Hiya, I'm new here.

I'm currently 19stone (266ibs) my goal weight is 12stone and 7ibs, things are going well and I am very motivated and happy with my new diet......... but theres one thing that keeps on playing on my mind........ will I have loose skin? I'm 24 years old, and I'm 5ft 8. I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not

Anyway, I won't ramble on, but does anybody know if it's likely that I will have loose skin? are there anyways to prevent it from happening?

Any advice or tips would be brilliant,

Thanks for reading

welcome! i think the loose skin question can be prevented to some extent by toning exercises and a slow, steady weight loss...i could be wrong, perhaps someone else knows more than i do...and also i've read that loose skin will bounce back, shrink, etc over time and also because you are young

Yes, as long as you lose the weight at a reasonable weight and havent yo-yo dieted in the past, then you should be fine. Definately incorporate weight training to help with it. And also keep moisturized, so the skin has more elasticity. i use Vasolines Cocoa Butter lotion religiously, it also helps even out skin tone (ie stretch marks). good luck!

Welcome =) We get that question a lot.

Check out this section for some answers: Body Image and Issues After Weight Loss.

Hiya everybody, thanks for the advice, I was thinking about getting some coco butter.... I will now I didn't know you could get it with vaseleine? I'll see if I can get some, if now I will just buy them both, that should do the same trick?

Thank you Lovely, I will check out that board now xx

Hi JustGoGaGa.... and welcome!
I would recommend a product called Bio-Oil for your skin, it works wonders for scars, stretch marks, etc.... and i think it would be great to use during your weightloss (you have to commit to it for it to work right, such as using it twice a day)... just a thought....research it and happy losing!

Hiya Krazy, thanks for that, I've seen it advertised but never considered it before, after a bit of googling a lot of people are saying the same as you, that it's great to use when losing weight so thanks for pointing it out.

This site is a great motivation, I'm so glad I joined

Welcome, JustGoGaGa. Glad you're here.

Hi and welcome, I am well on my way to losing weight, started at exactly the same as you, 19 stone, now just under 14, and so far loose skin not an issue, a little extra flubber around mt stomach area but that could be because I have more to lose, but no loose skin on arms etc. I do encorporate different gym exercises, some cardio, and a few reps of resistance equipment every week, maybe 4 sets of 20 reps on about 8-9 different machines, from arm pulls and extensions, leg curls etc. It depends too on the makeup of your body, for me I always had big thighs and legs from soccer, whereas never had excess skin or bingo wings starting off, my weight was really located around my chest and stomach area. But weigh up the pro and cons (No pun intended) for me niw that I have gotten soo far I feel so good, cannot tell you how much more energy, always want to be doing something, and healthwise I am much healthier, asthma and other stuff. Really excess skin varies from person to person, they say drinking plenty water helps, but it depends on the rate of weight loss, exercise, and body shape/composition and where the weight is located. But I would say start and see how it goes, for the first few stone lost it should not be an issue at all anyway in my own opinion and experience.

First off--LOVE Ab Fab, man!!! Haha...

Next--good for you and best of luck on your goals. =)

Everyone is different...your body will be what it will be. =)

I carried 40...60...up to 100 lbs of extra weight from 9 years old to about 21. It took me 3 years to lose a bit over 80 of it...I did it by doing weight watchers...going to the gym just about each and every day...and walking a lot for fun. I have yet to lose the last 20 or so pounds...I am educated guessing. I lost the weight between 21-ish and 24-ish.

I have loose skin. I'm not sure how 'bad' it is or what is considered bad--but I feel quite sure I'll never have 'that' body....the one free of traces of a lifetime of being more than a tad overweight. At times it bothers me because I think...gosh...I'll never know what my body would have been like had I not packed on such mass so early on in life...but...it's ok...I'm healthy and blessed. =)

Try to love your body at each and every stage man...it's the only one you've got...I am working on this too.

Peace and Love

I'm worried also, but I think your age will be a benefit for you.