I've lost too much weight

[Xanadu58]

I'll try not to make this too long but basically I've lost 4 stone over a period of about 10/11months losing on average about a pound a week. I was doing intermittent fasting which I decided to try when everything else had failed . I got into a routine and was happy with the results. I also started going to the gym 3 times a week to try and tone up /build muscle. Im nearly 58 so I appreciate there wasn't going to be miracles regarding the toning up ! I've gone down to a size 8 . My legs are slim, my stomach is flat but my arms look so wrinkled and my face looks awful . I think it was something my dad said this week that hit home and made me realise ive gone too far . Ive sold pretty much all my old clothes on vinted and was looking forward to buying a new wardrobe when the weather improves but now im thinking maybe I should try and gain some weight first. Im scared to go to the gym in case I lose more and I dont want to resort to my old eating habits so i just dont know what to do . If I gain say half a stone , will that make my face look better ? I really dont know what im asking here , i just feel that I need to do something but I'm not really sure what. I appreciate i haven't given loads of info but im happy to answer any questions if it'll help .

I’ve lost over 6 stone and it really does change your face and skin. However, I have also found that things have gradually improved. I had had some treatments on my face, not Botox or fillers but polynucleotides and Seventy Hyal and they have made a huge difference. A great skin care routine has also helped.
Ultimately for me I am happy to be so much healthier and accept that I won’t be as bouncy of skin as I was once! I’m 57 and not many people are sag, wrinkle or blemish free at this age!

Thank you so much everyone. I definitely feel better than I did earlier. I've decided to focus on maintaining my current weight , do more weights at the gym and reassess in a few months. Its reassuring to know I'm not alone in feeling like this .

You are a healthy weight

Don't try and gain weight - you can't guarantee it will go to your face anyway - and don't drop the gym

Just concentrate on staying healthy

You might well find that your face catches up and springs back so to speak

I think it's one horrible comment that has that you upset

The thing is, you have no idea how your face would change if you hadn't lost weight

Faces changed quite a lot as we get older

I think so many people have procedures we've lost sight of what a natural 50 something face looks like tbh

Have you considered something like Foreo bear? I use that on my face and it makes me look a lot perkier. I look terrible before I put make-up on though. That's my age I can't do anything about it - or nothing that I would be prepared to consider

Yes, foreo bear. Works on your facial muscles so if you're eating your protein and taking your creatine there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to perk up your facial muscles a bit too.

Doesn't sound like gaining weight is the answer here.

I would try to fill out your arms with weighs at the gym, no you are not going to grow massive biceps but it will fill out the sagging skin a little bit and smooth out the wrinkles there.

If you are smack in the middle of a healthy weight I doubt you look terrible, it just takes some getting used to. Increase your protein and collagen.

It was bad of your dad to say that, you aren't underweight so no need to put on weight, I am underweight and can't get my head round not eating the way I have been to lose. It's easy now and I don't want to go back to fat me.
I have had comments, some directly to me and others via my husband, but do you know what, they can all fuck off, it's my body and my face and I'll do what I see fit. At 58 I'm too old to be taking on board other people's opinions,you should do what you want to do op, I doubt you look half as bad as you think you do, your dad is really old and likely not used to seeing you in a different way, pay no mind.

Congratulations on your weight loss and gym routine!

I’m a similar age and lost a lot of weight suddenly due to a traumatic event (not relevant, but just wanted to say it was very rapid loss). I looked horrendous - hollow temples, hollow eyes, saggy and wrinkly skin everywhere although I was quite pleased to have lost some weight as a ‘side effect’ of the trauma, every cloud and all that.

Now that it’s stabilised - I’ve stayed easily and happily at the lower weight - everything has gone back how/where it should, it’s really weird. The slack body skin has definitely tightened and my face has filled out more. Took a few months and I did a lot of self care like thorough moisturising all over and facial oils etc. and ate massive amounts more of protein.

Don’t stop going to the gym but focus on toning what you’ve got rather than trying to lose more.

Re your dad - I think it takes people a while to adjust to the new look that’s all (and might be a bit of envy sometimes, if they also struggle to lost weight)

Its difficult when you’re older and lose weight as it can age you. Maybe regain half a stone or so.

So he preferred how you looked at a heavier weight bit he's wrong if you were carrying enough weight to put strain on your organs and joints.
If you are now a healthy weight, perhaps bmi 23 or 24, I'd aim at maintaining that.
Do you feel good in yourself - no aches or pains, plenty of energy, settled digestion, glossy hair and strong nails? Bloody pressure and cholesterol in the healthy range?
That is what matters, not whether your dad liked you chubby.

If you’re happy intermittent fasting keep doing it. Same with the gym. Muscle under saggy skin is your best hope.

it takes up to two years for skin to finish shrinking as much as it can.

I’ve found that using a mix of face cream with my vaginal estrogen cream has helped with my face. It’s been very good on my upper chest.

Face yoga probably a good call too.

My neck is apparently a lost cause though.

After c55 they say you choose between your bum or your face

You could add in more healthy carbs, do less intermittent fasting. You could also see an aesthetician about getting the right kind of fillers

it takes up to two years for skin to finish shrinking as much as it can

Yeah, I think everyone just thinks you lose weight and voila you look fab.

when I hit goal I reverse dieted, increased my protein even further, kept working out, and I maintained weight but dropped body fat and replaced it with muscle.

everything tightened up, I had some crepey skin on my tummy and under my backside, and my arms were quite bad, wrinkly when I moved certain ways but within six months it was a huge improvement, just a little left on my arms, and now a year from hitting goal it’s gone totally.

i did also have a turkey neck, but that’s gone too and my jaw line is tight.

it also takes a lot of getting used to a changed appearance, I know it took me a long time to adjust, so it’s completely natural other people find it difficult.

the ops not lost too much weight if shes in the middle of a healthy bmi, far from it.

op, for your arms you need to build both biceps and triceps, I have a work colleague who is big into the gym, and I said to him about my arms, I was wearing a sleeveless top, he said I can see your biceps, but that’s your triceps you need to build up, the muscle at the back of your arms. And it will go away, so that’s what I set about doing.

Well done Op. Can I suggest a holiday somewhere warm. A bit of a tan, lots of hydration and good skincare makes a huge difference.

I’d start by examining why your father’s comment has mattered so much, has he always had opinions about your appearance? If so, is it worth letting their power go with the old clothes and weight?

I’ve lost quite a lot of weight over the past 2 years and my face looked a bit saggy. I had a course of radio frequency micro needling and there is a marked difference. Definitely worth a try if you feel that you would like to feel refreshed and lifted!

Sadie Nardini face hit yoga is great maybe try that and also remember health not appearance is most important. Well done on all the hard work you put in. A good collegen and a good moisturiser

Totally get how you feel. I've also lost 4 stone this year and the other day, my partner told me I looked haggard 🤣🤣🤣

I feel great and I know my face will adapt to the weight loss, so I just told him to fuck off and mind his own business 😁 I have also invested in a really nice foundation which makes my face look fine.

Well done on losing the weight. It's bloody hard work!!!

It’s tricky to balance as we get older. I’m only 41 yet have recently lost a stone and whilst I feel I would like to lose another half a stone or so to flatten my tummy, I won’t because my face has thinned and my marionette lines Stroud my mouth have worsened and I hate it. I think at the minute I’m probably balanced between a good weight and size for me (size 10) and face still ok. Any more and it would age me and I don’t want that for the sake of a flat stomach that looks fine when dressed.

I wouldn't rush to gain weight. It may be that you sort of reset naturally anyway either to a slightly heavier weight or just your skin will sort itself out a bit?

Did you lose a lot very quickly? Very rapid weight loss definitely can make me look a bit shit. I have lost quite a lot in the past and did look a bit saggy. That was when I was younger too. Annoyingly, I regained it all with interest and now I have to do it all over again 😩. I am trying to do it a little slower this time (but not too slow)

Have you considered a few PT sessions at the gym and adjusting your calories into maintenance/muscle gain?

Have you adapted your skincare routine with age? I found the need to change alongside fluctuating hormones etc and now have a facial once a month too.

@Terfedout well done! Exactly piss off to all the detractors

@Terfedout ,and feel a bit guilty because I lost 5 and a half stones with WLI and it was piss easy.

OP I bet you look fantastic. You are loads more healthy now and have added to your healthy life expectancy.
The weight will redistribute in time, and as a pp said, if you regain weight there's nothing to say it will go on your face anyway.
Your father can pipe down. You can take collagen peptide powder if you want to plump your skin

I wouldn’t gain weight. It will go back on your tummy, and your face will stay the same.

It’s probably age related sag as well as the weight loss.

Just think about how much healthier you are!!

As others have said: wait for it to settle. But yes, at a certain point, if you lose weight then your face will look wrinklier. A friend of mine lost a huge amount of weight when she was only 30 and I did notice that afterwards she had significant undereye and cheek wrinkles, which I'm sure she had noticed too, but in the grand scheme of things she looked so gorgeous and fit and had done so much for herself that I just focused on telling her that. A few years later it's evened out a bit.