IMO these are just myths repeated by well meaning folks to make turtles and those who don't treat this like a way of eating and so cheat every other week feel better.
It really annoys me that people say losing fast will give you stretch marks and make your skin baggier. It's just not true, and while the intentions are good saying these things discourages people from losing at an optimal rate. First of all, stretch marks are scars caused from skin being "ripped open" faster than it can grow; stretch marks are caused by sudden growth or weight GAIN. Losing weight does not exacerbate stretch marks... ironically just the opposite is true. In fact, if your stretch marks are fresh and red (still in the process of healing), losing the weight as quickly as possible (coupled with lotions, adequate hydration and anti-oxidant fat soluable vitamins) will minimize the final scar's appearance.
It is also a myth that rate of loss affects the permenant elasticity of skin. The elasticity of skin (firmness vs saggyness/baggyness) is lost by breaking down collagen when it is streched out too fast. The damage happens in the process of gaining weight; losing weight as quickly as possible will stop the damage to your skin as soon as possible. Meaning, the less time you spend with your skin stretched to unnatural proportions, the less elasticity (firmness) you are losing.
Yes, it is true that in the begining, if you lose faster your skin will be "baggier" than someone who lost slower. However, this is only a temporary state. Since they lost so fast, they didn't have the time to let their skin slowly snap back. The good news is the person who lost faster will have their skin shrink back in time... and because they spent less time obese than the slower loser, the faster loser will have skin which is slightly more firm in the end (this is of course assuming all other things equal (i.e. starting weight, skin type, age, etc)).
So, in the end, it all evens out, and losing weight as fast as possible is the all around best option (while doing it responsibly in a way you can maintain for life, of course). Besides, you can't have plastic surgery until your weight has been stable for many months anyway, so does it really matter that much if your skin shrinks mostly before or after? Once you go under the knife, your skin has recovered as much as it ever will. In fact, the faster you lose, the less permenent damage you are doing to your skin. Obesity destroys skin, not weight loss. The less time you spend being obese, the better for your health and looks.
By the way, I think you should expect that your largest areas when you were heavy will have some loose skin and loss of firmness once you reach goal weight. When you've been as heavy as you and me, there will be some loose skin. It's just a fact. So, I think it is better to be realistic with yourself than to pander to quack cures (ex: "spot loss" with exercise to firm skin), or to feel really bad when everything is done and you don't look like the girl in the weight loss adds. Depending on a lot of factors, the bagginess may be bad enough to require surgery. I think you should come to terms with this now rather than be disappointed later.
Last edited by ItsTheWooo : Wed, Feb-04-04 at 13:33.
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