Loose skin following weight loss

[FourEyesGood]

I’ve lost a couple of stone over the past 6 months or so (through dieting and weight training, along with running, which I’ve done for quite a while). Basically, I’ve gone from a size 16 to a 12. There’s now quite a lot of loose skin on my belly, and while it doesn’t bother me greatly, I was wondering if anyone who’s been in the same situation in the past could let me know: will it ever tighten up (or disappear, or whatever) or am I stick with it forever? As I said, I’m not hugely upset by it, but I see it every morning when I bend over to dry my feet after my shower and it always looks pretty unsightly (ooh, oxymoron alert).

Heavily cropped photos: one of belly with torso in upright position; one of saggy-skinned belly when I bend over.

*stuck, not stick.

And the photos came up in a different order from what I expected.

Your belly looks absolutely fine and normal to me; just about every woman who's ever had a baby sags a bit if she bends over. I do and I've never lost significant weight. Also your abs are killer right now. Well done you.

I think people do generally report that loose skin does slowly adjust after weight loss.

I came on To tell you how I got rid of my loose skin, ( intermittent fasting, it’s a process called autophagy which happens best when you fast) but what loose skin? Your midriff looks great.

I wouldn’t say you have particularly loose skin however I see the slight wrinkling you are referring too, when you stand straight. I went from a size 18-12 in my 40s and have the same issue but slightly worse. Wouldn’t say my skin is sagging as such but it isn’t as taut as it once was. I’ve been maintaining for around 8 months with plenty of exercise to help toning but it hasn’t improved at all. I don’t know whether it will given a bit more time. However, it really isn’t noticeable to other people so I try not to focus on it. The photo where you are bent over looks perfectly normal to me though.
I know pp mentions having children but you make no mention of this so I won’t assume. I do not have kids but unfortunately when you are a bit older it is harder for your skin to spring back again.

Thank you all. I really didn’t post the photos for compliments so am a bit embarrassed - but also very reassured that it’s all normal.

Just for info, I’m 43 and I’ve had 2 children (not chicken, autocorrect), which I suppose is likely to have affected everything in that area - but that part of my skin has always been full of other stuff (mainly cheese) until recently.

Glad you feel reassured. You look amazing in the photos and I’m sure it isn’t noticeable to other people. Very envious of your abs!

It'll just get better over time, particularly if you stick to the weight training.

Great abs though, well done

Size 12? really? you look more like an 8.

@A580Hojas

Size 12? really? you look more like an 8.

Ha ha - no chance! I think I’d be quite underweight at a size 8 (I’m 5’10” with broad shoulders and wide hips).

Just came on here to offer you zero help but instead say WOW! Those abs! Wish I could get mine to look so good - well done OP!

Everyone has skin sag when they bend, that is perfectly normal. Absolutely nothing wrong there and your skin looks to have tightend up well.

You'd be mortified if you were me, I lost 38kg after having our twins and my belly button disappeared under wrinkly skin.

@FourEyesGood just well done you! Its not easy

@Ohyesiam would you mind telling me about your IF routine please, I tried it once and I didn't see any difference, so I'm wondering if you do it differently. Ta

@RelentlessForwardProgress

I do a mix of 18:6 , 20:24 plus about one 36 or 42 hour fast a month.
Have a look at Jason Fung ( of The Obesity Code). He is a Canadian kidney specialist and saw he was constantly getting referrals for people in kidney failure secondary to type2 diabetes. He got them all to fast and that not only reversed their diabetes, but they lost weight And then did not need referring on to a plastic surgeon for removal of loose skin , which is the common protocol in US and Canada.

This has to be a joke? Or one of them attempts to get compliments?!

I'd show you my lose skin after 7 stone loss but it's lunch time and I don't think it's appropriate. I'm facing surgery to sort mine out.... I don't even expect to look like you after surgery

@RelentlessForwardProgress

I should also add that it’s improved my eyesight ( I no longer need my middle aged glasses😮) .

Autophagy means “ self eating” and it’s a sort of house keeping thing that the body does all the time, but is increased manyfold during fasting. Proteins in cells which are no longer functioning well are broken down and recycled.
Humans have evolved over millions of years to have much longer gaps between eating than we typically do. So It’s what we are adapted to, and the body copes a lot better and is more self regulating if we fat.
Autophagy is poorly understood, but it is a hot topic for research atm.

I like the fasting lifestyle too, even did 16:8 during most of my last pregnancy, did her no harm she came out 10lb 15oz at 38+6 (no GD). Fasted training is much better than fed for me too, got less than 5 hours sleep last night (poorly kids) and not yawned once in the gym lifting weights.

I’m really sorry @BeaAggressiv. I definitely didn’t mean to offend. I was feeling slightly paranoid about it - because my body’s changed and I didn’t know what (if anything) to do about it. People all have different insecurities and they affect them in different ways. I can see how my post seems insensitive, but it definitely wasn’t intended to be.

It’s not a joke, nor was I fishing for compliments. I had no clear point of comparison other than my own body/experience and I thought I’d ask in a supportive, helpful forum.

thanks @Ohyesiam and @Chely for the info.

Yep - 2 babies and 45 - I have fairly decent abs when stood straight, bending over and DH cheerfully tells me I look like a 90 year old (very deflated boobs - pre kids were a pert 34DD, now a sad 32C/D)

What can you do? Stop bending over!!

I also regularly tell DH his todger is getting smaller to get my own back!