Losing significant amount of weight without loose skin?

[Anonymous]

My google searches have brought up the following:

1. Less likely if the weight loss is slower over time.
2. Less likely if you are working out and gaining muscle while burning fat.
3. Less likely if the total loss is less than 100 pounds.

I'm losing at a rate of about 8 pounds a month or so. Not using any fad diets-just calorie counting and being very active. Working out every day.

My question is-ideally in total I will have about an 80 pound loss when all is said and done hopefully. Over the course of 2 years. I'm very very afraid of loose skin. I would love to hear other's experiences who have lost a significant amount of weight as to whether you were able to avoid this?

I've lost approximately 55 pounds over the last year and a half and so far don't really notice any and I'm hoping that continues.

[Anonymous]

It depends mostly on age and genetics. You’re losing weight very rapidly so that’s certainly not on your side. You will likely end up with some loose skin.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. I lost weight in my late 20s no problem. Now in my 40s, losing weight will get me loose skin no matter what, just like my father when he lost weight at the same age.

[Anonymous]

If you only have 25 more to go sounds like you’re lucky and will avoid significant loose skin. It won’t be the same as if you never weight 80 pounds more but doesn’t sound like you’ll need surgery or anything.

[Anonymous]

It also depends on your age, because skin loses elasticity as we age.

[Anonymous]

Go slow. Heavy weights. WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on the weight loss!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you're on a good track. Lots of water and keep exercising. Weight loss will slow as you approach your goal, which is good thing for preventing loose skin.

[Anonymous]

Well done op, you star!

[Anonymous]

I am 37 and lost about 65 pounds the 'right' way (slow, over the course of 2 years with permanent lifestyle changes and exercise/strength building).

I have loose-ish skin but its mostly fine except in my stomach area. I am also a woman who had 3 c-sections though. So my stomach was stretched out from just that.

I ended up getting an abdominoplasty to remove the skin, it wasn't awesome but it was fine and all the work and effort and pain of the last few years led to me looking effing awesome right now so I'm cool with it. I still have some loose skin on my legs and arms but you can only really tell in certain positions and its totally manageable so...who cares.

[Anonymous]

I’ve lost just about 50 lbs in the last 7 months in my 40s and have no loose skin. I’ve got another 10-20 to go, and I think I’m going to be fine on the skin front. I’ve been drinking more water than I thought physically possible and lifting not very heavy weights (no more than 20lbs) in addition to cardio and an overhaul of my diet (mostly lean protein and veggies and fruit these days).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go slow. Heavy weights. WATER, WATER, WATER, WATER.

I agree with this - weights helps you build muscle and will help with sagging skin. You also need to moisturize everyday all over your body. I have also read that there may be some lasers that help with this but I have not tried.

[Anonymous]

I've put on 80 lbs and lost it twice. I have a little loose skin in my stomach but I've had 3 children. You would never notice it, you'd be distracted by my visible abs and the fact that I look like a swimsuit model.

I lost the weight in my late 30s and I didn't bother doing it slowly, though I did weight train the whole time. It's luck of the draw on skin elasticity, OP.

[Anonymous]

I’m down close to 100 pounds since spring of 2020, about 35 of which was in 2020, 55 in 2021 and another 10 in 2022. I have some loose skin in my stomach area that has gotten a little better over time, but I almost never notice it.

I did a moisturizer routine for a little while and was never good about it. Lots and lots of water. I asked my derm and she said it is what it is and the elasticity won’t change much. Definitely not doing surgery. Derm didn’t notice until I mentioned it.

I lost the weight between 39-41 as a man.

Good luck op!

[Anonymous]

I lost significant weight when I was 16-17, slowly. I had massive amounts of loose skin. I think these tips are just victim blaming nonsense TBH. It’s luck of the draw.