Avoiding Saggy Skin After Weight Loss

When you set your mind to losing a great deal of weight in order to be more physically attractive and a great deal healthier – not to mention reducing your risk of a long list of potential health problems associated with being overweight or obese – then you will, no doubt, be thrilled when your efforts are successful. As the pounds drop away, you’ll need to wear clothing in smaller sizes, your energy levels will be higher, and you may even feel better about yourself overall. One hurdle that many people face, though, is sagging skin after they have lost a large amount of weight.
Avoiding saggy skin after weight loss is possible. You just need to know what steps to take, both while you are working hard to shed the excess pounds, and after you are done losing weight because you’ve finally reached your goal.
Below, we outline some tips geared towards avoiding saggy skin after weight loss. Keep these in mind as you embark on your weight loss journey.

Avoiding Saggy Skin After Weight Loss Means Understanding What Causes It

There are several contributing factors to saggy skin after weight loss:

1. The first is that the fat may have come off too quickly. People are always seeking the fastest way to get results, though this doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a pace at which the body is capable of keeping up. This being said, if rapid weight loss occurs and fat comes off the body very quickly, the skin may not have had enough time to shrink back to a smaller size. The result, of course, is loose, hanging skin.
2. Age is also a contributing factor. As we age, the skin loses elasticity, meaning that the older we get, the longer it will take for the skin to shrink to the proper size. In fact, if a truly significant amount of weight is lost, the skin may never entirely reduce to the size of the body.
3. It must also be noted that exercising is exceptionally important to a weight loss effort, and if fat is lost without replacing it with some muscle mass, then the skin can remain flabby. This is because fat cells may be burned and shrink, but the skin over top may not take on an attractive appearance unless the soft spaces under it are replaced with toned muscles.

Steps You Can Take Towards Avoiding Saggy Skin After Weight Loss

Fortunately, there are some steps that can be taken for avoiding saggy skin after weight loss.
Firstly, do not try to rush through weight loss. It is healthier to lose weight at a slow, steady rate, and it gives the skin enough time to keep up with the loss. Aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds every week and your skin should be able to shrink at that rate as well.
Secondly, don’t skip on toning and weight training as you lose weight. This can include Pilates, lifting weights, and resistance activities that help you to build and tone your muscles. Remember, the idea is to build muscle to replace the lost fat, as doing so can help fill in areas of your skin that would otherwise become saggy and loose. So, in addition to doing cardio to burn through fat and calories efficiently, be sure to incorporate strength training routines into your exercise schedule, both while you are working on losing the extra weight you have been carrying, as well as after you have reached your target weight.

Support the Health of Your Skin in Other Ways

In addition to using the tips above on avoiding saggy skin after weight loss, taking additional steps to maintain the overall health of your skin is wise. If you can keep your skin plump, resilient, and flexible during your weight loss journey, it will help boost the odds that you can prevent unsightly sagginess.
According to Prevention, you can keep your skin looking and feeling great by doing the following:

• Drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration that can cause skin cells to become inflexible and shriveled. Just make sure you’re drinking pure water, without any sweeteners that will undermine your weight loss efforts.
• If you are a smoker, there is no better time than now to quit. That’s because smoking can cause your skin to become less resilient. And, if you have a loved one who smokes around you, be aware that even secondhand smoke can cause damage by contributing to wrinkles, reducing collagen, and leading to thin skin too.
• The same nutritious foods that can help support the health of your skin are also going to contribute to you achieving a leaner frame, so it’s a win-win! Foods that are great for the skin include colorful veggies and fruits. Eat more foods that are high lycopene, vitamin C, and vitamin A. So, load your plate with foods like citrus fruits, leafy greens, red peppers, and tomatoes, as a few examples.

Avoiding Saggy Skin After Weight Loss Is Possible!

Even if you have a lot of weight to lose, don’t worry, as you can work on avoiding saggy skin after weight loss. Remember, having saggy skin after shedding pounds is not inevitable! As long as you know what steps to take during and after your slim-down journey, you can help ensure that your skin will bounce back and look fabulous.