Loose skin?

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I have lost about 42lbs and have the same to go (half way point exactly) At this stage I dont have any signs of loose skin but I think I may well have some when I get closer to my target weight. I worry about it at times, on bad days, but I would rather live with a little loose skin than the excess bodyweight any day... I remember someone giving me some advice early on when I was stressing a bit about it - deal with the weight now, and then deal with that later. At your age provided you keep hydrated, eat a good balanced diet you may well just bounce back.

My weight has been up and down and with 2 pregnancies I do have a little loose skin in the lower tummy. I still have 20 to go then all together it'll be 70 lost, and I'm almost 46. I've lost it slowly and done strength training, so the butt legs and upper body are free of loose skin. I think most of that is genetic and skin elasticity. DON'T WORRY! Work on your goal at a healthy pace and if you need tweaks after there's so many options to treat loose skin, some non surgical.
Good luck!

Better now than later because as you age your skin becomes less resilent. Take advantage of your youth. Also, wear sunscreen.

Parkercomom wrote: »

Taking essential fatty acid supplements will help reduce loose and saggy skin as you lose weight.

Taking an omega 3 supplement is a good idea for a lot of reason, but I doubt it will help with loose skin. If your skin is loose from losing weight then you have too many skin cells. Your body isn't necessarily going to recognize you have too many skin cells and then kill them off.

galgenstrick wrote: »

Parkercomom wrote: »

Taking essential fatty acid supplements will help reduce loose and saggy skin as you lose weight.

Taking an omega 3 supplement is a good idea for a lot of reason, but I doubt it will help with loose skin. If your skin is loose from losing weight then you have too many skin cells. Your body isn't necessarily going to recognize you have too many skin cells and then kill them off.

EFA's help prevent loose skin if you take them during your weight loss phase. They work!! I take them every day.

They help with the elasticity of your skin.

PlaydohPants wrote: »

No experience but I have thought about it. ... 4) I'd rather have loose skin than be 100 lbs overweight.

^^^This

I've dropped 100 lbs. When I set off, I was a bit worried about loose skin. I have some now. What I find is that I am way happier at 100 lbs off with a bit of loose belly skin, versus 100 lbs obese, with growing health and fitness issues.

I may have loose skin, but I also have much lower blood pressure, fantastic resting heart rate, endless energy, and no more aching knees; based on several calculators, I've increased my life expectancy by as much as 15 years.
On the balance, it's way better this way.

Please do not let the fear of loose skin stop you from losing the weight you need to drop.

Parkercomom wrote: »

They help with the elasticity of your skin.

But, how can they do that? It is my understanding skin elasticity has mostly to do with heredity, but also whether you work out while losing weight, amounts of pounds lost, whether you've been overweight or obese.

If what you say were true, then it seems to me it would be more publicized.

SLLRunner wrote: »

Parkercomom wrote: »

They help with the elasticity of your skin.

But, how can they do that? It is my understanding skin elasticity has mostly to do with heredity, but also whether you work out while losing weight, amounts of pounds lost, whether you've been overweight or obese.

If what you say were true, then it seems to me it would be more publicized.

I don't know how they help with the elasticity of you skin...from what I understand it has something to do with the hydration of skin cells. I am not a biochemist. There are many articles/studies online about the benefits of efas and skin...I'm not asking you to take my word for it. I am offering a suggestion based on what has worked for me.

At my 65lb. loss I'm noticing the loose skin. I'm not surprised, though, since it comes from years of my body having to accommodate my unhealthy lifestyle. I've heard that with time it will eventually bounce back. But it takes time. Because you're younger, chances are it will recover naturally.

I'm 25, I've lost 101 pounds, and haven't had any loose skin issues yet. That being said, I've still got about 70 pounds left before I get to a healthy BMI (and my initial goal). Each person is different as well, but being young helps. I haven't done anything special concerning moisturizing, but for other reasons I've increased my water intake. Also, when you get to goal your skin may look a little saggy because it's essentially empty. Strength training can help alleviate that to some degree.

P.S. I lost the 100 pounds in about a year, and have essentially maintained for the last year. I had a little bit just starting to form initially in my belly button area, but the year of maintenance has let the skin form back to the rest of me.

I have lost 86 lbs in total. However, I believe I lost 40 lbs of it in a short amount of time (started MFP and it came off quickly). My exercise was mainly cardio (walking) because that was all I could do. But it left me with wrinkly looking skin on my stomach area, upper thighs and arms. However, I have slowed down my weight loss and started lifting weights and it has helped improved those areas. It will probably take some time for it to tighten up 100%. But honestly, like others have said it's worth it because I'd rather have some wrinkly skin (maybe it's temporary and maybe it's not) than have all smooth skin and my weight back on. I think if I could do it all over again, I would have gone for losing the weight slowly and started incorporating weights as soon as my body could tolerate it.

amyegillespie wrote: »

I have lost 100 pounds and do have a little loose skin. It continues to get better though, and it is not noticeable with my clothes. Definitely not a reason to not lose the weight! Worth it even with some loose skin!! :-)

You're young; it will shrink much faster than for us old gals. If you've been heavy for a long time, it will take longer but youth is on your side. I've lost 50 lbs and I have loose skin. My doctor said keeping the weight off is most important and will give the skin time to shrink (although in my case it is much slower and won't ever be taut like my younger years). It's taken a couple of years for my skin to adjust. Be patient and keep going. Then keep the weight off. Exercise does not "shrink" the skin; however, you can build definition under your skin with muscle, and the skin will plump out from the muscle somewhat. Most of all, be patient.

I lost 30 lb and have loose skin, BUT I am also 46 years old so don't let that scare you. My doctor told me that it can take up to 2 years for your skin to go back as much as it will. I keep telling myself that lots of women have babies and their stomach stretches WAY out but eventually it goes back even if it's not uber firm like before. I have been lifting weights as heavy as I can and drinking whey protein shakes trying to put some muscle into that skin and take up some of the slack. Make sure your skin is well taken care of, you stay hydrated, maybe take a hair skin and nails vitamin on your weight loss journey.