bad side of losing weight

[skeetor]

ok, I know I have a long way to go and maybe those who have lost alot of weight can fill me in. Is there an issue with loose skin? Is it worse if you lose weight quickly? Is it not so bad if its a gradual loss. Its been worrying me since I saw a show on the discovery channel about a woman that had stomach surgery and lost alot of weight, like 300 lbs or something like that.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[SunnyCarol]

Age and genetics have a lot to do with it, but I would imagine with you being over 400 pounds, you will have a problem with loose skin. I think it is worse if you lose weight fast and the skin can tighten up for several months after you reach goal.

I have lost a lot of weight twice before and had no problem with loose skin. This time I weighed a lot more than I ever had before and I started losing when I was 55 years old. I've lost 118 pounds and I have a huge amount of loose skin on my tummy and my upper arms are hideous. It's not going away.

All in all, I would rather be thin and have loose skin than weigh almost 300 pounds.

Sunny!

[SunnyCarol]

P.S. On one plastic surgery site that I was looking at, there was a 17 year old girl that had lost a little over 100 pounds and she had to have a whole body lift. She had as much loose skin as I do.

[Bat Spit]

Age and genetics. Its all about those, and no answer from anyone else will help.

The first time I lost 100lbs I was in my 20s, and I don't remember a lose skin problem. Now I have some. If I ever get to goal, I expect I'll have lots more.

But what's the other option? Stay fat?

I don't really think it has anything to do with how fast you lose. If you lose fast, the skin will take X amount of time to bounce back as much as it's going to. If you lose slow, your skin will take the same X amount of time. Its just more noticeable if you lose fast.

[ndurance1]

OK - I am joking here.... (so don't go bonkers on me...)

I've been trying to think of practical things to do with all my extra skin, once I hit goal. I was thinking maybe built-in pouches, like a cross between a kangaroo and cargo pants. I could have one on the front and maybe a couple littler ones on the sides. Think of it like a convenience. Pencil holder. Money belt & change purse. Snack and refreshment holder. Magazine rack. Filing cabinet. Lunch box. He he he....

Actually this is a little bit of gallows-like humor here. The thought of all the extra skin is a little frightening to me (and to many others here I know), but the only thing worse for me is the thought of elective surgery. I almost died a coupla times in my life and the thought of voluntarily going under the knife again is something that I can hardly bear. Maybe it will make sense when I get there but I cannot hardly think about it now. I want to look good, but I also want to feel and be healthier and to be here for my kids and family in the future. Once in a while you hear about someone dying under elective surgery. Gives me the heeby-jeebies!! Don't want that to be me!

Sorry for grossing anybody out. I have no idea what to do with all the extra skin either. But I am not going to let that stop me. If I were to die young at high weight that would be a much bigger problem to deal with, huh??


:) :) :lol: :lol: :) :)

[eyesofblue]

OK - I am joking here.... (so don't go bonkers on me...)

I've been trying to think of practical things to do with all my extra skin, once I hit goal. I was thinking maybe built-in pouches, like a cross between a kangaroo and cargo pants. I could have one on the front and maybe a couple littler ones on the sides. Think of it like a convenience. Pencil holder. Money belt & change purse. Snack and refreshment holder. Magazine rack. Filing cabinet. Lunch box. He he he....



Thanks for the laugh! It helps to think about it with a sense of humor...I mean what else are we going to do. To think of it with regret does nothing but depress me. Thanks again! :lol:

[Greenwitch]

When I lost 75lbs in my 20's I had NO extra skin floppig around at all. Having siad that, i was heavily working out, walking, doing crunches, you name it. I was firm and sold. Now, who knows what will come of it. But should I make it to my goal and have a big floppy belly, I'm doing the surgery to have it removed. I am. DH says the idea scares him because he doesn't like the idea of surgery and anesthetic and all that, but should I make it to 160 pounds (oh god, I can't even dream of that) I'm going to see if I can keep the weight off for 2 years and if I do, off comes the belly. Snipola!

Personally I'd like to get a lower abdomen tuck NOW, but no doctor would think I was in my right mind, I'm sure. Not at this weight.

I saw that Discovery channel show of the woman who got the full body lift. THAT is scarey stuff.