I know there is a ton of posts about this topic (I just spent some time reading all about it) I am concerned now about the excess skin.
I am only 21, but I weighed 300 lbs at my highest weight. I do have quite a lot of stretch marks, and I am very worried now that I will have excess skin once I reach my goal. And I know I will not be able to afford to pay to have it removed.
I am just curious to know anyone's opinion if I should really be worried about this or not.
I know that being healthy and thin is a lot more important than saggy skin. But honestly right now I'm feeling that I'd rather be fat with tight skin, than skinny and hanging all over the place.
I am feeling very disappointed and worried and frustrated. Thanks.

Personally I think it is going to depend on 1) how fast you lose the weight, 2) what type of genes you have in your family and 3) your age. I know that I'm going to have excess skin but I would much rather have excess skin that can be covered/hidden with clothing than to continue to abuse my body and my health by maintaining my current weight.

Here's the link to a post by Meg that covers everything you could ever want to know about weight loss and skin....
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36040

Well, first of all, if you stop trying to lose weight now you will never know whether or not excess skin would have been a problem.

Second of all, I think anyone will tell you that excess skin is by far the better alternative. What finally kept me from worrying about it was deciding that I would rather live to be 90 and still able to take care of myself, sagging skin and all, than have firm skin and die of a heart attack before I reached 40.

Plus, I wasn't going to be happy with my physical appearance either way. So, I mean, it was be fat, unhealthy, and feel ugly or be thin, healthy, and feel ugly. I'm glad I decided to go with the latter. And guess what? I don't feel ugly after all!

At my biggest i was 263, and went down to 194, almost 70 pounds, and i did not notice any saggy skin (though i obviously still had more to lose), and that was a couple of years ago, when i was 21/22. I know not everyone is the same, but i thought i'd put a little hope in you that you wont have saggy skin, since you are young. but i guess you will never know until you get there right.

thanks for your replies I know that not sticking to this and losing the weight because of excess skin would be stupid. It's just defeating to know that even after the weight is gone, there is still the possibility of other problems. I won't let that stop me though!

I know in Canada that stuff is sometimes covered by your medical. It depends on your doctor, and various things like that... but if you are seeing a regular doctor, they might be able to help with that. I do know a lady who lost a lot of weight, and had some excess skin hanging and causing rashes in her bikini area, her doctor arranged to have her tummy tucked for free. You'll figure out a way when you get there... and if it becomes an issue! In the mean time, I'd focus on losing the weight first

-Aimee

I worry about the excess skin thing too. I'm only 23 but have been overweight for like 10 years. I didn't reach over 300 until I was 21 but I still worry. But, everyone is right... better to be skinny with some hanging skin. I think that it can't be THAT much skin because I really don't think all the skin you have right now to cover the fat will stick around. My theory is that since skin cells die and new ones appear... maybe as they die and they're not needed they can go away...lol but it would depend on the speed you lose. Maybe it's far fetched but it kind of makes sense. Same with stretch marks... if you gain weight too fast you get stretch marks because your skin cells can't reproduce fast enough. So, I guess that if you lose the recommended .5 - 2 lbs a week... It would be easier for your body to play catch up... I don't know about you but as I'm losing I'm not seeing anything really hanging. Sorry if this is gross but my boobs are looking more perky not more saggy and same with my *pouch* stomach fat thing..lol. Everything is really wobbly but not sagging. I think the wobble is because *another theory* as you lose weight your fat becomes softer seeming because the fat cells are emptying and breaking down or whatever. Plus since you lose first where you gained last... the underneath fat is breaking down causing the rest of the fats stability to faulter. I don't know if what I think is right but it makes sense to me! Anyway, now that I have rambled about my theories... I'm done. Don't worry Rainy. You're on the right track!

Hello all,
I am new to this site as of today. Yippee!! I found a forum where I can vent, relate, be informed and share my weight loss experience. I am thrilled! I am 46 (I tend to say 39 for the 8th time thanks to monthly close encounters with Miss Clairol) and have been overweight for about the past 8 years.
Due to several horrible falls and breaking both ankles twice, I put on an astonishing 90 pounds since I was 38. Partly due to being on steroids and being totally immobile for ages.
I noticed recently my stomach sagging and my upper arms getting horribly flabby and saggy. My once perky breasts (always a size D) are now approaching my belly button. It is scary to say the least. I am not a big fan of any surgery especially one that will leave huge scars across my body. So I decided to get online and find exercises, a good slow way to lose weight with natural foods and a way to “lift” my problem areas while I lose weight and get back into shape.
Any ideas on web sites for weight lifting at home, creams that will help firm these areas? I have chosen not to do a diet at all rather make a behavioral change and adopt a healthy approach to losing the weight slowly by eating mostly vegetables protein and fruits. I am looking forward to any words of wisdom from you all and once again thrilled to have found this site!!

Lilly

Lilly --

You'll want to read the Skin FAQ on this site, found on the Maintainer's board here: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36040

Thanks Funnie I am there now educating myself. I would only think of surgery as a last resort to resolve sagging areas though. I have spent weeks researching online and talked to my doctor about the best ecercises to help "firm" up my saggy areas but have become concerned as the weight has been coming off. We'll see how it goes...
Once again thank you for posting that thread!
Lilly

I posted about my excess skin ordeal a little while back. This was the thread that I included a pic with:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60574


I'm still trying to figure out how and when I'm going to be able to afford surgery, unless Extreme Makeover ever finally calls me. They called me last month, but I haven't heard anything since. A few people I've talked to that have been on the show said it took about 2- 2 1/2 months after they were contacted by the show to actually go out there for it.

This is an issue that has really been bothering me as well. Of course, you have to lose the weight to know if it's going to be an issue or not, but it's been on my mind nonetheless. I'm currently considering buying every bottle of firming lotion out there and dunking myself in a bathtub full of the stuff! My opinion though is that I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I have quite a bit of weight to lose, and have been overweight for a very long time, so I'm sure it's going to be an issue for me. But I will never know if I don't give it a try though. Hang in there, Rainygurl! Concentrate on one thing at a time. You'll take care of the rest when you need to.

Hugs!

M'Chelle

P.S. Hey LesnarsTXF5Diva - nice to see another Fort Worth, TX native (and Dale Earnhardt Jr fan!) on the boards!

I lost weight slowly and sensibly and I've ended up with some loose skin, it's not the end of the world. Most of it is on my lower abdomen and is covered by a swim suit bottom. I'm soooo much happier to have the extra weight gone. I have absolutely no regrets.

Hello, Lilly, and welcome! I'm glad you found us -- I think you'll find this group amazingly supportive and empowering. It sounds like you've had a rough ride over the last 8 years; I'm sorry to hear that. Steroids are the devil aren't they? I gained 25 pounds in 6 months from the insatiable hunger they caused, so I have some idea of what you've gone through. At any rate, I'm glad you're here, and I really think we'll be able to help you, as we all help one another.

As for the weight lifting at home, these should get you started:

• Krista Smash - Excellent site, so much info, a great read
• ExRx - Incredible resource for all exercise, including weight training exercises for specific muscles, complete with videos.

I can't help with creams, because I've always heard they don't work. But a good moisturizer for skin firming is Nivea -- also Banana Boat.

Hope that helps! Please feel free to jump in on any of the regular threads here: We've got a weekly weigh-in thread, a weekly exercise thread, a weekly eats accountability thread, a monthly chat thread, a monthly self-directed challenge, seasonal or holiday-related challenges, and more. So, welcome!