Atkins Diet Questions: Loose Skin

** Graphic Display of loose skin around my stomach near the end -- Viewers may want to ensure a bag is available **

Today's episode I deal with the one of the most common questions people ask me after hearing of my 200 pound weight loss. That is, "do you have much problems with loose skin?" In the end, I have to admit that I do have a bit of loose skin (I affectionately & sometime not so affectionately my "SharPei") around my torso and legs, but it could be much worse. I could have the sheets of skin some dieters (more often low Calorie big losers) have or even worse be my original weight still living in fear of loose skin. There are times that I actually like my stretchmarks as they server as reminders of what might be if I think I can lax up. It also serves as a talking point like my pathetic driver's license does for people looking for hope, but most days I am just thankful for shirts.

There are other things that are claimed to help, but I have not tried. Cocoa Butter and Mederma are both used by pregnant women to ease the appearance of stretchmarks. Additionally, I believe the content of this Diet helps in maintaining the elasticity due to protein and fat being featured. The body does not cannibalize its own resources like on other diets, and many report their skin looks as good and clear as it ever had. Good skin health implies good skin elasticity to respond to the weight loss as well.

One final theory about loose skin:
http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm
To summarize the above link, there is no problem with loose skin, just a body fat percentage problem. I am at 11-12% body fat, so maybe I need to drop another 2-3 percent yet too. In either case, plastic surgery may be for some people, but it's not for me.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Atkins
• Diet
• Weightloss
• Low
• Carb
• Loose
• skin
• Bowulf
• obesity

[multibiswas]

Thanx for the video, thanx a lot.Showing loose belly skin infront of other, need to hav guts...Well i also hav loose belly skin but i dont hav guts to show...but yes i m happy, as i lost 26 kg, n stomach is inside clothes, not outside clothes, so its easy to hide it....can u tel me wil exercise also help to fix it, thinking of joining a gym,but fels lazy too :D

[bowulf]

@multibiswas It is what it is in my head. If I can help others by showing mine, which is honestly no worse than I'd do at a beach, I am willing to do it. There is no specific exercise that will make the skin get better, and mine is essentially the same today as it was 5 years ago. Doing core workouts on your abdominal and obliques will help give some definition to the muscle underneath it.

[bim2x4]

Loose skin does NOT "bounce back" nor disappear by itself over time. This is a medical FACT.

Unless one is very young -- as in teenager young and still growing naturally -- a drastic decrease in weight will certainly leave loose skin.

[bowulf]

@bim2x4 You are correct. Some is expected, but the goal of any weight loss journey should be make it as "good" as possible. The ultra-low calorie diets (low in fats and protein) should exacerbate the problem, which is why I think mine was minimized.

[zone1282]

hey atleast your thin and not worry about dyin of an heart attack or stroke.

[bowulf]

@zone1282 Exactly right... There are more important things than worrying about a few stretch marks.

[1THETRUTH10]

Great vid dude. And so brave to show ur stomach! That will help a hell of a lot of people from feeling alone with loose skin. In fact it's a badge of honour, u have acomplished something great. I suffer with bad strech marks....and Im trying to be brave,and accept my body. When I think of the poor people around the world,well, skin probs just fade away! Also it makes me scared of dating,but now I figure,love me for who I am or get outta my life :)

[bowulf]

@kalai131 I eat plenty of red meat and poultry. OK, show me an example of someone who has lost over 200 pounds at the age of 35 with no loose skin. As for workouts, I have done marathons and increased my dead lift and resistance trained all during the weight loss.

How about you actually learn before you make arrogant comments.

PS - Atkins is medium protein diet (30%) as too much protein converts into glucose.

[crazyleg2006]

Much credit/props for having the guts to show your stomach. I respect you more now than ever.

[aquaperil]

I have lost 70 pounds on the atkins and I luckly I dont have loose skin, probably due to me being 25, but I would think that after losing over 200 pounds loose skin should be a badge of honor, proof of your will power and hard work.

[6000mikesch]

well does not look that bad, i have got fat titts which i don´t like, so we all have to carry a lot of stuff

[bowulf]

@sniff28 (cont.) However, it does not switch back and forth between burning carbs and burning fat readily. Once you start down the burning carbs route, it will go to stored glycogen readily not stored adipose tissue. Otherwise, the whole "hitting the wall" thing for high carbers wouldn't be an issue.