Loose Skin
 

You're all probably gritting your teeth at this lol.

I know I'm going to have loose skin but I want to keep it controlled as possible.
So I'm going to start working on it from the get go. Can anyone tell my the best lotions and exercises to help with loose skin? I've looked stuff up and I usually get "oh no there's nothing but surgery." or "use lotion." but I don't buy that surgery is the only way and idk what type of lotions!

Also, I know I've stretched my skin out a lot but I'm also young and my family history is pretty good with weight loss, so I'm hoping that'll work out for me. Thoughts?

ANY lotion will work... use it after you bathe... you want to keep your skin moist. I would also advise wearing tight shapewear.

Thanks! I didn't think of wearing shape wear til now.

I would also suggest drinking lots of water. I read an article that said in addition to the 8, 8oz glasses you're supposed to drink every day, you're also supposed to drink an additional 8oz for every 25 pounds you're over weight. I also read something that said that you have to get down to your lowest possible body fat in order for your skin to snap back but I don't know.

Exercise and try to eat right seems like common sense advice. I've made peace with my loose skin. It's a consequence of the damage I've done to my body and I'm not that bothered by it at this point.

The advice about water is really interesting. I do drink a lot of water, but do I drink enough? I am going to figure that out.

Also, I agree with you a bit about loose skin. I already have loose skin, and it is sort of a badge of honor to me. This is how far I've come.

To the original poster: there are some threads about loose skin in the body issues forum; beyond that, though, any moisturizer should do. I did just go and buy expensive department store moisturizer for my face and got a "lifting and firming" formula, but you're so young that it is probably not necessary. Just use regular moisturizer with a nice sunscreen (sundamage is probably worse for your face than anything else!) and make sure to exercise. I'd recommend weight lifting eventually but it's not something I do right now.

Try some of these things:

1. Weight lifting (and exercise in general)
2. Shea butter or cocoa butter (I personally buy them 100% organic and unrefined...it makes a huge difference...melt them down and mix them with oils)
3. Drink LOTS of water
4. Take LUKE WARM showers (not hot...cooler water helps the skin stay tight from what I've heard)

These are some of the things I'm experimenting with for my loose skin. I know it won't change over night, but I plan to let a year go by and see where I'm at. I also still have a lot of fat to lose and I've also heard that getting down to a low body fat percentage and maintaining that for at least a year helps tremendously with loose skin. These are my plans. Hope some of these mentions help. :)

Wow, thanks everyone!
I drink a lot of water but I never knew that about extra water for every 25lbs.
and I can't wait to start weight lifting :O I won't be wimpy anymore. lol.

I too a super worried about the extra skin. I have been looking for info on google as well and have been finding the same things as you. Thanks for the info. Def need to caculate the water thing because I know I am not drinking enough if that is the case.

I read "finally thin" by Kim Bensen (I would totally recommend it by the way) and her website has a water calculator to help determine how much water you may need to be drinking daily. I'm not able to post links yet, but if you google "Kim bensen water calculator" you should find it.

I worry about loose skin also so happy I saw this post with some suggestions.

Thanks KT I will read that book.

Just to add one more thing that I hear a lot about helping loose skin. Time. Spend some time at maintenance without gaining or losing and that will help the skin to shrink back. Some say they noticed a significant difference in their skin after 6 months of maintaining their weight loss.