[Bucket]

Hello there! I'm new!

I have no health insurance. I'm 23 yrs. old, 5'7", I'm 275 pounds. I'd like to lose 100 pounds approximately. I keep hearing that if you lose a considerable amount of weight, you will have hanging skin on the belly, arms, thighs, etc.
I'm wondering if I need health insurance to have excess skin removed. I've heard that it can be free if skin is needed for burn victims.
What are your thoughts on excess skin after a weight loss, how much it costs to remove it, etc?
Thanks for reading!
Love,
Bucket

[pinkygirl]

Good question! It is something that I think about also. Hopefuly if we are young enough it will just shrink back to fit our bodies. Any out there have this happen?
Pinky

[nasus40]

Good news and bad news for you girls. Yes your skin can go back if you exercise faithfully. there is a hromone that is released when you do weights lifting (not aerobics) that will help your skin tone, as well as boost your metabolism, help your bone density, and many other wonderful things. I have lost over 65 lbs and i di not hang anywhere except where i have tremendous stretch marks form my 4 kids. (my belly) I have actually lost over 100 lbs of fat and gained abotu 30 of muscle (I was weak) and i can proudlu say i do nt hang. it does not come overnight and the faster the body looses the weight the morelikely you will hang while the skin tryies to keep up with the loss. but if you take up some sort of weightlifting (you do not have to come out looking like Zena although that would be nice) but the actually pushing of the muscles in that way will stimulate the hormone to produce. but you can ot eat 1 hour before or immediatly after to help stimulate this hormone.

The better news is that i am 42 years old. and if i am having this kind of results then you at your younger ages can expect much better results. the hormone is a hormone that is very present in the youth and as we age ti goes to the wayside. so you girls have a better chance to get everything back where ti belongs. and do it now before it is to late. I am saying that with the utmost honesty. do not wait. get control of your life now and start to really enjoy it. also do nto expect the weight to come off fast. but do not let that discourage you if you do not get any off next year you will be no closer to the goal you want to be. So if you only lose 20 lbs that is 20 lbs lighter that if you do not try. make this an enjoyable thing to do and something that you can live with. and continue to do. you need to make a life style change and do a woe that you can continue to do for life.

I do a low carb style. I can live with that it is working very well for me. many use just a low cal approach, and others just eat less. just chose a stle that is approtprate for you. and if you fall do nt get upset get back on the wagon and continue. we are not perfect and we should not expect us to be. So allow times that you will eat off program, but for one meal or one day on special occasions and if you have a bad day and eat the cake well just get right back OP. do not wait till the next day the faster you get back op even if the day is ruined then the easeir it is to stay OP.

well i have said my say and now it is time for me to get off my soap box
]
and welcome girls we are gald to have you. I have busy lately but hopefully i can get back on the board more.

[pinkygirl]

nasus40, great weight loss you must feel very proud. When I was younger I did lose an amount of weight 2 times, think I'd learn. But now facing 40 I guess I'll have to put that gym membership to work! Really fearing fat and 40. Mini goal is 40 by 40, got till Aug.
Pinky

[teach93]

I also have just made a recommittment to a low fat lifestyle after a horrendous drs. appt with my kidney specialist. While high cholesterol is a by product of the kind of kidney disease, the way I have been eating certainly hasn't helped.

I have thought at age 42 about skin hanging. I am not sure health insurance would pay for this anyway, at least what we have at school won't.

I am hoping that if I can get my medical problems under control somewhat, I can begin exercising.

I guess my final thought is that I am not necessarily afraid of anything hanging. I am afraid of not losing weight at all!!!

Elaine

284.5/280.5/199 first goal

[Jen]

I don't know if any of you know Fred from onephatman.com but he talked to a doctor about this very issue. If you go to his web site and check out his FAQ's you'll see what the dr had to say. Basically any hanging skin should be reabsorbed by the body within 7 years. Also younger people will have less problems with this as nasus said because of the greater elasticity of skin.

[nasus40]

Thanks Jen I did not know that within 7 years i will have a flat stomach!! WHOOO HOOOO so i have been working on it for 2 years now does this mean i have only 5 more to wait????

My biggest concern is that the stretch marks have so damaged my elasticity if the stomach. I often wonder if there is any help to that. I have started tot ake vit e and was thinking of rubing e in the stomach. but i have not done much research onthat.

god Bless Fred for assking and having that question available. I wonder if he ever stops in here at all any more. I do miss him. I think he has done a wonderful thing and he is such an inspiration to me. If you have not seen his site just take a few min to take a peek. it is amazing.

[teach93]

I have also wondered about the areas that have stretch marks. They are mainly just on my stomach. Maybe if I think everything else will eventually go away, the stomach part will work out too!!!

Elaine

[SusanTaw]

OK Bucket and Pinkygirl....
I surely hope you are not using an
"excuse" of hanging skin to deter you from losing weight!!
Trust us "old timers" here....you are
still young and as you diet AND exercise
your skin will also reduce along with you.
Wouldn't it be better to be in good health
and eating properly with a little skin hanging than to be overweight and
bulging
The important factor is exercise along
with proper nutrition. Now, if you are
still worried about hanging skin ...then
I suggest you keep a little piggy bank
and everytime you save money by not
purchasing junk food...put it in the lil
piggy bank and by the time you reach
your goal weight..you'll have enough
saved up to pay for the skin tuck surgery

[Mrs. Big Dawg]

Drink lots and lots and lots of water while losing. It will help tone your skin. My doc told me it's one of the most important things to do during weight-loss.
Carol

I am 36 now and have lost over 120lbs the past 2 and half years or so with no 'hanging skin'. I did do weight training and I did drink lots of water, so I would expect if you are exercising and drinking water it is not something you have to worry over. On the other hand I heard from someone, no first hand knowledge that a friend knew someone who used the 'stacker 2' and lost a lot of weight fast and it was hanging all over. I suppose a slow and steady weight loss with muscle gain (from working out) will equal no hanging skin.