Extra Skin

[7Miriam]

I am just starting out on Atkins - still in Induction. I have a lot of weight to lose - about 170 pounds and I'm only 5'3''. I know this sounds silly, but I'm worried that if I lose a lot of weight I will wind up with lots of extra skin hanging off of me.

Was wondering if anyone has heard of any way to avoid this?

[determined2shrink]

Re: Extra Skin

Everyones body is different. Some people have skin that shrinks most of the way and some people have skin that doesnt shrink at all. I would guess most fall in the middle somewhere.

[7Miriam]

Re: Extra Skin

I've been looking into this and ways people suggest to minimize the problem are to lift weights or do toneing exercises and to not lose too quickly.

Since it is hard to find any science on this, I was wondering if anyone who has lost a lot of weight would be willing to share their experiences - like how much did you lose, about how many pounds a week did you lose (i.e., how rapidly did you lose), did you have loose skin, and did you lift weights or do toning exercises?

[surreys_princess]

Re: Extra Skin

I believe everyone is different. I had about 85 pounds in total to loose when I started, and I have lost 55, and I have hoardes of extra skin already. I mean hoardes. My sister, she didnt have that problem. I dont mind the extra skin, I think of it as my badges of courage or scars of honour. One day I will have it nipped and tucked, but for now, it is part of who I am and how far I have come. On another note, I have read in lots of places the more water you drink the more it helps because healthy skin (ie hydrated) bounces back better, and also that it depends how long you have been heavy, how heavy you are/were, and how old you are in relation to the skins collagen and ability to bounce back. Anyway, try not to worry. Any skin you may end up with, it is a constant reminder of what NOT to do and how strong you are.

Sam

[Sarina D]

Re: Extra Skin

Thanks for posting and sharing your story Princess....I'm working really hard right now to try to prevent it as much as I can.....I have had a tremendous amount of weight to lose and still have a ways to go. I use cocoa butter every night, drink lots of water and exercise 6 days a week....we'll see how it goes!

(PS, we live very close to one another by the looks of it....I'm in your back yard practically).

Sarina
------------------------
Heaviest weight last year- 400 (2007)
Atkins start weight – 347 (July 19, 2008 )
(100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day )
Current weight – 269
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[surreys_princess]

Re: Extra Skin

Really? I possibly have an atkins buddy near me, in real life? Surely, it couldnt be!!! I am on my way, just let me know which backyard. LOL



ps....seriously though, we should pm emails or something, walk together and stuff.....

pss....400 pounds? And now 269? Holy roller coasters, that is impressive. Totally.

[Lyssie]

Re: Extra Skin

I lost 140lbs. I did various things to combat the loose skin. There are quite a few threads on here that address this. I can say that I didn't have much (I did drink a ton of water, exercise - cardio and weight training, eat flaxseed oil, dry brush...). Of course, I never got down to havin the six-pack abs, so I guess we will see what happens this time when I finally reach goal.

[Sarina D]

Re: Extra Skin

Hey princess....well ok...not QUITE in your back yard but relatively close...I live in Abbotsford! Absolutely we can pm back and forth and email...I'm all for it! We're all in this together and the more people we can support and be supported by I'm in!

Thank you for commenting about my weight loss, I appreciate you kind words! I'm pretty excited about how it's going....I'm so determined....I will never look back to the 400 mark! I can't wait till I hit 200.....I'm gunning for it!

Keep in contact and keep up the great work! It's good to meet you!

Oh yeah, I started dry brushing the other night (there's some great threads around here about it)....it's a workout unto itself LOL!!!

Sarina
-----------------
Heaviest weight last year- 400 (2007)
Atkins start weight – 347 (July 19, 2008 )
(100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day )
Current weight – 269
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[Lyssie]

Re: Extra Skin

dry brushing can get a little *complicated* depending on where you're brushing and how "enthusiastic" you're being about it. I usually do in the shower, so I use a body scrub along with it.. I have almost fallen out repeatedly.

[Sarina D]

Re: Extra Skin

You're absolutely right...it CAN get complicated....so much so...I thought I was going to have to add it to part of my "upper body" workout routine for the week! LOL!!!! JJK!

Thanks for the tip on doing it in the shower....I never thought of that. I'll do my best not to fall out...perhaps I'll have to tether myself to the stall or something!!!

Sarina
----------------------

Heaviest weight last year- 400 (2007)
Atkins start weight – 347 (July 19, 2008 )
(100 lbs. lost as of Oct 2, 2008 - Hit 300 lbs. on this day )
Current weight – 269
Goal weight - 150 – 160

[sadie147]

Re: Extra Skin

Dry brushing should definately be done dry and not under running water (has something to do with streching the skin i think). There's a pretty specific way to do it and the reason for it being dry is to stimulate the lymph glands etc. You also must make sure you are using a natural bristle brush so you don't scratch your skin.

If you google it there are tons of articles about it and the proper way to do it.

[Lyssie]

Re: Extra Skin

um, I meant in the shower as in, in the shower stall.

For some odd reason, I'm beginning to think people view me as an idiot, so I feel like my suggestions should stop.

[Sarina D]

Re: Extra Skin

Hey Alyssa....absolutely not, please don't stop giving suggestions! I totally understood what you wrote...and that the technique is what you simply do in the "shower stall" but to do it "dry" as that is what all the instructions are if one looks it up.

I hope I haven't offended you in any way....I certainly didn't mean to. You have helped me a great deal on here both through threads and pm's with ideas and such...please don't stop, what you offer to everyone here has been incredibly valuable.

Thanks again Alyssa!

Sarina

[Lyssie]

Re: Extra Skin

It wasn't you Sarina.

It was someone who has now responded to multiple posts from me as if I'm an idiot and don't know how to do anything correctly so I obviously shouldn't be giving advice.

It's really annoying, so I feel like it's probably better for me to keep advice to my journal and stop posting in the other forums.

Best of luck.

[surreys_princess]

Re: Extra Skin

Hmmmmm......

I dont think anything like that was meant in that way Lys..To be honest, I took what you were saying the same way, and didnt realize what you probably meant until I looked it up as I had never heard of it. I think it is more the fact that some things just get lost in translation when we type.

You sound off (not that I know you from anything but your posts...but you know what I mean) and I hope everything is okay on your end

Sam