The woman that started the fat flush diet claims you don't have the loose skin after losing weight on her diet. She has all kinds of expensive supplements that she recommends taking with the diet. But I think it's the flaxseed oil that is supposed to prevent sagging skin. Has anyone lost a lot of weight through this diet? Is it true your skin tightened up?

I've never done this diet, because really I don't see the point of using a bunch of supplements that have zero effect on your body, but flaxseed oil can be of some benefit. I don't know about actually tightening the skin, but it does contain EFAs that will keep your skin moist and supple. The best way to prevent sagging skin that I have heard of is massage, exfoliation and moisturizing. Massage increases bloodflow, exfoliation helps to soften skin and encourage new growth, and moisturizing increases skin's flexibility and makes it more supple. All of these things work only over time and to a small extent - there is no miracle cure for sagging skin or weight loss. You really don't have to worry much about sagging skin unless you are more than 100 pounds overweight and/or lose weight very quickly. Even if you do have a lot to lose, you can minimize the appearance of sagging skin by the above measures - moisturize and massage your skin every day, and exfoliate as is appropriate for your skin type. I have very thick, oily skin and exfoliate daily, someone with thinner, dryer skin would only do it once or twice a week. I find it useful to use a stiff bristle-hair brush to exfoliate and massage in one fell swoop to save time, and I use a moisturizer with cocoa butter to help relieve some symptoms of stretching/shrinking skin. The studies I have read on cocoa butter seem to indicate preliminary evidence that there may be some benefit in regard to suppleness of skin and increasing its elasticity.

Of course, as far as the diet goes, the best way to lose weight is slow and steady, make sure you get enough calories, water, fresh fruits and veggies, and enough essential fatty acids through supplements or food. Protein intake is also important, especially if you are working out on a regular basis. If you lose weight slowly and exercise regularly and just take care of your skin you should see only a minimum amount of excess skin left after your weight loss. Of course, you can only prevent sagging skin to a degree no matter what you use, and once it's there it's difficult to get rid of without surgery.

It certainly wouldn't hurt for you to take a flaxseed oil supplement as it does provide EFAs that are essential for metabolic function, but you don't have to use supplements. A tablespoon or so of seeds crushed into a smoothie or cooked oatmeal every day should do it, and it's cheaper than most supplements you'll find. Just do that and take care of your skin, pamper yourself a bit, and that's about all you can do for the skin problem. Other good sources of EFAs include fatty fishes, nuts and seeds, and some cooking oils like olive or seasame.
Hope that helps

-Vanessa

Read this page for information on sagging skin. MrsJim sent me the link and it has taught me a lot. Unfortunately the creams, etc will only work on the outer layer of skin. Droopy skin is in different layers, plus muscle. You can do some things to help prevent the overall sagging, but mostly it all depends on your genetic makeup and how much damage you've done to your body with being overweight.

http://www.tuckthattummy.com/anatomy.htm

Meg in Maintainers wrote an EXCELLENT thread on "weight loss and skin FAQs" that you might want to check out...

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