Hi,
From May to August of 2003 I lost 50 lbs (252 to 200, and then steadied off at around 207), and i was wondering when all this loose skin will shrink, right around the waste i have incredible love handles, and my nipples are like half an inch below my pecs. Is there anything that can be done about it, besides surgery, and what are the avg times that most of you had to deal with till the skin shrunk back down?
I am only 20 years old.
Thanks for the help

Hi,

At 20 years old, I would think that over the next five years if you keep a good diet and constant fitness routine things will tighten up quite a bit. The genetics of our skin determines how well it will snap back so it's tough to predict for any given person.

I'd be curious to see if you went down to 180# for a while and went back to 200# would the skin be tighter? I went from 200 to 175 and felt a bit loose. But gaining muscle and going back to 180 seemed to tighten my skin (albeit I still feel "loose" skin on me)

As for products, I know that a lot of women use cocoa butter (vitamin E) lotions to remove stretch marks and tighten skin, but I don't know how well it works. Also, some bodybuilders you yohimburn (http://www.yohimburn.com) and talk about how great it is, but at the price ($60/bottle) and little scientific evidence I'm not giving it a shot.

I really think gaining muscle would be the key to tightening up in the long run.

Steve

yea, problem is i have been trying to get down to around 190, but havent had any success at all, and also i cant add much more weight in muscle, because of navy weight restrictions