A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

[LC_Dave]

Kent,

You've lost 200 pounds - you don't appear to have skin issues?

What are your tips and advice for us folks on OWL?

[Kent]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

I don't want to gild the truth, so...

The truth is I have lots of skin issues. They are just a lot less than they could be. I have stretch marks around my midsection and some saggy skin there as well. I originally called it my "SharPei," but...

My skin has however tightened up quite a bit from its original shape. When I do my pushups now, I don't have to worry about my skin sagging to floor while I still am at the peak. I think cardio exercise assists in increasing blood flow to your skin and helps repair some of its lost collagen. I think dropping my body fat percentage also helped as well as your skin can't sag if there is nothing filling it or weighing it down. As for stretchmarks, I haven't used any cocoa butter or mederma (sp?), but they have reduced in appearance and faded to near white. My hope as the skin regenerates in time they will get even smaller and even less noticeable.

I wish I could say I have some miracle that made my skin bounce back to normal, but sadly all I have is cardio exercise and weight lifting.

[vJosie]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

I had thought the same thing but never asked. You really look amazing! I plan surgery when I lose it, but I've had three kids so I would probably do that even if I hadn't gained and lost the weight.

[Analog6]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

This supports my theory - I think many dieters panic when they get to 'goal' and have loose skin. It can take a long time for the skin to adjust back to 'normal' (and what exactly is normal?).

Dave, you posted a link on another board to a weight lifter's site (a blog I think) who talked about this and said no one should ever need surgery (can you post it again?). Basically this guy said if your body fat goes low enough your skin will shrink. It got me to thinking - how many African famine victims have you seen with loose skin? And many of these poor folk, the women particularly, were probably what we would classify as fat before thir starvation. So obviously their bodies used the excess fat or tissue or whatever in the skin to feed itself.

So if we can be patient, I think many of us will find the skin will take up, eventually. And if you can cut your body fat to a very low level (remember, you won't need to STAY at that level for long) it may shrink more quickly. The only drawback may be more stretch marks when you up the body fat level again (not sure here, it seems logical somehow!).

I'd be interested in comments from other big losers who have been a few years at goal (and have not had surgery) on this subject.

[kkat55]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

I'd be interested in hearing from others about this also.

[Analog6]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

Found that link, here it is http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm

[Analog6]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

On the 9th (August) here there was a "Shock story' program on TV - it aired int eh US on the Discovery Health Channel. It concerned this woman, Connie Jackson, and her obesity surgery and consequent skin tucks. A link to her story is here. http://www.five.tv/programmes/extrao.../womanwholost/

The cosmetic surgery procedures were absolutely horrific. Worst of all as her obesity surgery, they removed (yes, permanently cut away) 90 % of her stomach and bypassed one whole section of her intestine. But she has still not learned to eat - it showed her chomping down on BAGELS!

Here is a blog about it: http://www.immafooker.com/blog/_arch...3/1720198.html

and her website: http://www.conniejackson.net/

I know LCDave has seen this and was as horrified as I was, and I tell you, if you saw it you would never, never even consider it. As I said, it was really horrifying, and the worst thing was she had not learned a thing about eating correctly. She just doctor shopped until she got the surgery she wanted as well, and damn the consequences.

I did see on her website she is now promoting lots of products including vitamins and protein shakes, so maybe she has now taken the time to learn something about nitrition.

[LC_Dave]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

I don't want to gild the truth, so...

The truth is I have lots of skin issues. They are just a lot less than they could be. I have stretch marks around my midsection and some saggy skin there as well. I originally called it my "SharPei," but...

My skin has however tightened up quite a bit from its original shape. When I do my pushups now, I don't have to worry about my skin sagging to floor while I still am at the peak. I think cardio exercise assists in increasing blood flow to your skin and helps repair some of its lost collagen. I think dropping my body fat percentage also helped as well as your skin can't sag if there is nothing filling it or weighing it down. As for stretchmarks, I haven't used any cocoa butter or mederma (sp?), but they have reduced in appearance and faded to near white. My hope as the skin regenerates in time they will get even smaller and even less noticeable.

I wish I could say I have some miracle that made my skin bounce back to normal, but sadly all I have is cardio exercise and weight lifting.

Thanks kent!

Good to see someone doing it the natural way.

[Bren]

Re: A Question for Kent about Skin Issues

I know I do not classify as one of the bigger losers here. But, I have learned that alot of the skin's ability to shrink is based on skin type, age, heredity etc. Yep...... over 60 pounds and close to three years all of which have been spent eating right and working out. I do have dry skin, am older and my family is prone to wrinkles.......just not shrinking at a very fast rate. I am not the type that would even dream of cosmetic surgury. I am what I am.