Too Much Loose Skin?
Attending the inner thighs, under arms, around the middle, and under your butt, is the unsightly—flabby—loose skin. Some folks assume that it's a hopeless condition and there's no way to get rid of that loose skin. In reality, though, some of this flab can be converted to muscle with the proper workouts.
Yes, exercise and diet are the best option. The fact is, too much loose skin, simply means you have surplus fat—or poor muscle tone—hanging off the body. VLCDs are usually the culprit in the case of saggy skin. With a tight diet and exercise regimen, you can leave that unlovely loose skin behind.
You see, skin, in and of itself, is not adipose. Skin is supposed to be an elastic organ that stretches and—with the aid of collagen—returns to its original shape. Fat cells deposited 'underneath' the skin give that folded, roly-poly appearance.
Loose Skin and Diet
I'm sure you've heard it before: prevention is the best medicine. When you undertake a very low calorie—crash—diet (without enough exercise), the percentage of weight loss will consist of approximately 20 percent lean fat with more than 20 percent muscle. In effect, you wind up with more fat (in total) than before. With less muscle tone for support, the skin seems saggy. Lean muscle mass will appear firm. So, a gradual—0.5 to 2.0 lbs per week—diet, along with sufficient exercise, will result in fantastically flabby fat loss.
I know you've seen those ads: "Lose Ten Pounds In Ten Days." Don't be tempted. As I've mentioned above—and is the recommendation of the NIH—a reasonable goal is a maximum of 2 lbs per week. Simply reduce portion size and get consistent exercise. Here's what I did (if it's any help to you): I started a spreadsheet with which I log my daily calories and exercise, and keep a written journal of my experiences, which I publish weekly on Thursdays as "My Healthy Weight Loss Diet". I've lost over 20 lbs so far; maybe it'll help you—check it out if you have time.
To 'force' your body to convert that foul fat hanging from your skin into muscle; try a VLFD. However, if you have too much loose skin, it won't disappear quickly. This sagging skin is the most difficult to eradicate; much tougher than paunch reduction. It takes perseverance, so don't give up—I've been at it almost a year and am now seeing results.
Loose Skin and Exercise
After implementing your diet, begin a muscle stretching and toning routine. Aerobics will get your metabolism in gear, and yoga or Pilates muscle toning exercises are both good for rapid results. The combination of muscle firming exercises with a low calorie, low fat diet will eventually convert the skin—somewhat—back to its original, awesome shape.
Surgery should be the last option, if you've got some sort of HDCT that causes too much loose skin, or if you've lost 100 lbs or more, cosmetic surgery can be a viable option. But, before you go down this one-way road, make sure you fully understand all the risks and…the percentage of success rates associated with these types of surgeries. Always ask your physician when it comes to tough decisions about your health.
In summary, avoid crash diets; develop—and continue—appropriate eating habits; get aerobic exercise; start a stretching and muscle building routine—such as yoga, Pilates, or your own plan. If after all this, you still have too much loose skin, talk to your doctor. And remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Mister Universe—patience is a virtue, and can reward you.
