What is having loose skin like?

I'm just wondering because I'm starting to think I might be getting it, and I don't really want to need a tummy tuck or something in the future.. I'm only looking to lose about 20lbs or so more, and I've lost ~25lbs. Most of my weight loss has been with lifestyle changes and eating less. I definitely exercise more than I used to, but its never from intentional things like going for runs or going to the gym etc.

As of the past week or so I've been feeling pretty, well... jiggly. And maybe a little bloated, but the latter has to do with monthly lady things.

I've weighed around 5lbs or so lighter than I am currently, but then virtually all the weight loss was through a ton of exercise (which obviously wasn't realistic for long term loss).

I've lost these past 25lbs or so pretty fast.. since around Jan11th... which wasn't at all intentional, but number wise and feeling wise I'm fine. Obviously the weight loss has slowed down, which I'm fine with, since I was averaging more than 2lbs a week for a while which scared the hell out of me.

Is this super jiggly feeling my skin being a tad too loose? I know I really could use some toning up, but will it stay like that if I don't bulk up muscle wise? Or, since I'm only 20 will it get better? My weight has varied a lot in my life, and I have some stretch marks.. but they're hardly visible and were from when I was a bit younger.

The guys like this new squishyness I guess... I make a good pillow, but I've seen what people look like with really really loose skin, and I know I don't even have enough to lose to look like that, but I'm sort of worried about it.

Consider, first, it might be in your head. That's not me being mean, honestly! But I doubt you're at all "jiggly". At 20 it's likely your skin will still have plenty of elasticity so I wouldn't worry much either way.

25lbs since the 11th of Jan is a rate of loss of, on average, a bit over 3lbs a week... which is pretty rapid given a healthy and sustainable rate is about 2lbs tops. Are you eating enough for what you do? The minimum intake for a woman under 21 is 1500, remember, and that's sedentary.

Yeah I'm eating enough. At least I think so... Probably between 1700-2000 on most days. There have been days where I've definitely probably eaten closer to 2500-3000 though between grandparents mailing cookies and getting cold stone.... I might have been a little under when I had the flue recently, but that didn't last long. I eat whenever I'm hungry, I can't count calories very easily as I live in dorm. And over 3lbs a week doesn't sound right at all. Maybe I'm getting my starting date mixed up or something. Or I'm just too tired to do simple math. Regardless.. I know I've been losing a lot father than I should be - which has been reasonable cause for concern.

As for the rate I've been losing... earlier this week or so I made a post showing a bit of concern over it.. for the most part people just said to go with it.

Could it just be that since I'm smaller my tummy doesn't have the fat on it to prevent it from crinkling up more when I move, so I just feel jiggly? If its all in my head I'm more than ok with that. It just feels really weird, thats all.

I know I eat a lot of eggs, orange juice, whole grains, and potatoes in the cafeteria.. I've never regularly eaten eggs before.. so I've wondered about that. Its sort of been driving me crazy.

Odd. Keep tabs on it - rapid weight loss can be a sign of an underlying problem so if it keeps up or doesn't slow at all I'd take it to your doctor. Are you taking anything that could result in weight loss as a side effect?

The 'flu could've affected it. I worked out 3lbs-ish on average - you might've lost water weight when you began or more in the weeks of being ill and less on others.

Yeah, I'm on some prescriptions that can both cause weight loss.. but I looked at the graphs from studies done on it and the weight usually is over halfway back by the end of 3 months.. and I've been on them more than that.

And yeah, its definitely slowed down. The only other thing I can really think of to account for it is that, for the most part, I have pretty bad insomnia (hence me posting here at 3am my time) and even though I'm usually trying to sleep in one way or another, with 8am classes I probably move, on average, more than most people do durning "resting hours". I know long term it could have an effect.. but it in no way accounts for this.

I mean, I'm not unhappy with the loss. But I've never felt 'jiggly' before (I really have no clue how else to word it). If it is medically related (my dad has hypothyroidism, but not hyperthyroidism) are there any things other than weight loss I should look out for?

Having been on the weight loss trip around that age, I can say from my own experience that younger skin was better about springing back into the right form after a few months of maintenence. 

I got a bit loose looking, nothing bad, so I kept exercising and eating well and it slowly became part of me again.

Try not to do like I did and put it all back on as you get older... it's definately different.  My body is much slower to "spring" back, heal and lose weight.  It's way harder than it was when I was 20.

My 2 cents...

I started losing weight at 16. I'm almost 20 now, and 80 pounds lighter. Age has helped tremendously- my skin is much more elastic now than it will be at 40. However, because of the large amount of weight I lost, I am "squishy". I only weigh 125 pounds, but my stomach doesn't lay flat- I have a bit of a pouch because of the fat that used to lay nestled under the skin. My breasts have also taken their toll: they lay like deflated balloons, the growth stretch marks now faded but ever prominent since there is nothing filling them out. You can honestly grab parts of me and pull the skin away from my body.

All that being said, I am aware there is still time for my skin to spring back. We're young, and with that comes great advantage. Loose skin isn't something to be afraid of, and it isn't as bad or ugly as I may have just made it seem.

It makes us soft, and dare I say- feminine? It's entirely possible that with rapid weight loss your skin is "crinkly' due to the fact that there is not longer fat smoothing it out. Give 'er time.