alot of weight loss....alot of extra skin...

[aja-belly]

i have lost 22 pounds in the past several weeks. i feel great. my only 'problem' is that i am getting sooo much extra belly skin. i had alot of belly fat and it is quickly going. does anyone know of a way to prevent/help the extra skin thing? i'm trying to think of any creams or supplements that might help with like collogen or whatever. any ideas or experience? i suspect if i was losing more slowly it would not be as much of an issue, but i kinda don't wanna mess with the momentum (i've been losing 1-4 pounds a week).

[aja-belly]

is this not the best forum to post this maybe? i'm feeling a little exposed/vulnerable....

[Ammaarah]

Maybe PM a mod and see if it can be moved to fitness and weight management?

Anyway, I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and when my weight plateaued, my skin tightened up. In the meanwhile, it was a bit jiggly and not particularly beautiful but after I wasn't losing, it looked OK. I've always heard that drinking water and exercising is the best way to shrink skin down. Good luck and congrats!

[aja-belly]

thanks. :-)

[sunnysandiegan]

I have heard the same things: water & exercise. More specifically, though, weights and yoga/Pilates.

I lost 40 pounds over an 18 month period and didn't have this issue, so I am guessing it is how fast you are losing it. I'm not an expert, though. I did and do drink lots of water and I do yoga and did Pilates. You basically want to hydrate and tone up the skin along with flushing out the toxins, so water is essential. However, maybe massaging in oil/lotion daily would also help?

Best wishes!

[WaitingForKiddos]

I'm not sure it's how fast you lost the weight but rather the spots the most fat/water/muscle was lost.

I lost 70 pounds. It didn't phase my arms a bit. My legs are normal looking. My butt and hips are okay. But my tummy....wow! I have extra skin, with some super sexy fat attached to it but not attached to muscle so it can't be exercised off. If I wanted to get rid of it, I'd have to have it zapped with a laser or sucked out...or cut off (ack!). For me, I tell myself that my belly won't get stretch marks when I get pregnant and that it was going to look like that anyway. I kinda' think of it like a reminder scarring of what happens when I turn to food for something other than sustenance.

[aja-belly]

Originally Posted by WaitingForKiddos

I have extra skin, with some super sexy fat attached to it but not attached to muscle so it can't be exercised off. If I wanted to get rid of it, I'd have to have it zapped with a laser or sucked out...or cut off (ack!).

is that true?? i had never heard that. that is all i have left on my belly. :-(

i've been doing like a modified ww. i've been good about water and getting the good fats and protein. i need to start yoga up again. i used to be so good about it...in a past life....

[texmati]

hmmmm... I don't think that you can "excersise off" fat in a specific spot. For example, you can't loose tummy fat by doing sit ups. As you expend more calories than you consume, your body will start to use fat on your body to make up for the shortfall. You can't decide where you want to loose the weight. Which is why I always loose 5 pounds in my BRA before anywhere else.

Good luck with the weight loss!

[WaitingForKiddos]

Originally Posted by aja-belly

is that true?? i had never heard that. that is all i have left on my belly. :-(

i've been doing like a modified ww. i've been good about water and getting the good fats and protein. i need to start yoga up again. i used to be so good about it...in a past life....

For me, there's just no loosing it. Just after I hit the 'no more weight loss' point, when I was actually underweight and below a normal BMI I had it. It was to a lesser degree than it is now...or maybe it was just alone and without much muscle and was the same exact size? I think for those of us who have lost weight, it's going to take a long while before our bodies get re-programed into normal fat storage/loss. I can be on a 800 calorie allowance and not budge the scale...so my metabolism is pretty wacky!

Keep up with the water...it really is a need for true weight loss.

[junestars]

First off, how did you lose the weight? I'm dying to know! Congrats.

I'd work on your skin from the inside! Try salmon, sardines or mackerel as they're packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which promote firm, elastic skin. Blueberries help skin and tissue fortification and keeps skin from sagging. Also Vitamin C makes collagen which keeps the skin elastic. I'm a big believer in blueberries for your skin.

Best of luck!

[aja-belly]

thanks everyone! i've been doing weight watchers (though not to the letter - we've modified it a bit).

mmm...more salmon and more blueberries. aye aye! not a problem.

[Inquiringmind]

Honestly? There's not really all that much you can do. Exercise & hydration are important, but they're not going to repair damaged skin. Time my help it a little bit. Maybe try focusing on how much healthier you feel!