Loose Skin from major weight loss... scared!

MaryYoungmark
MaryYoungmark Posts: 66 Member
in Motivation and Support
I started my weight loss journey at 310 lbs. I have lost 70 since then so I'm sitting at 240 at the moment and have about 80-90 more to lose. About 150-160 total. I'm curious to hear stories from people who have lost 100-200 lbs and did you have tons of extra skin? Anything you did to eliminate it or tighten it up? I know a lot of people have it surgically removed but I don't think that will be an option for me. Has anyone lost a ton of weight and not ended up with a lot of skin?

Replies

  • elcapitanp
    elcapitanp Posts: 6 Member
    I have seen anecdotal "after" pictures and testimonials to the effect that intermittent fasting helps with this. The proponent is a man named Dr. Fung who points to instances of imposed famine to demonstrate that the emaciated form doesn't have loose skin after such an experience. If you are shifting between "normal" and fasting blood sugar levels for lengths of time, the fasting levels boost hormones that promote autophagy.
  • kd_mazur
    kd_mazur Posts: 569 Member
    I think it depends on a lot of things like how quickly the weight is lost and how elastic the skin is. I have a friend that has lost more than 200# and when he looked into skin removal surgery they told him the recovery from the surgery would be worse than just leaving the skin as is.
  • izzybelle2013
    izzybelle2013 Posts: 147 Member
    I have taken over 2 years to lose 100 pounds. I do have loose skin, but it is nothing I can't live with. Loose skin is better than the extra weight, which is so unhealthy.
  • MaryYoungmark
    MaryYoungmark Posts: 66 Member
    izzybelle2013 wrote: »
    I have taken over 2 years to lose 100 pounds. I do have loose skin, but it is nothing I can't live with. Loose skin is better than the extra weight, which is so unhealthy.

    I completely agree with you there izzybelle! I'll take extra skin over obesity any day. I'm on pace with losing 1-2 lbs a week. And doing crossfit and building muscle underneath as I go. So praying it won't be too much
  • maryjh1976
    maryjh1976 Posts: 146 Member
    elcapitanp wrote: »
    I have seen anecdotal "after" pictures and testimonials to the effect that intermittent fasting helps with this. The proponent is a man named Dr. Fung who points to instances of imposed famine to demonstrate that the emaciated form doesn't have loose skin after such an experience. If you are shifting between "normal" and fasting blood sugar levels for lengths of time, the fasting levels boost hormones that promote autophagy.

    I am curious about this method.
  • brookielaw
    brookielaw Posts: 814 Member
    I'm 230 lbs down from my highest (not pictured) and have my share of loose skin. It is the worst on my stomach and legs. I've built a good amount of muscle in my arms, so sure there is loose skin there, but it doesn't bother me as much as the rest. I wear compression garments every day. I plan on seeking skin removal surgery for the stomach and legs due to the medical issues they cause. The rest are just my badge of honor---beats being super morbidly obese.
  • MaryYoungmark
    MaryYoungmark Posts: 66 Member
    88olds wrote: »
    Beware. I've lost 100lbs and have plenty of loose skin. But that's not a reason to beware.

    I lost about the last 40lbs on Weight Watchers. But unlike most people, I never quit going to meetings. I've been to 100s of WW meetings.
    I also participated on a WW message board before coming here.

    Beware of this- you're about halfway there. Is being concerned about loose skin at this point the beginning of a "not good enough" train of thought? As in, I'm going to all this trouble and the result will not be good enough. It's then a short step to "Why bother?"

    I've watched lots of people, in person and on line, raise the loose skin issue in the middle of the process and soon disappear. Don't.

    Stay in the present. Or if you have to be concerned with the future, plan tomorrow's menu.

    Oh I have absolutely 0 chance of stopping my weight loss journey. I'll take some loose skin for a healthy body. I'm just wondering if there is anything to do that can lessen the amount of loose skin and am hoping to hear from people's experiences
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    IMO it depends on how quickly you lose the weight as far as the loose skin. I lost a lot of weight last year and it was spread out over months and I had no loose skin. I also lost some weight around 10 years ago and got to my goal weight really super fast and had a saggy butt for the longest time. I hated it. But I lost the weight really fast back then.

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