ElMatador
Posted: Nov. 2 2008, 20:47 ET

HI All,

I was wondering if the drastic fat loss, i.e 16-20lbs a month results in a lot of flabby skin because you are losing so quickly? Would it be recommended to do cardio while on the diet to tone your body?

DonnaN
Posted: Nov. 3 2008, 09:38 ET

loose skin is part of losing weight no matter how quickly or slowly...it can take up to two years for your skin to spring back and even then not all of it will...excercising can't hurt

Ada
Posted: Nov. 3 2008, 11:00 ET

Age also has something to do with how loose the skin becomes because we are naturally losing skin tone as well as the decades go by .   The younger you are the less of a problem you will have.  Being in the former category of the north of 50 dieter I definitely had loose skin on my upper arms and thighs.  Going back to the gym and using weight machines to pump up the muscle under the skin did help in my case....as did putting 5 lbs. back on after reaching my lowest weight of 115.  Time also helped as Donna pointed out.  I would do it all over again in a heartbeat despite some loose skin.

Coolpretty
Posted: Dec. 1 2008, 22:47 ET

If you don't loose the muscle underneath the skin you won't have flabby skin.  Good Luck!

affie
Posted: Dec. 1 2008, 22:52 ET

Loose skin depends on how much you lose it seems.  From my highest weight I have lost 100lbs and did major cardio and extensive weight training along the way. I ended up needing brachialplasty (arm tuck) to get rid of the flab and even then I still train hardcore.  I also had lipo on my thighs and hips.  Bad idea cuz now I am flabby in those areas and need to work extra hard there.  Lipo mimics rapid weight loss!  I am now considering a thigh lift.

BrianB
Posted: Dec. 1 2008, 23:04 ET

I'll toss my two cents in on this one.

Personally, I don't think rapid weight loss causes more loose skin than slow weight loss.  I think a bigger factor than how fast you lose, is how much you lose.  If you lose 200 pounds, you're going to have some skin left over -- whether you lose it in 1 year or 5 years.  In my opinion, slow weight loss may seem to cause less loose skin because if it take you 5 years to lose the weight, your skin has had 5 years to shrink.  

It is my guess that if you had two identical twins who both needed to lose 100 pounds, and if one of them lost it in 5 years, and one lost it in 1 year, it you looked at each of them at the end of 5 years, their skin would be the same.  Of course I have nothing to back that up, which is why I call it a guess.

I lost a lot, and do have wrinkly inner thighs, a saggy butt, and little pouches on my belly, but no drapes of skin hanging all over.  I think it helps that I drank a lot of water on strict, was relatively young (so my skin was in decent shape.)  I definitely think it matters how long you've been heavy (when you first start to get fat the skin is tight over the fat, but eventually the elasticity breaks down).  It also matters a lot how old you are when you lose the weight.

I think unless the loose skin causes medical problems, you're probably healthier by losing the fat and having some saggy skin.  If the skin causes medical issues (infections, etc.) it might be a good basis to push for surgical correction as a medical necessity.

Sorry for rambling.  I kinda wandered all over on that one.

reener
Posted: Dec. 2 2008, 01:30 ET

My loose skin appeared after 100 lbs.  Before that I hadn't noticed.  My unscientific internet research has netted me the following; drink lots of water, exfoliate daily, be generous with moisturizer, exercise and wait 2 years before considering surgery.  There is also a machines and all kinds of creams talked about.  I am all ears/eyes if there are other suggestions!

KellyMM
Posted: Jan. 6 2009, 23:33 ET

There is a great treatment at most laser clinics that works wonders to tighten up skin, if anyone is interested here is some info: http://www.thermage.com/patient/