Ideas for a sagging skin
This isn't really about what exercises to do, as any exercise will help just don't want to side track my accomplishment being hung up on what hangs around :)
The primary cause of excess skin following weight loss is relatively simple. Similar to pregnancy where the muscles, skin and other tissues of the abdominal wall expand to accommodate the fetus, a similar process occurs with the accumulation of fat in the body. There are important differences however. The process of fat accumulation in morbidly obese individuals often begins during childhood or adolescence, prolonging the period of tension on the skin. In addition, the area of tissue expansion in obesity is generalized rather than limited for the most part to the abdomen.
With weight loss and following the delivery of a baby, the affected tissues tend to retract. When the tissues do not return to their previous state it is because they have been permanently damaged. In the case of skin, the elastic fibers have been broken. This can give the appearance of striae, a condition often seen on the breasts and abdomen following pregnancy. How closely the skin and other tissues of the body resemble their appearance prior to pregnancy or obesity depends on similar factors.
Probably the most important determinant of how much loose skin an individual will have following weight loss is age. Younger patients tend to have less loose skin. The next most important factor is the amount of weight loss. An individual who loses 250 lbs. is likely to have more excess skin than somebody losing 80 lbs. Other less important variables include complexion, amount of sun exposure received over a lifetime, heredity and whether somebody is a smoker. Fair skinned people in general tend to develop more loose skin than darker individuals. Sun worshippers tend to sustain more tissue damage over the years and consequently more loose skin following weight loss. Some people tend to have “better” skin than others of similar complexion and lifestyle. This may be the result of hereditary factors that are not readily apparent. Finally, smoking breaks down collagen, a major component of skin and other structural components of the body. Smokers develop more loose skin than their non-smoking counterparts.
As you can see, there are so many variables as to whether or not someone will have loose skin after weight loss. How old you are, how much weight you have lost, how long you have been overweight, and where you carried most of your weight are important factors. If you are young, didn't carry your weight for more than a few years, and have great genetics, it is likely that weight training will help skin retract and fill in with muscle. Otherwise, you may be looking into some reconstructive plastic surgery after your weight loss has stabilized.
Mary
I have more than 250lbs to lose, have had the weight since childhood, am fair skined, and although I didn't smoke, my parents did throughout my childhood (the maid reason I developed asthma) the only thing I don't do is get alot of sun (I burn easily) So I figure taking all that in to account, if-no, WHEN I loose all the weight I'll look like one of those wrinkley dogs that have so much loose skin you can't even tell which end is the head and which is the tail!!
I better win the lottery or marry a rich guy so I can afford plastic surgery!!!
HW: 460 (12/18/14) SW: 419 (6/4/15) CW: 330 (10/19/15) Mini goal: 319 by 10/4/15
I don't agree fully with that statement. I've lost the same amount and don't really have sagging skin, though I have a tendency toward stretch marks and the like. Why?
My first trainer taught me--build the muscle then lose the fat so basically the skin has a better adjustment period.
And what exercises you do choose can dramatically effect your bodyshape and amount of sag.
