 lbs and didn't notice the loose skin thing until I lost about half of it. I think I lost it to fast (10 months) so that is one thing. Not doing any strength training during the process was another. I think 25 years of weighing over 300 lbs. was another. I know for certain that I received some poor advice. I was told to just lose it then do the strength training. The muscle damage from that advice is ongoing to this day. Do your cardio and some strength training too.

I'd rather have loose skin covered by small clothing than stretched skin and huge clothing. Even at my age (52) my skin is not too bad, it seems to get better as I maintain this weight.

Well, I already have loose skin, and I haven't even lost the weight yet (I've lost 14, but have about 90 pounds to go). So, I'm not very optimistic for me. I think heredity and age have a lot to do with it, too. Certainly, the younger you are, the better your chances of having your skin shrink back to normal (or close to it).

The cost to have the loose skin removed is crazy. I have a friend having it done on her legs and belly it is costing her just about 10,000 dollars.

Wow that would be nice but in usa we have to for it out of pocket insurance doesn, t cover it. She has be ale to keep the weight off for almost 4 years now.

For a small amount of loose skin Nivea Skin Firming lotion works wonders. I used it after my c-section and it really helped. I've started using it again as I lose weight to hopefully ward off the loose skin. I also plan to start strength training when it gets too cold here to walk.