Hi everyone! I'm a new poster here.

I've never really made a concerted effort to lose weight, but after finding out I have gallstones at 32 years old, I am committed to losing weight and living a healthier life.

BUT, the issue of loose skin is really demotivating me. I was reading the 'maintainers' section of this site and I'm quite depressed much of the advice leans towards cosmetic surgery and little of it leans towards living to learn with one's wobbly bits.

I already have saggy big breasts from being overweight (as I'm sure most people do who are obese), and I've know when I lose weight I'll not end up with a washboard stomach. Just getting to a normal'ish weight and being healthier is all I'm interested in.

Yet, all this talk of loose skin makes me wonder if I'll end up with a very unsightly looking body once the weight is gone, and there seems to be such pressure to have a breast reduction and/or tummy tuck, or other bits of flesh cut off and stitched up.

I'm not knocking people who have cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, it's certainly something people don't do lightly, but I do wonder if many of us have a unrealistic image of how our body will be once we are lighter? I know reconstructive surgery is often necessary for people who have massive rapid weight loss, but it seems people who lose 100 or less are now going under the knife too.

The issue of 'loose skin' never really concerned me until I have read various diet forums and website. I guess I'm writing this post just to gauge other people's opinion on this subject...

First off let me say congratulatins on makeing th decision to begin a helathy life style. In regards to loose skin, everyones body reacts different, I would try very hard not to concentrate so much on this. If you loose you weight in a healty healty amount of time 1 to 2lb per week, eating properly with the correct amount of exercise both cardio and weights you should be able to help minimize the skin issue. I hope this puts your mind at some ease.

Hi! You know, that put me off too, when I first started. I've lost over 100 pounds and DO have some loose skin. But I can live such a fuller life that it really isn't an issue!! Seriously, I feel like I've reclaimed my life with my weight loss. Plus, no one else can see my loose skin when I'm dressed!

So, my advice is not to worry about it right now! You don't need to come up with reasons NOT to lose weight!

Oh, ditto!

I have some loose skin and am also planning implants and tuck. It's a very personal decision and one each should make alone. My stretch marks on my lower abdomen actually bleed sometimes because they are so profuse and the skin is so thin. My breasts have gone from a DD to now a large A. I would also say that age 32, you may not have the same feelings, experiences and yes, I will say it--"wisdom" someone older might have. Each to their own most definitely on this one.

I had to lose weight for health reasons. I have siblings and parents with horrible illnesses--directly related to obesity. I do love the "cosmetic" aspect of it but the way I see it, my body is just following my healthier lifestyle.

I have already lost 87lbs and I have saggy skin...but you know what...I had rather be saggy than have that skin full of unhealthy fat! I dont like the saggy skin but its just part of losing weight and aging. My sister who has never really had a true weight problem has saggy upper arms.Its just part of growing older i think. I still have a ways to go to be at goal and im sure i will not be happy with the extra skin but as heather said no one can see the saggy skin when i am dressed and thank God for spanx!!!

Wow, demotivator! It never occurred to me to worry about such things. Yep, there is loose skin and I can't afford to to do anything about it but boy I look and feel good. Health not looks should be the primary concern. There is no pressure by anyone I know or have read about to do surgery. I have read the surgery thread just because lightning might strike and I win the lotto so I can do the surgery.
Heather is right. There are so much thoughts that keep us fat. We need to stay the course.

Seems like the faster people lose weight (for example with bariatric surgery, etc), the more loose skin I've seen on people.

I'm getting into my 2nd 50lbs to lose and this is where I feel like I'll start seeing the skin start to sag. Of course my boobs are deflated and I can still wear my DD bras because all the skin tucks into the cups just fine. And the lovely upper arm skin is appearing. I exercise a lot and incorporate a variety of activities like yoga, body pump (weights) and running...I feel like slow and steady plus muscle building will help reduce the excess skin.

In the end though, I see nothing wrong with getting cosmetic surgery. I don't think any of us aim for "perfection", but when you've worked so hard, I see nothing wrong with a bit of tweaking to make you feel better as far as the excess skin is concerned.

Having lost well over 100lbs and at 45 years old, yes I have loose skin but nothing that can't be dealt with by good underwear. When dressed no one would know I guess that skin weighs some as well.

I measured myself this morning - I have a 32" waist. What's there not to be proud of being a 32" waist at 45?

Kitty

Yes I have been wondering about this as well. Theres a woman I see at our local Wal-mart that was really big, and lost weight. She had a big stomache like I do when she was big, and now since she has lost weight, you can see her skin in her pants, like she stuffed two pillows in her jeans in the stomache area. Its like her stomache is still there, except not full, just droopy underneath her pants. I have wondered if my stomache will look like that if I ever get to where she is.......I really hope not. But I guess that is just all part of it............but I really hope mine doesnt look as bad as hers, bless her heart.

my sister and i both have what we call the deflated balloon look, and both of us got it from having kids. so now that we are looking to try to loose weight, we are both dreading the reality that this balloon will keep deflating. there is a quote somewhere that says something like (and im paraphrasing here) if you put in only a little effort, you will only get a little back, but if you work really hard, you will get amazing things back. and the thing that kept sticking in my mind was what if i do work really hard, and dont really like what i get back? it has been that fear that has held us both back for several years from really starting our weight loss. i guess in the end you have to decide what is going to work for you. for me it was looking at the total picture, EVERYTHING that loosing weight would affect, not just the way my body looks. i have 3 kids, i want to be healthy for them, and i want to be around a long time for them, and that has been what has pushed me over the edge, to decide that deflated balloon and all i want this!

Good Luck in your search to find what best motivates you!

It can happen, but when you see SOME people -- like some of the winners on The Biggest Loser (wow, what an awkward phrase) -- they have only a very small amount of loose skin.

A specific example I can think of is the blonde fellow who came in second place (or was it third?) on one of the first seasons of The Biggest Loser. He started at something over 300 and ended up 175 (or thereabouts). He did have a bit of loose, baggy skin on his abdomen, but not more than say an 8" square of it -- the rest of him was rock hard and toned.

Well, there are likely to be battle scars in a battle with obesity. Loose skin can be one of them. However, the rewards far, far, far outweigh any issues that I have with loose skin.

I have some, most noticeable on my thighs and some upper arms, but it isn't really disgusting or anything LOL! I lost extremely slow, too.
In fact, here is a photo of me with loose skin showing. I'm not afraid to wear revealing stuff, even with the skin because I am so proud of all the work I have done. I bike in public like this all the time LOL!


Would it be nice if it was gone? Sometimes I think so, but I really do love every inch of me, and not sure I would want any of it cut away.

You look great Lori and if anyone could see any loose skin you have I'd say there were getting too personal!

I find it really hard to imagine why anyone would prefer to be say 100lbs heavier than have to cope with a little extra skin.

Kitty