How do you lose weight and keep the wrinkles off?
By whiteheron
@whiteheron (4222)
United States
February 23, 2010 10:28am CST
I am overweight, actually obese is the word used now, and I would like to lighten up... or down ... as the case may be. I am wondering though, how does one lose weight without becoming all wrinkled in the face, etc. I am now 49 years old and would like to look better not worse after losing weight.
Does anyone have any tips for how to lose weight and keep one's skin from wrinkling and sagging after weight loss?
6 responses
@mymelodake (1338)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
I think the wrinkly skin would most likely be in the body area and not the face. I think exercising to build muscle can help keep off sagging skin while you diet. But for more extreme solutions aside from getting surgery to tuck the loose skin, I would say getting a body wrap that helps firm the skin like seaweed body wraps can help.
1 person likes this
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 Feb 10
Thanks for your comments... I must admit that I was worried about facial wrinkles... hoping that you are right about them not being an issue.
@mymelodake (1338)
• Philippines
24 Feb 10
Hmmm, i think seaweed facial masks would help too when it comes to firming up the facial skin. As long as you don't have an allergic reaction to it, you can try it out.
1 person likes this
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
23 Feb 10
I'm in the same boat as you Whiteheron. I've just recently started my quest to shed 30 kilos, about 70lbs or so. I'm guessing, too, that you're concerned about the wrinkles on places like your tummy and the back of your arms, places like that. Stretch marks. Well, I don't really know how to keep it from happening but I've read that pregnant women will use cocoa butter or particular kinds of lotions to help with that. Some stretch marks are showing up on my tummy now and I just need to get out to the store to get some stuff to try! I've been up and down with my weight for years and have never experienced any kind of wrinkling on my face.
After trying virtually hundreds of diet plans, this time around I've opted for the one that General Motors designed for it's employees. I particularly like it because it's geared more toward people over 40. Of course, with any "diet" you're going to read bad and good about it. This one starts with a day of as much fruit as you can eat, which is supposed to begin a detoxification process. The second day is all veggies. The third is a combination of the 2. Etc. It seems fairly balanced to me, all things considered, and I have to admit I've got a lot more energy since starting the process. It involves drinking a LOT of water. At any rate, best of luck to you in your endeavor!
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 Feb 10
Thanks for telling me about your diet and also the detoxification process it starts... I might try that one too...
I appreciate you for sharing it...
and about the lotions too.
@veromar (1453)
• Argentina
25 Feb 10
Always happy to share! I'm no advocate or spokesperson for any particular weightloss plan and believe me, I've tried soooo many! I've got to tell you that after a week on this one, the GM thing, my skin is clearer, I've got more energy, and people are making comments. I'm in the position that I've got to lose some weight before I can begin an exercise regime. I'm 5'4" and right at 200lbs. The only drawback that I've noticed so far is how frequently I have to go to the bathroom! lol. Guess it must be all the water. If you do decide to try this particular way of losing weight, I'll tell you that the first day is the hardest. Cravings! Oh my god! I wanted burgers! Fries! Anything fried! lol. But no! I ate another apple or plum or more watermelon. The second day, though, was a breeze and every day since too. Just gotta get over that hump. Again....I wish you all the best!
1 person likes this
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
23 Feb 10
You don't say how much weight you have to lose. Typically, people who have 75-100 lbs or more to lose have to have skin removed no matter what their age. I wouldn't think that at 49 your skin would have lost its' elasticity so I think you're probably safe as long as you lose it sensibly (2 lbs or so a week). Weight train for 20 minutes a day and do some form of cardio for 45 minutes a day along with a sensible diet and you shouldn't have any sagging and wrinkling issues. Weight training will tone your muscles and the bonus is that muscle requires more calories so you'll ultimately be able to eat more! Exercise makes up for a multitude of eating sins. If you can't do the full workout right now, no worries, just work at your own pace and work up toit. I always hated to exercise but I read the book "Younger Next Year" a couple of years ago and it changed my life. Now I think of exercise as a job. It's just something that I have to do and you know what? I can't even imagine a day without exercising now. Best of luck to you
1 person likes this
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I am about 220 at 5'7'' so I would like to lose quite a bit...
I have never weight trained and dislike the idea of it.
Thanks for telling me about the book... maybe the idea of wanting to exercise will rub off on me.
@LaurenInLA (2270)
• United States
24 Feb 10
You probably have about 40-50 lbs to lose I would guess and it's quite possible that if you exercise along the way that you won't have to worry about your skin not shrinking back. Believe me when I tell you that I hate weight training. The entire time that I'm working with the exercise machines, I'm pretty much chanting, I hate weights, sometimes even out loud. The thing that I've learned though is that weights are essential to keep your bones and muscles strong and IMHO weight training even more than cardio is essential to keeping your weight off. I just heard a couple of weeks ago about a phenomena called normal weight obesity. It seems that when they've measured the body weight percentage of some people whose weight falls within acceptable percentages for their height, their percentages of body fat were 40% or higher. Because of the excess fat, they are at the same risk for all of the same diseases that we link to obesity. No exercise program is a one size fits all. Keep trying different things until you find something that you like. For me it was indoor stationary bike classes (spinning). I fell in love with it. I didn't like to exercise. Even now, I sometimes have to talk myself into it. I guess the3 difference for me now is that I think of it as a job. It's something that I have to do to get my "paycheck" which is better health and fitness. You don't have to go to a gym or exercise until you sweat so much that your clothes stick to you. Any time that you move, you are getting exercise. Best of luck to you.
1 person likes this
@elsrenne (16)
•
23 Feb 10
Fat is stored in 'Adipose' tissues and when you gain weight, your body makes more of these cells. When you then lose weight, you can take the fat out of those adipose cells, but you cannot get rid of the adipose cells. Once they're there, they're there for good. This is what causes wrinkles and sagging after weight loss.
Exercising helps some to get rid of the excess wrinkles, but you won't be able to get rid of everything without surgery. Just do your best and you should look great. :)
1 person likes this
@whiteheron (4222)
• United States
24 Feb 10
I can't say that I really like your comment as I really am not going to ever get surgery for that...
But thanks anyway for your comments.
@phoenixrain (14)
• United States
25 Feb 10
i have been into martial arts for almost 20 years. that is one way. but for me i notice what works is building some muscle first. not alot or anything. just workouts that help tone muscles a bit. then after that follow up with regular workout. it works for me tho
1 person likes this