Anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight...

WEIGHTS!!! Weights, weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights weights!

Oh... & after you've done that? Try some weights!

have lost 85 pounds with 15 to goal and yes I do have sagging skin.. I did loose it slowly but was heavy for most of my adult life. Some skin has shrunk but some areas have not..... like my arms, tummy and upper thights slightly. I feel it is better to have the loose skin and be healthy.

I lost about 100 pounds then gained 20 back (which is why I'm here) but I'm still at a "normal" weight (i.e. not morbidly obese like before). I fared worse than a lot of people in the extra skin department. It's pretty gross. But you know what? As far as I know extra skin isn't associated with any major adverse health effects (unlike being *morbidly* obese, they call it that for a reason). Having extra skin doesn't make it harder for me to move around the way being fat did. And even though I don't look great naked, or in certain types of clothing, I still look a lot better than before. Would I rather not have the extra skin, sure, but as I've tried to make clear, it's a lot better than the alternative.

Oh and people will try to tell you that losing weight slowly, drinking lots of water, vitamins, etc. will help. Realistically, they won't. It's largely a matter of how long you were big, how big you were, and luck. Nor will lifting weights help either by "firming up" skin or by filling out extra skin (unless you want to build up as much muscle as you used to have fat, which is physically unlikely and kinda pointless). With the amount of weight you want to lose, you will almost certainly have some extra skin.

Do you have a ton of sagging skin or anything like that? I'm terrified that I'll lose weight and just look like a deflated sack. My mom (who is very overweight) is kind of against my dieting and has said that I'll look bad because of having been so heavy in the past, I'll just have skin to my knees and deflated boobs, etc. Is it really that bad?

With nearly 200 lbs. to lose it is likely you will need to have skin removal sugery done. That's the price we pay for weight gain and then the skin stretches out (think about a ballon that's deflated) and has no where to go.

It's a very very small price to pay for getting healthy! Start saving up your $$'s now for surgery in the future or your insurance might pick it up like mine.

There are many photos on here from the past of those that have been large, had surgery and the gory details of those not having it. In the end we all make a decision of staying heavy with fat under the skin or losing the fat and keeping the skin and making a choice after that.

Getting healthy is so worth it, you have quite a ways to go before you'll need surgery so focus on the positive to keep you motivated and even if you do end up with loose skin, it's truly not the end of the world. :flowerforyou:

Clothes cover up so much so keep moving forward and you'll find some cute outfits to wear if you opt out of surgery.

Your Mother may or may not be thinking of your health when she warns you of loose skin and her not wanting you to loose weight. Enablers don't want to be alone, you've got to do what's the healthiest for your body and if noone else agrees we learn to deal with it.

Good luck:drinker:

I have lost almost 100lbs from my top weight. Yes, there is sagging skin and deflated boobs, however we are young enough that there should still be some elasticity in your skin that it should bounce back. I know some of mine has, especially with weight training and cardio exercising.

You'll only have loose skin if you'll lose a lot of weight very quickly, which is very unlikely by the way. I lost 40 kg (~80 lbs) within not even half year and have no loose skin, everything is normal. I did some research on this topic before I even started dieting and exercising and let me tell you that as long as you'll go back to your normal weight before you turn 30-35 your skin will get back to normal eventually. After 35 it's very likely you'll have some loose skin, but then there are special treatments for this.

I expect to be a bit saggy, but overweight people I know keep telling me I'll look deflated and terrible. I don't know why all of the overweight people I know are against me getting in shape? I am doing circuit training so I'm hoping to tone up a lot, I don't just want to lose weight, what I care about is losing inches of fat and gaining muscle. I care less about numbers and more about having less fat on my body and being stronger/having energy. I don't want to be skinny, I want to be fit! Maybe added muscle mass will help with minimizing the saggage. I do use coconut oil on my skin/hair so maybe that will help too.

Overweight people are telling you that because that is how they justify staying overweight to themselves. Do what's best for your body and lose it.

You'll only have loose skin if you'll lose a lot of weight very quickly, which is very unlikely by the way

:huh:

Good Afternoon,

I see that you are 22 , so you have youth on your side.

I am 55 and yes, I do have sagging skin, but alot of that is age related. After you get a certain age, gravity takes over no matter what. I do not stress over it. I don't go sleeveless, nor do I wear shorts, except walking shorts and capris. A good support bra is a must and then when wearing dress slacks, I do wear a lightweight spanx type under garment just to smooth out the lumbs and bumps. And yes, I do look nice in my clothes. :happy:

I really believe that since you are so young, if you exercise and take the weight off slowly, you will minimize any sagging skin.

So....continue your journey to a healthier life and just remember to enjoy the ride. :flowerforyou:

Sending best wishes your way for continued success!

I lost over 100 pounds in a two year span and I have very minimal loose skin. I had been heavey all my life so some loose skin was expected. I have a little on my arms (when I flex I have none) and my boobs went down half their size, so they sag yes, but I dont think its too bad. I have a little with my stomach, but since I lost if over two years it wasnt too bad. It helped that I was in my 20's and doing it the right way, eatting healthy and working out. If you are worried about not finding anyone, let me tell you, I found someone who loves me for what I am...he knows why I am like I am and is more proud that I decided to make myself healther then just living with it. Some days are tough and I dont like it sometimes, but I remember where I was and how much better my life is without the weight. My mom lost weight around the same time, but since she had surgery she lost hers really fast and yes did have the saggy skin which she ended up getting surgery. But since you are younger, you should be able to loose weight and not have too much.