another question about loose skin

stretch marks i can handle ....but from what i have read online loose skin can be tightened up completely by continuing the cardio and strength training core...or going lower then a persons desired bmi? The reason i ask because my true goal is to achieve an 8 pack so i wont give up nomatter what

Skin just takes time to tighten back up - it can't be rushed. If you've lost weight too quickly, it might be more noticeable.

Don't drop below a healthy BMI for a potentially unachievable goal - not everyone has the genetics for a 6-pack, let alone an 8.

I've heard that the damage can be irreparable though...is this wrong? I've let myself come to accept the fact that some of the damage I've done to my body will always haunt me..i.e. some loose skin/stretch marks.  Am I wrong about this?

hmm what if i can see the outline of the 6 pack right now? and yes i did lose the weight fast at least the first 50 the 35 i lost slowly.

You sounds like you were in a similar situation to what I'm in right now.  Sorry I can't really help much with your question but I'm 17 yo, 6' tall, and started at 249 lbs.  My goal is to get down to 160 lbs and right now I'm at 216.2 lbs.  My ultimate goal is to get a 6 pack.  I don't think you should go to an unhealthy BMI but I can see what you're saying about going a little lower than your long term desired bmi.  that way your skin would contract better thinking you're going to be smaller and then gaining some weight back to get up to your desired BMI to fill out the stretched skin, that makes sense to me.

Long story short... if you have stretch marks, that skin will never be as tight as it would have been if you had not been heavier before.  Over time (years sometimes for maximim retraction) your skin does recover alot as long as you don't have other fators like peniculi or poor circulation, but once it is stretched it will never be the sacme. 

And I am not even sure that doing abs will ever make our skin tighten or ever give us our wanted 6-8 pack look.  However, I am increasing my ab workouts all the time, adding new routines, and continuing to hope that ab exercises will help get rid of some of my loose skin around the belly button.  When I am standing, my stomach doesn't look super fat, but when I am sitting down or riding the exercise bike, it's as if I never lost an ounce of fat from my  belly of 6 months ago. 

syco33:  I think with time your loose skin will conform to your abs when you get them the way you want them.  There is not enough time left for me, but like the Great Gatsby I will beat on, a boat against the current and strive for the near to impossible.

i have lost about 20kg (44lbs) since the end of 2006, which is considerable for someone of my height. i did have some loose skin on my stomach, which bothered me a lot and made me self concious about wearing bikinis or midriff tops. the skin hung like a roll and caused a shadow/dent i used to hide by wearing high pants. i also had a really annoying stretch mark caused by deflated skin right next to my belly button. i started using bio oil, and eventually a mixture of bio oil and palmers strech mark cream twice a day. at night, i apply the mixture and wrap myself in cling wrap. in the morning, i reapply, then cover with a girdle type thing under my clothes all day. my skin has tightened up sooo much. i've posted a before and after pic of my stomach in my profile. 

the tightening may also be partly due to a change in my exercise routine. i now do circuit training 3-5 times a week, weight training twice a week, a 3.5 - 4km run twice a week, and until recently was also playing netball (similar to basketball) twice a week. i was already doing the circuit and weight training when the before pic was taken, but the running is something i've probably only been doing for the past 3 or 4 months. 

i should also add, although there's been tremendous improvement in the skin tension, it's still probably not as tight as someone who has never been overweight. i can see that there is still a little bit of laxity when i bend forwards. but overall, the improvement is amazing, and even my friends and my spray tan lady have noticed the difference.

bunnigrrl:  Great advice and info.  If only I were 20 years younger--but, then, 20 years ago I didn' t have the big belly I got rid of this year.  I think you give some good ideas and optimism to people who want to get rid of loose skin, even if it is going to take a while.  Good job on the abs, too.

thank you bunnigrrl I will try the cling rap and girdle. i have been using palmer's cocoa butter formula with vitamin e skin therapy oil daily. As far as the cardio goes i walk to and from the gym 7 days a week takes a total of 80-90 minutes. I then work out about 1 hour on cardio at the gym alternating between the eliptical, treadmill, stairmaster, and bicycle. Half an hour on one of those then later the second half an hour on one of those all at pretty darn high resistances. (I follow up each half an hour with ab workouts, and pull-ups and have been adding this routine for the past week or so, usually lasts for another 20-30 minutes). Weight training is also included lasts me about 1 hour and half alternating between diff target muscles.

It looks like its going to take a while for me because the lower part of my stomach droops when i do push-ups and there are alot of stretch marks on it too. (about 16)