Hi Again. I'm only days into 3FC and I'm addicted to these boards! I'm going to attend my first WW meeting in a couple of hours so needless to say I'm nervous and excited. However I am scared that when, not if I do lose weight I will have lots and lots of saggy skin. My personal trainers in the past have said that I'm young enough (23 years old, 5'7) that it shouldn't be too bad and I've also read that the younger you are the easier the skin will firm up. I'd love to hear you're experiences in this to calm my fears.

Hey there and welcome!

So different folks will have different experiences depending on the amount of weight to lose, age, amount of exercise they do etc etc etc...and if you look around here long enough you will find hundreds of posts on this..with the outcome that it depends on the person.

All in all there is only one question to answer; would you prefer to be fat or to be fit, healthy, at a normal weight with the possability of a little extra skin?

If it eases your mind then I am the same height as me and around the same starting weight and so far have had no extra skin (I'm 25 btw) but as I said...it just depends!

Good luck at your meeting today!

I am 45 and weight about 255. I'm scared to death of having flabby, saggy skin! I really have no wrinkles now but I attribute that to having fat plump up my skin! They only thing that makes me feel better is that I am six feet tall and I figure that my weight is distributed enough that I'll be okay.

Two years ago I lost 50 pounds and I had no skin issues. I have heard that slow weight loss and lots of exercise is the answer.

I saw a show on Discovery health about a woman who lost weight and went through six very painful surgeries to tighten her skin. BUT . . . she started at over six hundred pounds! Let's lose weight before we are six hundred pounds! I think it is worth the risk.

Worse comes to worse I will dress the best I can to flaunt a new slender body and hide any sags. Go for it -- at your age I think you are gonna be just fine.

Ok there are some things you can do to minimize saggy skin:

1) lose slowly (between .5-2 pounds a week) even if you have to add points to slow down your losses

2) eat/drinnk your dairy

3) eat protein

4) get in your healthy oils

5) exercise with STRENGTH training so you build muscles

Much will depend on age too. The younger you are the more elasticity will be in your skin. Skin will shrink on its own some too no matter the age. It also depends on how long you have been over weight and how much you needed to lose.

Honestly, if you lose weight and are healthy is saggy skin the worst that could happen?

In any case, skin brushing helps (make sure you use a GOOD moisturiser after!).

You got me... what's "skin brushing?"

There's a fabulous thread on this topic over in the Maintainace forum... Here's the link.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36040

Sassy, haven't seen you on the boards in a long time!!!!
Remember me? Hope all is well.
As far as this topic is concerned, I'm wondering if making sure you have the WW recommended healthy oils would help one's skin to be elastic. I think there is a great deal more to having the correct type of oils than we even know. I take note that on the the weeks that I am truly eating well and making sure I have all my oils, milks, fruits and veggies and the like that I am losing weight at a better rate, I'm feeling better and I am sure my skin is also more elastic as a result.
I think some of us are quite anxious to have it all happen overnight, suddenly we are working very hard at a weight loss plan, we want it NOW, we expect immediate results and our bodies have to catch up with our brains. Exercise, stretching, and eating right are the answers for us all. I think the people with the saggy skin might be the ones who are not doing it properly, perhaps? I think Kelly has some very wise remarks.
I adore this site as well and it's wonderful to meet up with "old friends" like Sassy - Sassy I still have a strawberry pie recipe and a make your own no-pudge brownie recipe of yours someplace, I think!
Linda

Linda

Of course I remeber you!! Its wonderful to see you still about! I see You here, Red, Apple, Jolly, and Happy up in the Support Group forums. Its so good to be "home" . Now if I can only find Cache, Lucky, and Raven...


I agree with you up to a point on the skins elasticity. I've always had great skin thin, big, or biggest. Always looked younger then my days too. Even at 43 ( or soon to be, next month. ) people say they would of guessed 30 -35. Not bad for an old broad!!

But I have noticed, more so this last year, possibly because I can see 50 just over that horizon. The finer lines creeping into my skin. Noticing it becoming dryer. My hands, feet, forearms, and legs mostly. Especially this past winter season. Oy, screaming for moisture!!

So I am taking no chances... healthy for the in and a Big ol Bottle for the out!! Sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do. And knowledge is power. I want to know all the and's, if's, and but's out there. The link I provided is a good start.

Again its great to see you again too. Have a fabulous day!

Sincerely,

sassy

I remember everyone too, Sassy. I tried to keep up with Red's really fast 21 day challenge a few times, she starts it over and over, but there is so much activity in the thread that I just can't possibly read it all and do anything but sit at this computer!
I wonder about Raven and Lucky too, but don't remember Cache??? I think both Lucky and Raven were having hard times, especially Raven. I hope she is ok.
Well, dear, living up in the really NORTH country as you do, I would guess that the cold temps take their toll on your skin as well? Do you think?
You are right, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! I slather myself in moisturizer day in and day out and try really hard!
Getting back to this topic, I wonder if plastic surgeons make a fortune on tucks and whatnot from people who have lost massive amounts of weight?
I'd rather have saggy skin and be a healthier person anyday!
Cheers to all!

evonzie23 - thanks for starting this post. This is one of the burning questions that I have and also one of my "fears". I certainly don't want to have to get surgery (nor do I think I would) -- but a lot of the posts did put things into persepective for me.

What's "skin brushing"? I've never heard of it before.

Dry skin brushing is a great way to take care of your skin, which responsible for detoxifying 1/4 of your body's impurities.

Here's what I found online:

Benefits:

TIGHTENS Skin.

HELPS Digestion.

REMOVES Cellulite.

STIMULATES Circulation.

INCREASES Cell Renewal.

CLEANS Lymphatic System.

REMOVES Dead Skin Layers.

STRENGTHENS Immune System.

IMPROVES Exchange between Cells.

STIMULATES the Glands, thus helping ALL of the
Body Systems to perform at PEAK EFFICIENCY!

How To Do:

Buy a NATURAL, NOT Synthetic, Bristle Brush, since it does NOT SCRATCH the Surface of the Skin.

Buy a Brush with a LONG Handle, so that you're ABLE to get to the Areas of your Body, that are NOT EASY to reach, when doing your own Skin Brushing.

Skin Brush, before Showering or Bathing, at least ONCE per day, and TWICE, if possible.
Do NOT wet Skin, since it will NOT have the SAME Effect, because this stretches the Skin.

ALWAYS Skin Brush towards the Heart.

Do Circular Counter-Clockwise Strokes on the Abdomen.

Do LIGHTER Strokes over and around Breasts, but do NOT Brush the Nipples.

Brush each part of the Body several times VIGOROUSLY, COMPLETELY Brushing the WHOLE Body.

Brush the Soles of the Feet FIRST, because the Nerve Endings there affect the WHOLE Body, next Brush the Ankles, Calves, and Thighs, then Brush across your Stomach and Buttocks and lastly Brush your Hands to the Arms.

Take a WARM Bath or Shower, which should always be followed by a COOL Rinse at the end to INVIGORATE Blood Circulation and STIMULATE Surface Warmth.

Wash your Brush every few Weeks in Water and let it DRY

I bought my brush at Whole Foods the last time I was in America. It was about $10 if I remember correctly. I do it before I get in the shower and then use a high quality moisturiser after. I really like it and it does make my skin look less blah (if you know what I mean!).

While that all sounds good and all not to be a poohpooher cellulite doesn't get removed...it will always bet there. Losing weight can help the appearance of it though.

Anything on the outside of the body cannot 1) help digestion (it may relax you so your body is able to digest) and 2) Lymph nodes are not cleaned with something outside the body (need to check with my docs who do surgery on lymph nodes but not sure they can even be 'cleaned'.

The only way to tighten skin is with the elasticity that is in the skin. This naturally does decrease over time. But there are benefits that are being research for massage so the brush may help.

I do how it would stimulate the circulation and remove dead skin cells and possibly give good feels and help like accupressure.

Sorry I a naysayer.

Remember this is just my opinion based on 1) my education and 2) western medical practices.

Worry about getting healthy first. Then worry about the skin. If I told you that you had nothing to worry about, would you want to get to a healthy weight? Of COURSE!!! BUT, if I told you it WOULD sag, would you still want to lose weight to get to a healthy range? I HOPE the answer is still YES!!! So, the issue of excess skin is really a non-issue, as it shouldn't affect your desire to get healthy. And, it doesn't really matter what anyone will tell you because each body is different. And, anything "excess" can be removed if required. Stick with it!!!!