You have finally found yourself in an extended rhythm. Your diet is on point and you have become organized and your workouts are getting easier and generally better. Body and soul are in the groove, you are continuously losing weight and gaining some strength in your muscles.
Now you have another problem. The skin you were used to was used to a bigger you. Now that you have shed all that fat, the skin is left a bit saggy and looser from such a rapid weight loss. The skin around your underarms, the love handles, and even your face are areas known for seeing the difference. Now you have to find a way to solve this problem.
Of course, you can fix it but sometimes not all the way, not if you have lost a significant amount of weight. Some people get really overboard and as such there is no full guarantee of full recovery of that loose skin. For example if you were 300 pounds and in a year you lost a hundred pounds, it would be difficult for you to tighten back up without having left some parts of your skin hanging.
However, with a healthy lifestyle and consistency, you might be able to increase your collagen intake. Collagen helps with keeping the skin tight and youthful, because it is one of the proteins that aid in skin elasticity and hydration. Collagen also can be helpful to your joints as well, not just skin. Making the change to include more collagen in your life can make a difference, says Lisa Chipps, MD, a UCLA dermatologist and American Academy of Dermatology board member.
Here are 8 methods to keep your skin tighter as you progress
towards your ultimate body and soul.
1. Low and slow
Experts say a gradual approach is best. Losing weight too fast is not good for your skin recovery. Attempt to lose 1 to 5 pounds every 7 days is good any more would be harder on your skin. “Losing weight too rapidly by doing shortcut cleanses and detoxes as well as laxatives, will change and affect the contours of
your face, it will mess with your skin’s health, and compromise your end goal of being able to naturally keep the weight off,” says Slone Mathieu, a medical aesthetician at Boston’s Dream Spa Medical.
2. Build that muscle.
Aim to replace any fat loss with muscle gain. Muscle gain also aids in further fat loss as well as helping your metabolism rise. Muscle under your skin where fat once stood also helps keep your skin tighten and strengthen to shrink back into its original place. Working out with focus on strength training will help you
increase muscle mass this comes in handy because you can now target trouble areas.
Depending on your current status, body weight, height, and exercise routine preferences, whether it may be kettle ball, dumb bells, machines, or what have you, as long as you get at least 4 days of resistance training per week. Also include 2 to 3 days of some interval training ranging from moderate to high intensity,
little bursts of maximum push, this will fire up your metabolism further and build even more muscle mass and strength as well as endurance. High intensity intervals are great because it keeps you wanting to go back for more, and it helps off-set the growing pains because it is like combining cardio and strength. Keep in mind your nutrition as always. Protein is very important for
muscle building and recovery, without enough protein you will eat the muscles away and this is counter-productive. Get protein everyday especially on heavy training days. It is of the most importance if you want this to work.
3. Practice good sun protection.
If you do your exercise routines outdoors it is really important that you put on some protective sunblock. Get the broad spectrum sunblock and put generous amounts on. It is known that UV rays attack the collagen in our skin, making it
more brittle and easier for the elements to take their toll. Broad spectrum sunscreen means that it covers and protects you from both UVA and UVB rays, which are the frequencies that initially starts to damage your epidermis and dermis. Another option is protective clothing like long sleeve workout shirts from
your favorite sports, workout, and fitness brands.
4. Eat Color.
Fill up your diet with an array of colorful vegetables and fruits all of which contain the vital nutrients, not only for life, but for your long term health. Look for foods with a good amount of vitamin A, C, and lycopene, all of which are antioxidants that aid in offsetting UV ray damage. Red fruits and vegetables have a good
amount of lycopene and vitamin A. Vegetables like carrots, tomatoes, red peppers, and other produce that might have some red and yellow tinges of color will contain lycopene and vitamin A. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables, which helps building and developing more collagen.
5. Go Topical.
There are no miracle products, only miracle discipline. Try some products out there like skin serums and creams, some of them do work when applied properly and daily, also moisturizing helps. Consult your dermatologist for recommendations. Look for retinoid creams like Retin-A or Tretin-x those will help collagen production. You can also try some over-the-counter creams, gels,
or serums containing epidermal growth factor. They will trigger the fibroblasts (the cells responsible for collagen production) deep in the skin to accelerate collagen production.
6.Go smoke-free.
If you still light up them stogies then you are swimming against the current. Cigarette smoking already comes with enough warnings from everyone and even the government, so if you care about your skin and health, then maybe it’s time to put those cigs down. Smoking cigarettes dehydrates your entire system
including your skin. It weakens the strength and resilience of your skin causing stress marks and wrinkles. Second hand smoke causes inflammatory responses from the skin causing pimples and break outs as well as further wrinkling. So do away with your cigarettes and cigars. I advise to move on to the herbal kind if you so wish to pursue your oral need for smoking, at least that is healthy for you but that is another article altogether.
7. See an MD.
Don’t think about facelifts or any sort of surgical procedure until you reach the target weight. Honestly I wouldn’t really suggest any sort of permanent alterations to any persons face unless they got into an accident and it is reconstruction surgery. There are some minor procedures that can help you with target areas during shedding stages. Ask a dermatologist about radiofrequency
devices, most of which warm and expand collagen fibers to immediately improve your appearance while also stimulating new collagen production for longer-lasting results, however, with no guarantee. Basically go natural as much as you and try your hardest to not mess with your face.
8.Water
This does not require much explanation. Water is everywhere and it is the element that comprises 80 percent of our body. The biggest problem of today is dehydration. It is the leading cause of stroke, headaches, bad skin, bad circulation, and yes if you do not drink water, you can die. Just drink enough water please. At least 8 to 10 glasses a day, minimum, more if you like to look
good, feel good, and if you are into health and fitness.
