Question for "Big" Losers Regarding Loose Skin

southernyankee716
southernyankee716 Posts: 201
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone. I gained 90lbs during my pregnancy- that was 3 years ago. I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome which makes it difficult to lose weight. Until this point, I haven't really made the attempt. However, I feel the worst I ever have and have made up my mind that I'm going to get healthy.

I have 80-100 pounds to lose. My biggest concern is that I will have loose or sagging skin. For those who have lost a significant amount of weight - How much weight did you lose and was hanging skin an issue for you?

Are there ways to prevent hanging skin or is it simply inevitable?

To be more specific (not sure if it applies) my weight is pretty proportionate. I weight 237 and my only concern with hanging skin is in my stomach area . .

Replies

  • mclukey
    mclukey Posts: 22
    I went from 220 to 124 and it took about 3 years...I did it slow and I do have some skin issues. Especially on my stomach and legs. I have read all kinds of different replies to this kind of question..some say sagging skin recovers somewhat after a couple years and others say it doesn't. I have been maintaining for about 5 months and mine hasn't gotten any better. I have to say it kinda sucks after losing so much weight that I still can't be happy with my body but it sure beats weighing 100 pounds more. I try and focus on the positive such as I have so much more energy and look thin with my clothes on. When I get down about it I look at old pics and that seems to make me feel better knowing I don't look that big anymore. I would say healthwise its better to have sagging skin than a body covered in fat.
  • dizzydi1968
    dizzydi1968 Posts: 564
    I've gone from 248 to 170. I have some skin issues particularly on my boobs but ny stomach and legs are still looking pretty good. I think it depends on skin elasticity, age, exercise and genetics. I have no stretch marks from pregnancy so maybe I'm just lucky? I do 3 weights/ body conditioning classes per week and that seems to help.

    I look way better in clothes than I do naked but at 43 I can live with that, afterall only those who love me most see me naked.
  • Dexy_
    Dexy_ Posts: 593 Member
    It's mostly down to genetics, most "experts" say. To prevent it from being especially bad, lose weight slow and steady and do weight training.
  • grannygethealthy1111
    grannygethealthy1111 Posts: 422
    Sagging skin after a large weight loss is dependent upon many factors: your age, how heavy you got and for how long you were overweight, sun damage, how fast you lose your weight, your skin elasticity (do you have a lot of stretch marks from pregnancy), and mostly GENETICS.

    I did have skin issues after losing over 100 pounds but it has improved drastically with a lot of hard work and continuing to maintain my weight loss for almost 2 years now. It can take as long as 2 years to improve the sagging. Some do see improvement, some don't. I am 61 but have very good genes.

    11613466.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

    You are welcome to look at my pictures here: http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/k499/grannygethealthy1111/
    I am old compared to you, but it will give you an idea. At your age you should be able to make a lot of improvement with continued good diet and exercise. You will lose slow since you have PCOS, so that will help with the skin issue.
  • gardengals
    gardengals Posts: 46 Member
    Unfortunately some saggy skin my just be inevitable. I have lost 60something pounds over the last year. For awhile I was noticing in lots of places...back of arms, boobs, stomach, thighs. Once I started going to the gym it got better. I have doing those toning classes with the little weights and some weight training. Now it's just my boobs and stomach. I think the stomach thing will be the issue in the long run....I have 3 kids so a regular pregnancy/birth plus a twin pregnancy and c-section pretty much did a number on the lower part of my stomach. In the long run, healthy is my goal and those kids are now successful high school students and the other one is in college....all worth it!
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