The skin issue

mann75
mann75 Posts: 18
edited September 19 in Health and Weight Loss
I am intending to lose a lot of weight as you might see from my ticker - 40kg is 88 pounds. I have heard people complain that after losing weight it has left their skin hanging like dough and that is not a pretty sight.

I am currently expecting my brand new elliptical cross trainer to arrive and I am fully intending to use it to the full. Will that help to tone the body enough to avoid the hanging pizza dough on my body? I am drinking enough water too.

Or is it that some people just have it whatever they do, and others just won't get it?

Thank you for all suggestions.

Replies

  • mann75
    mann75 Posts: 18
    I am intending to lose a lot of weight as you might see from my ticker - 40kg is 88 pounds. I have heard people complain that after losing weight it has left their skin hanging like dough and that is not a pretty sight.

    I am currently expecting my brand new elliptical cross trainer to arrive and I am fully intending to use it to the full. Will that help to tone the body enough to avoid the hanging pizza dough on my body? I am drinking enough water too.

    Or is it that some people just have it whatever they do, and others just won't get it?

    Thank you for all suggestions.
  • shoppie
    shoppie Posts: 618 Member
    Hi there, welcome!

    I think there are a number of things at play here, some people have 'good genes' when it comes to skin recovering fromm being stretched, that you can't do much about. Exercise will help tone up, but some sort of core training such as sit-ups or pilates will also help you to keep the skin in check. Also, losing the weight gradually rather than by crash dieting should help your body keep up a bit better. Finally, I cannot recommend a good skin moisturiser all over your body at least once a day enough. I have had 2 babies, and if you think about it the skin gets VERY stretched but it has recovered ok (not perfect, but good enough :wink: )
  • mann75
    mann75 Posts: 18
    I can't complain about my skin so far as I too have had two kids and didn't get any stretch marks with either. It seems to be quite flexible.
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    it will also depend on age, how long you've have excess weigh on your body...like shoppie said...losing slower will help your skin have time to adjust ...and yes, sometimes folks just will have excess skin, some won't.

    clear as mud?:laugh: plastic surgery can be an option if need be...cheap? no but if it's a health issue then insurance may cover it...not pretty having the scars I hear but...much less a health risk if you remove the excess skin... ......so there's hope for everyone.. and hey whatever happened to the Ugly Swan or whatever that TV show was that would take people they could find and do massive amount of plastic surgery on them so they would feel pretty......

    except to me they looked like completely different people when they were all finished....I always thought it was such a sad show because everyone cheered at the end when they didn't look like themselves?? SAY WHAT??:huh: :noway:

    Ok, how's that for a quick response to your question mann:laugh:
  • shoppie
    shoppie Posts: 618 Member
    I can't complain about my skin so far as I too have had two kids and didn't get any stretch marks with either. It seems to be quite flexible.

    fingers crossed you won't have any problems then!!
  • mann75
    mann75 Posts: 18
    I have always been overweight. Sadly. But I am not THAT old yet - 33 years. :)
  • walnut
    walnut Posts: 216 Member
    if it's a health issue then insurance may cover it...not pretty having the scars I hear but...much less a health risk if you remove the excess skin...

    I've never heard of excess skin being a health risk. Can you say more about this?
  • Robin_
    Robin_ Posts: 105
    Age is certainly on your side. The older you are, the less elasticity your skin has. You may end up with loose skin,, and maybe even some "elephant ears" if you have a large stomach. Of course, you will feel fantastic just losing the weight...and with clothes on...no one will be the wiser. There are garments that firm you up if that is something you might like. You may not end up with a perfect bod, but you will reap the benifits of a lhealthier, leaner body. You could also consider having small surgical fixes over the years to improve your body image. But your skin will shrink to a large extent over time...so don't worry about what you might look like at this point....and don't let it become the reason you give up! Best wishes to all! Your body is only your shell...it's what's on the inside that makes you YOU!
  • deedun
    deedun Posts: 361 Member
    I have been studying this in college recently and just as Shoppie said, gradual loss will be more beneficial for you. It will give your skin time to shrink. It is the sudden weight loss which gives the skin the saggy look.

    So gradual weight loss and use a good enriched skin cream with vitamins A, C + E (Especially E).

    I have also read somewhere (I will find the reference) that constant submerging of your body in cold or hot water can also break down the elastin in your dermis which will equal sagging skin. I dont know how true that is but I do know that when I was younger I was going swimming for 3 months solid every day for around 2-3 hours at a time. At the end of that summer my thighs were ruined with stretch marks. I hadnt gained any weight at all. :angry:

    Also mud body wraps are supposed to be quite good!
  • mann75
    mann75 Posts: 18
    Thank you all for sharing the wisdom. As I am planning on a gradual weight loss, will drink water and train anyway, and now I will consider the skin cream as well, I hope for the better.
    :flowerforyou:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    if it's a health issue then insurance may cover it...not pretty having the scars I hear but...much less a health risk if you remove the excess skin...

    I've never heard of excess skin being a health risk. Can you say more about this?
    Sure...for diabetics or folks with other health risks such as that...over lapping skin that sort of thing can cause bacteria to grow then infection :noway: ..make more sense now? Guess I didn't explain it in much detail before:blushing: sorry... talking more about larger weigh loss here not 30-40 lbs or that sort:drinker::bigsmile:
  • Fitness_Chick
    Fitness_Chick Posts: 6,648 Member
    Age is certainly on your side. The older you are, the less elasticity your skin has. You may end up with loose skin,, and maybe even some "elephant ears" if you have a large stomach. Of course, you will feel fantastic just losing the weight...and with clothes on...no one will be the wiser. There are garments that firm you up if that is something you might like. You may not end up with a perfect bod, but you will reap the benifits of a lhealthier, leaner body. You could also consider having small surgical fixes over the years to improve your body image. But your skin will shrink to a large extent over time...so don't worry about what you might look like at this point....and don't let it become the reason you give up! Best wishes to all! Your body is only your shell..

    ...it's what's on the inside that makes you YOU!
    very nicely put Robin:flowerforyou:
  • Nonibug
    Nonibug Posts: 1,214 Member
    Age is certainly on your side. The older you are, the less elasticity your skin has. You may end up with loose skin,, and maybe even some "elephant ears" if you have a large stomach. Of course, you will feel fantastic just losing the weight...and with clothes on...no one will be the wiser. There are garments that firm you up if that is something you might like. You may not end up with a perfect bod, but you will reap the benifits of a lhealthier, leaner body. You could also consider having small surgical fixes over the years to improve your body image. But your skin will shrink to a large extent over time...so don't worry about what you might look like at this point....and don't let it become the reason you give up! Best wishes to all! Your body is only your shell..

    ...it's what's on the inside that makes you YOU!
    very nicely put Robin:flowerforyou:

    You took the words right out of my mouth FC!:laugh:
    Very well said Robin:flowerforyou:
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