How do I lose the extra skin?

I've been a member of CC.com for a while now, but haven't tracked my progress or anything, as I am not at all overweight. However, I have a bit of extra extra around my middle. I suppose I am what is called a plateau stage at the moment, and have been fluctuating from 155-165 pounds for a while now.

My question: I have lost about 50 pounds since I first started eating healthy and exercising a few years ago, and that has left me with a bit of skin/fat around my middle I just cannot seem to get rid of. I am only 17, and stretchmarks at my age are just not cool. Will the stretchmarks and extra skin ever dissappear if I lose more weight?

You're young which means your skin is super elastic, so that's in your favor. I'm no expert but I would imagine that you should still experience some skin shrinkage. How fast did you lose the weight? I'm told that the slower you lose weight the less excess skin your will have. I'm testing out the theory myself.

Stretch marks...sorry friend but they are here to stay. They will fade from red to white and become less noticeable. If it makes you feel better, at your age I had plenty around my abdomen, arms, hips and breasts.

Sorry kiddo, but the stretch marks are here to stay, they may fade some though. The extra skin depends on how long you had it, how stretched it was, etc... I was reading an article that compared it to a trash bag. Example, new trash bag, fill it up, it stretches, take trash out of it, it will go back down to its original size. At some point when the bag is filled up, it actually overstretches and will not return to its prior state. Luckily for you, you are young and still growing, maturing. You don't have 20-30 years of a full trash bag and are now trying to empty it. Cheers to you for eating healthy and exercising.

I like that trash bag analogy.
I haven't heard of this stuff in awhile...but Vitamin K lotion is supposed to help stretch marks (I'm sure it doesn't make them dissappear) but you might want to look into it.

You should really read this article about the MYTH of loose skin

http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm

As far as the stretch marks.. us girls have all got them all over the place, I really wouldn't worry about them, just moisturize them lots and they will fade to where you almost can't see them.

Having a tan helps hide them too :)

The tan thing is true - just don't overdo it in the sun!

Another thing that I find helps the stretch marks fade a tad is cocoa butter. It smells great too! Your skin takes a good month to "bounce" back after losing weight. Don't you worry! It'll catch up.

I have to tell you, I was your age when I had my child (young, I know, but still applies here). I was on the low side of a healthy weight when I got pregnant and had to gain more weight than doctors usually advise. I used cocoa butter and all kinds of other things while I was pregnant to minimize stretch marks and loose skin.

After I had him, I lost all of the weight (50 lbs.) within the first month. It's been almost five years and while gaining weight again helped, those stretch marks only faded from bright red pits to deep pink chasms and the loose skin hasn't gone anywhere.

I realize that isn't much help, but I had a lot of people tell me all those remedies would help and the truth is they don't help everyone. I'm very self-conscious about the stretch marks on my stomach. Being 17 and having horrid stretch marks is not easy. For your sake, I hope they do go away!

My stretch marks from pregnancy have mostly faded to be indetectible.  However, I had twins and my skin is loose and marbly.  Since the twins are 8, I doubt it's going to change.  But I was 32 when I had them, so you have a much better chance.  I bet your skin will shrink right up.

Original Post by blanknoir:

You should really read this article about the MYTH of loose skin

http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm

As far as the stretch marks.. us girls have all got them all over the place, I really wouldn't worry about them, just moisturize them lots and they will fade to where you almost can't see them.

Having a tan helps hide them too :)

I just read that article and I agree with blanknoir, or at least now I have some more hope.  The one thing that you are going to need for sure is PATIENCE.  Like the article says, skin is a living organ and will adapt.  Keep up the great work and just be patient.  I know it's a pain, waiting, I've had two children (last one in 2002) and I'm still waiting for the skin to work it self back.  It's a slow process, but it can happen!