Fear of loose skin

[Badgoushk]

Hi everyone, this is my first post. I'm 38 and I've recently had 2 beautiful babies. Over the years I have gained weight and in January I was 16st 8. I'm already down to 15st 1 through healthy eating and exercise. My goal is 11st 10 as, at 5ft 8, that brings me into the range of normal BMI. However, I'm really worried that I'm going to have loose skin!!! I'm losing at a rate of 2 pounds a week now so not too fast. My Mum is nearly 70 and looks about 15 years younger so I think we have reasonably elastic skin! I've not been a sunbather either. But I'm concerned that, at my age, losing 50 pounds is going to leave me looking very loose!

Has anyone here around my age lost a lot of weight and NOT had loose skin? I need some hope please!!!

Thanks,

B xxx

[Badgoushk]

Bump. Anyone? Xx

[readingrainbow]

From what I've read, it is inevitable. I lost 40kg and had loose skin but it has started firming up - I takes about a year at maintenance I think. The loose skin on my calves is firmer now, but I'm only 6 months post goal weight.

[Badgoushk]

Thanks for your reply! May I ask how old you are as I guess that has a bearing on how likely it is to have loose skin. Well done for losing a phenomenal amount of weight! How did you do it? How have you found the maintenance phase? Thanks :0)

[dun1urkin]

35kg loss, and I'm 39

I think some loose skin is inevitable. I was very big (100kg, 5 ft 5) for a long time. I've not had kids, but my stomach (where I carried a lot of the fat) is saggy, looks similar to friends who have had 2/3 children.
The rest of me is fine though. I suppose I could have it chopped off, but even if I had a 'spare' 5k I don't think I'd want such major surgery for something that doesn't bother me that much. I've been stable (between 63 and 67kg depending on holidays and Christmas ) for around a year now.

[readingrainbow]

I'm a few years younger - 35. I was overweight/obese for about a decade and decided to stop the increase last summer by cutting out all added sugars and ended up falling into intermittent fasting. I do 16:8.

Maintenance has just been the same as losing, I never had a fixed goal weight in mind and just let the loss settle into a plateau. I could probably have worked at losing more but I had reached my pre-first-pregnancy weight and was pleased.

I've now fallen pregnant again so I'll be restarting the process in another year, haha. My skin elasticity is shot! But I'd rather have loose skin than the alternative, to be honest. I was v unhappy with my weight before.

There is a great forum called 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet that is very informative re: loose skin. Worth having a poke around. They say the longer you've been overweight the longer it will take for skin to firm up. Also the speed of weight loss has an effect.

[Badgoushk]

Readingrainbow, does that mean that you eat your food within an 8 hour window? Sounds good! I gave up sugar and all refined carbs in January and lost 1/2 stone without really trying. Now I have given up crisps and saturated fat too and the weight is steadily coming off. I'm still breastfeeding so am having 2000 calories a day, lots of healthy fats and wholegrains. I'm also exercising 3 times a week. I'll check out the forum. Thanks! And congratulations on your pregnancy xxx

[Badgoushk]

Dun1durkin, well done on your weight loss. I think the maintenance phase will be a big challenge for me as I'm determined not to yoyo anymore. I agree, I think I can think of better ways to spend £5k!! If I had it. Ha ha! xxx

[readingrainbow]

Yes, Bad. I essentially skipped breakfast and didn't eat after dinner.

Thanks for the congratulations. :)

[Diamogs]

I worry about this too but I am still trying to lose weight thinking that I'd rather have loose skin than flabby skin.

[popcornpaws]

I lost over 8 stone, age 50 and yes, my skin might not be as tight as it was, but its certainly not hanging off me!
I admit i tend to wear 3/4 sleeves as my upper arms are a bit loose but i am 50!
I have never exercised much and don't think it would have made a difference unless i spent hours daily at a gym and to be honest it isn't that important to me.

I feel great and i (think) i look great, the only reason i seemed more toned was because of the flab filling me out!