Hcg and loose skin?

[KOO]

Is there anyone who doesn't find that they have loose skin now that they have lost the weight with hcg? I find now that I am getting closer to goal weight (actually have more to lose), I have loose skin on my arms, neck, and my legs aren't as muscular as before. I see where people who gain back are saying they gained back plus more. On the Doctors show today, Travis was talking about liquid diets (not hcg, but more what Oprah did), saying how you lose muscle then when you gain back you gain back more fat because you don't have the muscle you did earlier to help burn calories. I am wondering about the truth in this and maybe that is what we are seeing with the hcg. I am in P4 now and going to start working out and see if I can tone up some before embarking on another round. I was just curious to everyone else's observation as far as the weightloss and loose skin. I need to hear of some positive changes in skin tone.

[C'Marie]

Koo, it's hard to say for me, because I was so heavy for so long, of course my skin is going to sag. Also, I'm 50 now, not 30 or younger like some of the people here, so the collagen issue is age-related. But I can tell you, if you lose a tremendous amount of weight doing anything, your body does get rid of a little muscle because you simply don't need as much muscle to carry around less weight. I am definitely in proportion to where I was when younger, and actually a better shape at a higher weight. I really do believe the hcg protocol is somewhat muscle sparing. But age and other things do take their toll.

I'm sure you'll get other opinions, but that is mine in a nutshell. Yes, I have less muscle now than when I was under 30. I am working on PT to rebuild as much as I can.

My upper body skin is pretty good, it's mostly the lower tummy and the legs that are floppier than I would like. I went for a plastic surgeon consult and she was amazed at my upper body, face, arms, ribs, waist and upper tummy and said, "HOW much have you lost?"

[KOO]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

Koo, it's hard to say for me, because I was so heavy for so long, of course my skin is going to sag. Also, I'm 50 now, not 30 or younger like some of the people here, so the collagen issue is age-related. But I can tell you, if you lose a tremendous amount of weight doing anything, your body does get rid of a little muscle because you simply don't need as much muscle to carry around less weight. I am definitely in proportion to where I was when younger, and actually a better shape at a higher weight. I really do believe the hcg protocol is somewhat muscle sparing. But age and other things do take their toll.

I'm sure you'll get other opinions, but that is mine in a nutshell. Yes, I have less muscle now than when I was under 30. I am working on PT to rebuild as much as I can.

My upper body skin is pretty good, it's mostly the lower tummy and the legs that are floppier than I would like. I went for a plastic surgeon consult and she was amazed at my upper body, face, arms, ribs, waist and upper tummy and said, "HOW much have you lost?"

Thanks C'Marie! I make 49 this year so at the same place as you are as far as age. I feel like I have less muscle than just last year. I have only lost @ 20 net pounds on the Hcg over two rounds, but just hoping it has been mostly fat and not all muscle.

Congrats on your loss with it and that is awesome your plastic surgeon was amazed with how well you've done.

[C'Marie]

I have heard that taking msm in larger amounts helps with skin shrinkage. Sometimes I take it for pain so I don't know if it would help taking it intermittantly or not. I take it in my coffee, granules, a scoop is like 5k and it won't hurt you, it's what is in green leafy veggies. Some folks swear by it on another forum I'm on.

[KOO]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

I have heard that taking msm in larger amounts helps with skin shrinkage. Sometimes I take it for pain so I don't know if it would help taking it intermittantly or not. I take it in my coffee, granules, a scoop is like 5k and it won't hurt you, it's what is in green leafy veggies. Some folks swear by it on another forum I'm on.

Thank you. What brand are you using that comes in granules? Does it taste okay. I googled and it said to take 1g for skin. The liquid on netrition is only 150mg per TB. The reviews says the taste is pleasant though. Unfortunately, I can't swallow pills so capsules are out of the question.

[Millenia98]

I don't have tons and tons of loose skin, but I do have some. For most people who lose close to 150lbs, I've seen major saggage. For me, I don't have that. I have some loose skin on my arms and some between my legs/belly. I've worked out and lifted weights the entire time I dieted so that may be why.

[C'Marie]

Koo, I take the kind in granules, it comes in a plastic container with a lid about the size of a jar. There are lots of brands of it, mine is pretty cheap and 16 oz Swanson brand. I put it in homemade stevia lemonade and the bitterness of it actually is refreshing. One scoop is 5k so you'd get alot of 1k servings out of something like that. When I use it for pain control, I use like 3 scoops at a time. I also put it in coffee and don't mind it there either.

[yellowhair11]

I guess i am the old lady here ! (60 in May) I specifically went on this diet because of the good things i heard about non sagging-wrinkles. I am only on day 2 of vlcd and when i feel better i may start some mild firming exercises like Callanetics-some face exercise too. Im going to get some msm now i think. I lost weight slowly on WW - 40 pounds or so and it did age me (alot). Then i gained it all back-so i figure i can't be afraid of the fast weight loss and hope for the best.

[KOO]

Originally Posted by C'Marie

Koo, I take the kind in granules, it comes in a plastic container with a lid about the size of a jar. There are lots of brands of it, mine is pretty cheap and 16 oz Swanson brand. I put it in homemade stevia lemonade and the bitterness of it actually is refreshing. One scoop is 5k so you'd get alot of 1k servings out of something like that. When I use it for pain control, I use like 3 scoops at a time. I also put it in coffee and don't mind it there either.

Will look into the Swanson brand.

Originally Posted by yellowhair11

I guess i am the old lady here ! (60 in May) I specifically went on this diet because of the good things i heard about non sagging-wrinkles. I am only on day 2 of vlcd and when i feel better i may start some mild firming exercises like Callanetics-some face exercise too. Im going to get some msm now i think. I lost weight slowly on WW - 40 pounds or so and it did age me (alot). Then i gained it all back-so i figure i can't be afraid of the fast weight loss and hope for the best.

I listened when they said not to exercise in P2. I think if I did it over again, I'd at least walk everyday. Good luck with your round. I hope you can come back in a month and give us a good report on your weightloss and your skintone.

[KOO]

Originally Posted by Millenia98

I don't have tons and tons of loose skin, but I do have some. For most people who lose close to 150lbs, I've seen major saggage. For me, I don't have that. I have some loose skin on my arms and some between my legs/belly. I've worked out and lifted weights the entire time I dieted so that may be why.

Congrats to you on your fantastic loss! That is great that you are not seeing major sagging.

I was hoping more people would come in and say this, that they are not seeing the saggy skin.

[moonriver]

I've lost 50 and not sagging. Have about another 50 to go, but so far so good!

Oh and I'm 50..errr 52.

[txladymedic]

Granted I'm in the 30's age range but I have not noticed any sagging after 100lb loss on HCG. I was told that part of the key to reducing the amount of sagging was making sure you drink LOTS AND LOTS of water. My Mom is in her 70's and has lost about 50 lbs so far on the HCG, her arms were saggy already but she does not notice any additional saggyness since her lost thus far.

[SueQ]

I'm 44 and have lost 84 lbs. I have what may end up being some saggy skin on my lower abdomen, but I have another 20 lbs to lose all from that area. There is definitely fat left, it isn't just skin. Considering I've lost 84 lbs, I'm pretty happy with the tone of my body overall. None anywhere else and I've lost a lot of inches on my chest, waist, arms, calves, thighs and neck.

I recently started using a contouring gel, and I do skin brushing and I also think taking breaks for P3 between rounds gives my body a chance to firm up. I use lotions, coconut oil and do massages on my remaining fatty areas. If I have some lose skin when it is all done, I'll accept it gratefully and forgo a vacation one year in lieu of some plastic surgery, if it bothers me. I do think I'll take at least 6 months to make sure it bothers me enough to make that worth it. I've come too far to live with something I'm not happy with, but I'm pretty damn happy with how I look today compared to a year ago

[KOO]

Thanks ladies. I have started reading up on that contouring gel and going to try the MSM and exercise and hope that I am happier when bathing suit weather is here. I felt comfortable in my bathing suit last year and now this year I am give or take 20 lbs. less and don't feel good about how I look.

[yellowhair11]

This morning i dry brushed my skin and did a very few callanetics exercises. I also rubbed some pure collagen gel on my belly, upper arms, and face. I did not see any oil listed on the tube. I put some hand weights on my desk at work so when i feel better i will work on the the underarm flab.

[Arctic_Mama]

It wasn't all lost with hCG (first 60 came off slowly, with calorie counting) but I'm down about 80 pounds from my high non-pregnant weight and other than some saggy breast and belly skin, with clothes on I look completely normal. Most of my sagging is due to babies, not weight loss, and a lot is genetic. I get terrible stretchmarks and don't have particularly elastic skin, so expecting it to look perfect when I lose another 50 pounds is highly unlikely. However the longer one maintains the better skin gets, and of the weight loss methods I have used the protocol is incredibly well balanced to minimize lean losses and keep fat loss to the parts I actually want to lose, not the deposits under my skin.

I didn't work out this last P2 and noticed little difference, but this go around I have a daily routine I am used to again and so I will be continuing it, unless I think I don't have the energy for it.