Obese to Fit: What happens to the skin???
Hi Guys and Girls,
I've taken on a personal challenge in helping a close friend of mine. She is 30 years old, 5' 3", 250+ and has been working out 3-4 times a week for a few months with my help. I have another topic regarding her training and diet and do not need that advice here.
What I want here is some info as to what to do about what will become an excess skin problem.
Example: At her current 250+ slimming down to 150 is minus 100 pounds which in turn equals alot of baggy skin.
So, how much can we expect her skin to suck back in? At a certain point does it just hang off and need to be surgically removed?
If you have personal experience or knowledge of what can be expected and know the possible solutions please chime in below.
She is a great person, really wants to get in shape and I'm really committed to helping her reach her goals.
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance
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I lost over 120-130lb in a year when I quit being a linebacker and joining the bodybuilding life style. I will be getting surgery to remove all the skin. It will not go away by its own, I know that sounds horrible since that means you still can't wear what you like. However it is what it is. Best of luck to your friend.
I got road maps running down my forearms/legs, I can barely see my abs unless I literally "pick up" my loose skin near my abdominal and epigastric region.
The procedure usualy is abdominoplasty, however with excess fat loss similar to situation we had...it's more of a circumferential abdominoplasty that is split into 3 procedures.
The reason for this is since its full body contour, the drains are placed to minimize edema and infection. There will also be surgical scars, since scar tissue is developed with a surgery such as circumferential abdominoplasty.
Stats: (2-3 years ago) 330lb-320lb--> 220-230lb
I too suffer from this. I lost 100lbs. in a year and I'm not sure if the skin on my lower stomach and chest will go away but guess what? if it doesn't, I'm getting surgery! either way, its coming off!
I lost 140lb 5/6 years ago in about 8 months (I had NO idea what I was doing diet wise)
I still have loose skin now and I look like shit because of it, all the weight I hold just pulls it all down so I end up looking fatter than I would normally.
The only thing I can suggest is take it really slow so the skin has longer to shrink back.
I've had 4 kids and gained and lost a shit ton of weight each time. I always wear shapewear when I'm first losing weight, like spanx or something similar and I love nivea's Q-10 firming lotion. Personally I wore spanx almost 24 hours a day, I believe it's why I never had any saggy skin problems but I have nothing to back it up other than my own opinion.
Thanks for the input I will pass it on to her... =)
I did weight 215 in 2012 I got down to 135. I ate clean. I worked out 5-6 days a week and I did cardio and weight training. If she works out while losing the weight I truly think this will her. My brother lost a lot of weight too. He did It the wrong way though. He didn't eat and didn't lift. He has a lot of extra skin everywhere. Obviously the stomach will be a issue with anyone female that loses a lot of weight, expect ally after having kids. I worked my abs and even after losing that much weight my stomach dosnt hang with that extra gross skin. I am pleased with my stomach hell no. I did check into a tummy tuck and the Dr does not think insurance will approve the surgery. He was actually impressed with my results after losing that much weight. I did what I was suppose to though. I don't think she will have extra skin problems as long as she works out while losing the weight.
Thanks for your comments! Care to share your personal routine that you used and how long it took?
+1 =)
Depending on where the fat is located; surgery. Especially tricep fat. I dropped almost 100 pounds myself but had no loose skin, except I still have some under my chin and it makes me look bloated :(
That's good news being her arms are relatively small. Hell of a job on your own transformation, I checked out your pics and you look great man, powerful. Thanks for sharing your personal experience bro. +1
she should be ok then, just make sure the loss is not really fast though, that would cause the skin to get loose as well. Im sure shell be fine, keep up the good work and get her feeling happy about herself!
I'm a balls to the wall kind of guy as far as effort goes and having been a fighter so long it's just ingrained in me to stay within 10 pounds +/- of where i want to be.
Being that as it is...It is constantly on my mind where she is emotionally in this process.
I saw her eyes the first time she walked in the gym. She was so nervous she was literally shaking and looked at her toes all the time, which only hardened my resolve to help her.
As fate would have it that very first day 2 stand around posers were snickering and pointing at her as she struggled on the elliptical.
She saw and heard them and I saw tears well up. She stopped and said "I can't do this..."
I said "Fuck them only look at me...".
She paused...
So I raised my voice just a little and said
"Listen, Babe, no one is going to fuck with you here. And If they are that dumb...then I'm going to walk over there and bounce their fuckin' heads off of that wall." "Fuck it...we can always go workout somewhere else"
That got us both laughing again, and it's been all good ever since.
So, yea, this really is about getting her to feel happy about herself again, that is my wish for my friend.
You are a good friend, truly you are. When I am at the gym I usually see small, skinny guys struggling to lift weights while the other asshats sit around and laugh. I walk over and give them a hand, make suggestions, and let them know if they need ANY help to come see me if Im there. I may come off as an asshole at times but I try to pay it forward when I can. +1 for caring and helping your friend through a very tough time.
Fuckin' WORD my friend! That is what life is about...Paying it Forward. =)
My buddy lost a little over 100lbs. He had to have the skin surgically removed. I'm not saying that she will have to have the same procedure. That's what happened with him though. He said that it was the only way to get rid of the excess. According to his doctor.
Yea, that's what i was thinking...I think she could lose 50 pounds easy without any problems, skin wise. But to get down to that 135 lb frame that is her goal...well surgery would have to come into play. I'm sure cosmetic surgery is not cheap. But what's the ball park estimate if she has to go that route?