Get Rid of Flabby Loose Skin After Weight Loss

- Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2014/05/27 - Updated: 2021/12/03
Topic: How to Lose Weight Tips - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Information to help you rid your body of sagging loose skin often acquired after sudden or major weight loss and dieting.

Because subcutaneous fat is "soft" fat, it is looser, or jiggly, and easier to confuse with skin. In some cases of major weight loss, as you get leaner, it can be quite stubborn to lose this remaining fat.

The way to burn fat is through a calorie restricted diet in conjunction with an exercise routine that will burn calories. Activities that burn calories include running, biking, swimming and other high intensity activities.

Introduction

When you lose weight after pregnancy, by dieting, or exercising, you tend to also lose lots of muscle and water instead of just unwanted fat deposits.

Main Item

After weightloss, especially if you have lost weight fast, you may find yourself with a flabby lower belly, big love handles and/or lots of visceral fat around the navel area. Excess skin is the skin you're left with after losing a substantial amount of weight. Typically, you will see this extra skin flab on your stomach, under your arms, on your legs and elsewhere. Belly fat tends to be the most challenging part to tighten especially after giving birth.

In most cases loose skin is actually just cases of excess subcutaneous body fat covered by skin. Because subcutaneous fat is "soft" fat, it is looser, or jiggly, and easier to confuse with skin. In some cases of major weight loss, as you get leaner, it can be quite stubborn to lose this remaining fat. When you lose a massive amount of weight, depending on your skin type, age, genetics and other factors, your skin may not retract back to your lighter body frame. The amount of loose skin you will have also has to do with where you lose your weight and the elasticity of your skin. Lost skin elasticity is usually thought of as a characteristic of growing old, but it can also strike younger people. If your loose skin is thicker than a few millimeters, then you still have residual body fat to get rid of.

Unfortunately there is no way to entirely tone flabby skin - however, there are methods you can try to minimize the amount of sagging. The way to burn fat is through a calorie restricted diet in conjunction with an exercise routine that will burn calories. Activities that burn calories include running, biking, swimming and other high intensity activities.

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Man with belly fat and sagging skin around hip area
Man with belly fat and sagging skin around hip area
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Exercises

It is important that when you tighten loose skin by exercise you perform exercises that are toning the muscle, and therefore the surrounding skin. Do strength training 3 times a week, and perform aerobic exercises like swimming or jogging on the remaining days. Aerobic exercises will help you lose weight and the strength training will tone up and tighten your muscles and increase endurance. A big part of eliminating loose skin is building muscle. Exercise can tighten and add muscle to your abdomen, which can help minimize some flabbiness.

Abdominoplasty

A surgical procedure that removes redundant skin on your abdomen. If you've had bariatric weight loss surgery, it is recommended you wait at least 2 years before having an abdominoplasty. There may be some scarring with this procedure.

(Body Fat Percentage Calculator for Men and Women)

Surgery obviously is best discussed with the appropriate health professionals. It involves a number of different procedures but in its essence it means to surgically remove the skin by cutting it off. Body contouring surgery is an expensive and serious surgery requiring a long recovery time.

Vitamins and Supplements

Compression Garments

Often used after surgery to minimize inflammation, compression garments can provide support for excess skin on your stomach.

Lose Weight Slower

Diet and Nutrition

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Citing Information and Page References

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Cite This Page (APA): Langtree, I. C. (2014, May 27 - Last revised: 2021, December 3). Get Rid of Flabby Loose Skin After Weight Loss. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved February 16, 2025 from www.disabled-world.com/fitness/diets/bodyfat/flab.php

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