Newbie question about loose skin

Howdy! My husband reluctantly roped me into doing this crazy Atkins
thing with him a few months ago after me watching his weight fall off
and getting no such results with my own efforts, and since then I've
become a convert. I've gone from 245 to 207 in about four months, and
he's gone from 373 to 299 in six months (you can tell who's been a
little more cheaty with low-carb candies there!

But other than the fact that we've got no clothes that fit us anymore,
we do have a concern. What do people do about the loose skin? I've got
a couple places that I like to call "blowout areas" where my skin just
gave out at my top weight (about 285) that don't seem to be getting
any less big or saggy no matter how much I lose, quickly or slowly,
Atkins or not, excercise or couch-potatoing. My concern areas are my
upper arms and upper thighs (surprisingly, my stomach and "pooch"
despite pregnancies and childbirths seem to be getting down, but maybe
I just expected less from that area so I'm seeing more) and he's
worried about the skin around his face and on his chest.

I was looking around on the web and the only advice that people seem
to have is either "drink your water and pray" or "get surgery." Is
there really no treatment for loose skin? I found a site shilling
something called "Dynique" that had an admittedly impressive-looking
picture of a guy who had been soaking in baths of the stuff on one
side of his body, but I'm inclined to think that anything like this is
right down there with the "Miracle Cellulite Cream" type stuff in
terms of bogusness. I also saw a lot of mentions of herbal wraps and
soaks that you could get at spas that claimed to firm skin, but being
able to afford regular trips to the spa isn't really in our budget in
this lifetime. So I went to the store to see if there were any
skin-firming bath soaks that I could just walk into a store and buy
and was surprised to see while there were relaxation baths and firming
lotions, there wasn't even a product CLAIMING to firm skin through
bath soaks. Is it possible that just the act of soaking in a bath in
some kind of moisturizing agent might help return some elasticity? Is
it just me, or are these companies missing out on a huge market by not
just tossing some herbs, collagen and elastin into some bath beads? I
bought some bath salts just to try out the whole soaking thing, but
I'm finding it hard to find the time for regular long baths between
two kids and a job. Or should I just either drink my water and cross
my fingers or learn to love my flabby bat-arms?

--Pook! ^_^

In article ,
says...
Howdy! My husband reluctantly roped me into doing this crazy Atkins
thing with him a few months ago after me watching his weight fall off
and getting no such results with my own efforts, and since then I've
become a convert. I've gone from 245 to 207 in about four months, and
he's gone from 373 to 299 in six months (you can tell who's been a
little more cheaty with low-carb candies there!

But other than the fact that we've got no clothes that fit us anymore,
we do have a concern. What do people do about the loose skin? I've got
a couple places that I like to call "blowout areas" where my skin just
gave out at my top weight (about 285) that don't seem to be getting
any less big or saggy no matter how much I lose, quickly or slowly,
Atkins or not, excercise or couch-potatoing. My concern areas are my
upper arms and upper thighs (surprisingly, my stomach and "pooch"
despite pregnancies and childbirths seem to be getting down, but maybe
I just expected less from that area so I'm seeing more) and he's
worried about the skin around his face and on his chest.

I was looking around on the web and the only advice that people seem
to have is either "drink your water and pray" or "get surgery." Is
there really no treatment for loose skin? I found a site shilling
something called "Dynique" that had an admittedly impressive-looking
picture of a guy who had been soaking in baths of the stuff on one
side of his body, but I'm inclined to think that anything like this is
right down there with the "Miracle Cellulite Cream" type stuff in
terms of bogusness. I also saw a lot of mentions of herbal wraps and
soaks that you could get at spas that claimed to firm skin, but being
able to afford regular trips to the spa isn't really in our budget in
this lifetime. So I went to the store to see if there were any
skin-firming bath soaks that I could just walk into a store and buy
and was surprised to see while there were relaxation baths and firming
lotions, there wasn't even a product CLAIMING to firm skin through
bath soaks. Is it possible that just the act of soaking in a bath in
some kind of moisturizing agent might help return some elasticity? Is
it just me, or are these companies missing out on a huge market by not
just tossing some herbs, collagen and elastin into some bath beads? I
bought some bath salts just to try out the whole soaking thing, but
I'm finding it hard to find the time for regular long baths between
two kids and a job. Or should I just either drink my water and cross
my fingers or learn to love my flabby bat-arms?

--Pook! ^_^

I know how you feel. Sometimes I look at myself and think I'd make a
pretty damn passable flying squirrel.
--
Single malt scotch is awesome (NO it does NOT have carbs as DON'T vodka,
gin, rum, bourbon, etc generally)
Malt can be made low carb through the judicious use of yeast.


370/307/270

Email: Actually my feet are big not medium.

Pook! wrote:
But other than the fact that we've got no clothes that fit us anymore,
we do have a concern. What do people do about the loose skin?

There's nothing much you can do for loose skin, except try to fill
it out somewhat with building muscle, and wait. It will continue to
shrink somewhat for a year or even two after you're done losing weight.
How much it will shrink depends on your age, your genetics, and how
damaged (stretch marks) the skin is.

Lotions or herbal wraps applied to the outside will not help. The
moisture barrier below the outer dead layer of cells prevents things
you put on the outside from getting into the live layers of skin.
(Except for a few specific substances, like the carriers in nicotine
patches and other medical patches)

--
jamie )

"There's a seeker born every minute."

"Pook!" wrote in message =
...
.. My concern areas are my
upper arms and upper thighs (surprisingly, my stomach and "pooch"
worried about the skin around his face and on his chest.=20
snip=20
--Pook! ^_^

Hah!!know all about that - I have 2 areas - upper arms and tummy where =
the loose skin just wobbles around. I have been working out for ages and =
the muscles underneath are lovely and toned. you just can't see it for =
the yucky flabby skin!!!
The cure is Lycra!!! Just wear nice tight jeans and the flab =
mysteriously vanishes!!! I now have a lovely flat tummy when fully =
dressed =20
I also tend to wear 3/4 length sleeves as these are much more =
flattering.
In the mean time keep exercising and after every bath or shower, slather =
on body cream with vitamin E in as this certainly helps with stretch =
marks and my skin is a lot softer now.


--=20
Elise
223/157/133
Atkins since 27/03/03
UK
http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/elisebutt