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How to build or maintain muscle and tighten skin?

ZeroTX
ZeroTX Posts: 179 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi guys,

I know I'll have a bunch of saggy skin when I get to goal weight (I already do and I'm 80lbs shy of goal). I'm 40, I've been fat my whole life, it's not going to tighten up that much. However, I'd like to try to mitigate how bad it will get, especially in my face, head, arms and hands (areas seen most often in public).

Also, I'm dropping weight at 1 to 3 lbs per week, but want to make sure that I maintain or gain muscle. Suggestions? I know that losing and bulking are two things that don't go together, so I'm not looking to "bulk," just maintain.

Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    It can take a couple of years after you hit your goal weight for the skin to tighten up as much as it is going to tighten so keep in mind that what you see once you lose the next 80 pounds is not what you necessarily will see at -80lbs+2yrs.

    To maintain muscle, do some sort of resistance training--lifting weights, bodyweight training, etc. Something to tell your body that you need the muscle. In addition, eat enough protein to support that muscle. There are a many different suggestions for what is "enough protein" but I follow .8 grams per pound of bodyweight, rounded to make it easy. I'm not sure if you are currently lifting weights or doing another type of resistance exercise but you are in one of the groups which is commonly recognized as being able to build muscle in a deficit--overfat people. In addition, the fact that you are overweight means that you likely have a fair amount of muscle, simply because it takes more muscle to move you around. (Don't take any of this as insulting, please. This is one of the few pluses of having being overweight for a long time so relish it.) If you aren't doing resistance training, get to it pronto in order to protect that muscle.
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