Quote:
Originally Posted by AvaLynn
I could just CRY!! I am enjoying the program && loving the weightloss, however the skin on my arms is starting to sag and my tummy... Any suggestions on what I can do to firm my arms and tummy?
Any input is appreciated ladies
Part of this answer is, your genetics play a role in how quickly and to what extent you regain elasticity of skin. Also, your skin can take up to 18 months to recover after losing weight. Many plastic surgeons won't do skin reductions until at least 6 to 12 months after you stop losing.
What can you do to help? Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated helps with skin quality and tightness.
“Your intake of food and fluids before, during, and after losing weight is a factor for your skin,” says Harry Pino, Ph.D., director of exercise physiology at the Obesity Consult Center of Tufts-New England Medical Center.
First, Pino advocates maintaining a lower fat diet and eating lean proteins to help minimize the extra skin, even after you’ve lost the weight. Second, hydration is crucial. That means drinking plenty of water [64 ounces or eight cups per day].
Eat foods high in vitamins A, E, C. Also use supplements in addition to your diet that supplies you with these vitamins. These vitamins help form collagen - the supporting fibers in the skin.
Zinc - Eat foods high in this or use a supplement such as ZMA. This vitamin helps form collagen - the supporting fibers in the skin.
There are many reasons we are encouraged to have our OMEGA OIL on this diet. One great reason is EFA's (Essential Fatty Acids), help make cell walls. Essential fatty acids can be found in many vegetables, vegetable oils and fish oils. If you don't regularly eat these try supplementing your diet with them.
Exfoliating skin will help improve circulation and balance of skin growth.
The loose skin will get tighter as your body fat gets lower. Over time the skin gradually tightens up, at least partially, after a one or two year period where the weight loss is maintained and exercise continued.
Tone and build muscle to create a tighter appearance of the skin. Read the exercise thread for many suggestions on exercise. You can also google or look on you tube for area specific exercise; some examples - arms (bicep, tricep), shoulders, back, abs, core, neck, face (yes, there are micromovement exercises to work those areas), butt (glutes), legs (hamstrings, quadriceps, knees, calves).
I was recently discussing loose skin with a friend, a lucky man whose lost 160 pounds in a year and has ZERO loose skin! He has learned that loose, saggy skin is saggy in many cases because it still has a layer of fat attached. In many cases, it isn't until a person's body fat gets to a proper level that the skin begins to restore its more tight appearance.
AND, talk to your coach. This is not an uncommon problem and there are medical grade collagen supplements available that really help, more even than the jello or pomegranate drink to aid in helping with improved skin quality.
A SIDE NOTE TO ROCKY:
I want to have your life!! You made it sound so exciting. THERE IS NO WAY from your pictures I would have guessed you are in your 50's. You look wonderful!!