I've lost 50# over the course of 2yrs... is there any hope for losing my excess tummy skin? (weight loss, vitamin)
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Wow! So you're saying what I see right in front of my own eyes and on my own body is not real? Glad you know more about me than I do..
BTW, calling someone fat isn't exactly nice and most would consider it offensive. I agree the OP should get down to an ideal body weight before doing something like surgery, but they have done a great job of losing weight and should be commended for it instead of insulted.
Applying cocoa butter can serve as an emollient to help -prevent- stretch marks, to some extent.
However once you already -have- stretch marks, you have already damaged your skin. That's what those marks ARE. They're little scars, from the skin being damaged as it was pulled tighter than it was intended to be pulled OR pulled faster than it was able to recover from.
I've had stretch marks on my breasts since I was 12 years old because I developed very very quickly in only a couple of years. I've gotten bigger-breasted since then, but the marks have faded a bit over time. Just like any scarring, it will eventually fade somewhat. That's regardless of what you use, if anything, to fade them.
What cocoa butter does, is help keep the skin supple enough that you don't get the stretch marks in the first place. It can't fix damaged skin.
Applying cocoa butter can serve as an emollient to help -prevent- stretch marks, to some extent.
However once you already -have- stretch marks, you have already damaged your skin. That's what those marks ARE. They're little scars, from the skin being damaged as it was pulled tighter than it was intended to be pulled OR pulled faster than it was able to recover from.
I've had stretch marks on my breasts since I was 12 years old because I developed very very quickly in only a couple of years. I've gotten bigger-breasted since then, but the marks have faded a bit over time. Just like any scarring, it will eventually fade somewhat. That's regardless of what you use, if anything, to fade them.
What cocoa butter does, is help keep the skin supple enough that you don't get the stretch marks in the first place. It can't fix damaged skin.
Sure and I know that. I've actually been quite fortunate in the stretch mark dept--only got very thin ones that faded to near invisibility after my dd was born. However I've got the underarm dingle-dangle and though I doubt the cocoa butter would do much, it sure can't hurt.
If you lost the weight in your 20s, your skin would probably bounce back. At 40+, it isn't going to happen. It's been stretched out for a while, and at your age it just isn't as "elastic" as it used to be. Cocoa butter will not shrink excess skin. Nothing will; it will take surgery to get rid of it.
I'm 44 and have photographic proof. Can't remember which thread it's in, but you can see my before and afters and the skin is almost just as tight despite the fact that literally half the weight is gone. It's by far the cheapest method and the worst it can do is give you soft skin and make you smell good. There's no chance of losing anything.
If you lost the weight in your 20s, your skin would probably bounce back. At 40+, it isn't going to happen. It's been stretched out for a while, and at your age it just isn't as "elastic" as it used to be. Cocoa butter will not shrink excess skin. Nothing will; it will take surgery to get rid of it.
It depends on genetics as well. There is no hard and fast rule concerning this. I have known women older (50s) whose skin has bounced back without surgery. Like everything else, it is situational.
Losing the weight slowly helps. I also recommend the suggestion that stay at a stable weight for a year or two and see if the skin will tighten up. I don't know about the cocoa butter, so I can't recommend it.
It depends on genetics as well. There is no hard and fast rule concerning this. I have known women older (50s) whose skin has bounced back without surgery. Like everything else, it is situational.
Losing the weight slowly helps. I also recommend the suggestion that stay at a stable weight for a year or two and see if the skin will tighten up. I don't know about the cocoa butter, so I can't recommend it.
I'm in my 50s, lost 50+ pounds and it all pulled in. Af first it looked a bit loose but tightened up, presumably because I work out. Now I just look like I've always weighed 165.
I'm in my 50s, lost 50+ pounds and it all pulled in. Af first it looked a bit loose but tightened up, presumably because I work out. Now I just look like I've always weighed 165.
It's all about age, genetics, how long you were fat, and how fat you were. The older you are and the fatter you were determine how bad the leftovers will be. People who lose massive amounts of weight at 20 will always have much better results, appearance wise, than someone in their 50's.
If all you have left is loose skin, the only thing that works is a tummy tuck that will surgically remove the skin. Of course you will be trading in the loose skin for a huge smiley face scar. Or and anchor shaped scar if you have a lot of excess skin in the midriff too. There's always a tradeoff.
Forget lipo. It will only remove more fat and eventually make the loose skin look worse. Losing more weight will do the same thing.
Some of the magic creams, lotions, and potions, may make it look a little better temporarily, but it's still there. Skin will only shrink as much as it will shrink and leftovers are leftovers.
There is no muscular element of skin that can be tightened with exercise. Exercise may help develop the muscles UNDER the skin, but the amount of loose skin you have won't change.
Sorry! But here's the good news. Skin does continue to shrink VERY slowly for about 2 years after a major weight loss.
I just remembered something that was on the edge of my mind. I remembered that growth hormone, a hormone that is produced by your body and declines with age, has the effect of tightening skin and wrinkles if it is sufficient in your body. I have heard of people supplementing with HGH or taking shots or going to clinics but there is some danger involved with that? Not sure. But there are ways to encourage your body to make enough of its own: 1. Exercise to anaerobic capacity. Burn baby burn. 2. Eat a low sugar diet and try to get rid of the gut. Eat enough protein. 3. Get enough sleep. 4. Certain amino acid supplements are supposed to help. Glutamine is one that was mentioned--2 gms a day can raise HGH by 400%. L-Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body. It's facilitates the release of growth hormone
It's worth a try, and remember, though it sounds like what you're already doing, the exercise prescription is fairly specific--you have to do sprints in your aerobic training--go all out for 30 seconds at a time until you can't stand it any more--for several times. Oh yeah, and if you take OTC sleep aids or benadryl on any kind of regular basis, you can shut down your body's production of HGH.
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