How to lose weight after 35 without losing your face?

[klarabelle]

I posted on another forum earlier about low fat diets and how I think they are bad for your skin, make you look older etc it is just a theory but I am really interested. I am 38 and have about 50lbs to lose. I do want to lose some fat from my face but I want to do what I can to keep my skin nice and help it snap back even if it takes longer.

What are your idea's and tips for losing weight without the arse falling out your face and skin?

[Vivacia]

There's a pretty odd choice of language in your OP.

[mutinyonthebunty]

there is a book called the high fat diet that has just come out that apparently keeps you looking great whilst the weight falls off! might be worth a try! xx

[mutinyonthebunty]

what's the odd language? I know exactly what you mean as I'm a similar age. I try and eat lots of healthy fats.

[Vivacia]

When you think about eating for healthy skin, you're thinking of vitamin E, water, selenium.

[Vivacia]

what's the odd language?

I'm not referring to the grammar, I mean the rather unforgiving language. "Losing your face"? "Arse falling out of your face"?

[klarabelle]

First off thank you for the advice I will check out the high fat diet bounty and those vitamins you mention Vivacia :) I do think healthy fats are key as well as the right vitamins.

Also Vivacia, I am not sure what you find odd, is it that you think it is rude or is it more that you feel it is negative to talk about the effects of weight loss on your face in this way? I don't know how old you are but I'm sure you must be aware that when your a bit older 35+ or even for some younger women if you lose a lot of weight that weight loss which makes your body look fab can be a bit less kind to your skin and especially the face i.e. you lose volume (fat and other tissue) from the under eye area and cheeks, top lip etc which can be quite ageing and it is pretty difficult to regain that fullnes naturally once lost. I did put it in rather a crude way I admit.

I am wanting to discuss ideas of how on can limit these effects while trying to lose weight e.g. what vitamins, dietry factors might be helpful or not and what exercise might be useful for example I have read else where moderate cardio and weight training are helpful to retain facial volume while endurance training such as long distance running might be less helpful.

[dun1urkin]

I'm nearly 39.
Have lost 34kg (~75lbs)
I think my face looks better. When I did a 'big' smile when I was fat, my eyes nearly disappeared in the fat of my cheeks.
I have a jawline and cheekbones now.
I guess it depends on your starting position as usual as I have known other women of the same age, but bigger than me, who didn't have as fat a face as I did.
Of course eating well, looking after your skin, exercising will help the overall appearance of your face, but I suspect this is marginal.

[klarabelle]

Dun1urkin, I am looking to lose in the same range as you maybe a bit less and about the same age so that is good to hear. My face does have excess fat on it but not as much as the rest of me just a bit pudgy round the lower half of my face. I think as well the condition of your skin to begin with makes a difference such as if you have a lot of sun damge or wrinkles which are just being smoothed out with the fat under your skin, it makes sense then that if you lose weight that skin will deflate a bit and the lines will show a bit more.

I've been a daily sunscreen user since my early 20's and been using retinoids for about 10 years. I know my skin is good age wise and that is why I am a bit vain about it, not that I think I am pretty or especially young looking but my skin is something I like.

[dun1urkin]

I hope you do keep your lovely skin, especially as you look after it so well.
I have to say it didn't even cross my mind despite the quote I remember from SATC about chosing between face and arse

[klarabelle]

Well I hope so too, I'd be willing to keep some extra weight if that helps but not this much! I think the best thing is just to take it slow and monitor the situation!

[dun1urkin]

I suppose it's also worth mentioning that I haven't gone from fat to thin, I've gone from very fat to the higher end of healthy BMI. I suspect if I lost another stone or so my face would begin to 'suffer'

[klarabelle]

Perhaps that is the real secret not to get too carried away with getting down to a very low body fat percentage but to find that happy medium. I think I will follow your example :)

[Vivacia]

Also Vivacia, I am not sure what you find odd, is it that you think it is rude or is it more that you feel it is negative to talk about the effects of weight loss on your face in this way?

I'm struggling to articulate this, but I think it sounds a rather negative and unkind way to talk about yourself and other women.

I think that good sunscreen, drinking enough water and getting vitamins in are good ways of looking after our skin. I can see what you mean about fat giving a 'full appearance' but I think being a healthy weight and having some wrinkles is healthier than being 3 and a half stone over weight. I've really never noticed a friend lose weight and found myself thinking, "her skin looks a bit saggy now"

[dun1urkin]

vivacia I am inclined to agree, I would chose a heathy weight over my face, however I can understand that the OP has some concerns about maintaining something she currently very much values about her appearance.
Personally, my once magnificent bosom is now somewhat diminished and my boobs are 'emptier' (36G to 32GG)
I would not exchange being a healthy weight for more fulsome boobs though and my collarbone looks tres elegant

[klarabelle]

Vivacia, I can see where you think it sounds a bit negative, I sort of meant it in a kind of off the cuff manner.

Facial fat does make us look younger simply because we have more facial fat as children and teenagers. I think everyone has different priorities when it comes to their appearance to me my skin is important and I do notice other peoples skin a lot, its my thing I guess. If I am a size 14 I am happy and feel good about myself and what I can wear etc but lots of women would feel huge at a size 12. I have thought at times that people looked better with a bit more fat on them because their skin looked nicer. Still I am sure diet has quite a bit to do with it and that low fat eating is bad news for skin.

[Vivacia]

I think we agree on more than we disagree but where's the evidence for this, that low fat eating is bad news for skin?

[klarabelle]

Also I would never say to anyone they were looking a bit older since weight loss because I totally get that we all have different ideals.

As for my bust, well even at my biggest it was always disappointing!

[klarabelle]

Vivacia, I am not sure their is any evidence per say just what I have observed and read about. Dr Perricone talks about the importance of good fats to the skin and another american dermatologist has done a lot of reserch on the negative impact of lipid lowering medication on the skin. Basically the lipids in your blood impact on the lipid make up of your skin and in turn that impacts on the whole repair response of your skin it is pretty complex but for example cells in the upper levels of your skin actually signal downwards to the dermis and that signaling effects collagen production. It is pretty complex but it does make a difference. Also fat helps you get maximum nutrition from your foods as some are fat soluable only and so you need the fats from nuts and oils to get the most from a salad or veg.

I don't think you should drown your food in fat but I think cutting it out totally or only eating low fat dairy is skipping on some major nutritional benefits.

[Vivacia]

I am not sure their is any evidence per se just what I have observed and read about Well, that's pretty much what evidence is, I guess

I can see that fats are essential, as all food groups are. However, there's a difference between needing lipids for digestion and being 3 and a half stone over weight.

[Vivacia]

I think some low-fat alternative foods tend to compensate with sugar, e.g. the infamous low-fat soft cheese made with icing sugar.

[whattheseithakasmean]

Most of the older fat women I see have no jawline as it has melted into their neck - a slimmer face will definitely look better than that, even with extra wrinkles.

[Vivacia]

And it's not just about looks is it? It's about being healthier and fitter and stronger and feeling all of these things.

[klarabelle]

I think my point is that I don't think low fat diets are optimal for your skin if you want to make nice skin a priority during weight loss. It isn't about having excess fat on your body because of course that comes with all kinds of health drawbacks but rather that I think that even during a diet, trying to lose excess weight one should continue to eat a good percentage of healthy fats in the form of nuts, seeds, avocados, fish if you eat it, flaxseed oil and even some full fat dairy. Basically a low GI wholefood diet that doesn't cut out or reduce any food group.

I am not suggesting it looks better to be grossly fat but that some people might feel better at the higher end of their healthy weight range than getting down to a size 10. In my opinion it doesn't always look better but it truly is different strokes for different folks we all have our sticking points. Me I would rather be a slightly fatter healthy weight and have less wrinkles.

Of course it isn't all about looks, health is important but you don't need to be rail thin to be fit and strong, you can have a bit of fat on you and look great, especially if it helps your skin.

[Vivacia]

I think that even during a diet, trying to lose excess weight one should continue to eat a good percentage of healthy fats in the form of nuts, seeds, avocados, fish if you eat it, flaxseed oil and even some full fat dairy. Basically a low GI wholefood diet that doesn't cut out or reduce any food group

I think that you're right. Weight loss doesn't have to mean eating a poor diet (although you see plenty of people on shakes, Dukan etc).

some people might feel better at the higher end of their healthy weight range than getting down to a size 10.

I think for the majority of people a size 10 is pretty much what they'd be at a healthy weight.

Anyway you've put up with lots of questions from me tonight! All the best with your weight loss.

[klarabelle]

I am about a size 12-14 at 11 stone which is right at the top end of my healthy weight range. To make a size 10 I have to get down to 9 stone this is just impossible for me to maintain without starving myself and I only managed it briefly during finals at uni. Again this is all so arbitary depending on your body type and preferance, I always wanted to be waif like as a teenager but it is never going to happen.