SKIN SUCCESS stories- for WOMEN OVER 55 ONLY, please!

4 babies and 70 lbs lost. I gained back about half last year but am within 10 lbs of my original loss. I have 40 more to goal.
I have started investigating having a tummy tuck. I've recently had a virtual consultation with a plastic surgeon. He recommended an Inverted T tuck with lipo on my flanks.
I could exercise until the cows come home and there is simply no way to tighten up this volume of loose skin.
I also have loose skin on my upper thighs and arms but nowhere near the degree of my stomach.

When I pinch, my fingers don't touch. There is still a layer of fat beneath the skin. I wouldn't consider having the surgery until I lose an additional 40 lbs, which I hope to accomplish by October. If I did get it now then lose more weight, I'd be back in the same boat! My children are mostly grown, the youngest will be 18 soon. I told them that they're paying for my surgery as a thank you for giving birth to them

Between March of 2014- 2015 I lost 70 lbs. Between 2015-2016 I regained 35lbs. From February 2016 until now I've relost 25 of that gain. Overall I want to lose another 40lbs before having surgery. 50lbs would be fantastic! Lol!!!
Because the pregnancy weight gain and subsequent loss was so drastic surgery is my only option...unless I want to wear body shapers daily.

No it's not cheap, but I'm fortunate that my bff moved to one of the busiest plastic surgery states-Florida- in the country. It's a difference of about 40% between there and here. Plus she will take care of me afterwards.

NewMEEE2016 wrote: »

@pdxwine Congratulations on **92** lbs. That's incredible. Over what period of time did you lose it, and how old are you?

I'm hoping we will hear from some women over 55 who have actually found a way to rid themselves of the excess skin- or who never got it in the first place.

I started this journey in May, 2014. It came off quickly, in the beginning, then slowed, as it should. The weight went on faster than it came off. I was very thin, then put on over 120 pounds. I am now close to my former thin weight, as well as fitness level.

I am, currently, 57, which pisses me off as my mind tells me that I am still 32.

I'm 59 and am down 98+ pounds from my initial starting weight (I had to lose about 45 pounds twice, ugh, because I regained.) I do have loose skin on my arms, legs and abdomen, and that was sadly one of the things that discouraged me from continuing a couple of years ago. Now I'm about where I want to be weight wise and have slowed down the loss and trying to focus on regaining some muscle tone. My skin is very gradually getting better, but I'll probably have some loose skin for the duration.
I'm healthy and I've decided that I'd rather have the saggy skin than the extra pounds. My bingo arms are the only parts visible to the general public, and they are improving as the muscles get stronger.

No real answers, sorry, but that's my experience.

I'm 66 years old, 5'2.5" and down 51 - 52lbs. after yo-yo dieting for many years. At a healthy weight range since February 2015. Currently maintaining at 126 - 127 lbs. It took me 15 months to lose the weight. Since I lifted weights almost from the beginning of my loss I practically have no loose skin. Some cottage cheese around my midriff probably from normal aging along with the usual wrinkles and gravity moving everything toward earth. Sadly, there's no going back to that 20 year old tight skin.

From everything that I've read, the amount of loose skin you will have is determined by age, amount of loss/speed of loss, and genetics. There isn't really anything you can do short of surgery. No magic potions or treatments work except to lighten your wallet.

Spanx is my best friend.

Hi all. I will be 55 tomorrow and not a mom. : ( So, its really a very hard day for me... ) I need to lose at least 75 lbs. In the past, I have used neoprene, wrap around plastic, etc.. in my tummy areas, etc... and it always worked to melt off any skin fat, BEFORE it became loose, from losing weight. ( In past 30 years, I have successfully, taken off 25 lbs off within 1 month, kept it off for like 10 years...Did it again thrice... ) Now, I am sick from being poisoned by several toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, etc...making it really difficult to take the weight off THIS time... But, I need to try it again...I am going to buy these latex, neoprene sleeves, for my arms and thighs, as well, as my stomach, to melt the fat, as I lose..My skin is ALREADY LOOSE... : ( And, YES, THEY DO WORK. You just HAVE to be patient. The loose skin, will eventually go away...Yes, genetics helps. YES, EATING ONLY ORGANIC REALLY, REALLY HELPS!!! Yes, weight training helps a LOT! Yes, going slow, helps, too... Is there anyone out there, who has 75 or more lbs to lose, who would like to SKYPE with me, to swap tips, check in, etc... ??? ( Skype is faster, than constantly typing, although, this is great... ) We could test out different methods to keep our skin tight, as we motivate each other and help each other... : ) Thanks and good luck, everybody!!

NewMEEE2016 wrote: »

trina1049 wrote: »

I'm 66 years old, 5'2.5" and down 51 - 52lbs. after yo-yo dieting for many years. At a healthy weight range since February 2015. Currently maintaining at 126 - 127 lbs. It took me 15 months to lose the weight. Since I lifted weights almost from the beginning of my loss I practically have no loose skin. Some cottage cheese around my midriff probably from normal aging along with the usual wrinkles and gravity moving everything toward earth. Sadly, there's no going back to that 20 year old tight skin.

From everything that I've read, the amount of loose skin you will have is determined by age, amount of loss/speed of loss, and genetics. There isn't really anything you can do short of surgery. No magic potions or treatments work except to lighten your wallet.

Spanx is my best friend.

Thanks, Trina & to others for input. Do you have before/after pics? I want to start a weight lifting program but am extremely confused by it all. What did you use? I know we're not 20 any more, however the extra fat on my face plumping up the wrinkles (plus great genetics) has always made me look younger- I'm not ready to let go of that.

Hi, sorry no pictures. I joined a gym when I first stared losing weight which has Les Mills Body Pump classes and loved them. I lift as heavy as I can -- it's not like a regular weight lifting routine, etc. but it works for me. First, I began with just the bar then progressively added weights once my form was good. Body Pump works on 8, 12, 16 reps quickly and it's a full body workout lasting 55 minutes. I lift 3x's per week + 3 hours of cardio per week and walk.

You don't need a gym to start though. There's tons of free videos on the internet and several good beginning programs like "New Rules of Lifting for Women." Here's a link for info about the program. The weight lifting really changed my body composition and tightened everything up.

thenewrulesoflifting.com/nrol-for-women

Here's one for Les Mills Body Pump. I think that there's Body Pump classes offered at many gyms.

lesmills.com/us/workouts/fitness-classes/bodypump/

kathygk56 wrote: »

@emilycat214 I mainly do (modified) push-ups, which help, but I think working with weights and some triceps specific exercise would be even better.

Thanks! Today at the gym I did some triceps pushdowns on one of the machines. I'll give that a try for a while.