Thanks to all of you men and women who promptly answered my weight loss question. Now I have one more, if I complete an AT thru-hike and lose so much weight very rapidly, will I have what they call “loose skin”, like when excess skin hangs from the body. For you that didn’t read my prior post, I am 5’10" and 275 pounds, so I have a lot of meat to lose. Thanks to everyone, Happy Holidays.
Jim Sanders
Dear Jim,
At 5’11, 235 pounds, losing 40 pounds in 4 months by minimal walking, and dropping down to 194, my skin was perfect. No sag, no loose skin, no nothing. Perfect.
After the next 40 pounds are gone, I expect exactly the same result.
Alphonse Deluxe
Alphonse Deluxe
You might. It seems likely but dont worry about it. Did you know that those extra flaps of skin have almost NO blood vessels in them? You could EASILY trim off loose skin yourself. I wouldn’t try it on the trail because you need to watch for infection but it is perfectly reasonable to do it at home in a sterile environment. The best way is to gather the loose skin in one location (like your waist line) and snip it off with a very sharp pair of kitchen shears. The wound will be slight because there are so few blood vessels. If the cut wants to seperate you can easily hold it together for a few days with simple medical staples that can be found in any proper first aid kit. Another option is to seal the wound with heat. If you get the scissors red hot on the stove first they will not only cut easier but they will also seal up the wound. You will need welders gloves so the handle doesnt burn you. The heat will ruin the temper on the metal so it wont hold an edge anymore but they aren’t very expensive. There shouldn’t be much pain but if you are concerned you can buy topical numbing agents at the pharmacy. Try orajell or anything else that claims to stop tooth pain.
Jimmy Deans Sausage
Are you nuts? Just because I asked a question doesn’t mean i’m stupid. What you typed about cutting off excess skin yourself is the stupidest thing i’ve ever heard. I’m not about to try that, and until you have an MD after your name i don’t believe i’m going to listen to your medical opinions.
Jim Sanders
There is really very little risk performing this proceedure yourself. If you are careful about where you make the cut the scarring will be minimal. Best to put it somewhere like your waistline so your pants will cover it. I am quite serious. Hundereds of people have done this themselves with no serious complications. Google it. You will find many sites dedicated to this and other home surgery techniques.
Jimmy Deans Sausage M.D.
hi there,
i hiked the pct this year and i lost a grand total of 64 pounds over the 5 1/2 months it took me to hike the trail. i am 6’1" and started at 244 pounds and i had absolutely no loose or flabby skin at the end or anytime inbetween. this is because your body is working and excersising all day long just about everysingle day so all that flab tightens right up against all the muscles you start building. it really is an amazing thing to think about, it is almost like our skin is made out of elastic. but dont fret about having flabby skin, it wont be flapping in the wind. just go and enjoy your hike and make the most out of each day you are out there.
have a great day a.
TYVEK
TYVEK
He is pulling your chain. Anyone that attempts that is risking ALOT! Bad tissue scarring, not to mention the possibility of a VERY bad and possibly lethal skin infection. Never attempt surgical procedures on yourself or anyone else unless you are a certified surgeon. Not to mention, to do so is illegal.
The proper procedure is called a “Body tuck”, and requires about 6 hours of surgery(by qualified doctors, not some hot scissor weilding quack). Most plastic surgeons can perform this surgery. Average cost is around $10-30K.
There is a much better option. Building more lean muscle mass to replace the lost fat. During a hike, you are rapidly building lean muscle mass as long as your diet provides necessary muscle building nutrients. This muscle can and will replace the space that the fat previously occupied. Many people dont think about the differences between weighing 200 lbs of fat, or 200 lbs of muscle. If you replace fat with muscle, you may not lose much “weight” but your body and overall health is going to be much better off with the weight in the form of muscle vs fat.
bryan