Questions about extra skin
 

Hi - I've been too embarrassed to really ask anyone about this, but after reading People magazing 2 weeks ago with Carnie Wilson, I realized that this is a common problem.

I have lost 75 pounds by doing weight watchers. I have about 40 pounds more to go... but I'm already noticing wrinkles around my abdomen and under my arms. I'm 26 years old... so I'm pretty sure these wrinkles are a result of my weight loss.

I've lost the weight slowly - over a 2-year period.. so it wasn't rapid. But I'm wondering if I can expect it to bounce back. And how long that would take.

I hate that I've worked this hard to lose all this weigh, yet still not be comfortable with my body.

I guess I'm asking to hear from people who had extra skin... if they got it removed... how much should I expect to pay... or can I expect it to bounce back after time.

I'd really appreciate any input.

THANKS!

Lisa

just my two cents

first, congrats on doing such a terrific job with your weight loss!!!!

you're young enough that your skin should come back, especially if you make sure to get plenty of calcium. it'll take some time, though.

and the fact that you've been losing slowly is all to the good as well.

as for the plastic surgery, what i've been told is that most plastic surgeons won't even consider seeing us until our weight has been stable for at least 3-6 months.

so, in the meantime, take your calcium, make sure to build your muscles enough to fill in the skin with something that's not fat and that will actually metabolize energy better than fat.

Howdy Lisa,

I know I am on the other thread too and I do have some insight on this. I have loose skin on my upper arms and tummy. Basically it looks like I have given birth and I do have a slight apron that I have been able to hide it (even wearing spandex). Sometimes I wish my upper arms were better, but I am also at this point where I realize I am probably the only person who sees my stretch marks and loose skin etc. Sometimes I wish I could get a tummy tuck, but I want kids too so I am not sure if it's really worth it. Since you're looking to lose as much weight as I lost I hope this helps. Weight training does help though, but for a while I wouldn't work my abs if people were around since my stomach kind of hung... it was grody. It has gotten better, but I am giving it at least another year to see what nature does. But honestly don't let the loose skin hold you back.

Take Care!

Ali

Jiffy Pop - thanks for the advice and the encouragement. I am definately weight training, and I will prob increase my weight training to help. I guess I should weight until I've been at goal for 6 months or so before seeing someone... but maybe I should see them once I'm at goal, so they will know I've maintained for 6 months or so.

Hi Ali - thanks for the advice. I remember yuo gave me advice last year about this... and it's been about a year. So you still have the extra skin? I was hoping that after 6 months it would bounce back and be just fine.... but I knew that prob wasn't the case. It's just so disappointing. DON"T GET ME WRONG.... it's worth it. And losing the weight is so great for me, and it's more than just asthetics. But I've always been so self concious around boys... and although I've lost the weight, I'm STILL going to be self-concious about me body. I want to have kids too... so maybe I would just get my arms done and a breast lift (my D's are now B's!!!!!! - which I'm fine with the B's... but I'd like them to not have all this skin above them.) Of course... I don't have the money... and I'd prob never go through any of this... but I've been thinking about it more and more. But my abdomen is so wrinkly...and I'd love to get that fixed....but you're right... I do want kids.

Thanks ladies...
Lisa

I have heard that dry skin brushing helps a lot with the loose skin. I don't know if it actually makes that big a difference, but I'm doing it anyway. I figure it's not a very big time or money investment on my part and it can't hurt.

As for the tuck, I've been told that it's like a breast lift...it's not worth doing till after you're done having kids or it just has to be re-done. I can't quite convince myself I want to go through it once, much less a second time!

Good luck and congratulations on your loss so far!

Nicole... that sounds very interesting. I actually went and did a search and read a little into it.... if anything, it doesn't take much time and it can't hurt.

Where did you get your brush? Did you do any reading on it... I've found a few sites that describe it briefly...

I'll try ANYTHING.

Thanks for the suggestion!

Lisa

I actually got my brush, the alfalfa, fibertox, and a video from the T.Tapp website (great workout btw, amazing and FAST results). It came as part of a promotional package. After I did some research, it sounded like a lot of people were really having success with it so I figured...why not. I already have the stuff!

I think the important thing is to get a brush that's stiff enough (natural boar bristles) and to do it with the right amount of force (hard enough to feel, not so hard you're peeling your skin off) and consistancy.

You might check the T. Tapp forums for more general info. There seem to be a lot of people there who have been doing it for a while.

Good luck!!!

I lost 130 lbs. After keeping it off about 6 months I had plastic surgery. Sorry to be so blunt, but the extra skin does not go away and it never gets better -- the more you lose, the more saggy it gets. And stretch marks are permanent. That's why I saved my pennies and had both a brachioplasty (arms) and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). It costs a bundle, insurance doesn't cover it unless you have a serious medical problem resulting from the extra skin, and it takes a long time to recover. I had the surgery in August 2001, and I was unable to run (that's my primary workout) for about two months. Even then, it was slow going. Now, a year later, I am still having some issues. Often one has to go back in a year or so and get the scars or the contouring "revised" (either by lipo or a minor surgical procedure) and it looks like that is where I am headed. It's painful and very ugly for awhile, and you'll be off your feet about a week (plan to take 2 weeks off work -- I took one, and it wasn't enough).

The results are pretty good. The skin is tight, the stretch marks are far less visible since they're pulled flat, and the scars will eventually fade, but they are quite extensive and ugly. Anyone planning the arm job, you probably won't want to be skipping around in tank tops for quite awhile, so you might want to plan to have the surgery in late summer.

The bottom line, for me, was that I simply did not feel I could live with that extra skin one more day, and it was very important to have the surgery as a symbolic break with the past. Even though I went to one of the best hospitals out there, my results were not perfect, so don't expect perfection. Carnie Wilson may get perfection, but she has unlimited funds. I am about 70% happy with my results and I hope they get better over time.

--Diamonda
266/145/135

Diamonda,

Thanks so much for posting. I am scheduled to have tummy and breasts done on 07/25, and am always interested to hear how things went for others who have had them. I wish I could have my arms done, but my plastic surgeon says she has never seen an insurance company cover them. I want to recover from the tummy and breasts, and then will at least attempt to get thighs/butt and arms covered. It can't hurt to try.

I have lost 140 lb and my excess skin isn't going anywhere by itself. Because of the way I am built, the worst of my excess is in the tummy area. My legs could probably fit into a size 12, but my tummy (with skin and hernia) can barely squeeze into an 18. From that standpoint alone, it would be worth doing. However, adding some serious back pain into the picture makes it all the more imperative to get the excess skin dealt with.

My exercise of choice is water aerobics and tae kwon do. I also bike ride, but more for pleasure than serious exercise. I'm also really wanting to roller blade, although am not sure I am coordinated enough to do it without causing serious bodily harm! I have been stepping up my workouts to get into the best shape possible before surgery. I hate to think what weak shape I will be in after recovering from the surgery, but at least I can go into it with the benefit of strong heart/lungs and muscles.

Dawna

great info, ladies!!!
 

right now my belly [ick] is running two sizes larger than the rest of me!! with 120 or so more to go, i can't even start thinking about plastic surgery, but i can hope!!!

best of luck, dawna, and please keep us posted. i want this to work for you...

and diamonda.. sorry your experience wasn't the best. but what a statement!!! a whole new life, and a flat stomach!!!

something to look forward to.

the first couple of times i got to goal weight, my skin wasn't sagging and bagging. but i was much much younger then, and only had about 70-90 pounds to lose at that point.

oh. don't know if this actually works, but i've heard [second hand from a plastic surgeon] that slathering yourself twice a day with good lotion helps. just passing it along!!

Ladies... it's so good to hear your experiences - thanks for sharing.

You would think there would be more information out there on extra skin.... I had never heard of it until it started happening to me. With all these weight loss programs out there... you'd think there would be more information on what to do when you are approaching goal.

I've heard about the scars and the recovery time resulting from surgery. I prob wouldn't get my arms done... they are not that bad. It's my abdomen that I'm worried about... I guess I need to decide if it's worth it for me.

I have tried time and time again to maintain my weight loss without exercise... and it doesn't work... so I'm definately worried about 2 months with no exercise.

Also, the reason I'm doing this is so I can wear a bikini (and as vain as that sounds.... I haven't worked my butt off for two years so that I can still be so self concious about my body).... but if the scars are bad enough... I prob would still feel self concious.

I think I might start saving up. I get some decent quarterly bonuses, so I might start putting them aside for whent he time comes. But I think I'm going to lose the rest of my weight, tone up my muscles, and see where I am. I want this surgery.. but the money and the risks scare me. I'm saving up. I'll meet with a surgeon. I'll do research... but who knows... in the end, I might have to accept my new body.

Diamonda - you really are an inspiration. You've lost so much weight. Amazing. HOw did you lose the weigh (if you don't mind my asking)? I hope your 70% turns to 90% after all the scars heal. You deserve it. I truely appreciate your bluntness... that's exactly what I was looking for. I need to hear the truth about this stuff.

Dawn - Best of luck for your surgery. I'm jealous that you are at that point and have been able to finance it. I guess I should start saving now. I really do wish you the best. And I wish you a quick recovery time and very few scars. I would love to hear how you are when you finish.... how things went and if you are happier after the surgery. I ahve lost 75, and I have about 40 to go. I'm relatively young at 26... but not young enough I guess because my skin is going NO WHERE!

Jiffypop - awesome. Keep up the amazing work. I think since we still have pounds to lose... we should drink as much water as possible, tone our problem areas, and so when we reach goal... while we may have this extra skin - it will be minimal and we can live with it. May I ask how old you are... they say the yonnger the better when it comes to elastic skin.

Thanks ladies... I've needed to hear advice like this.

Lisa

well, lisa.. it'slike this. i'm old enough to be your mom!!!! i just turned 49.

and i KNOW that i will need plastic surgery. although i still have the 120 to go, i have already lost 210, so i'm already sagging and bagging. yeah, some things can reduce it, but there will just be so very much to cope with that it's inevitable.

but, as you said, we'll keep moving, drinking water, and doing what we have to. the plastic surgery is so far in the future for me that i really have to take care of other business right now.

it's a great thought, though, that with just a few slashes of a knife, i'll lose 10-20 more pounds!!! so maybe i have only 100 left??? a happy thought!!!!!

Jiffypop - you've lost over 200 pounds? That is so amazing!!!! Congratulatiosn. You're 2/3 of the way there.... yes, you desrve to get that extra skin removed.... you've worked so hard... also, after losing that much you might even be covered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs. Jim - thanks for the encouragement. I would love to tighten up without surgery. Wow - those pictures. Although... I don't want to get that buff. She's like Mrs. Body Building Universe.

I'm starting to feel much better about everything... not so stressed. I can see how things look in a few months and decide from there... I'll prob still start saving.. and hey, if I decide not to go through with it, then I can use the money for a vacation or something.

Lisa

Wow, that picture of Pam Brown was very dramatic. I can see that her stomach was covered with stretch marks -- and I'm just wondering where it all went once she lost the weight. I wish mine had just gone away, too, but it didn't. All the stretched skin sort of acted like an accordion -- when the fat was no longer there, it looked like tiny pleats all over my upper arms and abdomen. I never had a big "apron" or massive amounts of hanging skin, just those pleats, which I hated and wanted to get rid of. Maybe if I had been just 5 years younger when I made the decision to lose the weight, I might not have had all stretch marks and hence the damage. Live and learn, though -- it's a million times better to be thin and healthy and in possession of some extra skin and some saggy baggy spots here and there than to be obese!

Jiffypop, what a great thing you're doing. I am very much in awe of the progress you've made. Good luck in the "home stretch," no pun intended!

Someone asked how I lost the weight ... Weight Watchers and exercise. It was a miracle to me that these things actually worked, once I made the decision to do it. It took me 15 months to get to goal and I was FAR from perfectly on program all the time. Exercise was the key for me, and now I'm running the Chicago marathon in the fall ... who would have ever thought it possible? People CAN change and DO change. Good luck everyone, and don't stress too much about the extra skin. Just think how lucky we are to be in that tiny minority of folks who beat obesity.

--Diamonda

Here's an answer to the question of Pam's stretchmarks.
Of course including weight training in your exercise routine would help too IMO!

(I have learned since then that the person being discussed here DOES still have quite a bit of loose skin - she tucks it inside her pants).

Question about the essential oils...topical or taken orally in pill form?

Thanks!

Personally I use the oil straight - it's a better deal than those capsules.

I switch between Udo's Choice and regular flax oil. 1 tablespoon twice a day. DON'T freak out about the calories - these are HEALTHY fats...not grease :)

everything I've read has been so helpful -thanks.

Diamonda - amazing. You are awesome. A marathon... you should be so proud... I would like to run a half-marathon sometime in the near future. I have those pleats too... on my stomach they are vertical up and down my stomach... it's a shame, I found this half-shirt that would look cute on me, but thse marks get in the way. Then I have them under my arms... I've been wearing tank tops anyway... but I'm always self-consious. I lost with WW too.

Mrs. Jim - thanks thanks thanks... I was pleasantly surprised to hear Evening Primrose Oil... I already take that for PMS. Cool.

I just really hope my abdomen tightens up. I bought the Nutragena lotion that is supposed to help skin elasticity.

Lisa

Hey,

A friend of mine had the same loose skin problem. I never knew something like that could happen until she showed me. She is 5'10'', size 16, use to weigh 85kg (187lbs), and then got down to 65kg(143). Shes a really thin size 12 (australian sizing)and she went to the doctor and he told her she had to save up for this surgury.

The size she was then is how i am now, and the size she is now is how i use to be. Im so pissed off after reading up on this loose skin problem. I wouldnt be able to have this surgury, as i get hypotrophic scarring.

I read on another site www.onephatman.com that he was told if he waited 7 years, his skin would go back to normal. Were constantly sheading skin all the time, so it makes sense.

Thanks flutter... it's kind of depressing. 7 years? Ugh. Thanks for the website - i'll look at it. I don't want surgery.... and prob won't get it... but 7 years? woah!

Mrs. Jim - that does look really awesome. That's amazing. I actually saw her flabby skin pictures after she lost the weight.. but never saw the other ones.... they look amazing.

I do weight train - about 3 times a week and do calastenics for my abs 2-3 times a week. It's helping build muscle and I can see it... but my arms and abs are still a bit flabby...Well, I'm doing Weight Watchers and I love it oh so much... but I always thought that when I reached goal or very close to it, I might go on myoplex for a couple months to help with building muscle.

thanks!!!!
Lisa

a quick question what is myoplex?

Myoplex is a meal replacement powder manufactured by EAS.

Since Bill Phillips (author of "Body for Life") sold EAS a few years ago, the company's new owners have come out with a plethora of products bearing the "Myoplex" name. However, IMO the only ones worth trying are the original Myoplex powder and the Myoplex Lite powder - the bars and ready-to-drink shakes are LOADED with sugar - ya might as well drink Slim Fast (I call it SlimFat :lol: ).

While Myoplex is a convenience, it's not going to 'help build muscle' any more than eating clean real food - such as a chicken breast and baked potato with some veggies - would. In fact many folks at Lean & Strong have had AWESOME results just by training hard and eating clean real food!

I know... I don't really like the idea of myoplex.... I've lost 80 pounds on real food (don't exactly know what you mean by clean though) and think drinking shakes really is deprivation...

But at the same time.... for the last 10 pounds I'd like to get it off and build muscle to tighten my problem areas.... if I can follow the program with real food - that would be awesome. I'd rather do that.

Although I don't know what "clean" means.

Thanks Mrs. Jim for all your advice!!!!!

lISA

Clean eating = lean protein (chicken breast, turkey breast, eggwhites/Egg Beaters, lowfat cottage cheese, lean meats, protein shakes, etc.), complex unprocessed carbs (potatoes - white and sweet, brown rice, pumpkin, beans, whole grains, fresh fruits, etc) accompanied by healthy portions of veggies. (to that I'd add a couple of servings of healthy fat such as flax oil, Udo's Choice, hempseed oil, EFAs)

Rather than eating 3 meals a day, I eat 6 small meals every 2-3 hours - more and more studies are proving out that this is a much better way to eat if you want to feed your muscles and burn more fat!

Check out the book "Body for Life" by Bill Phillips for a more detailed (though simplified) explanation of clean eating...and by the way, you can usually catch me in the BFL/Bodybuilding forum under "Diet Plans"! Take care.

What a great informative thread. I will have lost 125 pounds when I reach my goal weight and the loose skin thing is deffinitely on my mind.

I have a friend who had triplets, she was a tiny thing too, after the birth her Dr said she would need a tummy tuck and to just accept it. She weight trained and worked out a ton and her abs are just amazing.

I feel super guilty because my first pregnancy and 75 pound weight gain left me with NO STRETCH MARKS, if I had just stayed there at 225 and lost the weight, this would probably not even be an issue. But I went on to pack on another 50 with my second child and I do have some lower abdominal/hips silvery marks. My arms seem to be shrinking Ok though.

I'm on a detox program right now with tons of water 2 tbsp of flax seed oil and evening primrose capsules every day. I'm doing pilates as well, hoping my abs will start to firm up!

I still have fear of weigh-training, I need to join a gym so someone can show me how.

Fear not the free weights!!!
 

Sundrop - feel free to drop by the BFL/Bodybuilding forum (you can find it here at 3FC under "Diet Plans").

You shouldn't be afraid of strength training. Believe it or not, you won't get bulky - you'll burn fat FASTER and muscle looks great!

A great reference site is Krista's Women's bodybuilding website. Mistress Krista has put a great deal of time and effort into getting info out to women who are (like you) apprehensive about starting out with strength training...she even has some good training programs on the site suitable for beginners. I hate to say this but most personal trainers who work for a gym just spout the party line - save your $$ and check out Krista's site or buy a copy of Bill Phillips' excellent book "Body for Life" - I call it "Strength Training 101" - GREAT book for beginners of all ages and shapes!

Oops - BTW, Krista's site is at http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html CHECK IT OUT!!! You won't regret it!

Thank you Mrs Jim, this is an awsome site! I have recently been thingking about getting started with some weight training and this will be a lot of help. I am 40-something with a lot of weight to lose and would like to tone some of this saggy skin. Also, my father has just had his 1st bone density test done and the results were not great, maybe this can help him too.

LJ
225/202/150

Thanks Mrs.Jim- I've been reading your posts on one site or another for years now, I first ran into you at Dr.Weil's site. You warned me about slim fast : )
I've been watching you shrink, you are such an inspiration.

I am not apprehensive at all about the results of weight training and I know that it will be a necessary part of my future lifestyle. It's just the getting started part, what do I need to buy? Can I just get a bench and some free weights and start there?

AND there is a little part of me that still beleives that old party line of don't start weight training until you are closer to goal weight, stupid huh?

SunDrop

Does loose skin also have to do with how long you've been overweight? I was overweight from the ages of 8-23 and have been having a terrible time with my tummy and upper arms.

Just curious,

Ali

Oops - haven't been down here in awhile...sorry folks...

Ali - I do think that loose skin is worse if you've been heavy for a long time. I started dieting when I was seven years old and my skin is taking a long time to tighten up. It's kind of like a rubber band - after you've stretched it for awhile it loses its elasticity a bit. What I do is use flax oil and Udos as a supplement; exfoliate with St. Ives Apricot Scrub about once a week (or you can use a loofa or Buf-Puf); moisturize with skin firming lotion (discovered this week that Suave has one that is only around $3.20 a bottle - compared to Nivea's at $10.99 - same active ingredients) and drink tons of pure water...also taking a multivitamin.

SunDrop - thanks so much :)

If you want to start on weights, of course you can do it at home. Earlier in this thread I mentioned Mistress Krista's website. Here's an article from her site called "Getting Started" that's well worth a read!

MrsJim: Yeah my co-worker keeps telling me the amazing benefits he has had with flax seed oil, this guy is recovering from cancer and chemo and has told me everyone is amazed at how his complexion and everything has improved greatly due to it. Yeah I have some of the nivea stuff and have started using it (how much has this helped?). I just don't want surgury, but I hate the fact that no matter how muscular my tri-cep/biceps get (since Jan, I have lost 2mm on calliper tests on my bicep and triceps, not too too much, but my body fat has gone down<but my weight went up, I should throw out my scale>), I still have the folds and it makes my upper arms kinda look fat grrrr. My mom just lost 140lbs at the age of 53 (I always show off my mom I know, but she rocks), she has good muscle too, but she is also struggling with the skin.

It's just that there are some people who've lost a great deal of weight and seem really tight and buff. I just want to be tighter. I figure I am doing good things towards it, mini-meals, more protien (not high protien though), less processed food, I might basically cut-out refined cards all together (well asides from the occasional treat, but I generally just eat a lot of fruit and complex carbs). I have been seeing a personal trainer. I know these things take time but it can be frustrating especially when all the fashions right now are mid-drift baring. Oh well, I have a to-die for back and shoulders (my trainer said I was lucky with my back, a lot of women who have lost weight suffer from loose skin on the folds below the ribs), maybe I should just focus on that:)


Take Care!
Ali:)

Ali - I was wondering the same thing.... about the amount of time we were overweight. I was overweight for 20 years...

It's just though... I'm a small size 8 (my 8's are loose, but 6's don't fit me yet) but I don't have the body of a girl who's a size 8). It's getting frustrating because I just bought one of those mid-drift shirts.... as motivation....

My back and shoulders are good... sounds like we're similar... my arms and my abs are my main problem... and so are my breasts. I went from a 42D to a 34B.... and so you can imagine that extra skin there is a problem. UGH UGH UGH. ANd can you really tone your breasts?????

I have the Nivea Cream.

THANKS MRS. JIM.... the nivea cream is a bit $$$... I'll have to look for the suave one.

I have the same problem with MY boobs - saggy baggy :( but Jim says he doesn't mind! :) I hear ya - I used to be a 44DD and I'm now a 32/34 B. Big change, huh? My sisters keep pestering me to go under the knife, but I hate surgery and besides, I can think of a lot of nice things to do with $4000 (like get a horse!).

Since breasts are made of skin, tissue and fat (no muscle) you can't 'tone' them, but what you CAN do - and what I heartily recommend - is doing strength-training exercises such as flyes, chest presses, pushups, etc. There are so many ways to do them - lying down flat, incline, decline, etc. - check out Mistress Krista's site http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html which I mentioned above for some good basic exercises.

The Suave Skin Firming cream isn't as 'thick' as the Nivea but I think it works just as well, for about 1/3 the price. And yes, I do believe it does work! I also drink lots of water and once a week, exfoliate my entire body using the St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

I thought I'd jump in and share my personal experiences with loose skin (ongoing). I lost around 120 pounds in eleven months (from June 2001 to May 2002) so it was fast and have maintained the same weight for around three months but my body fat % is still dropping, indicating that I'm still losing a little fat and building muscle. I think that my loose skin is tightening up .... slowly .... Supposedly I have "the most defined arms in the gym" now (not my words) and the loose skin is very minimal on them. I feel very comfortable going sleeveless for the first time ever! My stomach area is improving also, and that's not so visible so it doesn't bother me. My problem area now is my thighs (backs) but that's probably because I carried a lot of weight there (lost 12 inches off each!) and that's where the fat was last to come off (still a little bit left).

People have often commented on how tight my skin is for someone who lost as much as I have (and I was overweight my whole life -- first diet was fifth grade) (BTW I'm 47). It's certainly not perfect but I'm going to give it a full year after the weight loss and then evaluate. I attribute it to several things: first and by far the most important -- weight training!!! I lifted heavy and hard for the entire time I was losing and still do. I've read that lifting weights stimulates blood circulation in the area which helps to tighten the skin and build new circulatory pathways. I also read that weightlifting releases a hormone that tightens the skin. All I know is that it was and is critical to my success for these reasons and for muscle building reasons and we know that muscle burns fat (plus it looks fabulous!) I urge anyone who is losing a large amount of weight to get to a gym right away and lift as heavy as possible. Don't worry about "bulking up" -- you'll only get smaller and more defined. (I'm a size 4 at 135 pounds and 5' 4").

I eat a very "clean" diet that is heavy on protein (chicken breasts, egg whites, fish etc) and only eat complex carbs (no bread or pasta, even whole wheat, very little dairy, and just a little low-glycemic fruit). Interestingly, I have not had the hair loss problems that I had with previous weight loss attempts with Weight Watchers and I attribute that to the much higher amount of protein that I eat (up to 180 grams per day).

I also take vitamins C and E and EFAs (essential fatty acids) which are also good for skin recovery and growth. I've used the Nivea skin tightening lotion since the beginning along with other moisturizers (I take a LOT of showers every day because I'm in the gym usually twice a day -- once doing weights and once doing cardio).

So my own experience has been that despite being old as dirt (as my children would say) and having been overweight my whole life and being hypothyroid, the skin is tightening up nicely. It's not perfect but I think it's getting better every day. I'm hitting my legs very hard in the gym (squats, hack squats, leg press, stiff-legged dead lifts, leg curls, lunges) and starting to run a bit along with at least an hour of cardio per day and I think it's paying off on the last problem areas.

Meg
257/135

Thanks Meg and Mrs. Jim.

So, I do weight train about 3X a week... but maybe I'm not lifting enough weight... I haven't upped my weights in months....

I wish my skin was tight... I'm only 26, but it's not bouncing back as fast as I'd like. I haven't reached goal yet... but I'm getting impatient... people say wait a year after you reach goal... which i have no choice but doing. But I'm still so self concious around the guy I'm dating.

Thanks Meg - you're giving me some hope!!!! I have certainly increased my protein and decreased my carbs - but I know for me I can't go low-carb.... it sets me up for failure because I know I can't give up carbs long term... and so I just give up. But it's a huge difference in the amount of carbs I used to eat.

Mrs. JIm - I'm going to check out that website ASAP! Thanks a ton for all your advice and encouragement!

Lisa

So .... I'm getting pumped up. I'm doing this. I just called my gym and I signed up for an orientation for the free weights. I've been a mcahine girl for 4 years... and I've been told to really tone, free weights are the way to go... I've been too scared to try... but tonight's the night.

She can tell me how much weight I should be lifting and how often to increase my weights.... plus the orientations are free.

Mrs. jim... I love the website. I book marked it!

Lisa

Meg - You GO GIRL! Hey, you eat the same stuff I do - except I do eat a lot of cottage cheese.

I hear ya on the hair loss thing. Thank goodness it's never happened to me (because my hair is fine anyway), but when I was doing the Optifast study back in 1990, quite a few women were losing their hair during the fast. Pretty scary.

Lisa and everyone else - just want to say again...Fear not the free weights...like Meg sez - lift as heavy as you can (while maintaining proper form - Krista's website has a great section of good form and bad form - or you can just go to my gym and see a lot of folks using incredibly bad form), eat clean, train hard and the fat will go away - and your skin with tighten up as well (just drink a lot of water - I usually aim for a gallon a day - and use those EFAs - I switch between Udos and flaxseed oil, but want to try hempseed oil if I can find it anywhere).

Lisa -- good for you!! Here's a little secret -- the free weights are a lot more FUN than the machines. You'll get addicted, I'm sure! There's something about being in control of the weight rather than just using a machine that is so much more ... empowering, to use a cliche. At 257 pounds, I was intimidated by the free weight area in my gym and had to force myself to venture into that testosterone drenched room but now I get a real kick about going in there and lifting, in my ladylike way. (Some of the guys sound like they are giving birth and it just cracks me up!) And I've discovered that the biggest, scariest looking guys are usually the sweetest and the first to say something nice or give you a spot.

Don't let anyone at your gym give you a line about "women shouldn't lift heavy" etc. I see women effortlessly doiing bicep curls with little dumbbells and then wondering why they can't see any muscle definition. Lift as heavy as you can and keep pushing yourself every time.

Mrs. Jim -- thanks! I love reading about your progress and following the L & S board. What I do is similar to BFL but with more cardio and more lifting. A thought -- since you are a moderator -- what about moving this thread? I think that it's of interest to more than the WLS group. It's an issue that anyone who has a lot of weight to lose is wondering about and many may not stumble on it here. Is there a better, more general location?

Meg
257/135
Body fat % = 57.7/14.5%

Meg - well, the good thing is that I go to an all-girl gym and I love it. When I started I was 4'10" and 220.... I was huge. ANd I just knew I wouldn't want to work out in front of guys. My gym is amazing and I love it.... free nutrition classes, orientations, a rock climbing wall... all the machines, free weights and cardio you could ever want... with a cardio theater (you just bring headphones and you get to choose between 2 movies on big screens, 2 tv's on big screens, and radio stations).

But the all-girl thing is great.... especially for the lifting part...so i won't feel so intimidated.

As for moving the thread.... that's cool... I posted it here because I was considering surgery as a way to get rid of this skin... but I'm going to head down every possible highway before resorting to something so drastic.

Lisa