Loose Skin From Weight Loss

[Jingthing]

Depressing but real. Statistically, most people regain lost weight. I wonder how many do because they look so crappy with their flappy-arsed skin!

JT its mainly because they don't change their lifestyle like you are doing. If you revert back you get it back.

I am trying hard now but statistics say I will fail again like the majority of people. But I would like to succeed but I know it's a lifetime struggle and the odds for any specific individual are poor. We seem to agree the long term focus needs to be on sustainable eating for life long term rather than expecting to be able to maintain some kind of crash diet long term. The odds for long term success with the latter are especially poor.

BTW, mainstream thinking seems to be shifting more towards my anti-moralistic/anti-blame the fat person totally for their situation point of view of the global obesity epidemic. It is not ONLY about personal free will. There are many complex factors out of our total control at play.

http://www.washingto...b712_story.html

Despite the fact that body weight is largely determined by an individual’s biology, genetics and social environment, medical providers often blame patients for their weight and blame their weight for any health problems they have.

I am not saying people shouldn't try. I am saying they should not buy into the Calvinist morality trap which is much more about CULTURE than it is about what is actually happening objectively that has made so many modern people fat and staying fat.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[laislica]

By culture, if you mean that BigPharma, Monsanto, GMO's Doctors etc have taken our world over I agree.

Much of the food available is in fact poison and screws up our immune and hormone systems.

The big companies followed the Food triangle that was developed in the 70's which was supposed to cut heart problems and obesity. Fats have been replaced with GMO sourced high fructose corn syrup.

The medics insist that more "shots" are needed and they become mandatory.

All this messes with our bodies in ways we can hardly imagine.

It makes it very hard to control one's weight.

Also note that women post menopause naturally gain some fat because their bodies don't produce as many hormones as they used to and so the increase in fat allows the body to store some.

Our bodies are too dam_n clever by half!

[Jingthing]

Those issues are real and there are others as well. Ironically, the people who may be best able to fight these obesogenic environements are wealthy people who can have access to special food markets mostly in first world countries and really poor peasants living like ages ago on the land. This isn't about fat people looking for excuses. It's about more awareness from both the fat and the non-fat that these are serious problems that not only harm individuals but entire societies.

For example here in Thailand anyone who has been here a long time can just open their eyes and see more and more fat Thais. In the USA I heard it is projected in a few years over half of Americans will be clinically obese.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[robblok]

Problem is that bad foods are so readily available heavily promoted and often cheaper as healthy foods. But that does not excuse people from their own responsibilities It does stack a lot against them i agree. There should be a culture change and healthy foods should be more promoted.

But people are lazy and often want the easy and nice way so it, fast microwave food ect ect. Real food takes a bit of time to prepare and is not always as nice.

Also it would be nicer if people were educated about what is good and bad.

[robblok]

Would also be nice if governments did some real research about what is a good way to loose weight and really checked things out without being influenced by things like farmers and producers. (i can dream)

[Jingthing]

Personal responsibility is one factor. One factor among many. You know, I see fat people in American slums. They are poor. Their education is substandard. Their parents fed them crap and they were fat babies and fat kids. They don't have access to shops selling anything fresh and healthy. The only restaurants surrounding them are fast food joints. How could they not be fat unless they had super lucky genetics? That's an extreme example but provided to illustrate that individuals do not stand as islands. There is a context.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[robblok]

Personal responsibility is one factor. One factor among many. You know, I see fat people in American slums. They are poor. Their education is substandard. Their parents fed them crap and they were fat babies and fat kids. They don't have access to shops selling anything fresh and healthy. The only restaurants surrounding them are fast food joints. How could they not be fat unless they had super lucky genetics? That's an extreme example but provided to illustrate that individuals do not stand as islands. There is a context.

JT im not arguing against it but i hope your not comparing yourself with them. I am perfectly aware that these situations exists and that bad food is real cheap. I am lucky that i have invested some time in getting to know what is good.

Though i would love some independent research from government agencies and such to back some claims up.

[laislica]

Personal responsibility is one factor. One factor among many. You know, I see fat people in American slums. They are poor. Their education is substandard. Their parents fed them crap and they were fat babies and fat kids. They don't have access to shops selling anything fresh and healthy. The only restaurants surrounding them are fast food joints. How could they not be fat unless they had super lucky genetics? That's an extreme example but provided to illustrate that individuals do not stand as islands. There is a context.

Spot on.

Further more, the food available is often not nutritious. The soils are depleted and/or contaminated.

GMO food is shown to be less nutritious than the traditional foods.

The authorities tell lies and suppress the truth, they are driven by the Bigs. There is a revolving door between the authorities and the big companies.

It is truly shameful. Rivers and land have been polluted world wide by the outpouring of so many years of burning fossil fuels, so much so that even the dirt farmer's land is polluted. We cannot wind the clock back.

[laislica]

Try this at home. Buy some fast food and leave it out on a work top and see how many days/weeks before it grows mould. Then ask yourself how the hell does it not grow mouldy.

Just what is in the burger bun and filling?

Something so nasty that it won't even support mould.

[Jingthing]

The personal blame of any individual fat person for his own condition is going to vary from no blame at all to massive blame with most at some place in between. When so many people see fat people on the streets, how many put all fat people in the same boat and think they don't try hard enough, are all just lazy, and only have themselves to blame? That's just not fair. It's OK for people who have never been fat to express that kind of insensitivity but fat people and people who have been fat should really know better. As this is a problem for societies, this kind of personal blame game is not only not constructive, it's destructive.

Yes I know life isn't fair. But fat people have enough issues with being fat to begin with, being discriminated against in society, that to suggest to fat people that they should beat up THEMSELVES and indulge in self guilt tripping, psychological self abuse, in effect buying into the irrational stereotypes, that again is just not helpful.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[tropo]

Try this at home. Buy some fast food and leave it out on a work top and see how many days/weeks before it grows mould. Then ask yourself how the hell does it not grow mouldy.

Just what is in the burger bun and filling?

Something so nasty that it won't even support mould.

Honey could last thousands of years (according to the "Life After People" series).

Edited January 29, 2013 by tropo

[robblok]

The personal blame of any individual fat person for his own condition is going to vary from no blame at all to massive blame with most at some place in between. When so many people see fat people on the streets, how many put all fat people in the same boat and think they don't try hard enough, are all just lazy, and only have themselves to blame? That's just not fair. It's OK for people who have never been fat to express that kind of insensitivity but fat people and people who have been fat should really know better. As this is a problem for societies, this kind of personal blame game is not only not constructive, it's destructive.

Yes I know life isn't fair. But fat people have enough issues with being fat to begin with, being discriminated against in society, that to suggest to fat people that they should beat up THEMSELVES and indulge in self guilt tripping, psychological self abuse, in effect buying into the irrational stereotypes, that again is just not helpful.

While i agree partly with you JT, that good food and education should be more readily available and that many people don't know enough i still feel that fat people who have money and internet could solve their problem for a big part if they wanted. However poor people with below average intelligence that is a whole different ball game.

[laislica]

Try this at home. Buy some fast food and leave it out on a work top and see how many days/weeks before it grows mould. Then ask yourself how the hell does it not grow mouldy.

Just what is in the burger bun and filling?

Something so nasty that it won't even support mould.

Honey could last thousands of years (according to the "Life After People" series).

What?

Are you suggesting they use Honey or is this just the exception that makes the rule?

My point is, as I'm sure you already know, the food is so over processed and essential fibre removed (to increase the shelf life) that it is no longer food. It is simply something to eat but it will not nourish you.

It will slowly kill you.

First it will make you fat, then you will suffer from diabetes, heart disease, high BP, leaky gut and all the other diseases of poor nutrition and obesity, cancer etc. and then you die.

But first you'll visit a doctor and he will prescribe some chemical to hide the symptoms, at least for a while. Then you will make more regular doctor visits and consume more chemicals.

When you run out of money - (health care) - you die.

We are but cogs in the machine that makes profit for "the system".

Rob thinks we have free will - not so. "They" poisoned our brains with fluoride, then sugar in it's many forms, then anti-biotics and this is only a small sample of what is done.

Jingthing is spot on with the observation that he is seeing that over the last few years, the beautiful, thin Thai's have become fat and getting fatter. I've seen the same thing over 45 years.

Generally, people and NOT to blame - the SYSTEM is to blame.

Sure, Tropo will show me the errors in this broad brush statement and we shall get lost in the minutiae and fail to grasp the real problem.

The scary thing - the film - The Matrix - it's almost just like that.

Let person in the medical profession (Mainstream or Alternative) dare to offer a cure for cancer and see just how fast the authorities stomp on them and why? Because people who are cured stop needing to spend money..... QED.

PS @Beentheredonethat, I didn't understand your comment :"Didn't realize at the time it solved a future problem for me."

[robblok]

I have seen the Thais get fat too, because they ad too much sugar to their diet. Its everywhere and everything is sweetened. They stepped away from the traditional diet. They are too lazy to walk a bit. But its often not the big companies selling them the crap but the roadside stalls.

Humans like fried stuff and sugar, but they just should control themselves.

You guys are right partly, but then again this is my view.

[laislica]

I have seen the Thais get fat too, because they ad too much sugar to their diet. Its everywhere and everything is sweetened. They stepped away from the traditional diet. They are too lazy to walk a bit. But its often not the big companies selling them the crap but the roadside stalls.

Humans like fried stuff and sugar, but they just should control themselves.

You guys are right partly, but then again this is my view.

People are ADDICTED by the food that is presented to them as healthy.

An addict does not have choice and can only overcome an addiction with a lot of help - for life.

[robblok]

I have seen the Thais get fat too, because they ad too much sugar to their diet. Its everywhere and everything is sweetened. They stepped away from the traditional diet. They are too lazy to walk a bit. But its often not the big companies selling them the crap but the roadside stalls.

Humans like fried stuff and sugar, but they just should control themselves.

You guys are right partly, but then again this is my view.

People are ADDICTED by the food that is presented to them as healthy.

An addict does not have choice and can only overcome an addiction with a lot of help - for life.

That is where you and i differ, i believe its hard but it can be overcome also how addictive something is has something to do with it. Some people like to shift all the blame to the other party. I am somewhere in the middle. I believe you can make good changes.

[laislica]

I have seen the Thais get fat too, because they ad too much sugar to their diet. Its everywhere and everything is sweetened. They stepped away from the traditional diet. They are too lazy to walk a bit. But its often not the big companies selling them the crap but the roadside stalls.

Humans like fried stuff and sugar, but they just should control themselves.

You guys are right partly, but then again this is my view.

People are ADDICTED by the food that is presented to them as healthy.

An addict does not have choice and can only overcome an addiction with a lot of help - for life.

That is where you and i differ, i believe its hard but it can be overcome also how addictive something is has something to do with it. Some people like to shift all the blame to the other party. I am somewhere in the middle. I believe you can make good changes.

OK, to what were you ADDICTED and how did you give it up and how long ago?

Scientists say that sugar is more addictive than cocaine.

I was addicted to cigarettes for 18 years. I gave them up, eventually, after years of failing to give them up.

Then for at least the next 5 years, I was always on the brink of smoking again.

At ten years I had moved on and could more easily resist the temptation to resume the habit.

Now at 36 years after giving up, I feel fairly safe, except for the times when a ciggy would be nice when in the company of other smokers and alcohol......

My motivation to give up was finally because I wanted to raise a family and I didn't want them to be brought up in a smokers environment. My wife smoked but far less than I did, I had a 2 or 3 pack a day habit, however, she found it just as hard to give up as I did.

It's not as simple as a chemical addiction that is cleared within a week or so.

It's all the associated activities that go with the addiction.

I had to stay totally away from tobacco for years in order to give it up.

Great, but just how can a fattie stay totally away from food?

Everyone has to eat and on a daily basis, food addiction triggers are all around always, advertising on the TV, in the shops, in the streets, it cannot be avoided.

Now, if you were to say there are some fatties who want to be fat and it's down to them, I would ask what got them fat in the first place and have they just given up on trying to reduce their fat because the stress is to high?

Frankly, I feel that your attitude borders on bullying, where's the compassion?

I do agree that, with supreme effort changes for the better can be made.

In fact I would go further and say that they have to swap one obsession for another.

To maintain control over their weight, they need to become obsessive (addicted) about it because if they don't, they will regain all they lost and probably more as has been said on this thread.

Those changes do not come easy and the word lazy is far too broad brush and harsh to use.

Without giving too many details, I know of one youngish man who managed to lose a significant amount over a year and has become an obsessive weight lifter in order to control his weight. He even used diet pills and other substances which can be dangerous to his health, how say you about him?

I realise I haven't given you much to go on but would you agree that he seems to have swapped one addiction for another?

If I am wrong, do you have a workable solution to controlling fat without obsessive behaviour?

[robblok]

You call it bullying i don't making healthy choices can be done. I am even meeting you half way you are saying its all the fault of others i say its somewhere half way. You seem to put the blame squarely somewhere else, i say yes its hard but it can be done if you really want it. I would commend it if there was more health food.

You don't have to stay away from food, i can go to sizzler and make healthy choices. I even managed that when i was on a holiday I took lots of salads, and lots of meat (chicken preferably) and stayed away from bad fats and sugars. Its not impossible, you should just educate yourself. But you seem to have given up before you even begin. I am not talking people should go all spartan, but minor changes will help on the long term (talking years here)

As for the diet pills i think they are less a hazard to your health as carrying excessive weight with you (depending how often you use it of course). Used them 3 times in a year for 10 days stretches. Id say that is minor use, plus if you look at statistics or even Thaivisa here with that fat "stupid" Brit getting a heart attack and now being in debt for life (stupid part because he did not take health insurance).

Truth be told i was lifting weights always.. so i have not swapped addictions at all i was always doing it i just got my food under control. I still believe that one should be active (whatever sports they like) to stay healthy.

I feel people are lazy if they know what to do complain about their weight but don't do a thing. If you don't complain about it and are content then your not lazy then its a choice.

[robblok]

For the record, i do believe odds are stacked against people who have no knowledge of weight loss or foods. I also believe there is too much bad food around us, but that does not totally excuse us. Once you know what is bad you can avoid it and yes it will be hard at times. So i say the blame is 50/50.

I just believe you can always take charge of your life. Come on guys how many people say you cant be an expat or move to an other country and survive. You guys did that too. You can take charge of your life in so many ways. I just don't like the defeatist attitude, that is totally different from bullying someone.

[laislica]

You call it bullying i don't making healthy choices can be done. I am even meeting you half way you are saying its all the fault of others i say its somewhere half way. You seem to put the blame squarely somewhere else, i say yes its hard but it can be done if you really want it. I would commend it if there was more health food.

You don't have to stay away from food, i can go to sizzler and make healthy choices. I even managed that when i was on a holiday I took lots of salads, and lots of meat (chicken preferably) and stayed away from bad fats and sugars. Its not impossible, you should just educate yourself. But you seem to have given up before you even begin. I am not talking people should go all spartan, but minor changes will help on the long term (talking years here)

As for the diet pills i think they are less a hazard to your health as carrying excessive weight with you (depending how often you use it of course). Used them 3 times in a year for 10 days stretches. Id say that is minor use, plus if you look at statistics or even Thaivisa here with that fat "stupid" Brit getting a heart attack and now being in debt for life (stupid part because he did not take health insurance).

Truth be told i was lifting weights always.. so i have not swapped addictions at all i was always doing it i just got my food under control. I still believe that one should be active (whatever sports they like) to stay healthy.

I feel people are lazy if they know what to do complain about their weight but don't do a thing. If you don't complain about it and are content then your not lazy then its a choice.

You have no idea how lucky you are never to have been addicted.

However, without that crucial personal knowledge, I am afraid that you also have no idea what you are talking about. AN ADDICTION IS JUST THAT. Notice that I have highlighted the part about impaired control over substances/behavior, etc. Control is impared i.e. they are no longer in control.

Addiction

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Addiction (disambiguation).

See also: Substance dependence (drug addiction) and Behavioral addiction

Addiction is the continued use of a mood altering substance or behavior despite adverse dependency consequences,^[1] or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors.^[2]

Addictions can include, but are not limited to, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, exercise abuse, pornography and gambling. Classic hallmarks of addiction include:

impaired control over substances/behavior, preoccupation with substance/behavior, continued use despite consequences, and denial.^[3] Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification (short-term reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).^[4] Physiological dependence occurs when the body has to adjust to the substance by incorporating the substance into its 'normal' functioning.^[5] This state creates the conditions of tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance is the process by which the body continually adapts to the substance and requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects. Withdrawal refers to physical and psychological symptoms experienced when reducing or discontinuing a substance that the body has become dependent on. Symptoms of withdrawal generally include but are not limited toanxiety, irritability, intense cravings for the substance, nausea, hallucinations, headaches, cold sweats, and tremors.

[robblok]

Impaired control that is not the same as no control.

I have used weed, xtc, GHB, alcohol in the past and given them all up. Don't you think that sometimes i like to get pissed, im just stronger than that. You and I seem to have a totally different idea about what a committed person can do.

You yourself kicked the habit of smoking, so its possible. I never said it was easy, i just believe people can do a lot if they really want too.

Next time before you give up look at this

respect for this guy.

[tropo]

Sure, Tropo will show me the errors in this broad brush statement and we shall get lost in the minutiae and fail to grasp the real problem.

Why the sudden attack after mentioning a miracle of nature - honey.

I thought we were discussing loose skin here?

Is my loose skin a result of eating processed junk all my life?

Can we live forever on a perfect diet?

[noob7]

The problem 's never the food!

I was a junk food addict, in my early 20's. McD, Burger K.,....., as more, as better.

But I did not get fat!

The problem is no(t enough) moving!

[laislica]

Sure, Tropo will show me the errors in this broad brush statement and we shall get lost in the minutiae and fail to grasp the real problem.

Why the sudden attack after mentioning a miracle of nature - honey.

I thought we were discussing loose skin here?

Is my loose skin a result of eating processed junk all my life?

Can we live forever on a perfect diet?

I think that the loose skin thing is done?

If it's really gota go then you need a knife.

The advice seemed to be: Be totally sure before you snip.

About the honey - I don't know, you raised the subject.

Loose skin is cos it stretched to accommodate extra fat and due to ageing, genetics and all the things mentioned in the thread, it won't shrink back.

Of course you can live forever on a perfect diet - then you die, like everyone has to LOL

However, in writing this post, it occurs to me that Brushing was a possible solution and so I wonder if a myofacial release might help?

That may release trapped toxins, improve circulation and drainage.

It's just that a stretching action doesn't seem quite right.

Hmmm, a bit of experimentation required.

[laislica]

healthy skin is hydrated skin, and despite the debate in the scientific community about whether or not drinking 64 ounces of water a day can help keep skin healthy and happy, I’ve seen the results myself. Perhaps it’s because, if you’re drinking that much water, you’re not drinking soda, loaded with unhealthy chemicals… or perhaps it’s because healthy, elastic skin really does need water. Either way, it works.

Another friend tells me his skin was tightened when he got a seaweed wrap at a local spa, and now he goes every 6 to 8 weeks to enjoy its benefits. Online, I’ve found rave reviews on the local spa he frequents, and not a single negative review. Find a spa near you and do some digging… are their clients as happy as the clients at m local spa? If so, give them a try!

I suppose I ought to mention that after a significant weight loss, your skin can take up to six months to tighten to the new, slender you. Be patient, then… if your skin doesn’t rebound immediately, keep in mind that it may take a little time. Just like setting realistic weight loss goals is important, setting realistic goals for your body to adjust is important, too.

The USDA recommends we eat five servings of fresh fruits and veggies every day, to give us nutrients we need, and to help us maintain healthy weights. But did you also know these five servings will help tighten skin after weight loss? That’s because most fruits and veggies have a high water content, which your skin needs to rebound. And again, they’re very good at helping ou maintain a healthy weight!

Sulfates are used in lots of body washes, soaps, and shampoos because they’re good, cheap cleansers and they make lush lather. But sulfates can also over-dry and irritate skin, stripping it of vital moisture and making it less elastic. If you’re trying to tighten skin after weight loss, shop around for sulfate-free products

If all of these tips fail to tighten your skin after weight loss, and you’ve waited six months since you dropped that last pound, you may want to consider surgery to remove the excess skin. As with any surgery, there are risks, but for some, those risks are outweighed by the benefits. Talk to your doctor.

[tropo]

healthy skin is hydrated skin, and despite the debate in the scientific community about whether or not drinking 64 ounces of water a day can help keep skin healthy and happy, I’ve seen the results myself. Perhaps it’s because, if you’re drinking that much water, you’re not drinking soda, loaded with unhealthy chemicals… or perhaps it’s because healthy, elastic skin really does need water. Either way, it works.

Another friend tells me his skin was tightened when he got a seaweed wrap at a local spa, and now he goes every 6 to 8 weeks to enjoy its benefits. Online, I’ve found rave reviews on the local spa he frequents, and not a single negative review. Find a spa near you and do some digging… are their clients as happy as the clients at m local spa? If so, give them a try!

I suppose I ought to mention that after a significant weight loss, your skin can take up to six months to tighten to the new, slender you. Be patient, then… if your skin doesn’t rebound immediately, keep in mind that it may take a little time. Just like setting realistic weight loss goals is important, setting realistic goals for your body to adjust is important, too.

The USDA recommends we eat five servings of fresh fruits and veggies every day, to give us nutrients we need, and to help us maintain healthy weights. But did you also know these five servings will help tighten skin after weight loss? That’s because most fruits and veggies have a high water content, which your skin needs to rebound. And again, they’re very good at helping ou maintain a healthy weight!

Sulfates are used in lots of body washes, soaps, and shampoos because they’re good, cheap cleansers and they make lush lather. But sulfates can also over-dry and irritate skin, stripping it of vital moisture and making it less elastic. If you’re trying to tighten skin after weight loss, shop around for sulfate-free products

If all of these tips fail to tighten your skin after weight loss, and you’ve waited six months since you dropped that last pound, you may want to consider surgery to remove the excess skin. As with any surgery, there are risks, but for some, those risks are outweighed by the benefits. Talk to your doctor.

I find it quite absurd that this article didn't mention age, as though it's never a factor.

[laislica]

Actually the article did mention age.

It said it gets harder the older you get so start losing fat asap, but you knew that already?

\The last point adds that you need to be patient cos it takes 6 months to tighten (if at all?)

[tropo]

Actually the article did mention age.

It said it gets harder the older you get so start losing fat asap, but you knew that already?

\The last point adds that you need to be patient cos it takes 6 months to tighten (if at all?)

It is not mentioned in your cut 'n paste.

Anyway, I know there's no way to tighten up old loose skin besides surgery but many companies are busy trying to sell snake oil which does.

It's a bit like the TV promos in Asia tying to sell topical creams which increase the size of women's breasts.

Or ads flogging ab machines to help people lose weight. The ironic thing is that at the gym I mainly see the skinny guys doing ab crunches - and not many actually have abs to show for it.

I'll save the surgery until I can save up for a face lift.

It's a good message for the young ones though. Another good reason not to get fat.

[moe666]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

As far as moisturizers I read somewhere that COLLAGEN in the cream helps with this. I don't know.

As some other posters have stated, I'm convinced surgery is the only way to go.

Using creams sounds like snake oil sales techniques to me.

I'm still looking for a boar hair brush. I don't think that stimulating and moisturizing the skin could hurt anyway but don't know specifically about collagen. Also loosing weight moderately is great and probably the MOST important thing people can do for prevention, but like Sheryl said if you've got the kind of skin that won't adjust well even with slow weight loss for whatever reasons including age factors, that's pretty much the deal.

You do not need a brush use a good towel to stimulate the skin, this will also help with elimination of toxians as well as you lose weight.

[NeverSure]

I know nothing, especially about loose skin after weight loss other than surgery. I don't.

I do have this tool. It is 100% silicone which I like because it's easy to clean. The first picture doesn't show the rough side which exfoliates. It shows only the side which I use to apply soap or other products.

Back, stomach and chest, legs, buns and ankles.

I have a boars hair brush for face neck and ears Here.

I also have This for feet calluses, etc.

Edited February 3, 2013 by NeverSure