Question:
Is my skin shrinking?!!

I hope someone has had this same situation. I keep losing at a slow steady pace. But it seams as though When I stay at the same weight for any length of time, I'm still getting smaller. Is it possible that it just takes awhile for your skin to catch up to your new weight loss? I havn't excersied all winter so it can't be that. Is this one for the X-Files, or can someone out there help me? Thanks!    — [Anonymous] (posted on February 15, 2000)

February 15, 2000
You crack me up!! I haven't heard it quite put like that :-) If you are losing at a steady pace.. and then stop.. its just like your body IS putting on the brakes to 'catch up'... that is why when we plateau we should measure because we do lose inches... Hang in there...
   — California J.

February 15, 2000
I bet you are a lot of fun to be around!! When I was going to Weight Watchers, they encouraged us to measure ourselves weekly. Alot of the time we do lose inches when we don't lose any pounds. And if we will measure and see a loss, then we are less likely to become discouraged. I know I'll take any kind of loss I can get - pounds or inches.
   — Tina H.

February 15, 2000
I had the opposite problem unfortunately. Seems my stretched skin doesn't want to "shrink back down with the rest of my body so it hangs around me in big bags. Guess that's why so many of us end up back under a plastic surgeons scapel eventually.
   — Carol M.

February 15, 2000
It is likely that your fat cells are shrinking in areas more peripherally because now you are not storing fat like you used to. If you are young, the skin will get tighter if you exercise. Skin tucks may still be necessary depending on how much weight you loose and how quickly. Dr. Geraci
   — Anthony G.

February 15, 2000
YES. We're much like a balloon that's been burst. It just takes awhile. You can exercise and nourish the muscle parts, you can wash the fat away with water and you can feed the skin (inside & outside), but you just can't make it go away any faster than it wants to! But don't rush off to the plastic surgeon til you give it a little time. You may be trading a few wrinkles that WILL go away for scars that won't. I know it's hard to wait. You get this new body for a toy and it still doesn't look quite right. Just wait! Think of the skin shrinking as yet another adventure to ENJOY! But oh, it IS subtle, you're right about that!
   — vitalady

February 15, 2000
I am 6-mths post-op and down 100lbs, I have been using an exercise program called Callantics (Beginners) it's a 1/2 hour work out. The excercises are deep muscle toning, they work from the bone out and they are tightening everything up nicely. I too am noticing the extra skin and hoping the Callanetics will help me avoid the tummy tuck or at least make it less intrusive. If you are curious about the Callenetics, I ordered the tape from Amazon.com it was about $20 including shipping.
   — Carrie G.