This has by far been my most requested post and most frequently asked question...so here it is everyone.
How do I/we tighten our skin and keep it from sagging?
It is actually very, very simple but first you have to understand a little bit about the skin tightening process. When I first started exercising I thought that my skin would bounce back as fast as my weight came off. WRONG! I have extremely poor skin elasticity, hence the stretch marks I got when I was twelve. It seemed like it took my skin forever to tighten up even remotely the first time. This time around, however, I know how the process works and what to do to encourage my skin to tighten up.
The above pictures are one week apart. The left was first thing in the morning (when my stomach was at its flattest) and the right was at about noon, after three meals, closer up, and in florescent light (which shows everything). You can see that my skin is not drooping at the bottom of my stomach like it was and the skin on either side of my stretch marks is not near as wrinkly as it was before. There are several avenues I take to help encourage my skin to tighten.
First: Drink at least one gallon of water a day. The more hydrated your skin the better the elasticity so drink up! I drink 1-1/2 gallons a day but a gallon is plenty.
Second: Exfoliate like crazy! I have use all kinds of exfoliating products from creams to brushes to mittens. What works best for me is the cheap scrub from Wal-Mart.
This is what I am currently using. It works really well for me & smells really good but any exfoliating product will due. Exfoliating helps remove your dry skin while increasing the blood flow to the targeted area and encouraging new elastic skin growth!
Third: Preparation H. I am going to be totally honest, I am not sure of the science behind how it works but I do know that it does work. TJ (my husband) swears by it. We have tried a couple of the less expensive "store" brand hemorrhoid creams but you definitely want to go with the Extra Strength Preparation H because out of all of them it works the best. Apply it before you go to bed every night.
Fourth: Lift, Lift, Lift. When I started lifting weights everything tightened up. My husband had one stubborn area (bottom of his rear) that just would not get tight and after focusing on doing more exercises targeting that area (squats, leg press, lunges) he no longer has any loose skin.
Fifth: Eat a healthy diet. Do Not Yo-Yo. Losing and gaining repeatedly is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. focus on losing weight slowly and steadily if possible. Trust me this will make it way easier on you when it comes to skin tightening.
Have you ever tried those wraps? Do they work?
The answer is yes, I have tried them. Did they work for me? I suppose if I were looking for temporary results they worked great. TJ and I both gave them a try and our skin was tighter after each treatment, however, the results do not last. I personally think they're a waste of money unless you want to look good for a weekend at the beach or something like that.
How long did it take for your skin to tighten?
The results above are a weeks difference. Though the results aren't staggering, they're lasting and getting better every single week. Tightening your skin is going to require patience and the ability to celebrate the small victories.
