Losing weight is an accomplishment that can help improve your health and appearance. The downside is that your skin may stretch out leaving you with a loose and sagging outward appearance once you reach desired weight. The wherewithal to tighten your skin is largely determined by your age and genes. The number of pounds you lost, the length of time you carried the excess weight and the speed at which you shed the pounds are also factors. Diet, nutrition and exercise may help tighten your loose skin.
Diet
You can firm and tighten loose skin by eating certain foods after you lose weight. A low-fat diet that includes lean protein foods can help reduce excess skin. Lean proteins include foods such as beans, eggs and chicken, which contain less than 1 gram of fat and 35 calories in a one-ounce serving.
It is also important to drink plenty of fluids. You can prevent sagging and loose skin by drinking eight glasses of water daily. Incorporating water-rich foods such as watermelon and cucumbers into your diet can also help you stay hydrated. Sports drinks are also necessary because they can help replace the electrolytes your body loses when you exercise.
Exfoliate
Another way to tighten loose skin is to exfoliate your skin daily. This will help get rid of the outer layer of dead skin tissue. It will also give your skin a healthy and more youthful glow by improving circulation and promoting the growth of new skin cells.
You can exfoliate your skin while bathing. One way to do this is to take an hour-long bath in warm water. Sprinkle some sea salt into your bath water. This will help eliminate toxins from your body. Your muscles will relax and your skin will tighten.
Exercise
Regular exercise can also help firm your skin. It will help strengthen and tighten your muscles. This will help improve the elasticity of your skin and prevent sagging. You can do this by lifting weights and by doing other forms of resistance training. You can get results by working out twice a week for at least 20 minutes.
Another benefit of regular exercise is that it helps you reduce your overall level of body fat. Replacing the fat you lost with muscle can help keep your skin firm and prevent sagging.
Vitamins
Vitamins are good for the skin and can help keep it firm. Vitamins A, C and E help support the production of collagen, which helps the skin maintain its elasticity. Zinc also helps the body make collagen.
References
- iFit & Healthy: How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss
- Body Building: Battling Loose Skin, Stretch Marks, Gyno and Winning!
- Health & Fitness: Tips for Tightening Skin After Weight Loss
- Become Gorgeous: Tighten Skin After Losing Weight
- Mayo Clinic: Strength Training: Get Stronger, Leaner, Healthier
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Food Exchange Lists
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