I seem to be breaking out.... not full bore but still....
I thought once I ate better my skin would be that much better... what is up with that?
anyone else?

Not sure if it's okay for me to comment here since I'm not on I.P however I have experienced skin issues and I understand how upsetting and frustrating it can be. I never got all over acne, just a couple of huge, painful pimples usually....I mean really noticeable and not just in my eyes, I know others could absolutely see them too. I kept wondering why my clean eating wasn't making the acne go away, then after doing some research it turns out acne is not affected by what we eat, it's all down to oily skin- so I've read over and over again on various sites. One of the things they suggested was switching to oil free facial products so I simply changed my moisturizer to a Neutrogena oil free one and hey presto....no more acne, yet anyway....hopefully I didn't just curse myself. Also, for an all natural facial scrub I mix lemon juice with sugar and put it on a cotton pad and rub gently in circles and once per week I make an all natural mask using lemon juice and baking soda, 2 tblspns of each- I swear it makes your skin feel so clean and smooth. It's worth a shot, it's helped me, maybe....just maybe it can work for you too?

I'm not on IP, either, but I have struggled with acne for decades and I'm in my 40's! The best thing for me, like bananapancakes, is oil free products and exfoliation. I use a gentle scrub in the shower every morning, and at night I use those cleaning towlettes. After each cleansing I use an oil-free, scent free moisturizer. I have had very little acne for months now (knock on wood).

It could be that with the rapid weight loss you are burning off a few extra hormones stored in the fat which is upsetting your balance and creating something like "teen acne" again. (just a guess)

It could also be a way your body is eliminating some toxins as it burns off the fat.

I would expect that it will clear up as you go farther along in the program.

In addition to the above suggestions, try drinking half a fresh lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water each morning. It's excellent for your skin. (Keep some lemons in a bowl on the counter. It's better if they are room temperature.)

Good luck to you. Hope you are seeing clear skin soon!

thanks ladies!
The scale is changing so are other things I guess.

Much appreciate the home remedies and advice!

Hi I am on my week 4 and having the same problem as you. But I notice that when I dont have a lot of water, the pimples come out, and when I have plenty of water my skin gets better.

only one thing to say...WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER....and more WATER. Drink loads of it. You are getting rid of toxins and hormones like Carla said, help your body flush it out sooner.

My skin actually seemed a bit better on this... my problem is the hair thinning and foot/calf cramps... oh, and the big suit of skin I'm left with. I'd have to be Arnold Schwarzenegger to fill it up with muscle. *sigh*

I think skin reduction is the only hope...

I meant to post this yesterday, forgot, and Elizabeth reminded me.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beaut...#photoViewer=1

Anyone with a Yahoo account may have seen this already, but the reason I'm touting it is because it is essentially what I've done since I was 16. (Well, of course I think it's sound. I mean, I do it, right?)

But I wanted to stress one thing that I think I can prove. The first summer I did summer stock one of the techs was a professor of make-up and stage craft at Carnegie Mellon -- a superb theatre and fine arts school despite the fact that it's built its reputation on the sciences.

Anyway, he saw how green I was and taught me a lot, not the least of which was how to clean off stage make-up -- the way the Italian and French commedia dell'arte players from the 16th century on up through modern day circus clowns clean off theirs. Use about a teaspoon or a little more of the very best olive oil, loosen your make-up, rinse it off with cold water; never hot; and pat dry, very gently.

According to him, Italian ladies, seeing how wrinkle-free clowns faces stayed, adopted this practice. So it was fascinating to read the above article about the author's French mother who did the same and taught her daughter.

This method works equally well for dry or oily skin.

And, to be perfectly honest, there is one variable. I've always drunk a lot of water. I hope this is valuable to someone.

when you say the very best olive oil...is it virgin, extra virgin or regular? Now I want to try that cause it sounds AWESOME!

I read once that Jackie Kennedy's beautiful skin was owed to her routine using almond oil to clean her face. And, yes, the beautiful Italian lady who lived next to me when I was a little girl always used olive oil to clean her face. She was so pretty even until her late 80's.

If you start in the 30s....would you get the same results???? Lol! I am always looking for the next best thing for my skin......do you go through a period of adjustment/breakouts?!?

Extra virgin or even "light" virgin perhaps, although I haven't tried that. In the long run, I'll bet it doesn't matter a lot. When I started I just used what I could get. Had to go to the Italian market to get it. How times have changed.

I don't think it matters a bit when you start. Just keep hot water off of your face, especially in the shower -- if you can.

It really should never cause break outs. The old idea of using sharp astringents on inflamed skin is passe, I think. And there really isn't anything to adjust to. I hope I'm not being simplistic. But it's just so simple; and cheap, when you get right down to it. And it wasn't tested on any animals except our own species.