Unexpected downsides of losing weight
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aprildawn81 wrote: »I apologize in advance if this has been discussed further than the op adding it to her list of frustrations but, as far as loose skin, is there anything that can be done while losing weight to prevent that from happening? I have only lost 15 lbs so far (without exercise, but that's about to start), but I still have another 55 to go to be where I want to be. I JUST had a discussion about this with my husband a few days ago. Has anyone successfully accomplished this, without surgery? Thanks!
Don't worry, it is a common concern worth repeating. Loose skin occurrence is based on many factors, some of which are out of your control. The slower you go, the less likely you are to have loose skin. Keeping the skin moisturizer and healthy can help improve the appearance of loose skin. Two big factors out of our control are age and genetics (skin type and also where you carry your fat). The older you are, the more likely you are to have loose skin due to less elasticity in the skin. The more weight you carry in one area, the more likely you are to have loose skin in that area (e.g. Apple-shaped people are more likely to have loose skin in the stomach compared to those who are pear or straight up and down). The more overall weight you have to lose, the more likely you are to have loose skin. Generally, the people who have obvious loose skin from weight loss have lost over 100 pounds, although that doesn't mean those who have less to lose won't suffer loose skin.
Most important to note, it is all likeliness (no guarantees of good or bad results) and very individual. You may fare better or worse than others of similar shapes, so focus on the things you can control, like losing slowly and keeping your skin healthy.0 -
aprildawn81 wrote: »I apologize in advance if this has been discussed further than the op adding it to her list of frustrations but, as far as loose skin, is there anything that can be done while losing weight to prevent that from happening? I have only lost 15 lbs so far (without exercise, but that's about to start), but I still have another 55 to go to be where I want to be. I JUST had a discussion about this with my husband a few days ago. Has anyone successfully accomplished this, without surgery? Thanks!
Mine pretty much went away with time, after losing around 50 pounds, even at age 59-60. It kept shrinking well into year 2 of maintenance for sure, and possibly beyond.
Though results do vary by individual, I think many people anticipate more loose skin than will really be the case in the long run. If you go into the Success Stories part of the forum, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how little loose skin many people actually have, sometimes after quite substantial weight loss. (In the threads there, many people share photos of their real results, sometimes including bathing suit photos.)
A couple of things:
1. Some of us look worse part way to goal than we will at goal weight (I did).This is because fat can deplete anywhere in the fat mass - it doesn't just melt off the outer layer, then proceed neatly inward. A fat area can go from being a somewhat firm (if jiggly) fat mass, to being kind of floppy or squishy. This stage can look alarming, but it doesn't last. As fat loss continues, those areas deplete more. It's a little like a water balloon: Firm and rounded when full of water, but if you let some water out (without letting air in), it gets floppy and squishy, but it's still stretched. Let out all the water, it flattens out, and the balloon can shrink more.
2. That squishy fat can be enough to conspire with gravity to keep the skin stretched out, until it's fully depleted (or close). That means that skin may not really be able to start shrinking much until the fat is nearly all gone, close to or at goal weight. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, like the wrinkles in fabric (think about how thick a layer of skin is if you pinch it up on a bony body part, like back of hand or kneecap: thin). Rolls or folds of 1/2" or more still have some subcutaneous fat, which limits shrinking. So, at an extreme, skin starts to shrink right about the time we're approaching goal weight, then it's a slow process.
What can help? Well, skin is an organ. The healthier the skin is, the more likely it will be to be willing to shrink back. What makes skin healthy? The same things that make other organs healthy: Not losing weight crazy fast in the first place (creates physical stress if we lose super fast); sound, well-balanced nutrition; healthy exercise (strength and cardiovascular), adequate hydration.
So, do what you can to stay healthy, and hope to see reasonable progress in skin over time, with patience.
These days (year 3 of maintenance), people who've just met me are visibly shocked (not just politely surprised) when I say I was obese as recently as 2015. This suggests to me that even at age 63, I don't have huge problems with visible artifacts of weight loss like loose skin. Genetics are a big variable in this, but so, typically, is age.
I suggest not stressing about it for now, then waiting to see how you look at goal, and beyond. Many people will have better results than they expect. Why borrow trouble and worry from the future, purely on speculation? And don't worry if things are a little scary part way to goal. It's reasonable to expect improvement at goal, and beyond.
Best wishes!
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This has been going on for months now. Does anyone know if there are any weight lifting exercises that are good for increasing the muscle down there? I figure squats probably but that can't be it. I can literally feel my tailbone and pelvis.0 -
RelCanonical wrote: »aprildawn81 wrote: »I apologize in advance if this has been discussed further than the op adding it to her list of frustrations but, as far as loose skin, is there anything that can be done while losing weight to prevent that from happening? I have only lost 15 lbs so far (without exercise, but that's about to start), but I still have another 55 to go to be where I want to be. I JUST had a discussion about this with my husband a few days ago. Has anyone successfully accomplished this, without surgery? Thanks!
Generally, the people who have obvious loose skin from weight loss have lost over 100 pounds, although that doesn't mean those who have less to lose won't suffer loose skin.
I got loose skin after 30 pounds. When I was younger it always snapped back. Now it isn't. I'm told keeping the weight off for a few years will improve it, but obviously I'm not going to have the same results I did 20 years ago.
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One downside I've noticed is that recently I got sick and had a stomach bug and people seem to only be able to say "Oh, at least you're losing weight!" No one would say that to a thin person. Makes me feel like I'm nothing but a weight to people.15
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One downside I've noticed is that recently I got sick and had a stomach bug and people seem to only be able to say "Oh, at least you're losing weight!" No one would say that to a thin person. Makes me feel like I'm nothing but a weight to people.
That sucks. People can be so cruel.3 -
I still find my face odd. I noticed the only pictures I have of myself since losing weight are gym selfies, I feel really comfortable there. I need a headshot for work and I'm somehow uncomfortable with it.4
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the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.2 -
Those of you complaining about your rears... I was massive fat and my padding back there NEVER increased. Sometimes it felt like I was sitting with all my weight directly on my coccyx.3
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Spadesheart wrote: »NOTHING FITS, AND I CAN'T BUY CLOTHES UNTIL I REACH GOAL WEIGHT.
I have lost 50 pounds, and i have 20ish to go. None of my clothes fit anymore. It sounds like a humble brag, but it's legitimately an issue. I wear suits to work, and the pant's all look like tents so I have to wear more casual pants along with the rest of the get up.
And there's no point in buying anything yet, as the way the weight loss has gone has left a great deal of it on my belly and chest. Everything I lose moving forward is making a pretty dramatic difference to my size, so I feel like I'll be like 4-5 inches smaller at the chest and tummy by goal. Sigh.
Well you have to have clothes. It takes a long time to lose that much weight. I went through several "Goodwill wardrobes" while losing 150. And buy things with stretch and a flexible fit so they last awhile.
Wrap dresses seem to last longer than other clothing. I am wearing a lot of dresses now since I can wear them through more weight loss than I can a pair of pants. I don't know how you have made it that far without having to get anything yet. I only have lost 30 and my clothes were quite honestly falling off already.2 -
the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.
I recently had a doctor tell me that my aches and lains actually can very well be due to loss because of weight distribution. Don't know if there's truth to that, but you might be correct!0 -
the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.
I recently had a doctor tell me that my aches and lains actually can very well be due to loss because of weight distribution. Don't know if there's truth to that, but you might be correct!
i read some on that too. but physio/chiro were not convinced. i really hope things start improving because it's been nearly a year since I can do much real exercise
while not major pain or anything it's annoying to have done all this work to be at my smallest EVER (always been obese even as a child) and yet my body is at it's worse physically. 2 -
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the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.
I recently had a doctor tell me that my aches and lains actually can very well be due to loss because of weight distribution. Don't know if there's truth to that, but you might be correct!
My osteopath (whom I see for recurrent back issues) said the same thing. Extra evidence (in my mind): It's not unusual for women who have a single mastectomy without reconstruction, but who have a larger remaining breast, to have back problems as a consequence.0 -
I hear you with this one. I am an Australian size 6 which is an American 0. Finding clothes that fit is so hard as many clothing shops don't go lower than an 8. I often have to resort to teen shops or children's departments. Not ideal when you are over 40!
I asked online about buying t and polo shirts for men and the general consensus was "go to Asia"! I always measure the distance from side to side, even extra small can be too big.
I went to the children's section of Kmart yesterday. There seems to be a gap between biggest children's size and smallest adult.0 -
I hear you with this one. I am an Australian size 6 which is an American 0. Finding clothes that fit is so hard as many clothing shops don't go lower than an 8. I often have to resort to teen shops or children's departments. Not ideal when you are over 40!
I asked online about buying t and polo shirts for men and the general consensus was "go to Asia"! I always measure the distance from side to side, even extra small can be too big.
I went to the children's section of Kmart yesterday. There seems to be a gap between biggest children's size and smallest adult.
There are a lot of stores that sell clothes that run small. Hot topic is one. But they're not exactly business professional clothes.
Online clothing stores based out of Asia do have clothes that run small, but you have to be careful as a lot of times they're not well made.
your best bet might be learning to sew.2 -
Lack of butt padding is a real issue! Trying to roll in yoga is painful! When I was down to my goal weight last time, my biggest issue was unwanted attention from men. At the drug store, grocery store, while riding my bike! I think that’s one of the reason I started gaining it back. I was really uncomfortable with the unwanted, at times almost threatening attention. I was taking a walk along the waterfront and a man followed me for about 1/2 a mile to a stop light and tried striking up a conversation, asking for my number. You start to feel confident, you buy nicer clothes, you walk with good posture and BOOM, suddenly you feel like a gazelle in a wild kingdom episode being chased by hyenas. My younger, single self probably would have been thrilled, but my middle aged, happily married self doesn’t like it.8
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the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.
I recently had a doctor tell me that my aches and lains actually can very well be due to loss because of weight distribution. Don't know if there's truth to that, but you might be correct!
i read some on that too. but physio/chiro were not convinced. i really hope things start improving because it's been nearly a year since I can do much real exercise while not major pain or anything it's annoying to have done all this work to be at my smallest EVER (always been obese even as a child) and yet my body is at it's worse physically.the hurts to sit thing is a huge. seriously, i even still have a "booty" but man it hurts to sit.
I don't think it's all related to weight loss but the last year i've been struggling with lots of aches and pain in various parts of my body. In fact i've rarely been this inactive (other than walking) due to physical issues. I've been to a number of doctors, chiros, sport doctor, physios. xrays. and still bleh. Knees, hips, legs in general. and recently lower back and major coccyx pain.
I recently had a doctor tell me that my aches and lains actually can very well be due to loss because of weight distribution. Don't know if there's truth to that, but you might be correct!
i read some on that too. but physio/chiro were not convinced. i really hope things start improving because it's been nearly a year since I can do much real exercise while not major pain or anything it's annoying to have done all this work to be at my smallest EVER (always been obese even as a child) and yet my body is at it's worse physically.
That’s so weird to me, that weight loss could cause pain. Weight loss relieves my back and neck pain and my headaches - which are probably from my back and neck strain. I carry my weight up top, so when I lose, it relieves the compression of my spine. I hope things start to clear up for you soon. It’s got to be so frustrating.0 -
Lack of butt padding is a real issue! Trying to roll in yoga is painful! When I was down to my goal weight last time, my biggest issue was unwanted attention from men. At the drug store, grocery store, while riding my bike! I think that’s one of the reason I started gaining it back. I was really uncomfortable with the unwanted, at times almost threatening attention. I was taking a walk along the waterfront and a man followed me for about 1/2 a mile to a stop light and tried striking up a conversation, asking for my number. You start to feel confident, you buy nicer clothes, you walk with good posture and BOOM, suddenly you feel like a gazelle in a wild kingdom episode being chased by hyenas. My younger, single self probably would have been thrilled, but my middle aged, happily married self doesn’t like it.
I HATE when they do the "roll on your back front to back front to back", can't do it, too painful. Same with boat post without a cushion, lol.2 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Lack of butt padding is a real issue! Trying to roll in yoga is painful! When I was down to my goal weight last time, my biggest issue was unwanted attention from men. At the drug store, grocery store, while riding my bike! I think that’s one of the reason I started gaining it back. I was really uncomfortable with the unwanted, at times almost threatening attention. I was taking a walk along the waterfront and a man followed me for about 1/2 a mile to a stop light and tried striking up a conversation, asking for my number. You start to feel confident, you buy nicer clothes, you walk with good posture and BOOM, suddenly you feel like a gazelle in a wild kingdom episode being chased by hyenas. My younger, single self probably would have been thrilled, but my middle aged, happily married self doesn’t like it.
I HATE when they do the "roll on your back front to back front to back", can't do it, too painful. Same with boat post without a cushion, lol.
I'd end up with bruising. That and v-sits or any tailbone balancing. If my mat isn't thick enough I bruise on my backside.
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