Exercise for loose skin

[Lynda486 783]

I have been feeling pretty good about how I have done with my weight loss. That is until this past week when my husband and my son separately told me that I need to do something about my loose skin. That it looks bad and I need to tighten it up. I have loose skin on my upper arms, thighs and a bit on my upper calves. Are there any exercises that you all have done that are effective in tightening these areas up? I have started with some light dumb bells for my arms, but am clueless as far as my legs go. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Lynda486 783]

I did find this exercise and I can really feel it in my butt! https://physicalkitchness.com/one-move-for-insanely-toned-legs/

[Phoenix20 31]

That is really unkind. you've lost weight and gotten healthier. I'm sorry they aren't being more supportive, you have so much to be proud of! be kind to yourself.

[Lynda486 783]

Thank-you I appreciate that!

[beaker27 37]

I can't believe they told you that! Especially your son! Anyways, be proud of yourself! As far as exercises for loose skin.... it's more of a genetics game, and how far your skin has been stretched, age, etc. Sometimes, nothing will help except skin removal surgery. I wish you the best of luck!

[mcfluffington 179]

Just Wow!! That is a rotten thing to say to you after all your hard work. I have read on the forums that sometimes skin snaps back somewhat but that can take up to a year. Exercise is a good idea regardless of whether it has the desired effect. See how things stand in a years time and keep up the good work. You have done a stellar job.

[catwoman7 10,844]

doing weights - either machines or hand weights - and doing things like squats, lunges, bike riding - will all help somewhat, but if it's really bad, plastic surgery is the only way to get rid of it. And I agree with the others- that was horrible for them to say that to you!

[rene50 147]

I'm so sorry they pointed out your loose skin which I'm sure you had already noticed. I'm dealing with the same thing and have been excercising religiously, light arm weights, yoga, bike riding and swimming. I also put coconut oil on my arms, legs and neck, although I have no idea if this really helps, just read it somehwhere, so figured it couldn't hurt. LOL! I saw a young lady yesterday who is 4 years post surgery, and her arms looked worse than mine, but she's lost more than 100 pounds. From my reading, I think toning and building muscle will help some, but there's no absolute fix unless you have surgery, which I am not considering. Like others mentioned, I am hoping my skin will tighten a little after a year, but I'm 57, so it may not, and I'm okay with that because I still look and feel better. How old are you? It's the very top of my thighs and my batwings that bother me, but, oh well. At my age, I'm not trying to get skinny, just healthy, and if I feel good at 170, I may try to maintain that to avoid more sagging, instead of losing to 160.

Edited July 1, 2020 by rene50

[kossde 6]

I don’t think there’s really anything that tightens skin. Muscle development can fill you out a bit and make the skin less noticeable. Plastic surgery is the only thing that research shows successfully removes extra skin.

also your husband is a d**k.

[Abrightnewday 6]

I'm not sure how useful this may be, but I've read some decent body butter, body scrubs and skin brushing are supposed to be amazing for skin tightening. I've just started it in the hope that I'll be able to get the skin to go back a bit as I'm losing weight and hopefully I end up with something I can live with (im a bit of a wimp so I'd like to avoid another surgery if at all possible)

[AlwaysCruising 100]

I’ve got to be honest, there is no exercise for loose skin. If someone has lost a little bit of weight and has no muscle tone, they could gain a little muscle to push out the skin. But for significant weight loss, skin and exercise are completely separate issues. Unless someone is quite young or won the DNA lottery of skin, there will be loose skin.

I’m not trying to be Debbie downer, but those are scientific facts and I hate for people to spend a lot of time and money on things that won’t work (and there are people who will lie for their own reasons, including the beauty industry trying to make money). I wish that weren’t so (but I spent $20,000 on surgery because it is). But there is still looseness on my lower legs and arms that surgery can’t fix. It is just part of the journey.

I don’t normally do this, but I’m going to attach a before and after picture of my arm surgery (after my 100 lb loss 7 years ago). There is nothing that would’ve fixed that skin but surgery. 🙇🏼‍♀️

Edited August 18, 2020 by AlwaysCruising

[AlwaysCruising 100]

@Lynda486 it was late when I posted (which is why it says “I normally do this” vs. “don’t do this” LOL). But I did want to add this - I was heartbroken when I read this in your post - “until this past week when my husband and my son separately told me that I need to do something about my loose skin.” I cannot imagine anyone saying that to you, much less beloved family members. I can’t imagine the callousness of it nor someone thinking you could just “do something” about it. You must feel you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t 😣. I hope you have people in your world that will be there for you and help you during this journey ❤️

[STLoser 1,085]

It really makes me sad that when you're working so hard to do something good for yourself, instead of cheering you on, your husband and son had to be negative and point out something you can't control unless you get plastic surgery.

Sent from my moto g(6) using BariatricPal mobile app

[LaLaDee 519]

It so mean and pointless to point out you have loose skin. It's absolutely not your fault, while time, body tightening creams and some exercises may help some people a little bit, for others there's nothing you can do, due to a combination of genetics, age, how many times you have lost and gained weight, skin elasticity etc. It doesn't mean that you didn't exercise! No amount of bicep curls would have gotten rid of loose skin on my arms. I really wish people understood that!

About two years ago, I actually went to one of those body sculpting clinics, they do "non-surgical" fat freezing and they said they couldn't help me with my arms. I'm glad I went somewhere reputable and they didn't just take thousands of dollars from me. They basically said, plastic surgery was my only option.

I just had my first plastic surgery, and waited 3 years. Honestly, the loose skin is like a trophy and it tells a story of how far you have come! I try to be proud of my stretch marks and skin, it's a lot better than the alternative, having that skin filled with fat! Plastic surgery is a game changer, but it's expensive and not for everyone. While I'm thrilled with my arm lift, I don't take any blame for the loose skin (as my surgeon explained, there was nothing I could have done to improve it on my own), I'm very proud of what I accomplished with weight loss. If the skin bothers you (I had rashes and pain), then you can consider your options. It's no one else's business! And nothing for anyone to comment on!!!

Edited August 19, 2020 by LaLaDee

[Lynda486 783]

Thank-you all for your uplifting and supportive comments. I am 55 so myself I don't care what the world thinks. It was hurtful to hear it, because I know there is nothing I can do about it, but they keep cheering me on. I have starting to lose weight again, but at a much slower rate. So maybe that will help future issues. Again thanks to all of you, you are my biggest supporters!