Question:
My body is starting to sag a bit, what do i do??? sports?

Hello! I just saw your before and after picture, and WOW!!! you look amazing! you've really lost alot of weight.. congrats!! I had WLS 3 months ago, I've lost about 50 pounds, my body is starting to sag a little around my arms and stomach, so my question is, did you guys do anything specific? any kind of sports? or did you have surgery to remove the excess skin? I'd really appreciate it if you replied. Thank you. p.s : I've heard swimming is great in that area, but my hair is already starting to thin out, and with swimming and the chlorine it will fall out more! soo, i'm really confused..    — Zaina_ (posted on December 9, 2009)

December 9, 2009
I don't know who's picture you saw, but I'm 9 months out and have lost 132 pounds. I'm 56 years old, and have mega stretch marks on my tummy from having very big babies in my early 20's. I've gone from a size 28 women's to just yesterday buying my very first ever size 12 jeans, and am now wearing a size 12-14 blouse or shirt. Yes, there is loose skin, especially under my arms (and I'm talking about the skin that hangs out over the sides of your bra). I also have a certain amount of what they call "bat-wings". And my tummy skin is loose, too. I exercise for 3 - 4 hours at least 3 days per week. And that includes weight training and swimming. I've firmed up some, but when skin has been stretched as much as mine was, you lose a lot of the elasticity. I thought I was going to want to have a tummy tuck, but I recently bought some panties at Costco, called Flexees, and they come 3 in a pack for $12.99, and they are like "shape-wear". Kind of like a panty-girdle, but not as restrictive. More a pair of spandex panties. They work just fine for holding my tummy firm, so I'm thinking that a tummy tuck is a luxury that I may or may NOT look at for the future. And I'm pretty sure that although I hate the fat pouches under my arms, I probably won't do anything about them, either....because I hear that surgery is exquisitly painful. As for the hair falling out from swimming, I've not experienced that.... but I'm also taking a lot of Biotin, and using Nioxin products on my hair (they were recommended by several people here on this forum). I can't say that I see a great difference (because my hair was thin to begin with), but I'm not losing huge amounts.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

December 10, 2009
If you have damaged skin...like from stretch marks, your skin will hang a bit. Don't fret tho, you will be much healthier and feel so good, the skin won't bother you much. You are always going to find fault woth yourself..we all do. Just enjoy the new body you will have and appreciate the good things in life this second go 'round. congrats on everything so far...Hugs,kim
   — gpcmist

December 10, 2009
First of all, congratulations on your success so far. The hair loss is normal with a significant amount of weight loss. My worse hair loss was experienced during the 2nd and 3rd year, but it comes and goes. It will improve once your weight is stable. I am 5 years post-op and at my goal weight. I have some saggy skin, but I look great in clothes and my husband is more than pleased with my new look. As we age, saggy/wrinkled skin is to be expected, so it just isn't that big a deal. If you have lost more than 150 pounds and feel the extra skin is excessive, you can always have plastic surgery. Once you're past 35, your skin looses its elasticity. It just doesn't bounce back as well as when you were younger. Of course if it has been stretched really far (which with most of us it has), it will never be like it was before we gained all of our weight. Exercise will tone your muscles and make the bagginess less obvious (tone muscle looks better than flabby muscles), but it cannot change your skin. I hope that helps. I agree with the other answer when she said she's so much happier being healthy. I feel 20 years younger and have my life back. I'll tolerate a little extra skin for that. Have a blessed Christmas.
   — KimM