There are a number of benefits to losing weight including improved health and more self-confidence. However, if you have experienced significant weight loss, you may have encountered a negative effect: loose skin that hangs over your pants or off your arms. Although your skin is elastic, it may not be stretchy enough to support sudden weight loss, especially losing more than 50 lbs. in a few months, which is common in bariatric surgery patients. If you experience loose skin, there is hope. By maintaining your skin health and toning the muscles under your loose skin, you can experience some skin rebounding that improves its appearance.
Step 1
Wear exercise clothing that helps to compress your skin. Following weight loss, excess skin can make exercising uncomfortable. You may feel as if your skin is hindering you. Compression athletic clothes for problems areas, such as a long-sleeve shirt for arms or compression leggings, hold in loose skin. Find a material that helps to wick sweat away. You can then layer in more breathable clothing, such as a t-shirt or loose-fitting shorts.
Step 2
Start a weight-training program to build the muscles under your loose skin. Weight training helps to build your muscle mass, making the skin appear more toned. If you are a beginning exerciser, seek a personal trainer to advise you on proper weightlifting techniques.
Step 3
Lift weights or use resistance bands at least three times per week. Focus on full-body exercises that tone the entire body in several effective movements. Examples include holding weights while you squat, then returning to standing and performing a bicep curl. Even small movements like crawling on your stomach or using your hands and feet to walk across a room can be beneficial.
Step 4
Stick to your diet and consume plenty of healthy skin nutrients like lean proteins and colorful fruits and vegetables, rich in vitamins. These foods are essential for skin repair and help it manufacture elastic fibers that improve your skin's appearance. If your weight loss is the result of bariatric surgery, carefully follow your post-surgery diet for good health and healthy skin.
Tips and Warnings
- While it can be difficult to patiently wait for your skin to be tighter, it can take up to two years for the skin to tighten to its maximum tightness following weight loss. After this time period has passed, this will typically be as tight as your skin will be following weight loss.
- In some instances, steps to tone the skin after weight loss may not be sufficient. This is especially true if your weight loss was dramatic -- more than 50 to 100 lbs. If this is the case, plastic surgery to remove and tighten excess skin can serve as an alternative option for skin tightening.
Things You'll Need
- Compression exercise clothing
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