losing weight slowly to avoid loose skin

totaldetermination
totaldetermination Posts: 1,184 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I have heard that it is best to lose weight slowly in order to avoid loose skin. I just want to clarify what that means.

Suppose I have 100 lbs to lose(I don't - this is just an example).

I could lose it in 1 1/2 years and then spend 3 1/2 years in maintenance.

or I could lose it more slowly over 3 years and then spend 2 year in maintenance.

Either way, 5 years have passed, I have lost 100 pounds at a 'healthy' rate, and have been maintaining for at least 2 years which should hopefully give the skin time to 'catch up'.

Would there be any difference in loose skin between the two ?
(all other factors being the same etc etc)

Thanks






Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    I don't think anyone knows ...I think loose skin is more down to age, how much weight you've put on and genetic lottery, losing weight slower is just an extra factor but who knows how big a one for you specifically
  • lemonsurprise
    lemonsurprise Posts: 255 Member
    What the above person said!
    It is only something you can do to help out a little rather than eliminate it completely. Much more comes down to your genes.
  • DangerousDUCK
    DangerousDUCK Posts: 181 Member
    I think the speed at which it was put on also plays a part, If you gained a lot during pregnancy for example that could compound the issue

  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    It depends on genetics. I have so, so much loose skin and I tend to hear, "Oh, you must have lost weight really fast!" Eff off, it's taken me over 3 years, and I've maintained so far for 6 months.

    I'm currently consulting with a cosmetic surgeon who does a lot of this type of work and feels my loose skin is fairly extreme considering my current size, the amount I've lost, etc.

    I mean, at one point, my body weighed 400 lbs. I feel like even if it took me 10 years to lose this weight, my skin wouldn't fit my current 180ish lb body in the same way.
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    do stretch marks come into play? say you are overweight and have stretch marks, does that mean when your loss the weight the stretch marks will shrink easier, tightening the skin?

    cause if you don't have stretch marks doesn't that mean you have grown new skin and a basically guaranteed to have loose skin?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2015
    Stretch marks are permanent unfortunately ...they don't shrink back
  • Merkavar
    Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
    edited February 2015
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Stretch marks are permanent unfortunately ...they don't shrink back
    vader.jpg

    Anyway i didn't think they went away completely but i did think they shrunk a bit.

  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    totaldetermination wrote: »
    I have heard that it is best to lose weight slowly in order to avoid loose skin.

    That's an old myth that probably got started because skin can take a year or 2 to snap back (when it does snap back), so losing quickly makes it more noticeable during that time. But since skin's elasticity declines with age, it makes sense to lose weight quicker rather than slower. Just make sure to follow a full-body strength program, to minimize the muscle loss that happens with weight loss.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Loose skin has a lot to do with genetics and age. Lifting, will help fill in the appearance, while its deciding what it will do :D
  • KrunchyMama
    KrunchyMama Posts: 420 Member
    @Merkavar‌ mine seem to have shrunk by putting castor oil on my belly a few nights a week (look up castor packs, but I never did the flannel and plastic, I always just rubbed it in then went to bed)
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