Overweight by BMI but deciding to just maintain?

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  •   #31  
    StephanieM's AvatarStephanieM , 10-16-2010 09:56 AM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Lori Bell

    OH YEAH, you are not kidding.

    When I first reached my goal, I have to admit my skin looked pretty bad. But I did lose a huge amount of weight in around 17 months. I have now maintained that loss for almost 17 months and it is truly amazing how much my skin has rebounded. Nope, 2 babies a c-section and a gallbladder surgery later, it will never be "hot", but I'm extremely happy with the results that time gave me.

    The loose skin excuse gets under my skin...lol
    Thanks Lori! I love everytime I hear someone say that, it makes me feel more confident about when I start maintaining that my tummy will get better. It's got a weird line under my belly button and a dimple on the left side of my belly button (I guess where the fat used to be?)

    I know it'll go away, or at least get better with time, and I love hearing others stories about how it changed for them You rarely hear someone say their skin did NOT tighten up within the next year.
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  •   #32  
    rockinrobin's Avatarrockinrobin , 10-16-2010 10:13 AM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by StephanieM
    You rarely hear someone say their skin did NOT tighten up within the next year.
    And you never, ever, ever hear - "I think I'll gain the weight back. Fill that loose skin up with some fat, because fat is so much more attractive than loose skin, oh and healthier too" Nope we never do hear that do we?

    Parts of my skin still look pretty bad and always will - inner thigh - but it's still better than the fat.
    Reply
  •   #33  
    Bright Angel's AvatarBright Angel , 10-16-2010 12:43 PM
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by StephanieM
    You rarely hear someone say their skin did NOT tighten up within the next year.
    This may "Rarely be Heard",
    but it COMMONLY OCCURS.
    I, personally, seldom speak of it
    because I find it ineffective to focus on the negative.

    Skin tightening is extremely individual.
    If a person is quite young - teens or even twenties,
    and that person loses weight once and keeps it off forever,
    that person's skin will tighten up better.

    Of course, the larger the weight-loss,
    the less effective the tightening process is.....

    AND, the older a person is,
    the less effective the tightening process is...

    AND, the more repeated the weight-loss/weight-gain is,
    the less effective the tightening process is.

    Of course everyone's skin will tighten SOME,
    This is true even for older people,
    who have had large weight-losses, more than once.

    I have had no plastic surgery,
    but even after my large repeated weight-losses, and my age,
    my skin has tightened enough to make me look good when dressed appropriately.
    I have a lot of loose skin, AND I am very happy with the way I look.

    My own opinion is that the skin of all woman over 60
    is more attractive when covered.
    Even Jane Fonda looks better with clothes now...
    Her recent movies reveal her to be much more attractive
    with EVEN her arms and legs covered.

    The "loose skin concern" of a middle-aged woman
    who is merely 20 or so lbs overweight,
    and who likes her current appearance,
    is a very valid one.
    There is a good chance she will look far better
    in a bathing suit at her current weight,
    IF one equates a full-firm-smooth skin look,
    as more attractive
    than a slender, loose skin look.

    Remember, despite all of the advertising BS,
    Beauty is actually an extremely subjective value.

    So when HEALTH is not the reason,
    we are left with APPEARANCE....
    ........which is subjective......
    so each of us needs an individual decision on the issue.
    Reply
  •   #34  
    thesame7lbs's Avatarthesame7lbs , 10-29-2010 08:04 PM
    I found this on the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute section of the NIH website.


    Risk Factors for Diseases and Conditions Associated With Obesity

    Along with being overweight or obese, the following conditions will put you at greater risk for heart disease and other conditions:

    Risk Factors

    * High blood pressure (hypertension)
    * High LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol)
    * Low HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol)
    * High triglycerides
    * High blood glucose (sugar)
    * Family history of premature heart disease
    * Physical inactivity
    * Cigarette smoking

    For people who are considered obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or those who are overweight (BMI of 25 to 29.9) and have two or more risk factors, it is recommended that you lose weight. Even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing diseases associated with obesity. People who are overweight, do not have a high waist measurement, and have fewer than two risk factors may need to prevent further weight gain rather than lose weight.

    Talk to your doctor to see whether you are at an increased risk and whether you should lose weight. Your doctor will evaluate your BMI, waist measurement, and other risk factors for heart disease.

    The good news is even a small weight loss (between 5 and 10 percent of your current weight) will help lower your risk of developing those diseases.



    To me, this says that being overweight alone is not a big risk factor, but if these other risk factors are present, you may consider losing a few more pounds.
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