INT125922

As you know when you google loose skin remedies the professionals all say the only "real" solution is plastic surgery.
However - the only people I know who’ve had the sleeve are “real” everyday Joes who were flat out finding the funds for the sleeve – never mind plastic surgery costs on top !
I knew upfront that I was not going to have the skin surgery ($$$) so I just had to do what I could instead.
That being, I decided that I was going to do well for skin based on the power of positive thinking.
All the while I understood that some realism was required if I wanted my subconscious to accept my affirmations as true.
Weighing in at 390 pounds I did not set out with an expectation to look like Barbie but I knew I would certainly look a whole lot of % better than I did. I am now at goal having lost 230 pounds.
I have minimal loose skin (just in the usual areas a lady might have jiggle anyway ie. lower belly, under arms and thighs). I did not exercise for the first 6 months (it took 20 months).
Here’s what I did:
I researched methods, decided what sounded legitimate and affordable and went about applying the methods I believed showed value. Throughout however, I also applied positive thinking, affirmations and visualization techniques because I understand that the placebo effect is real. I encourage you to use the placebo effect to your advantage if you already know its power or to look into it if you don’t know much about it yet.
Skin Supplements:
-hair, skin and nails supplement (I take a bottle and then take a rest for a few months and then take another bottle as per the advice the chick at the pharmacy gave me).
-Sarsaparilla root supplements from the health food shop (I read about them online and thought hey, why not).
Methods:
-Dry skin body brushing (3 - 4 times a week for the last 8 months).
-Exfoliating body wash (further info: 2-3 times a week for the last 2 months. Type is apricot kernel exfoliating Body wash at the moment; I also use the left over face exfoliator scrub on my chest).
Products (Australian):
-Homemade mineral salt scrub once a week
(organic coconut oil and ground Himalayan pink salt)
and
-Used 1 or 2 at a time of the following 6 moisturizing methods (aimed for 5 times a week minimum but actuals were more like 3 times a week minimum):
1 -Bio-oil (I was going through it so started using the copy from Aldi only 7 dollars for the big bottle.)
2 -Organic coconut oil.
3 - Palmers cocoa butter formula all over body firming lotion with Q10 (recommended by chick at chemist - she said that all the pregnant women are raving about it, smells like chocolate).
4 -Home made skin firming moisturizer concoction:
- 3 Tblsp. pure organic lanolin melted in saucepan (11 dollars for round short chinese container from the health food shop - too sticky by itself).

Once cooled I stirred in:
-70 ml Bio-oil (Aldi)
-1/3 cup of the Palmers all over body firming lotion with Q10 mentioned earlier
-1/3 cup organic coconut oil
-35ml Organic Avocado oil (Mum gave it to me for Christmas and I had about 35 ml left so in it went)

5 - Nivea in-shower moisturizer for very dry skin - blue (new product – have been using 4-5 days a week for near 3 months, I don’t have dry skin I just wanted the richest one available, I stock up when it goes on special and use heaps and heaps everywhere. It rrps for about 7 dollars but you can get it on special at Big W for about 3.50 and coles for about 5 and woolies for 4.50).
6 -Palmers cocoa butter Rapid Moisture coconut rich spray lotion about 8 bucks (new product ... awesome – non staining with rapid absorption so you can get dressed after about a minute – I also spray this in my hair sometimes lol).
Behaviours:
-Increased fat in diet (avocado 5 days a week, nuts and seeds 7 days a week and coconut oil for cooking, salads and stirred into quinoa porridge)
-80 g minimum per day Protein goal to maintain muscle mass for tone to fill skin
-Water, Water, water (alkalised water for the last year)
-Toning/Strength training at gym (last 8 months only - cardio only between months 7 and 12 as I had received advice from the gym staff to just do cardio to get the weight down some more first – no exercise for the first 6 months)
Being realistic:
I have a friend who was recently sleeved who was an apple shape and she was telling me that she was worrying she would have a saggy belly at goal.
I was pretty much just big all over but with a pear shape with trouble spots on my body at my belly, arms and thighs.
I told her about those trouble spots and said that honestly I suspected that I may have a little loose skin in these 3 areas due to this and I was OK with that as I wasn’t expecting to be getting around in a bikini anyway haha. She confirmed that her belly already hangs at her current weight. This suggested to me that she will likely have some at her belly however she will have great legs, arms, shoulders, neck and face and can wear Spanx undies up to her bra and google how to dress to hide a tummy.
Being that you are a man I suspect you may have good legs and trouble spots at the chest and belly or maybe just big all over. Applying the above theory this would make me suspect that you could do really well for skin with perhaps a little on the chest and belly or maybe none at all .
All the best Jawaiian
Kind Regards
INT
Footnote:
RE: Second sentence comments about “real” every day people.
I mean no offense to people who do achieve plastic surgery after sleeve. I’m sure they are of course very “real” too. The reason I said that is because I find it disappointing that the internet can give the impression that we who are not in a position to fund further surgery have no hope of having good skin after significant weight loss.

I am unfamiliar with that brand of Protein powder.
I use vanilla flavour Body on the go shaping Protein (ready to drink bottles) when I choose a shake. I put 2 tblsp chia seeds in, shake and wait 10 minutes and I call it my bubble tea.
I prefer to use Quest bars to achieve my protein usually though. Once you feel you could stomach Protein Bars I encourage you to try them if you have not before.
Per bar:
20g high quality protein 17 g fibre Between 160 and 200 calories I currently eat 1 – 2 per day most days (max. 2 per day approved by my dietician). Early out from surgery I could eat half a bar at a time.
They come in many wonderful flavours such as:
Peanut Butter and jelly peanut butter supreme double chock chunk chocolate chip cookie dough apple pie white chocolate raspberry Cookies and cream chocolate brownie vanilla almond crunch mixed berry bliss If you are cautious with your sweeteners the following are sweetened with Stevia and Erythritol (commonly considered to be 2 of the safe sugar alternatives):
cinnamon roll chocolate peanut butter coconut cashew banana nut muffin (gluten free) lemon cream pie strawberry cheesecake The most economical way I know of to buy them is from their official site however I am in Australia.

I am unfamiliar with that brand of Protein powder.
I use vanilla flavour Body on the go shaping Protein (ready to drink bottles) when I choose a shake. I put 2 tblsp chia seeds in, shake and wait 10 minutes and I call it my bubble tea.
I prefer to use Quest bars to achieve my protein usually though. Once you feel you could stomach Protein Bars I encourage you to try them if you have not before.
Per bar:
20g high quality protein 17 g fibre Between 160 and 200 calories I currently eat 1 – 2 per day most days (max. 2 per day approved by my dietician). Early out from surgery I could eat half a bar at a time.
They come in many wonderful flavours such as:
Peanut Butter and jelly peanut butter supreme double chock chunk chocolate chip cookie dough apple pie white chocolate raspberry Cookies and cream chocolate brownie vanilla almond crunch mixed berry bliss If you are cautious with your sweeteners the following are sweetened with Stevia and Erythritol (commonly considered to be 2 of the safe sugar alternatives):
cinnamon roll chocolate peanut butter coconut cashew banana nut muffin (gluten free) lemon cream pie strawberry cheesecake The most economical way I know of to buy them is from their official site however I am in Australia.

I am unfamiliar with that brand of Protein powder.
I use vanilla flavour Body on the go shaping Protein (ready to drink bottles) when I choose a shake. I put 2 tblsp chia seeds in, shake and wait 10 minutes and I call it my bubble tea.
I prefer to use Quest bars to achieve my protein usually though. Once you feel you could stomach Protein Bars I encourage you to try them if you have not before.
Per bar:
20g high quality protein 17 g fibre Between 160 and 200 calories I currently eat 1 – 2 per day most days (max. 2 per day approved by my dietician). Early out from surgery I could eat half a bar at a time.
They come in many wonderful flavours such as:
Peanut Butter and jelly peanut butter supreme double chock chunk chocolate chip cookie dough apple pie white chocolate raspberry Cookies and cream chocolate brownie vanilla almond crunch mixed berry bliss If you are cautious with your sweeteners the following are sweetened with Stevia and Erythritol (commonly considered to be 2 of the safe sugar alternatives):
cinnamon roll chocolate peanut butter coconut cashew banana nut muffin (gluten free) lemon cream pie strawberry cheesecake The most economical way I know of to buy them is from their official site however I am in Australia.

You look wonderful. The beautiful smile says it all.!!!

Congratulations girl. You look beautiful!

so amazing. congrats to you...

You look great! Amazing transformation!

Beautiful!! Congrats!!

Congratulations indeed!! You did it.. You made a huge decision and now your are reaping your benefits and rewards of your determinations and sacrifices!!.. This is your time to shine. So amazing.. You rock and you should be so proud!!! Thank you for sharing!!

Wonderful! I assume you know that you look 20 years younger!
What a great accomplishment.

As they say a leak is very painful - you ask when the pain happens, the pain happens when the trouble starts with infection and fever and such. However, leaks are very uncommon and are only really a risk if you don't follow the rules in the first 6 weeks after surery. Just follow the rules. You ate pot roast over 3 and a half hours. As long as it is inline with the recommendations you received to eat the pot roast then that's OK (if it's not then don't do it again haha). It didn't hurt you said, that means you ate ate a good speed for the volume you ended up getting in which is great at 4 weeks. Early on I often found myself in pain after eating maybe half a pot of yoghurt sized portion of food (pain that I described was like an elephant siting on my chest), it was because I was eating too fast.
Don't worry about it, just follow the rules and once you are on normal food again you are home free

Down 28kgs and feeling great. Still about 12 kgs to go.

As you know when you google loose skin remedies the professionals all say the only "real" solution is plastic surgery.
However - the only people I know who’ve had the sleeve are “real” everyday Joes who were flat out finding the funds for the sleeve – never mind plastic surgery costs on top !
I knew upfront that I was not going to have the skin surgery ($$$) so I just had to do what I could instead.
That being, I decided that I was going to do well for skin based on the power of positive thinking.
All the while I understood that some realism was required if I wanted my subconscious to accept my affirmations as true.
Weighing in at 390 pounds I did not set out with an expectation to look like Barbie but I knew I would certainly look a whole lot of % better than I did. I am now at goal having lost 230 pounds.
I have minimal loose skin (just in the usual areas a lady might have jiggle anyway ie. lower belly, under arms and thighs). I did not exercise for the first 6 months (it took 20 months).
Here’s what I did:
I researched methods, decided what sounded legitimate and affordable and went about applying the methods I believed showed value. Throughout however, I also applied positive thinking, affirmations and visualization techniques because I understand that the placebo effect is real. I encourage you to use the placebo effect to your advantage if you already know its power or to look into it if you don’t know much about it yet.
Skin Supplements:
-hair, skin and nails supplement (I take a bottle and then take a rest for a few months and then take another bottle as per the advice the chick at the pharmacy gave me).
-Sarsaparilla root supplements from the health food shop (I read about them online and thought hey, why not).
Methods:
-Dry skin body brushing (3 - 4 times a week for the last 8 months).
-Exfoliating body wash (further info: 2-3 times a week for the last 2 months. Type is apricot kernel exfoliating Body wash at the moment; I also use the left over face exfoliator scrub on my chest).
Products (Australian):
-Homemade mineral salt scrub once a week
(organic coconut oil and ground Himalayan pink salt)
and
-Used 1 or 2 at a time of the following 6 moisturizing methods (aimed for 5 times a week minimum but actuals were more like 3 times a week minimum):
1 -Bio-oil (I was going through it so started using the copy from Aldi only 7 dollars for the big bottle.)
2 -Organic coconut oil.
3 - Palmers cocoa butter formula all over body firming lotion with Q10 (recommended by chick at chemist - she said that all the pregnant women are raving about it, smells like chocolate).
4 -Home made skin firming moisturizer concoction:
- 3 Tblsp. pure organic lanolin melted in saucepan (11 dollars for round short chinese container from the health food shop - too sticky by itself).

Once cooled I stirred in:
-70 ml Bio-oil (Aldi)
-1/3 cup of the Palmers all over body firming lotion with Q10 mentioned earlier
-1/3 cup organic coconut oil
-35ml Organic Avocado oil (Mum gave it to me for Christmas and I had about 35 ml left so in it went)

5 - Nivea in-shower moisturizer for very dry skin - blue (new product – have been using 4-5 days a week for near 3 months, I don’t have dry skin I just wanted the richest one available, I stock up when it goes on special and use heaps and heaps everywhere. It rrps for about 7 dollars but you can get it on special at Big W for about 3.50 and coles for about 5 and woolies for 4.50).
6 -Palmers cocoa butter Rapid Moisture coconut rich spray lotion about 8 bucks (new product ... awesome – non staining with rapid absorption so you can get dressed after about a minute – I also spray this in my hair sometimes lol).
Behaviours:
-Increased fat in diet (avocado 5 days a week, nuts and seeds 7 days a week and coconut oil for cooking, salads and stirred into quinoa porridge)
-80 g minimum per day Protein goal to maintain muscle mass for tone to fill skin
-Water, Water, water (alkalised water for the last year)
-Toning/Strength training at gym (last 8 months only - cardio only between months 7 and 12 as I had received advice from the gym staff to just do cardio to get the weight down some more first – no exercise for the first 6 months)
Being realistic:
I have a friend who was recently sleeved who was an apple shape and she was telling me that she was worrying she would have a saggy belly at goal.
I was pretty much just big all over but with a pear shape with trouble spots on my body at my belly, arms and thighs.
I told her about those trouble spots and said that honestly I suspected that I may have a little loose skin in these 3 areas due to this and I was OK with that as I wasn’t expecting to be getting around in a bikini anyway haha. She confirmed that her belly already hangs at her current weight. This suggested to me that she will likely have some at her belly however she will have great legs, arms, shoulders, neck and face and can wear Spanx undies up to her bra and google how to dress to hide a tummy.
Being that you are a man I suspect you may have good legs and trouble spots at the chest and belly or maybe just big all over. Applying the above theory this would make me suspect that you could do really well for skin with perhaps a little on the chest and belly or maybe none at all .
All the best Jawaiian
Kind Regards
INT
Footnote:
RE: Second sentence comments about “real” every day people.
I mean no offense to people who do achieve plastic surgery after sleeve. I’m sure they are of course very “real” too. The reason I said that is because I find it disappointing that the internet can give the impression that we who are not in a position to fund further surgery have no hope of having good skin after significant weight loss.

What an inspiration you are! Thanks for sharing and congrats!

Awesome! Thank you for sharing. I'm at the beginning of my journey. Hope to be jst as successful

Wow!!! Congratulations!

Nice work Kim
My sister had surgery before me and she decided not to exercise at the beginning (easy decision) while the weight loss was easy. She then chose to start exercising when the weight loss slowed some. Her reasoning was that if she was gung ho with exercise from the start then when the weight loss slowed she would have to increase the exercise to a level that was not sustainable. So, when I had surgery I did the same thing. I just had the simple walking to and from work for 10 minutes each way and added one treadmill 30 minute walk a week for the first 5 months (remembering that's a lot of exercise anyway when you're that heavy). I felt the slow down 5 months so I started going to the gym twice a week doing cardio and weights (again, alot of exercise LOL). Then, at 9 months I slowed down again some, put up with it for a few weeks then said yes, 5:2 diet. So I have been on 5:2 since and weight is dropping nicely still. I am at month 11 since surgery now and am down 71.6 kilos / 157 pounds.

Since losing over 200 pounds (size 26 US) nearly everything in my whole life is different.
I can:
sit on the ground cross legged sit with 3 other people comfortably in a “4 seater” on a train put my shoes on easily (even standing balancing on one foot) attend a full bikram yoga session/spin class sit on plastic lawn chairs/regular chairs without a fear of breaking them walk up many flights of stairs run I can wear:
size 8-12 tops and size 12 pants (US size 4 – 8 tops and size 8 pants) high heels strapless bras stockings/skirts/dresses without chafing ankle socks (before they would not come up high enough to stop blisters on ankle) ordinary socks (before I would get an allergy line around my ankle when I took off he socks) fitted clothes just about anything my clothes more than once because they still smell clean I can buy:
push up bras (only available to a certain size) proper sports bras (also only available to a certain size) dresses (dresses are kind of “half the price” of a shirt/pants/skirt because you don’t have to buy anything else as it is the full outfit) I can shop:
at lingerie stores at discount outlets off the discount racks at charity shops/markets (I got $1 fill a bag last weekend – great stuff)

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier

I hit goal weight a few weeks ago:
Surgery Date: Nov 28, 2012 Goal Weight Date: Aug 28, 2014 Height: 5'9 Starting Weight: 390 lbs Current Weight: 160 lbs Weight Lost: 230 lbs Current BMI: 23.6 Guidelines I followed once allowed regular food after surgery:

Minimum per day intake:
1 carbohydrate 1 vegetable 1 fruit 2 Calcium 5 Protein Tips:
Water (Alkaline)
Protein 80g per day
Fat is your friend (Avo, coconut oil, seeds, nuts, lean meat)
Sugar is your enemy (Maximum 2 fruit per day)
Exercise will get easier