Worried about loose skin.

NiqueKristan
NiqueKristan Posts: 152 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all. I am a 22 year old 5"6 female. Started at 222, currently 198. Goal weight 150. I carry most of my weight in my stomach and arms. I do cardio 5 times a week and strength train at least 3 times a week. I was wondering how likely am I to have loose skin in my abdomen and arms? Thanks a bunch.

Replies

  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    edited March 2015
    NiqueKristan wrote: »
    Hi all. I am a 22 year old 5"6 female. Started at 222, currently 198. Goal weight 150. I carry most of my weight in my stomach and arms. I do cardio 5 times a week and strength train at least 3 times a week. I was wondering how likely am I to have loose skin in my abdomen and arms? Thanks a bunch.

    It's really a tough question to answer... it's so individual. The best thing you could do is not worry about it and simple get your health back and then deal with what happens at the end.

    Drinking lots of fluids is a great habit to get into.. will it magically remove skin? No, neither will lotions or potions many suggest using. But doing strength training can help your body look much better if you start out with that and continue it.

    If anyone comes on here and says NO, you won't have loose skin, it might make you feel better but really there is simply no way anyone can predict the outcome of someone else's situation.

    I would much rather have loose skin than be fat and filled out. lol Some have shared on here that they'd rather stay fat. Wow, definitely not me, I'd rather be healthy and have a little extra skin. If it's too much to bear you can start saving for skin removal and to get your boobs lifted.

    Take care and try not to worry about something in the future than may or many not even happen ;)


  • Tubbs216
    Tubbs216 Posts: 6,597 Member
    You're very young and not that overweight. You might get lucky!
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    edited March 2015
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    I am usually passive aggressive, but I am trying to stop that, so if this comes off wrong. I apologize.

    Your biggest concern should be your health, not your loose skin. What if everyone said, "you will have bad loose skin." WIll that stop you from striving to lose weight?

    To answer your question directly, When i was at 193lbs loss... idk if my skin was loose, but my stomach was a mess. Had a ton of stretch marks, looked like I was clawed by lions. The more stretch marks i have the happier I am. I call them my battle wounds, to me they're a sign of strength and accomplishment.
    <3

    (*)
  • NiqueKristan
    NiqueKristan Posts: 152 Member
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    I am usually passive aggressive, but I am trying to stop that, so if this comes off wrong. I apologize.

    Your biggest concern should be your health, not your loose skin. What if everyone said, "you will have bad loose skin." WIll that stop you from striving to lose weight?

    To answer your question directly, When i was at 193lbs loss... idk if my skin was loose, but my stomach was a mess. Had a ton of stretch marks, looked like I was clawed by lions. The more stretch marks i have the happier I am. I call them my battle wounds, to me they're a sign of strength and accomplishment.
    I really appreciate your honesty!! I definitely would rather lose weight and improve my health, regardless of loose skin. Was just wondering about others experience (:
    Congratulations on your incredible weight loss, you are a warrior and inspiration (:
  • NiqueKristan
    NiqueKristan Posts: 152 Member
    Hearts_2015 wrote: »
    NiqueKristan wrote: »
    Hi all. I am a 22 year old 5"6 female. Started at 222, currently 198. Goal weight 150. I carry most of my weight in my stomach and arms. I do cardio 5 times a week and strength train at least 3 times a week. I was wondering how likely am I to have loose skin in my abdomen and arms? Thanks a bunch.

    It's really a tough question to answer... it's so individual. The best thing you could do is not worry about it and simple get your health back and then deal with what happens at the end.

    Drinking lots of fluids is a great habit to get into.. will it magically remove skin? No, neither will lotions or potions many suggest using. But doing strength training can help your body look much better if you start out with that and continue it.

    If anyone comes on here and says NO, you won't have loose skin, it might make you feel better but really there is simply no way anyone can predict the outcome of someone else's situation.

    I would much rather have loose skin than be fat and filled out. lol Some have shared on here that they'd rather stay fat. Wow, definitely not me, I'd rather be healthy and have a little extra skin. If it's too much to bear you can start saving for skin removal and to get your boobs lifted.

    Take care and try not to worry about something in the future than may or many not even happen ;)

    Thank you for your response, and I will stop worrying about it.. What happens happens (:
  • NiqueKristan
    NiqueKristan Posts: 152 Member
    Tubbs216 wrote: »
    You're very young and not that overweight. You might get lucky!
    I hope so!! Thank you for your input (:
  • aksteve777
    aksteve777 Posts: 184 Member
    I lost over a 100 and steam after work out , exfoliate and lotion up. I'm ok..i think anyway.
  • aksteve777
    aksteve777 Posts: 184 Member
    Stay out of the sun no tanning..hydrate
  • Amanda4change
    Amanda4change Posts: 620 Member
    I have a friend who lost 200 pounds (she was in her mid 30's and had been obese since childhood. She had a lot of excess skin when she hit close to goal weight, she continued to workout, reduced her body fat and now 18 months after hitting goal weight and 12 months after hitting ideal body fat has very little loose skin. (She also stayed hydrated, and used a basic moisturizer). I'm not saying it works for everyone but she had great results at the end of her 5 year journey. Even prior to loosing the excess skin she was much happier with her body
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    I agree that because of your age and how you are carrying the weight, it might not be much of an issue for you.

    Genetics seems to be the biggest factor in skin elasticity, and there is not much that we can do about that.

    I've lost about 90 pounds and the only loose skin that I have is around my stomach. If I ever lose the rest of my fat (all on the belly) I will have an issue there, but nowhere else.

    Keep lifting weights and just generally take good care of your skin--exfoliate, moisturize, stay hydrated, get enough Omega 3s and wear sunscreen. Actually, those are important things to do just to look good and avoid wrinkles as you age...so do them anyhow!
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,032 Member
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10058802/loose-skin-or-still-fat-to-lose

    Here's someone brave enough to share their body after and there are a number of others you can do a search. Just look up loose skin and there are many stories on how one didn't any and others had surgery etc. I've found it really helpful to view others and see what they've shared. Some share they didn't do weights until after, some started out right away lifting.

    Here's a vid someone shared on Youtube after loosing quite a bit... there results were very different. So it really does vary. :)

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/160-pound-weight-loss-insecurity_n_6153308.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1444061/loose-skin-my-experience

    Great blog post :)http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/rides4sanity/view/time-to-share-the-belly-photo-ughhh-616669

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/160-pound-weight-loss-insecurity_n_6153308.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063
  • psych101
    psych101 Posts: 1,842 Member
    Having lost 120lbs myself, I have a wee bit of loose skin. For the past year Ive focused on heavy lifting and reducing my overall body fat - it's helping immensely, but I know there will always be a little loose skin when I bend over etc. lifting has helped for sure! Also, what I thought was loose skin way back was actually still some fat, so focusing on leaning out has helped me.
  • AmerTunsi
    AmerTunsi Posts: 655 Member
    Strength training will help a lot with it. But in truth there are too many variables to determine how your body will react when you're done. Allowing enough time for your skin to 'bounce' back enough and then giving some muscle for your skin to attach to will help.
  • pineapple_peach10
    pineapple_peach10 Posts: 239 Member
    I started my weight loss journey at 23 years old and 234lbs. I have lost 73lbs and don't really have any loose skin. I might have a little bit on my arms but I'm sure I could tone them up if I really tried.

    I think being young and losing weight slowly has helped. And I agree with the above posters; stay hydrated.

    Good luck :)
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