Making Peace with Skin

OH Juli · March 14, 2008

I had a lower BMI and I was also surprised at the weird look of the skin on my upper arms and thighs after reaching goal. I lost the same amount of weight once before (in my late 30's) and my skin looked great. This time I am 47 years old and my skin looks crepey and weird, especially in sunlight. I expected my belly to look bad because my stomach was so huge, but I didn't expect my arms and legs to look like this! I talked to a personal trainer and she said you can "fill up" some of the droopy skin with muscle. I know that isn't possible for everybody...for some it either has to be acceptance of plastic surgery...but it might make a difference for some folks to take on some squats and bicep curls:willy_nilly:

I hear what you mean about squats and curls. I'm an avid exerciser. I do dead lifts, burpees, thrusters, renigade rows, some serious stuff...and I've got nice hard muscles under this skin... I stand tall and look good in my clothing and it has everything to do with weight training. Foolish are the people who do not pick up weights.

But to go from 338, or maybe even higher to about 200 where I'm at right now there's no escaping the loose skin. But now I see it as progress. I see it as par for the course. I see it as it's going to get worse before it gets better so I love what I can about it...I tanned nicely, I feel soft, it feels nice to be touched...and let the rest go.

When I was big, I had a, "this is what a fat woman looks like" attitude. Now I have a, "this is what a woman who has lost lots of weight looks like." Look or don't look...Often I chose not to look! LOL!

Jachut · March 14, 2008

I know what you mean Green, I'm 40 and I have trouble differentiating between what is loose skin and what might just be natural aging. I mean I have no way of knowing what I would have looked like by now anyway, if you know what I mean.

I think to a degree, looking clothed is a great thing, and there's no way we're all going to look good naked at 80. You cant fight it forever. I seem to look pretty much like everyone else, so I'm just going with it. I dont see the point in lopping off what I have.

And my own personal motto in life - If you cant tone it, tan it!