From the article: Excess Skin After Weight Loss
Loose skin after weight loss can be a problem following a significant weight change (such as losing 100 pounds or more). It can not only be detrimental to one's self-esteem, but it may also lead to health issues such as rashes in locations where the skin rubs against the body. If you have experienced this problem, how have you coped? Is surgery the only answer or have you found an easier way to tone up? Help our other readers deal with loose skin after weight loss.
Loose skin
- At 34, I just lost 30 baby lbs in 3 months, 1 year after having my second child, and have a lot of extra skin around my belly. I'm really bummed. I did not use moisturizer while I was pregnant nor after but will begin doing so to see if it will help at all. I also plan on trying crunches to see if that helps tone the area. Thus far all the loss came from restricting my caloric intake. I eat (and always have eaten) exceptionally healthy- fresh fruit & veg and high protein low carb. The only foods that I eat you may consider processed would be whole grain sandwhich thins once in a while. Surgery really isn't an option for me. In the meantime, I'm stuck wearing belly bands when I work in public. It sucks to have lost all this weight and to be carrying around a sagging stomach. I wouldn't trade it for my kids, but wish I had known that moisturizer may have prevented this. Ugh.
- —Guest Nola
Haul it away.
- I have had 2 kids 16 months aparts. They stretched me like crazy. working out every day a little on the weekends. but other activities. if my skin repairs i will call it a miracle. My first have me over 50 lbs my second 40. I will eventually get a tummy tuck and reduction from all this. For now its all about feeling healthy
- —Guest Gineen
You CAN do it!
- Please don't be dismayed! You can lose the loose skin... Really it IS a combination of diet, exercise and drinking a lot of water. If you are losing more than 1-2 pounds a week it may be more difficult but not impossible. Look at it this way, it took X amount of years for us to become overweight and may take some time for our skin to conform to our new bodies. Diet is most important. A lot of us lose weight by restricting calories (which is good) but we may not really do aerobics, and we still eat a bunch of processed foods (and foods that don't operate as fuel to burn calories). It will take some work, but it is possible. Also, work out to build muscle to give skin something to adhere to.
- —IMO12
slow weight loss and loose skin
- Yes, it does happen with slow healthy weight loss. I've lost 80 lbs in 14 months -- slow and steady. I've been exercising -- cardio and weight-lifting for 9 months. And yet, I still have loose skin. Ramping up my weight-lifting to see if it helps. Will also be talking to a personal trainer to help target areas of loose skin.
- —Guest sally
Loose skin
- Loose skin doesn't happen if you take weight loss slowly.
- —Guest Mary Fisher
Loose skin
- I've lost 123 pounds in 10 months, and have a great deal of loose skin around my midsection and especially on my upper arms. I will probably have the arm skin removed, but will give it time. At my age (68) I have to be kind to myself!
- —Jeremiah.806
6 babies at 10 pounds each!
- I have had 6 babies all around 10 pounds each. with each one I had gained about 60 pounds extra on my belly. I hadn't worked out to lose weight until I had my last one. after starting my fitness journey I had all this loose skin hanging around my belly even after I lost 50 pounds. I was so sad to see this ugly skin hanging around my abs that I was working so hard to get in shape. BUT - then I also changed my diet to include more produce and eliminated processed foods and preservatives as well as drank more water. I am pleased to say, my skin has finally snapped back. between the bootcamp, more water and better nutrition, I was able to do something I was told would never happen for me. I am 36 years old. I am also a personal trainer and I had been telling my clients that they would not be able to get rid of that extra skin without surgery. now I know better. age, nutrition and other factors play into it. do some strength training along with your exercise program and eat well.
- —Guest Mennis
Not a problem
- I've lost 60 pounds over the last 2 years and I have almost no problem with it. I'm 26. The only place I appear to have loose skin is my neck--kinda look like grandma but I'm planning on getting it taken care of. I look a ton better. So loose skin wasn't a problem.
- —joedirt2
1st hand account
- I lost 120 pounds in six months to join the military and that was six years ago. I still have a lot of loose skin from my weight loss. It has been long rough road dealing with this extra skin and so far all of the operations to get this corrected are going to run me about five thousand dollars or more. I don't regret my losing the weight but I am upset that these operations are so expensive.
- —Guest kevin
