Loose Skin

Mrs Lard

Silver Member
I notice there are lots of new people here in the LighterLife Lounge on Minimins. One question that might come up is...loose skin.

I've had a few very anxious moments (including a visit to my dermatologist) and then I decided to ask an expert, well, my blogging heroine, Dietgirl http://www.dietgirl.org/dietgirl/.

She has just done a big post, with several useful links, on the matter of loose skin, which I thought people here might like to read.

It also ties in with exercise/no exercise debate. I did not exercise (beyond walking) during Foundation and it is something I regret. With VLCDs you have to be careful but there is no reason you can't start doing weights, etc. Tiger Girl and others have done exercise throughout LighterLife and it DOES make a difference.

Hope this helps and for the new people, GOOD LUCK!

Take care.

Mrs Lxxxxxxxxxx
 
The only thing I would add (because I have been reading DGs blog for several years now) is that she has lost her weight over 5 years and exercised hard all the while. This does not reduce her achievement - far from it - the commitment to stick to a new lifestyle like that is something I haven't managed - hence needing to lose a lot of weight quickly and cueing LL!

I only mention the time because I am one of those who has always exercised and continued into LL. In the last few weeks I have re-started with the personal trainer I had last year to try to tone up. The problem is that (and bearing in mind my loss has been less than many other peoples and I am not quite halfway) I can see that my thighs in particular are not going to be slim AND taught.
The skin is just too damaged and I don't think any amount of exercise is going to change that. I hope to make some difference (or the £30 a week to the PT is a waste of money when I am already broke).

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade - my situation may well be rare - but some of us may have to accept that we will never have bikini bodies. This is just being realistic.

I posted a link to an article of sparkpeople about 2-3 weeks ago on this forum which said that the answer to loose skin is exercise. But they expect people to lose 1-2 pounds a week and on a VLCD the loss rate is much more.
 
Mrs Lard

I have only just started (day 6) but have been thinking about loose skin. I have never been a great one for exercise - couldn't think of anything worse than going to a gym. probably goes hand in hand with being fat and feeling crap about yourself. I have started walking, not big country walks, I live in the city - only tentative steps - about a mile a day, for me that is a big step (excuse the pun). Do I need to start doing more exercise? Will I have the energy? At the moment I am doing well but am easily tired. swimming perhaps or are you suggesting we need to do full on gym / weights to make a difference?

I agree with SandraEg that a lot of it must be down to genes / age. I am 38 and have good skin but a jelly belly, not helped by a C section and my weight obviously.

I suppose my question is Do I really need to join a Gym or will walking / swimming do the trick?
 
Hi Drama Queen

I am 40 years old and still have excess skin (but after a total loss of seven stone, it's not surprising); mine isn't going to go away, not aided by stretch marks (definitely genetic!) either. BUT I have not been to the gym, either. I did this post because I wanted to direct people over to DG's site so they could read up further. And the comments on her site show how different everyone is. I am not saying read this blog and your skin will ping back; far from it and DG says herself she won't be wearing a bikini. And yes, as Sandra says, she has done it over a LONG period of time.

I think Tiger Girl will agree that you don't necessarily need to join a gym but it seems to me, that weights are the difference that make a difference. And doing weights does not require the same level of energy as a cardio workout! I thoroughly recommend The Bodydoctor Bodydoctor Fitness - Fitness, Slimming, Training and Weight loss programmes which can be done at home.

And pilates seems to get the thumbs up; I have only just started this.

I only really had energy for walking in Foundation and you are doing really well. And also I have found that incremental changes have made the difference; I am in temporary accommodation while my house is being rebuilt. At the beginning, I used to DREAD walking up the hill; now I don't even think about it and cycle up it. But I have been doing the same route for three months. As our American friends say, it's baby steps.

Good luck; keep walking - get to 10,000 steps as soon as you can (if you are not there already) and do them every single day!

Take care.

Mrs Lxxxxxx
 
Mrs Lard,

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Very helpful indeed. I need to get a pedometer as i have no idea how many steps i do a day.
I def do not have the energy to go pinding at the gym, but I fancy pilates - will see if I can find a local class.

Once again a big thank you x
 
Not to gross people out but what about fat aprons? A friend of mine has one and wants to know if it will shrink back to an ordinary belly. Oh, okay, it's me then. It's vile, I hate it and I'd cope better with a sticky out tummy than a droopy over knickers one. Will it ever become just fat rather than obscene?
 
Not to gross people out but what about fat aprons? A friend of mine has one and wants to know if it will shrink back to an ordinary belly. Oh, okay, it's me then. It's vile, I hate it and I'd cope better with a sticky out tummy than a droopy over knickers one. Will it ever become just fat rather than obscene?


I can empathise. I too have the dreaded apron thingie - I long for a sticky out big tummy not a droop
py pouchy one. I am not sure if mine will shrink back to an average rounded sticky out belly.
 
Not to gross people out but what about fat aprons? A friend of mine has one and wants to know if it will shrink back to an ordinary belly. Oh, okay, it's me then. It's vile, I hate it and I'd cope better with a sticky out tummy than a droopy over knickers one. Will it ever become just fat rather than obscene?

Well TBH, I don't think you would be happy looking pregnant, would you? Come on, really?

I suffer from Diastasis Recti - which hadn't been picked up until I lost all my weight. I was shocked! Now, I have a bulging stomach which I HATE! It makes me look 5 months pregnant and people are starting to ask if I was pregnant (oh I wish!) It also is becoming quite difficult to find something to wear to hide my "Mummy Tummy". Needless to say, I am so self-conscious of my appearance. Even a miraclesuit/bodyshaper didn't work for me! Give me a droppy belly any day, no-one else but me can see it!

So be careful what you wish for, lol!
 
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I can empathise. I too have the dreaded apron thingie - I long for a sticky out big tummy not a droop
py pouchy one. I am not sure if mine will shrink back to an average rounded sticky out belly.

See my post above....trust me you don't want a stick out "big" tummy! :eek:
 
Be careful what you wish for - indeed, Cheery Dino! I'm wishing for a taut, beautifully flat stomach!! Fat chance has more than one meaning here!
 
Not to gross people out but what about fat aprons? A friend of mine has one and wants to know if it will shrink back to an ordinary belly. Oh, okay, it's me then. It's vile, I hate it and I'd cope better with a sticky out tummy than a droopy over knickers one. Will it ever become just fat rather than obscene?


LOL at your "OK its me comment". :)

Peridot, I worry about that too. A lot!!!! I hope hope HOPE I spring back, but to be honest, I think I am far too damaged too. ANd yes, the whole apron thing. Ugh.

But I would rathar have that to get rid of as it can be done surgically, rathar then remaining obese.

But yeah - its a dreadful thought and a horrible worry.
 
No dont lollygirl! Why so down?

I've started putting on palmers cocoa firming creme all over my body - trouble is the bottles dont last that long when your ass is a big as mine!
 
Hey ladies... just to add, I have now lost a total of 9 stones with LighterLife and 11 stones in total. My skin is not as it was of course, but nowhere near as bad as I expected after such a big loss in a short time. It goes through stages but always seems to improve, my arms are fine, legs still need a bit of time, and stomach is nowhere near as bad as you would expect. I think the worst in my eyes was my chin/neck area, but I use origins youthtopia and it is now nearly flat again! My friends tell me only I can see it but I think they are just being supportive!

The secret, in my opinion, is water water water! Plus I use Avon's total body makeover cream religiously every day on all the trouble spots. I haven't done huge amounts of exercise, but I will once I start RtM as I feel the need to tone a bit all over.

Hope this helps - and good luck on your journeys everyone - this programme is a miracle as far as I'm concerned.

Leesy
xoxox
 
Thanks Dancing.

I have been on LighterLife since the end of May, so about six months to lose the 9 - and a year to lose the previous 2 because I messed around on WW/SW etc etc!!

I feel fabulous, the programme has completely changed my life - I not only look different, I act different - and I feel I am finally the person I always should have been if you know what I mean!

Heading towards goal is great, I am starting RtM early January, and I can't wait to start.

I have followed your posts - you too have been doing amazingly, keep up the good work and you will be there in no time. Something I have been surprised about is that the weight loss hasn't slowed down as much as I thought it would as I have reduced - which is a great motivator.

I think I will start a RtM thread when I reach my goal - reading everyone's experiences here and through their blogs really helped me so would be great if I could return the favour!

Leesy
xox
 
Mrs Lard, how do I find that Dietgirl post on loose skin, please? I've read her blog for this month and last (do that anyway, she can really write, can't she?) but I can't see it. Am I missing something, or is it elsewhere?

Thanks for helping.
 
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