Ok, I am aware that no one can really tell me what to expect for myself, but I wanted to ask some questions about this in this forum specifically. I was wondering how 20somethings handled this post weight loss, how it can affect what type of clothes you wear (and sizing i suppose) and how you deal w/that in the context of relationships. Just a kinda share what you feel comfortable sharing sorta deal.

As for me, i have not been overweight long (+ i hear, 7 months at this point hopefully wont stay overweight too much longer) however i gained a LOT of weight REALLY fast. Though, while i am not sure...i have little stretch marks (though i suppose they can also show up more as i lose? i've lost about 40 lbs so far, not quite half way through) and am kinda hoping i have decent elasticity skin wise. I am just throwing some things out there in case this reminds anyone of specifics for themselves.

It's not that i'm about to not lose every pound i gained b/c i fear loose skin, but its pretty much my biggest fear. I am trying to learn to accept that i gained the weight, and its a potential side effect. I have always (even when i was quite thin) been uncomfortable in my own skin/being touched so this is something i am trying to brace myself for accordingly.

I'm interested to see responses to this too - I've been overweight nearly my whole life but I'm hoping that because I'm young I'll have decent skin elasticity and because I'm losing slowly that hopefully I won't have loose skin? It's something that scares the **** out of me.

I gained weight really fast, was only overweight for less than a year, I have tons of stretch marks, I'm 22, and I have MAJOR loose skin.

Check out this article:
http://www.weightlossforall.com/loose-skin-problems.htm

Do you guys think that loose skin can differ depending on how much weight you had/have to lose?

I've done all of the "right" things and I still have lose skin. Sadly, if it's going to happen then it's going to happen.

Well, I was overweight the majority of my life but lost about 30 to 40 of it (went from like 210 to 170ish) in a 6 month period when I was 20. I had no loose skin or stretch marks (except really old ones). Then I gained 90, and now I've lost nearly all of it. The loose skin is there, though not so much the stretch marks (except old ones again). My legs, the first time around, looked great after the weight loss.... now they look jiggley. My stomach is smaller, but looks like loosely packed marbles in a silk sack.

Now it could be age, or the fact that I was still pretty young (that was 8 years ago the first time)... but it also could be that the the first time I lost it mainly from being a lot more active than I'd been before and this time I'm doing it just by eating right and healthy but because of my job don't get much time to exercise regularly. Or, all of the above. Not sure.

yeah I think some of us might just need plastic surgery or something? My belly is wrecked after three pregnancies, and I have a friend who lives with her finger down her throat (hooters waitress/ballet dancer/she's always been fit and sexy) and her belly looks JUST like mine after her two babies. So I think some of us just have saggy skin?

I'd be interested in any other comments because I've always just assumed I'd get plastic surgery when I have the money one day because I'm *that* vain ^_^

boots- If your vain, then well trust me so am i. I absolutely can not imagine i will ever be able to be "ok" with myself (and i do realize that this is sad, and i wish it was a different story) if this happens to me. I suppose a part of me wonders, jesus would i (and oh yeah the issue of being able TO afford it) i wind up needing a tummy tuck prior to having kids. Would i be vain enough to do so? I just, i have a lot of self-esteem issues and body insecurity. The idea of having "proof" forever (loose skin or the tell tale rather serious scarring of plastic surgery) that i allowed the gain/was fat make me want to cry. I definitely think genetics plays the biggest part in this, though i think most-esp those that need to lose as much as i hope to lose in the end-tend to have loose skin. I suppose hearing any/all stories of people that haven't is what i'm hoping for.

starfishkitty- I just dropped around that amount, and i would need to lose much more (i however though i'm a bit on the tall side have a small frame) to wind up w/any loose skin. So far i'm ok, but then again its way too soon to tell. We're about the same age too. I actually at 20 lost a good deal of weight (though my hw was 178 then and i was only that heavy a few months) but it was more drawn out. I lost 40 pounds in about 3 months, and wound up losing another 30 (and um back then was really off my rocker/unhealthy blabla) w/in a year or so. No loose skin of any sort, but it took awhile to go from 140 to well, what i got down to.
Congrats on your loss!

FreeSpirit- Thanks for answering, you've already lost what i hope too-massive congrats on that. What you said is right, i think really there is very little one can do to prevent it, or moreso totally unpreventable. That's the thing that scares the **** out of me-esp since your younger, and we not ow long etc.

rainbowstripe- I believe that's a definite factor, i mean the more weight to lose the higher the possibility.

Sherrie- Thank you very much. I know the fact that i am losing weight pretty quickly might up the chance, but that is one thing i suppose i have to live with. Though god only knows how much longer i have of losing weight rather quickly, i'm expecting it to seriously slow soon. I need to get myself to start lifting again really badly. Though as Free said, those that it will happen to it does, but every precaution has to help.

eta
And while this is probably far from the norm (alright thats an understatement due to how much and quickly this person lost weight) i know someone who literally lost nearly 2/3 of her bodyweight (shes far too thin now) and doesn't really have loose skin. Like an itty bitty bit that she pointed out to me, but she lost the weight i think around the age of 20.