Loose the Skin After Losing the Weight

Losing a significant amount of weight is no easy feat. It’s a true testament to one’s drive, passion, and determination.
What can leave some of us feeling disheartened, however, is the loose skin that can sometimes be the result of having a successful weight loss journey.
Loose skin or body fat?
In some situations, what you may believe to be excess skin is actually body fat. So how can you tell the difference? Pinch the area where you have loose skin. If you can grab more than a few millimetres, the chances are it is excess fat and not loose skin. This is good news since once that fat is lost through diet and exercise your skin is more likely to become tighter and more toned.Why loose skin happens
There are a few factors that affect how much or the degree of loose skin you may experience after losing a considerable amount of weight- Amount of weight lost: As you can imagine, the more weight you’ve lost, the more likely you are to have loose skin. Someone who has lost 30 pounds may not have any loose skin, while someone who has lost 100 pounds or more is more likely to experience hanging skin.
- Weight loss timelapse: The faster you lose weight, the less time your skin has to catch up and recover. It’s important to note that the duration of how long you’ve been overweight will also play a role, with those who have been overweight for a longer period being more prone to loose skin.
- Skin elasticity: Generally speaking, the younger you are, the more elastic your skin should be and the less loose it should be after weight loss. Genetics also play a major role, however, which is why some women may “bounce back” more easily than others regardless of age.
Where loose skin is most likely to strike
The most notable area affected by loose skin is around the abdomen. There may be a slight sag to the skin, or it may appear more like a skin flap that can reach well below your waist. There are other areas where women, in particular, may experience loose skin, such as:- Back of the arms
- Around the bra line
- Buttocks
- Thighs