Loose Skin After Weight Loss: Causes and Prevention Strategies

[@RootlessWanderer]

I lost over 200lbs and now deal with so much lose skin that I don’t even feel thin. My clothes do not fit me properly. I feel cheated. I did the work. I kept it off for over 7 years now. But instead of feeling great?!? I get yeast infections between the folds and no matter how often I shower I still stink. The skin is hanging off of me and here in Canada skin surgery after massive weight loss is no longer covered. I saw a plastic surgeon and was told I would need to pay 10,000.00 to remove all of my excess skin. I am 50 years old and suffer from psoriatic arthritis. I am not wanting to parade around the beach in a bikini. I simply want to not feel pain from the pull (gravity) of the skin. It hurts and looks terrible. I am going to watch these videos now, in hopes of another way to reduce the skin (and subsequent issues) and improve my quality of life. Thank you in advance! 🙏

[@MeMyself-y5n]

Just a thought...Are you sure that your doctor is presenting this as a medical problem, as it obviously is, and not as a cosmetic procedure? I am not in Canada, but in the US this is sometimes a problem. Doctors do not like to take the time to submit the appropriate documentation that is necessary to get this kind of surgery approved.

[@RootlessWanderer]

@@MeMyself-y5n My family gp referred me to a plastic surgeon and it was the plastic surgeon who said I didn’t meet the criteria - being that I was not experiencing serious enough infections to warrant a skin removal surgery. Unfortunately in Canada it is considered cosmetic unless the excess skin is causing very serious health issues. I had a doctor actually suggest I stop bathing until I contracted an infection great enough to land me in the hospital. Ummm no thank you! I can barely handle the minor yeast infections I get now. I am however, trying the prolonged fasting (fractional) route in order to reduce the amount of excess skin. I have successfully completed a full 6 day water only fast and refeed. Started my second prolonged fast today and will attempt a full 7 days. We will see how it goes 🤷‍♀️

[@TORAH-613]

A rare bread you are. Most are worried more about showing it off

[@dimakigulah4311]

I have lost more than 35kg from 106kg I do have loose skin but I don't care about it really. I am happy I am off high blood pressure

[@metrini]

My arms and legs were the biggest parts of me when I was 500+lbs I wear my loose skin proudly. I worked darn hard to lose over half the weight. I went through the whole fear of getting loose skin if I lost weight but I got over it and knew I preferred my health.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much for sharing. Congratulations on your amazing progress. You should ABSOLUTELY be proud. It is a badge of honor! My son would much rather I be alive to play with his kids someday than have perfect skin :) Keep up the great work

[@RV-there-Yet]

@@GrowGrayMatter 🎯100%~ Yay YOU metrini, how wonderful!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Well said for sure :)@@RV-there-Yet

[@mianaamir4081]

I was 89kg and a good IF, and exercise brought it down to 67kg, of course, with loose skin around upper arms and cheeks.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing@@mianaamir4081. The health improvements should always be the top priority. But I do hope that you continue to work on your loose skin if that is something that is important to you. It is a long process for sure. Here is part 2 where I start to cover solutions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs I hope this helps

[@Invisible.fatty99]

For this series I would love to hear more about dry brushing, lymphatic massage, microneedling, and Vit C & Vit E applied topically

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you. This is a great list of things to look into. I will address microneedling when I talk about dermarolling. And I do plan on researching topical treatments as well. Thank you for sharinf.

[@jazzmoon77]

You probably already know this but don’t apply vitamin C serum to the skin during/after microneedling. It can cause granuloma. Safest to only use hylauronic acid and use vit C a few days later.

[@CynthiaHStringer]

Good point. Never considered micro needling for skin sagging. I’ll ask my doctor.

[@Joxxol]

I'm about 145 pounds into a 200 pound weight loss. Loose skin posses a problem for staying dry in areas. A lot of extra skin also confuses setting a specific weight goal and determining skeletal muscle/fat mass ratio in order to calculate daily fat loss limit.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Loose skin can definitely lead to serious issues, including infections, skin ulcerations, and physical limitations. It can also lead to negative body image issues. These are all things that I want to help people minimize or avoid. But there are times when surgery is the only option. You bring up an excellent point about how loose skin can impact body fat calculations and scale weight. I know people who have had over 20 pounds of skin removed. I will have to do some research and see if they have every studied how loose skin impacts the results of a DEXA skin Have you found anything that has worked for you?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I wanted to reach out again. I apologize, but I forgot to congratulate you on losing 145 pounds. That is AMAZING. You should be super proud of that :)

[@melanie4926]

High fat and protein with no carbs seems to eat up my excess skin.

[@huhwhatomg]

That's retarded. Your entire body needs carbs. Your muscles need carbs. YOUR BRAIN needs carbs.

[@CynthiaHStringer]

Yes please speak to the use of red light therapy, dry skin brushing, and skin oiling.

[@DJ-ti2vg]

They were exactly the areas I am interested in hearing about!

[@Dee-108]

Gosh, I’m just finding you as I’ve started adf. So much information! Thank you! And thank you for being such a kind and compassionate human being. Great energy!

[@DuffMan.]

I needed to hear this. Ive lost 170 lbs since Jan 10th. Got some skin Im thinking of removing. Currently 190 lbs.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I am so happy to hear that this video helped. I got a bit emotional when I made it because I know how loose skin can take the wind out of someone's sails after working so hard to lose weight. Congratulations on your amazing progress! You should be so proud no matter what :) Skin removal surgery is absolutely an option. There are risks, and costs, with all surgeries, but studies have shown that people with a lot of loose skin feel good about the surgery after they have done it. I would certainly do the surgery if loose skin was interfering in my life, or was causing problems (irritation, ulcers, infections, etc). I would love to hear what you decide, and how it is going either way. Well done

[@DuffMan.]

@GrowGrayMatter Bless you Dr Frank. I thank you for also being an inspiration aswell. What you said about 'badge of honour' really really puts things into perspective. I think the fact I've done keto and IF as part of my lifestyle...and of cause saunas and exercise has minimised a lot of the potentially for the skin being a real issue. I've been mindful of nutrients and vitamins too.... but would be interested to hear more on introducing collagen etc etc... This video and the following ones will help many people, so again I thank you. (Perhaps it will all just shrink in a few months and will save me the £3550 plus cost! Either way... the skin is a miniscule price to pay for having a renewed second chance at life eh? Well done on your journey too sir).

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for the kind words@@DuffMan. I meant everything I said in the video. Don't ever let anyone try to bring you down. What you have done is nothing short of amazing. You have pulled a lot of important levers for sure. I will cover collagen in part 3, but I am a firm believer that adding it is a great idea.

[@DuffMan.]

@GrowGrayMatter many thanks to you good sir. Again you have my best regards and respect. Ill watch this series with interest.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for the kindwrds@@DuffMan.Reach out if you ever need anything. I am here to help

[@ThePrsRtst]

I was excited to hear about your grandfather being in Romania! I lived there for 8 years as a missionary. 🇷🇴 You mentioned the city he was in: Ploiesti. The Romanian pronunciation is: “ploy-esht”. Just thought I’d share that. Thanks for your work!!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much for sharing. He rarely talked about his experience in WW2 (to us kids at least), so I only heard the word a couple of times until I was an adult. Thank you for teaching me something :) I hope that you had a great experience in your time as a missionary. That is amazing to hear.

[@bassman7496]

Congratulations on your weight loss Frank! I really enjoyed your video and thank you for making it! Quick story about be I was 5-8 and 333 lbs about a year ago and have tried and failed several diets including slow carb! The past year I started doing a fasting diet and I have 60 lbs and I feel great and I’m trying to get to a healthy weight that I can maintain! If I do cheat on my days off I minimize the amount of carbs and sugar I eat! I still need to have a life and be part of my families life, like have a sliver of cake on somebody’s birthday! I’m never putting the weight back on you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to gain back all the weight I lost, that’s how determined I am to keep it off! 2 years ago I had a bunch of health problems like bad back pain, sciatica, knee pain and too many other symptoms to list! A doctor told me the best thing I can do is loose weight and worst thing I can do is nothing, Thank God I took that to heart and listened! Thanks again for the video frank i enjoyed it and you got a new subscriber! I will add on my days off I’ve gotten into a keto style diet so I can learn to make healthier meals throughout the week because I love to cook and eat!

[@danielouelletteevans777]

This is a great video Frank! I started your program about a year ago and I lost 80 pounds! Lucky I didn't have any loose skin after I lost the weight.. Thank you Frank..

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much for sharing. Your story is an inspiration. I am proud to have worked with you. 80 pounds of weight loss with no loose skin is AMAZING :)

[@sciencelover7001]

Speaking of skin health, you look at least 10 years younger than you did in your before pictures. Thanks for bringing us on the journey

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words. I look younger, but I feel even better :). For real though, I am happy to hear that. I know some people who have lost weight that end up looking much older because f sagging skin on the face. I am happy that I lost weight in a way that minimized these issues. Stay tuned for all of the tips that I can offer.

[@carolynbrooks-luckett2945]

God bless 🙏🏽 Your videos are so helpful to me and I am grateful. I have lost 120lbs and have loose skin and you are a good person for sharing with all of us. Thank you 😊

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Congratulations on your AMAZING weight loss success. You should be so proud :) I hope that this series helps you make some progress with your loose skin. Part 2 has my favorite tips for autophagy if you haven't seen it yet. I will be covering nutrients like collagen in a few weeks. Reach out if you have any questions. I am here to help God bless you as well!

[@charlye6380]

This was the best video I have come across that gives great info about loose skin and weight loss. I have lost a little over 100lbs and I've been worried about loose skin, but more so on my thighs. I have slowed down a bit on the weight loss but I want to lose at least 25 more pounds. I'm interested to see your next video about this collagen.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words. CONGRATULATIONS on your amazing progress! You should be very proud :). I hope that you reach your goals. Here is a video series about how to make sure you preserve lean mass like muscle while losing fat. These things become especially important during the last 20 pounds kzbin.info/aero/PL7zPcraYKbGD171OjtsEoE3OF3U97m4L1 Here is part 2 of this series if you haven't watched it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs Part 3 on collagen and other skin nutrients will be ready in 2 weeks. I am excited to share what I have found:)

[@daviddonnelly2700]

Lost 55 kgs over 2-3 years on Keto. Am 67 YO. Loose skin under my arms ('batwings') and lower stomach and a small amount on upper thighs. Light physical workouts and running most every day. Do daily IF religiously (min 18 hr fasting) for autophagy primarily to correct this loose skin issue but seeing little improvement. Continue to lose 1-2 kgs a month on Ketovore so weight loss maintained even improved. Assume autophagy not significantly impacting loose skin is age related with me. Not really exceptionally upset by the loose skin except when at the pool and/or beach - much happier with my new body contours and much improved health markers across the board - but obviously would really like the loose skin to disappear. This vid was informative; I look forward to your follow-on vids in this series. Thank You!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on your AMAZING progress. You should be super proud :) I will be making a video soon about Ketovore. I did amazing with a low-carb/keto approach, but going to ketovore has made a world of difference. I have seen a 30-50% bump in my ketone levels, and I am seeing even more mental benefits now. The next video in this series will be a deep dive into autophagy for skin health. The trick is determining how long is long enough. We don't have a direct measure for autophagy yet, so we have to rely on educated guesses. Some say 16 hours is long enough, but others say we don't see a big bump in autophagy until we get to 24 hours of fasting or beyond. But then we have to balance fasting long enough to see autophagy with fasting so long that we start to lose lean mass. That is the million dollar question. Stay tuned for more :)

[@daviddonnelly2700]

@@GrowGrayMatter Yes agreed. I do a 2 day fast twice a month. Now Ketovore - no veggies but one fruit - avocado - every other day. This regimen works for me. No cravings whatsoever. Simplistic carnivore: ribeye steak 3-4 times a week but go-to easy meal is sauteed 80/20 ground beef mixed with 3 scrambled eggs and plentiful HPS! Occasional chicken breast. Am not bored. Am consistent hence 1-2 kg additional weight loss each month. I look forward to each of your vids Dr. Regards.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

It sounds like you gave a great plan that works for you@@daviddonnelly2700. That is ALL that matters in the end. Can I ask a culinary question? Mixing beef and scrambled eggs sounds like a great plan. I love finding ways to add more eggs to my diet since they are nutritional powerhouses. Do you cook them separately, and then mix them together? I usually add chunks of chuck roast to my eggs, but I haven't tried ground beef yet. My ketovore diet is simple as well. I just aim for an equal number of grams of protein and fat at the end of the day. That is easy to do with steak, roast, ground beef, etc

[@Eclectic_RN]

Wah! I want part II and III right now! Excellent video, thank you.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much. I am happy to hear how it is being received. i hope that it helps people develop a better mindset around loose skin. But now its time to try to do something about it :) I have a video about 5:2 fasting coming out this week. I hope to have part 2 done 2 weeks from tomorrow. I am diving DEEP into the autophagy research right now. Stay tuned :)

[@barbaramaxwell1391]

Thank you for all the important information!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words. I am here to help :) Here is part 2 of the series if you haven't seen it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs I will be recording a video about collagen and other skin nutrients later this week. It will be out next Tuesday. Reach out if you have any questions

[@barbstevenson9907]

Wow. Thank you for baring your soul to us, doc. You are a treasure

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing. I was miserable for many years. I will continue to share my story as long as I can help one more person transform their life. I want everyone on the planet to feel the way that I do now :)

[@ZoeFPV]

Really hoping Autophagy with ADF and Keto does well with my skin during this journey. Loose skin feels like it is going to be a thing no matter what for me though, made peace with it. Am ahead of my goals for weightloss, and slowing down to MAYBE have a little less loose skin? naaaaah, f that noise.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I knew that I would have some loose skin as well. When I was 18 I had lost a bunch of weight. I didn't do it the right way, but I already had some loose skin then. So I definitely expected some loose skin at 43. But I have been pleasantly surprised to say the least. I do think that ADF and Keto is a great combination. Both induce autophagy. Throw in some strength training and good sleep, and you have a magical skin melting combo :) I will also talk about how mixing in occasional longer fasts as you reach your goal and beyond could help as well. I am glad that you agree with my rate of weight loss point. Weight loss is so hard. I have a hard time telling someone to lose less weight unless/until they reach a point where they are doing more harm than good. I can't wait to share more thoughts in part 2 :)

[@chrisking3325]

I have lost 60lbs in 8 months. But there were 85 more pounds I lost before doing the current lifestyle change. So in total from my highest weight, of my adult life, that's 145lbs. I wear my loose skin as a badge of honor also. I have hope for it to bounce back eventually. I am healthier and alive and off all meds. Still getting to know this new body, and the loose skin will go eventually. And if it doesn't, I can deal with it! ❤

[@GrowGrayMatter]

That is a GREAT attitude. The reason I made this video is because I want people to have that attitude. You should be proud of changing your life. The loose skin should be a reminder of all of your hard work. But, I also want to help people deal with loose skin to the best of their ability. I don't mind it, but I would also be fine if it was all gone :)

[@chrisking3325]

@@GrowGrayMatter oh absolutely, and at 67 autophagy will be how I work on it. I do understand it takes time and other methods combined with it. Thank you for the science based info and the "what does it mean" clarifications!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

It is truly my pleasure@@chrisking3325. I obsess over this stuff. I am happy to chat about any time I get the chance :)

[@LumpySpacePrince]

You do fantastic videos, that i know take alot of work. Thank you and great job man.

[@meganm6269]

I’m on a weight loss journey to lose weight 80~lbs. I’ve lost about 20 pounds as of July 2024 (started in April). I’m 20 so I’m hoping that by only losing 2 pounds a week I can avoid some loose skin. Wish me luck!

[@suhazareer1950]

I’m 24, trying to lose 20lbs, in 1 month, meaning 5lbs every week. And, I really need to get it done, so I’m going for water fasting. Loose skin fear is real. Goodluck!

[@glevitt4359]

I have read moisturizer helps with the skin also

[@MarketResearchReading114]

Lost 40lbs here in the last year, but I'm annoyed at this plateau, but I'm glad to see you encourage trying to muscle through because there isn't a controlled test for the theory.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I am sorry to hear about your plateau. You are correct. There are no guarantees at all when it comes to loose skin since there is such a big genetic component (along with the other factors covered in this video). All we can do is decrease the chances that we will have loose skin, or at least aim to minimize it. The best way to do that is to pull all the levers that I am talking about in this series. As far as your plateau goes, what have you tried to bust through it? I have lots of videos that talk about how sleep, increasing physical activity, and exercise are great tool to get the scale moving again. Reach out if you have any questions. I am here to help

[@BaiZhijie]

Another great video Doctor! I appreciate the way you responded to my comment a few months ago (you earned a subscriber with that!) and I really appreciate the kind and encouraging way your communicate with your audience. I'm very curious to find out how you estimate the amount of fasting it takes to trigger deep autophagy. Peter Attia estimated 72 hours of water fasting in his podcast, by admits that one of the most frustrating things about autophagy is that there is no bio-marker that lets us measure it. So I'll be curious to hear your reasoning and rules of thumb for this issue. Personally I've found ADF to be pretty helpful for my own weight loss, but I don't think its doing much autophagy related, for that I'll probably have to do a longer fast, but Im not sure HOW long is best for that purpose.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words. I truly appreciate it. I will be doing a deep dive into autophagy in part 2 of this loose skin series. I am excited to geek out on the topic. I do think that 3-5 days would be the sweet spot if you want to maximize autophagy, but I will share studies that show that we can definitely benefit from autophagy long before 72 hours. There is evidence in humans that 18 hour fasting windows lead to changes in autophagy genes in as few as 4 days. And autophagy is upregulated even more by 36 hours. Stay tuned for all the details. Here are my general thoughts. I think 36 hours is the sweet spot for most people. You are fasting long enough to enhance autophagy SOME, but you aren't fasting so long that you are losing a bunch of lean mass. So, your aren't getting into deep ketosis, but you are doing it multiple times per week. Compare this to 72-hour fasts. You will get more autophagy, but most people should only fast that long 2-4 times per year (or less). So you can choose less autophagy more often, or more autophagy less often. Perhaps the sweet spot is both. Do something like ADF, but occasionally sprinkle in a longer fast every few months. Also, there are other ways to enhance autophagy. I will cover those in the video (ketogenic diet, exercise, deep sleep, calorie deficit). So pulling all those levers can help you get loads of autophagy without needing to risk your lean mass with 72+ hour fasts. The need for these long fasts is actually what led Peter Attia to stop fasting at all. I personally don't recommend them often either. I hope this helps. Part 2 in this series will be out in 2-3 weeks. I have a video about 5:2 fasting, and a video about electrolytes for fasting, that I need to get done first

[@BaiZhijie]

@@GrowGrayMatter Thanks for your thoughtful reply. So my understanding is that if you want to take advantage of autophagy best protocol might be an ADF routine (like you did) with a 3-5 day water fast once per season (4x per year). Looking forward to your video on the topic. For me the cancer and alzheimer's prevention possibilities of autophagy would be enough for me to make long (5 day) fasts into a regular practice if we could be confident that it actually IS protective, but as I understand it, the state of the science is such that this is still speculative when it comes to those diseases. I also wonder about the Warburg hypothesis and other research on cancer showing that fasting might starve tumor cells of glucose (as they cannot use ketones because their mitochondria are screwed up), and also Dr. Longo's work showing that fasting is protective during chemotherapy. But there's so much pseudoscience out there around cancer that I hesitate to share this knowledge with anyone else and lack the training to evaluate the studies myself. I would love it if you could give us a video about the state of the science on this topic. Help us understand what we know and where the evidence comes from, and what is still speculative. If I'm interested I'm sure other people would be too. As always keep up the good work! yours -James

[@GrowGrayMatter]

You are always welcome@@BaiZhijie I do agree that longer fasts would lead to more autophagy (for dementia prevention) and apoptosis (killing precancerous cells) and resetting the immune system. But then we need to balance that with losing lean mass if we fast too hard for too long. Dr. Thomas Seyfried is a key figure in the metabolic theory of cancer department. His arguments are sound, but it is hard to say how much he KNOWS versus how much he THINKS. I have heard him say that 99% of cancer would be gone if everyone did 1 7-day fast per year. Hearing things like this without supporting evidence makes me question him if I am being honest. I look forward to seeing the research continue to pile up. I am hedging my bets on a combination of keto diet and 36-hour fasts helping prevent disease while also allowing me to keep my muscle. I'll let you know if it works in 35-40 years LOL I will definitely add some cancer-related topics for next year. I am starting to dig into the research, but I have a bunch of topics I am working on already. Stay tuned ;)

[@maxspears6030]

As a newcomer to this channel, I am encouraged by your body recomposting journey. Thank you for being here to support me through mine. ❤✨🙌🏾✨❤

[@flyoneagleswings]

Great video. I subscribed to hear more of your talks on , Autophagy and Collagen use. And any other suggestions for loose skin and weight loss. Many thanks. God bless you.

[@markthoman]

Starting at my 69th birthday, I spent a year dropping from 330 to 190 and had/have a lot of loose skin. With exersize I've added back some upper body muscle that has helped. My baggy thighs and belly skin I can live with. Every time I fast I think it's a little better. I could be fooling myself, but I'm keeping at it.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Congratulations on your AMAZING progress. That is so great to hear. I hope that your loose skin continues to improve, but wear it with pride if it doesn't. You have transformed your health and your life :)

[@carolinemarie44]

When people fast, it should help with loose skin.

[@helenahayes6150]

wow, what a great video. Dont feel so bad about losing weight now.

[@filmic1]

Thanks, Dr. O'Neill. Loose skin is my problem now, I guess. I've loss 100lbs in the last year. I used to be 270lbs, I was genormous. Plus I'm only 5'8" and 71 yrs old now. Being a T2 Diabetic I am a low carb'r, not quite a keto, eater. Dropped 4 pant sizes, And, I run fairly regularly. I started running in 2006. So, now that I'm seeing all this loose skin I'm doing more resistance training, hoping this will tighten me up. I've dropped my A1c from 6 to 5.3% (Accu Chek MySugr app. but I'm told the A1c indexing is not as robust as the lab value.) Thank you for sharing your expertise and personal story. I was SO ashamed by my size.

[@Ekinnajay]

I love your science approach to these videos and then your easy summary. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, supper helpful!

[@nnc248]

Ive had loose skin for 15 years. Last summer I decided to buy Ashley blacks fascia blaster but after using the large pronged one, always ended up having some kind of lymphatic detox symptoms and saw very little benefit regarding skin. I used the smaller pro blaster and found a little but not much more benefit until I started to pull my skin tight so the loose skin becomes taught. I then used the blaster and the change has been absolutely dramatic. I'm not affiliated with any of these products and I've heard many a bad thing about the large blasters but this smaller pro blaster without the deep prongs combined with my skin being pulled has done so much it's unreal. I also ate a very low protein diet at the time and maximised the blood supply by following Dr Esselstynn diet for a short while. After introducing meat and junk, the skin still remained tight. I often need help with this as I need someone to hold my skin as tight as can be, but for me, it has worked wonders. Im not endorsing any diet or equipment but i just feel the need to tell people, ive tried everything from negative oressure therapy. Microneedling, long term fasting (which i do incoproate still) and nothing has oroduced such a profound effect as this.

[@linshuli8999]

Great vedio and thanks. Does massage, rubbing or any other physical therapy helps? I'm 32 and 240lbs with some stretch marks around inner thign. Will the stretch marks also improve?

[@philipbrister]

I’m going through a potential divorce. 🤞 The Lord told me to do a 40 day fast for my marriage. I started at 42.5 years old 6’2” 320 and I’m 22.5 days in. I have lost 40 lbs. No loose skin yet. I’ll try to slow down once the fast is over.

[@bria2596]

Thank you for this video. It helps my mind.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I am so happy to hear that :). I definitely wanted to start this series by putting loose skin in its place. I hope you enjoy the entire series. Reach out if you have any questions. I am here to help

[@Hiwillowtree]

I’m super curious about ‘waist training’ with a corset style. Will this help the loose skin shrink and get firm again? Will the skin fold in on itself and get damaged?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I will do some digging and see if I can find anything interesting. My initial guess is that it will be more likely to lead to folding and skin irritation than it will help with shrinking. But this is just a guess at this point. What other things have you tried? I have been super impressed with red light therapy, but I continue to learn about other options as I dig into the research.

[@jazzmoon77]

My personal experience with using a custom steel-bones corset/waist trainer makes me feel like it works to reshape the fascia under the skin. I found it extremely helpful in closing my diastasis while I save up for surgery. The compression is meant to only be gradual and not enough to create folds. You’re supposed to start with a 1cm reduction of your natural measurement and slowly increase over time. It works best when also dry brushing and microneedling and getting the right nutrition.

[@Bazza1968]

Great video, looking forward to the next parts. At 5'7" my maximum weight got to 230lbs, that was 25 years ago but I've since remained at about 190 for the last 20. I'm now trying to get down to 160-170 (I have a huge head, that skews my weight too I reckon) and focusing on upper body weights and cycling/walking, but age is against me at 55 so not sure what the hell I'll look like when I get there, but I'm doing it for my health(and hopefully improved bike fitness if I can retain as much muscle as possible) not my mirror image. I was going to try ADF but have held off to do this slower as the amount I need to lose is not that much relative to others I suppose... Eating 3-4 x 40g protein focused meals through the day so minimal conversion to glucose and I'm mainly ketovore... I think an occasional 48hr monthly fast may be ok for autophagy but no longer in case the muscle is affected detrimentally....

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Very well said. We have something in common. I also have a HUGE head. I wear a 7 3/4-8 hat size. I had to get a special football helmet when I was in middle school because they didn't make them in my size :) I am also ketovore now and I am loving it. Your protein reach meals spread throughout the day are a great idea as well. I will be making a video very soon about the 5:2 diet approach. I love the health benefits of 36-hour fasts, but I don't do them as often anymore because I am also worried about losing lean mass. So I do 1-2 per week depending on how I feel. This has been a great sweet spot for me right now. By the end of this year I will be too lean to do any more than 1 36-hour fast per week. It is a good problem to have, I guess :) The next video in this series will talk about autophagy. I think combining several methods (fasting, keto, exercise, deep sleep) will allow you to get major autophagy benefits without needing to fast so long that you risk lean mass. Stay tuned

[@Bazza1968]

@@GrowGrayMatter RE head sizes- when we lived in Germany (dad was in the British Army) he tried to get "Tartan Tammies"(hats) for us (Scotland!) for the 1974 World Cup but the shop didn't have them in my size...likewise my dads Army cap didn't fit me...I was 5 years old....

[@GrowGrayMatter]

You have me beat, then :)@@Bazza1968 My dad served in Germany as well. let's just hope hat my mom was correct. She told me my big head was because I had a big brain :)

[@Bazza1968]

@@GrowGrayMatter I'd love to get a DEXA scan or something that could tell me just how much my head weighs and what the "average" is, maybe the stocky build is necessary in a kind of milder version of "The Elephant Man"- stronger neck/shoulders to support it!? Trust me to get into road cycling, hardly "aero" something the weight and size of a medicine ball trying to cut through the air lol!!😂

[@GrowGrayMatter]

LOL@@Bazza1968You made me curious. I just looked at my last DEXA. My head is 236.12 cm3 and weighs 608 grams Let me know your results if/when you get a DEXA. You are definitely built for downhill cycling I guess :)

[@GrayHomeVideo]

Started losing at age 60. Currently age 66. Formerly 262 pounds, now 175.4 pounds. Have some loose skin, but nothing terribly troublesome as yet. Unfortunately, only learned about fasting after the majority of my weight was lost. But I intend to incorporate fasting for the next 30-35 pounds! As for slow weight loss, I've done mine with extended maintenance periods in between losing. I think one advantage to slow weight loss is that maintenance has been relatively easy for me. I've not had a huge struggle to maintain my losses. My body has adjusted to being a lower weight. Has slow weight loss helped with loose skin? Maybe. Maybe not. But it helped set the new lifestyle habits I've made, certain sure!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much for sharing. Congratulations on your amazing progress. You should be very proud :) I agree 100% that spending periods maintaining your weight can help you develop the habits that will allow you to keep the weight off for good. It is not about fast weight loss. It is about weight loss that lasts. I talk about that in this video about taking breaks from fasting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4KrnZKLpJZpick Keep up the great work. I can't wait to hear when you get to the finish line :)

[@marciadavis6330]

I recently was put on Mounjaro to help lower my A1C. I tried the vita nutrient collagen then switched to another after not seeing any results.then some other drs or people that claimed to kno about this subject were saying it didn’t help because you couldn’t consume enough. Well I’ve lost 50 pounds now and and seeing effects of the loose skin. Did I say I dropped the collagen intake? I use Hydrolic Acid and collagen products on my skin as I have upped my skin game. So after watching your video I see it’s a combination ‘ this makes sense I take the supplements but I do take my calcium in gummy form . So I’m gona give it another try . I recently saw my sister 10 years younger and she was a mess it shocked me how much loose skin she had! She’s a smoker and and always been abusive to her body. So that alarmed me ! Did I say I’m 70? Do I have a chance in helping my skin? I’m still not 70 in my mind , and it’s freaking me out to see these changes! Did I say my face and body are doing very well staying on my topical regimen. Also this weigh loss has been a slow process, it will be a year in April/24 that I started this program. I really enjoy your videos, keep them coming 😊

[@rheahesse5448]

Where is the collagen "part 3" video? I've been searching every which way. Lol. And thank you for your knowledge and taking the time to help others. Your care is greatly valued and appreciated. Married for almost 24 years and I should've done something far sooner for my and my husband's benefit. I'm now at the saggy skin stage after an 80 pound weight loss for weight that was there for 22 years. I'm dealing with major hormonal imbalance as well. Ugh...frustrating to see age almost overnight but glad I lost the weight. Need more input...

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words and for sharing your story. Congratulations on your amazing 80 pound weight loss. Better late than never! The best time to start was 20 years ago. The second best time was when you started. You should be proud either way :) I do have part 2 done, but part 3 will not be ready until December. I have recorded the rest of my new series on fasting & sleep first because I am still in the research phase for the video on nutrients. I will give you a sneak preview though. Collagen definitely helps skin in multiple ways. It is WELL worth a try. The delay is because I am doing more research on a few other nutrients like CoQ10. I am also going to be out of town for a week between a conference and a trip to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. Traveling is so much better now that I fit on a plane :) Stay tuned. I will do my best to make it worth the wait :)

[@rheahesse5448]

@@GrowGrayMatter Thank you! And thanks for the update.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Of course@@rheahesse5448. I will get the video ready as soon as I can :)

[@FabMadam]

I follow your videos. I like them because you back them up with evidence. I follow your 36hrs fast regimen (as much as I can) and am very successful with it. Which brings me to my question: if I take collagen every day, does it break my fast and my autophagy?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is a great question. Collagen would break a clean fast because it does have calories and protein. But some would argue that the impact would be minimal because 1) The calories are low and 2) collagen is not a complete protein and is also low in the main amino acid that stimulates protein synthesis (leucine). But my vote is that it does break a clean fast. So, this leaves you with a decision. 1. Skip it on fasting days to maximize autophagy or 2. Fast dirty and focus more on collagen for skin What I do is skip it on fasting days and then take a dose to both open and close my 12 hours eating windows. I am hoping this gives me the best of both worlds. I hope this helps :)

[@FabMadam]

@@GrowGrayMatter I would also have thought that it breaks a clean fast. I don't have lose skin to justify the collagen intake during the fast. The idea of starting and closing my eating window with collagen is genius. Thank you.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

You are very welcome@@FabMadam. I hope you see amazing results :)

[@9melissal]

Can you include things like micro needling and ems and rf treatments in regards to avoiding loose skin during weight loss and decreasing existing loose skin?

[@humankirk9196]

Hi Frank, I am 2/3 of the way through an 80 lbs weight loss target, so far 12 months into it. I am starting to plan my post-weight loss, and this loose skin topic is new for me, as is the lean weight loss. About the question of "how fast should I lose weight to prevent loose skin", in the absence of scientific studies I'd actually suggest an informal poll among other youtubers whove lost a lot of weight and people you've coached, as a substitute piece of information. Does rate of weight loss even play a role?

[@jonathanrosales5878]

Day 1: 414 Pounds Hopefully i write back with a positive update

[@jonathanrosales5878]

Day 7: I stayed on calorie deficit and intermittent fasting of 16:8 and when I weighted myself it said that it was 380. I might be wrong but it’s weird. Still trying to understand if I’m doing anything wrong

[@mattramos998]

Great video. Very informative but I really wish the phrase “rapid weight loss” was defined in this video since it’s mentioned so much.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Sadly, there isn't a set definition. Some say it is losing more than 2 pounds per week, but I would personally definite is as losing more than 1% of your body weight per week for a sustained period of time. I talk about why I chose that marker here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3qbeoZ_fpiYrc0 I am glad you enjoyed the video. I have really liked making this series

[@deacjansp2]

I’ve seen suggestions that using retinol creams may help loose skin. Various opinions are out there. Do you think it’s helpful, or “might help can’t hurt,” or a waste of money?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is a great question. I will cover these types of products in part 4. There are studies that show that retinol creams can help. The question is, how much? I have personally had less success with any topical skin treatments compared to nutrition, fasting, exercise, etc. I save most of the skin treatments for the face because they are too expensive to slather all over your body :) The main thing I am excited about when it comes to the "miscellaneous" category that I will cover in part 4 is red-light therapy/low-level laser therapy. It seems to help a long list of things, including skin health. I like treatments that give you a lot more bang for your buck. I also feel like red light therapy improves cellular health overall. Skin health is just a big plus :) I can't wait to share all of the research and personal experience that I have accumulated over these last few years with you

[@rekha4477]

Hi Doctor please could you advise what I can drink to keep my electrolyte level ok during my fasting days. Thank you so much 😊

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is a very important question. Here is a video where I walked through all of the things that I do to get my electrolytes while fasting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZq4aYeMbrympJI It will also help you to figure out what you need. Reach out if you have any questions after you watch it. I am here to help.

[@shilaba80]

So I have FBN1 Gene VSU. My skin doesn't snap back that good. I am on my journey to 1st remove inflammation and let weightloss be the benefit. Is ADF the best way to help with autophagy? I would need to be more extremem I'm guessing since I have the febrillin-1 gene mutation issue. Was classified as hEDS till I had genetics done! Any and all suggestions welcomed. I am 43yrs old with dysautonomia and pain from the nerve issues and from the eds issues. I have reconditioned myself lost the weight then was discouraged by a new dr that keto or low carb was bad. I now do a super low carb or whole foods approach to keto. I feel better for sure. I have about 120lbs to lose and just started few weeks ago at this plan I found called the Galveston Diet after having a radical hysterectomy. I am 43 and a special needs mama so living forever is my goal.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing. I hope that you are doing well and are on your way to weight loss and a long life for you and your child :) I typically see ADF as the perfect tool for someone who has 100+ pounds to lose. Just make sure to talk to your doctors and make sure that your genetic mutations don't make fasting a bad idea. Always better safe that sorry. Here is the fasting plan that I used to lose 165 pounds in a year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYHHfKeJaqikqJo And here is how I ate along the way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGm8i36opKZ6g9E And here is my health transformation if you need some added motivation :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4vJZ36kmtl6aq8 I wish you the best of luck on your journey. It sounds like your child has you very motivated :)

[@bntelenniss]

I have never weighed a lot, small frame, I have loose skin because of age. I fast for health, mostly. I’ve had cancer.

[@BurgeoningMaple]

Thanks for this, Dr. O! I really enjoyed your online course, thank you for making it available. I started at 414 and am down 100 lbs in about 6 months but I've hit a metabolic wall - I took your course to help get me unstuck and am starting to integrate some ADF techniques to see if that's what my body needs right now. Loose skin is a huge concern for me. I agree that I'm better off without the fat, regardless of the skin repercussions, but it's still something that I feel gets in the way of feeling confident and strong in my new shell. I looked into dermarolling but honestly, it sounds painful and possibly dangerous if skin infections make things worse. Would there be any benefit to starting a dermarolling process while I'm still losing fat, either at home (done with care) or with professional treatments? I'm willing to commit to whatever might help, but it's so hard to filter the hype from the science when it comes to these sorts of trends. Thank you!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I think you are the only other person I know who started at exactly 414 pounds. I hope we end up in the same place as well :). I agree 100%. Loose skin is not ideal at all. I hope I didn't make it sound that way. I just want people to feel as good as they can about their weight loss journey. I have never used dermarolling, but I am researching the topic now for part 4 of this series. I am actually more intrigued by red light therapy and other low-level laser therapies. I see an equal amount of upside, and these therapies also have a lot of other health-promoting effects. I will keep trying different things, and pouring through the research, to see if I can share more concrete answers

[@BurgeoningMaple]

I'll be interested to see what you learn about red light therapy! I've taken an introductory look into the benefits for facial skin, but never considered it for the rest of me . I'm also curious if infrared sauna sessions provide collagen stimulating benefits and/or if it could be used in conjunction with red light therapy to maximize therapeutic skin benefits.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

These questions are near the top of the list for me too, so I will definitely cover them@@BurgeoningMaple I have my fingers crossed. I love the idea of doing things that improve skin health while also improving dozens of other things at the same time. From what I have seen red light and infrared both check a lot of boxes.

[@mariaZikas]

I have read that if you are losing hair because of dieting ( intermittent 16/8). Do not fast for longer than 16 hours. I would like to do the OMAD but i'm afraid of losing more hair. I would also like to try 36 and 48 hour fast.

[@Jon-dh3ki]

I've been looking for evidence that slow weight loss is actually going to improve the end result. What is the best rate?

[@brookieTx]

Does skin brushing help with loose skin? Dry brushing or the cellulite blasters that you roll on?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Great question. I will be covering the research behind these types of techniques (skin brushing, red light therapy, dermarolling, etc) in part 4 of this series. Part 3 will be released next Tuesday. Dry brushing can improve the appearance of your skin, but it has been hard to find research to support that it stimulates the production of new collagen or elastic fibers.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Here is Part 2 of this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs Here is Part 3: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGnQpnZ6etSYr7M

[@ThunderClipsGaming]

Hey, I’m 12 I haven’t hit puberty and I’ve lost 20 lbs this month… I hope to lose 50… any tips for building muscle?

[@kathleenking47]

You may not have any problems...since you haven't hit puberty yet

[@ThunderClipsGaming]

@@kathleenking47 ty

[@maggiemay5510]

I so look forward to your videos! " Thankyou "

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for the kind words. I am very happy to hear that my videos are making a difference. I will keep them coming as long as they are making a difference :) This one was very important to me. I hope that I did a good job of framing the discussion about loose skin. I have heard from countless people who aren't happy with their weight loss because of loose skin. I understand, but I don't want loose skin to rob people of the joy and excitement they should be filling about their progress. Be blessed

[@ElBo1422-zz1qh]

Starting my weight loss journey. I have prob 150 lbs to drop… While the thought of loose skin from weight loss isn’t going to deter me from going all in on this weight loss journey, I can’t lie I’m not thrilled by the idea of saggy loose skin. I lift weights 4-5 days a week. It’s something I enjoy and something and I plan on doing through out the weight loss process. Will lifting and doing core exercises to maintain and build muscle while losing weight help reduce the potential of excess lose skin?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for reaching out. I definitely understand your fear. Strength training is a great way to minimize the chances of loose skin. It will help keep you from losing muscle, and hopefully you will be building more muscle along the way. This will definitely help the appearance of your skin. Also, exercise stimulates autophagy. I will be recording a video for next week about how autophagy can improve the function of our skin cells and help them to produce healthier skin. Here is a video about the importance of exercise during weight loss. You will want to do it either way, but hopefully healthier skin is a nice added benefit :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaTk4F8qLidrZo

[@Robinhood179]

Another important thing is slow down your weight loss. Dont go crazy and drop 10 pounds a week. Slow it down to 1-2 lbs a week or less and remember this is a life changing way of eating now and not a “diet”. The slower the weight loss, the less saggy skin you will have and the skin will be able to properly repair itself at that slower rate.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I agree @@Robinhood179 Maintaining an appropriate rate of weight loss is good for many reasons. I have slowed my weight loss on purpose over the last 18 months. Here is a vide that shares how rapid weight loss (in people who aren't obese) can cause massive issues with lean mass: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3qbeoZ_fpiYrc0

[@SoarwithStrength]

I am starting your program. I was at 323 lbs, and am now at 249, but feel kind of stuck so am hoping some changes will get me going again. I am a woman with severe "batwings" and I worry they will never go away, but I am doing arm exercises and seeing a little bit of change. Is the skin on my upper arms destined to swing in the wind? I am 68. Thanks.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

First off, CONGRATS on your amazing progress. Part of the reason I started this series with an emotional conversation is that I hope you are so proud of yourself. Bat wings are better than being overweight, even though I understand not wanting them at the same time :) The fact that you are seeing a little change is GREAT news. I will cover how exercise and autophagy can help your skin improve over time. It is definitely a long-term process, though. Stay tuned for the next video in this series. It will be one of the next 2-3 videos I put out. As far as feeling stuck, feel free to share what you have been doing. I can help you try to figure out how to bust through your plateau and keep making progress. It is my pleasure to help

[@monicagordon602]

What about stretched out skin from pregnancy? Yes, I am overweight, but I did not have a small "apron" under after my C- section.

[@topvideosdaily-qt6ne]

please help me, irain too have loose skin in my lower stomach. im doing excercise but im type 2 diabetic that i reveresed afteri lost 68kg. when i train i get hypoglocemia n i cant finish my session without some glucose pwder or bgt5fv4rit off sugar on watermelon while ii t

[@lesleachelf8507]

great vid

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you. I know that this is an important topic, so I want to be as thorough and helpful as I can. The next video in the series should be ready in 2 weeks.

[@barbstevenson9907]

I do have a question. How long should we fast if we want to tighten our skin up? Is OMAD enough?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is a great question. I will share all of the major ways to enhance autophagy in the next video. I will look at fasting length, ketogenic diets, sleep, exercise, and more. Stay tuned :)

[@scotch0304]

Hello Dr. I am 19 (turning 20 in 1 month). i weigh almost 100 kilos and am aiming to get to 65 kilos. I aim to do it in a year (or less). i'm 175 cms tall. Will i get loose skin? What can be some ways to prevent loose skin as much as i can.

[@mariadabot1545]

Have u seen any loose skin

[@LesleyHennessey]

I was 8 st 7 llbs before surgery two years ago. Leaving hospital after a month weighing 6st 7 llbs and have only been able to get up to 6st 13 llbs although I eat well now and very active. I am 76 and do gardening horse riding motor cycle riding etc. the skin on my arms is awful but ok everywhere else can I do anything about it

[@GrowGrayMatter]

It sounds like you are staying active and doing really well. You are the same age as my father, and he doesn't stay nearly as active as you do. Keep it up!

[@kidsteach938]

Dr. O, could it be that in bariatric surgery patients, who consume very little food as compared to pre-surgery, that they are in a surgically induced hypo-vitamin status, in particular, vitamin C? Practically pre-scorbutic? Perhaps this could explain the poor maintenance of collagen, post-surgery, in this group of weight loss patients? Also, perhaps those who are genetically pre-disposed to better skin post weight loss are genetically better at recycling or conserving vitamin C?

[@ezvahedi1387]

thank you very much

[@GrowGrayMatter]

You are very welcome. This is such an important topic for many people. It is my pleasure to try to help. Here is part 2 if you haven't seen it yet: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs Part 3 will be out in a few weeks. Please reach out if you have any questions

[@AprilBebee]

Can you talk more about red light therapy? I'm thinking about using that on my abs.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I definitely will do that. It will be in Part 4. I even reached out to the developer of my red light device to see if they know of any cool red light studies that I haven't seen yet. Stay tuned for that :) I think red light is a great idea overall. I love things that appear to offer multiple benefits rather than side effects. My reading of the science tells me that it will improve your health even if it doesn't have a big impact on loose skin.

[@drlwmoore]

Is part two available?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

It is ready to record. I will record it tomorrow and release it Monday. I normally release videos on Tuesday, but us parents will be busy with costume parties and trick-or-treating on Tuesday. I am excited to share part 2. I do think autophagy is a big part of the loose skin equation

[@GrowGrayMatter]

What questions do you have about loose skin? I want to hear them all so that I know what to answer in the upcoming videos in this series. I am here to help.

[@ZoeFPV]

What nutrients make the largest difference in helping with reduction in loose skin? I know you mentioned more in part 3- but that's one of my biggest questions and am looking forward to hearing more!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

The clear winner (in my opinion) is collagen@@ZoeFPV. Then, I would put Vitamin C and Omega-3 fats next in line. Vitamin C is needed to make collagen more effective. Some studies show that it doesn't do anything when you remove Vitamin C. And several studies have shown that the omega 3 fats (from fish oils) can improve skin firmness and elasticity. I will share the rest of the list once I get it all organized, but those are the main ones for sure :)

[@Smiley-jn1vp]

Can you share the diet plan you used to help you lose weight?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Absolutely. Here is the fasting plan that I used to lose 165 pounds in a year: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYHHfKeJaqikqJo And here is what I ate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGm8i36opKZ6g9E Reach out if you have any questions. I am here to help

[@toshibavoodoo]

Thank you!! 300lb need to lose 100lbs, what to do with all that skin....

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I wish you the best of luck with your weight loss. The best way to deal with loose skin is to decrease how much you get along the way. I will cover everything I know about the topic in the rest of this series, but here are my main tips: 1. Enhance as much cellular repair (autophagy) as possible. Key ways to do that are fasting, ketogenic diets, exercise, and good sleep. 2. Add collagen to your diet. Collagen improves skin health very nicely in the studies that have been done. Add vitamin C to make collagen work even better. 3. Add muscle. Put some muscle on your body to fill the space left by lost fat. Exercise also triggers autophagy, so this one is a double whammy. I hope this helps. Stay tuned for more, and let me know if you have other questions. I am here to help

[@toshibavoodoo]

@@GrowGrayMatter THANK YOU!! I'll look forward to your videos and take your advice. Solid information. Thanks Again

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks so much for the kind words@@toshibavoodoo. It is my pleasure to help. I have lived through everything that I teach about. That gives me an advantage. Reach out if you need any help along the way

[@toshibavoodoo]

@@GrowGrayMatterThanks! Will also being going through some of your older videos. So much already recorded, will catch up!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Reach out if you have any questions@@toshibavoodoo And let me know if there are topics I haven't covered yet. I am trying to get 2 videos ready per week now, so I definitely need some ideas :)

[@girliedog]

I am using Weight Watchers to lose weight, my first goal is to lose 80 lbs. I plan to work on sustaining at that point but ultimately I will work to go down another 20-30. Even at my max weight my blood work has always been in normal range. I attribute that to the fact is I do not eat processed foods my diet has alway been fresh food. (Just to much of it. LOL) Will I have less issues with lose skin?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for reaching out. I hope that you are successful on your weight loss journey. It sounds like you have a solid plan. Follow as much of the advice I share in this series if you want to be sure that you minimize your loose skin along the way. Here is part 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs I will have a video about collagen and other skin healing nutrients next week :) Reach out if you have any other questions. I am here to help

[@troywhite6039]

You say our skin is constantly replaced in about 27 days. Is there any equivalent data on the reduction rate of excess skin being reabsorbed by percentage or volume that's trackable or measurable? Like if you lose a 10 lbs a month at what amount will skin also be lost in that month? If it's too complex for a short message maybe you can do a video if there is any published research.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is an excellent question. The sad reality is that this topic doesn't get the research support that it deserves. Most of the research is done on the skin of people that have undergone bariatric surgery and/or people undergoing surgical skin removal. Loose skin is seen as an afterthought rather than a primary focus of the research itself. The other major roadblock is the massive difference seen from person to person because of genetics, age, etc. I talked about why we each respond uniquely in part 1 of this series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJXSm4N7hdmGq7c If I find a study like you mentioned, I will absolutely do a video on it :) I hope that you find what works for you. Reach out if you have any thoughts or questions

[@popstarprincess123]

How much is considered a significant amount of weight?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

This is a great question. There really isn't a slid definition. I personally think it is relative to body size. I would personally say that it is anything more than 40-50 pounds. But some people deal with excess skin after only losing 10-20 pounds if they were lean to begin with.

[@AestheticXAvocado]

Hey im 14 im 64kg ans im planning to be 42 whithout taking count of genetic how much time should it take to not have loose skin

[@ken7961]

Would regular sauna use have any effect on loose skin?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I am doing a deep dive into the science, and so far I haven't found any good data about sauna impacting collagen or elastin production. There is a lo of anecdotal evidence of people saying that sauna improved skin health, but this doesn't mean that it will tighten loose skin. I have been intrigued by red-light therapy and low-level laser therapy. There are some neat studies in that area. I will look into infrared sauna and see if I find any good news there

[@nannettenannettek9545]

You said, losing a "significant" amount of weight. Can you define "significant"? I am 70 yrs old, 5'1" female and weighed 142.6 lbs. I have lost 20 lbs in about 4 months. Would this be considered a significant weight loss?

[@heythere5817]

Nope. Significant in terms of loose skin is more like 80 to 100 pounds minimum

[@nannettenannettek9545]

@@heythere5817 Thanks.

[@preetsrivastava7970]

can you talk about psoriasis?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I will add this to my list of topics to cover. I am not sure if you have seen my health transformation video, but I am the perfect person to talk about psoriasis: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4vJZ36kmtl6aq8 I have struggled with psoriasis since as early as I can remember. Right before COVID hit (and I started my health journey) psoriasis covered 70-80% of my body. I was completely miserable. Now I am 99% better. I don't have any plaques or itching. I will try to offer as much insight as I can. It is always hard to pinpoint what helped when you do a combination of things (weight loss, fasting, diet changes, sleep, exercise, supplements). Reach out if you have any specific questions.

[@darkNovaskar]

I'm in really good shape I just had an eating spell where I gained 40 pounds and lost it very fast now I got a little loose skin I call a "lip" and Sonno Bello wants to charge me $7k for it. My bmi is 25.9 the photos she was showing me of clients were 32-36 bmi. $7k is a rip-off.

[@aussiefox2000]

I am 65 and have been loosing about a kilo a month. I was 117 kilo's. I am now 87. Its taken me just over 2 years to do it. I mainly just changed my eating habits, cut out sugar and alot of carbs. I was addicted to carbs, not so much sugar.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Congratulations! You have made a lot of progress and should be very proud :). I am similar to you. I don't crave sugary stuff much, but the starchy carbs were hard to cut out. But thank God I did. I feel much better without them :)

[@darronmarcel3261]

Can loose skin retract by itself? Lose weight at the age of 18

[@DuffMan.]

Pros and cons of skin removal surgery?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Perfect timing. I just replied to your last message :). The majority of studies show that people have a better quality of life, and psychological improvement, after skin removal surgery. Those are the pros. Cons are cost and risk of surgery and post-surgical complications. All surgeries do come with some inherent risk. I think weighing the pros and cons is a great way to decide whether or not surgery is needed. If the loose skin is causing infections, pain, etc, then I would be much more likely to accept the cost and risk of the surgery. You will have to way to risk of doing the surgery (surgeries) versus the risk of not. My goal is to help people minimize the risk of having problematic loose skin, but some people will end up needing skin removal surgery no matter what they try. I hope this helps

[@michaelmorton6566]

Ive lost 80 lbs in the last year and sofar no loose skin

[@GrowGrayMatter]

That is awesome news! You should be super proud. Keep up the great work :)

[@pippobaudo4418]

Maybe web should reach bodybuilding contest level of body fat tò consume excess skin?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

That is a very interesting thought. Some people say you really don't have any idea how much loose skin you have until you get to 10-12% body fat. But there are bodybuilders that are much leaner than that who still have loose skin. Some have even needed skin removal surgery. But what really intrigues me about your question is how can you get the body to consume excess skin without being so aggressive that you lose lean mass as well. I will talk about that some in part 2 of this video. Some fasting experts recommend consuming lower protein to help that process along, but I do not feel comfortable giving that advice when I look at studies like the ones I shared in this video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/en3EY5pqfLh0hZY

[@yhormth3giant354]

I just wonder if it's different for a postpartum belly? I almost made it back to my pre pregnancy weight after 2 years & then got pregnant again. I'm now 8 months into my second pregnancy, still have saggy belly skin on top of the baby belly & I'm scared there's no solution.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for reaching out. Some people can completely recover from having a baby (or multiple babies), but it is difficult because the skin stretches rapidly over a short period of time. Don't give up hope. Part 2 of this series share a lot of tips to get you started: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs There isn't a lot you can do with that information in the 8th month of pregnancy, but begin to plan for how you will recover after your bundle of joy has entered the world :) Part 3 will cover important nutrients like collagen, vitamin c, and the omega 3 fish oils.

[@AMOE_30]

It can be done. I achieved flat abs after 4 babies - 1 of these a CS - with daily walking (about 60 minutes, 5 days a week) to drop most of my baby weight, then aerobic exercise (1 hour at the gym, 5 days a week) to tone my muscles and sculpt my body. I got so far on my own, then joined a gym for the final sculpting. There is hope!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing your message of hope@@AMOE_30. It is always best to hear things from someone who has been through the same experience :)

[@solavita306]

Oooh, loose skin scary!, Not. It's all going to be in areas that only my spouse is going to see, and he would far rather I live longer and healthier.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I agree with you 100%. The health benefits of fat loss trump any loose skin as long as it doesn't reach a point where it causes health problems (irritation, sores, etc). I have done a lot of things to minimize loose skin. But I wear the bit that I do have like a badge of honor. I would definitely not trade it for being unhealthy again :)

[@JeanHendrix-zl5hv]

Has anybody tried or looked into jumping on a rebounder or a mini trampoline ?? It's supposed to help you build muscle and loose fat. That's what the astronauts had to do when they came back to earth. I'm age 76 been on carnivore for 6 days. Started at 185 today I'm 174. Already had some loose skin. Doing the rebounder a little bit. Neck and other body part injuries. Gotta go slow. I have soooo much more energy today. Hallelujah, Praise God, thank you Jesus !!!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Congratulations on your early progress. I am happy to hear that you are losing weight and gaining energy. That is the perfect combination :). I have never used a rebounder, but I have been considering getting one. I am always looking for ways to stay active indoors during the long winter months here in South Dakota. I also like anything that is low impact since I have an old knee injury. Here is a video that shows that you can absolutely increase your strength and muscle size at any age by adding exercise: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2rOpJV9oa6sras And here is a video that explains why adding exercise is a great idea during weight loss: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZaTk4F8qLidrZo Keep up the great work :)

[@JeanHendrix-zl5hv]

@@GrowGrayMatter thank you so much for your kind words and good wishes. Yes I know that you can loose weight and gain muscle at any age. I've been studying Natural and alternative healing for years. Grew up in Applacia and basically if we didn't grow it we didn't eat it. Except for a very few things. We used to take our corn to town and the miller would grind it into cornmeal and keep part of it for his pay. I didn't know any sick people. I'm off the chain. Haven't watched TV in 15 years. Ha, Ha, Ha. I hope you get a rebounder. I'm not doing much of anything today. I am recovering from sleeping. Now I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. Neck is the problem. Need a chiropractor that knows what the Heck they're doing. Been to 7 here in Marietta. Even went to Life Chiropractic College. They about killed me. Fractured my rib. There was one good one years ago, but he went out of business. There is a couple I'm considering. Well enough about me. My name is Peggy. Jean is my middle name. What is your name ?? Please

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you so much for sharing@@JeanHendrix-zl5hv. It sounds like you have lived a great life. People could take a lot of lessons from you about living more like our ancestors did. I can promise that you haven't missed out without TV. The less I use technology, the happier I seem to be. It gives me more time to get outside and focus on the real world :) I hope that you find someone that can help you with your neck. I will keep you in my prayers. My name is Frank O'Neill. It is a pleasure to meet you

[@JessMcCrossan]

I appreciate the analogy with winning the lottery, in theory. However, many winners end up bankrupt. 30-70% depending on where you get your stats. It generally ruins people's relationships with their friends and family. Just something to keep in mind for future videos :). Awesome content otherwise!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

That is a really good point. The lottery is a great reminder that money doesn't buy happiness. That is why I always say I would rather sleep well than eat well :) Thanks for the kind words as well. Reach out if you ever have any questions. I am here to help

[@SnMC14]

My wife’s grandfather, 1st Lt Alexander Dallas, was shot down in a B-17G, Serial 44-6260, 15th Air Force, 97th Bomb Group, 414th Bomb Squadron. According to the MACR (7094), shortly after bombs away over the Ploesti oil fields on 22 JULY 1944, the aircraft took AA fire. The right wing caught fire and one report claimed it exploded after everyone bailed out. He was captured and held as a POW until January 1945 when his camp was liberated by Americans.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Wow. That is an amazing story. I am so happy to hear that he was able to survive such an ordeal. My grandfather was also in the 15th Air Force, but it was a different Bomb Squadron. He told us one story about how close they came to being shot down. They were so shot up be enemy fighters that they had to use arming wire to reattach the rudder cables. That plane never flew again, but at least they made it home. Thank you for sharing

[@deborah0357]

I just discovered your channel and am very interested in this topic. In 2019, when I was 62 I lost 35 pounds. I used OMAD. And I had loose skin in my stomach. When I was 37 I had a C-Seciton, I initially lost most of my pregnancy weight, but then went right back up to 170 lbs, and stayed there for years. In spite of the loose skin in my stomach, I was happy with the weight loss (I wore I one-piece bathing suit and looked great in it). Then in 2020 the lock downs happened. My husband and I went to Costco the day the lockdown was announced and we bought candies, orange juice, chips and a lot of bad stuff because we thought we would be able to leave the house for a while. Anyway, I gained back the weight and I am sad about it. I've been wanting to loose it again, but I'm older and I admit I'm worried about my skin. Does the up and down make it worse for my skin?

[@lcarlson7725]

Will I improve my odds of loose skin by IF, 4 hour eating window, rast 24 hrs 1 day a week, Keto/carnivore? Dr Jason Fung teaches to fast, cut out multiple meals a day (and resulting insulin resistance). He also says few if any of his successful patients require cosmetic surgery to remove the lose skin. He also talks about pics of groups who have lived an extended period of starvation having zero lose skin. Am I on the right track

[@TrillEverything]

Sadly, he showed the list....and skipped right over "dehydration" to go crazy on sugar. By now, most have heard a zillion times about how bad sugar is for you. Torally skipping hydration and spending 4x the time on sugar was a real downer. It is way easier to leave out sugar in your diet thst to figure out what to drink beyond water. Why? Its beacuse you have to have fluid to live. Sugar, not so much!

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for the feedback. I always appreciate it. I focused more on sugar for 2 reasons. 1. Hydration is very important for overall skin health, but high glucose levels specifically damage collagen in a way that makes loose skin more likely (and harder to deal with). 2. I am a huge fan of proper hydration (with electrolytes), so I had just covered that in detail a few weeks earlier: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZq4aYeMbrympJI And here is another video I did about hydration: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e369nn2YgdmXf7M I hope his helps. Well said all around.

[@developer6619]

hey doctor, do you recommend cheat days weekly? i have 100 pounds to lose and im doing 1500 kcal per day of food + walk and training. 35% bf. many sources suggest a cheat day per week to reset leptin levels and prevent metabolism slow down. this might be good for normal people but for me as obese, i dont know if science applies here as i have tons of fat to lose. did you have cheat days during your ADF journey of losing 165 pounds? whats your thought on this topic? how often should i do a cheat day and how many kcal that day? 3000? (considering 1500 are diet days) should i do 3k every sunday, or when after 2-3 straight weeks of dieting, the weight loss slows down so i need a reset. considering i have 100 pounds to lose, i wanted to know how you approached your cheat days during 165 lbs lose. or if u even did them.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thanks for reaching out. I do not recommend scheduling cheat days with ADF. If you follow the plan that I used, you should be eating somewhere between your maintenance calories and 25-30% above on your eating days. This "overfeeding" will already help boost leptin without the need of a cheat day. Here is a video where I explain why the overfeeding part of ADF is what helps preserve metabolic rate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmm6eIFvq5hneZY If you are going to add in cheat days, I like the idea of doing it as a reset if weight loss slows. I wouldn't add them if you are making great progress. I talked a lot about the value of diet breaks and refeeds in this video about the 5:2 approach. I think these issues become more important as we get closer to your goals: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIWupKRtl5x6rNU We can afford to be a lot more aggressive when we have 100 pounds to lose. The excess fat energy helps to protect our lean mass and metabolic rate for these reasons here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3e3pGiDm7R3pK8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmStf4ifjs15ors But in the end, the key is to build a plan you can stick with long enough to see results. Use cheat days if they help keep you on track over the long haul. Don't use them if they cause you to fall off the rails. I hope this helps. You CAN do this! I am living proof

[@developer6619]

@@GrowGrayMatter thanks for the motivation doctor and the help. Wish you and your family a great week. The only thing im concerned is loose skin after all the weight loss, im 24. I dont want to walk around with saggy skin after 5 months. and i refuse to take supps for collagen or any kind. Im just doing fasting for the loose skin help. Also weight lifting ofc.

[@developer6619]

@@GrowGrayMatter by the way, if autophagy starts to get boosted by fasting 24h+ doesnt this make the 5:2 diet useless for this case? Because youre always eating and there isnt a single day youre fasting over 23h (OMAD) Wouldnt omad be the better choice for loose skin prevention over 5:2?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

The studies I cover in part of the loose skin series show that autophagy kicks in as early as 16-17 hours@@developer6619 But I do believe that longer fasts work better. This is why the 5:2 plan that I follow uses 2 36-hour fasts rather than eating anything on those 2 days. This is what works best for me.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Your young age will hopefully be a plus@@developer6619. You are starting with younger and more elastic skin that someone like me that waited until their 40s to lose the weight :) Be sure to follow all of the advice in my fat-loss sweet spot series. These tips (protein, exercise, sleep, etc) will make you and your skin as healthy as possible while you lose the fat. This will give you the best chance of seeing your skin bounce back

[@kerishalove4896]

Amazing Videos Dr. Thank you for simplifying this. ADF is a great way. Fast and Feast rinse and repeat! Loose skin over potential death! 💪🏽👍🏾 Congratulationssssssss on your great weight loss! Amazing Doc! 😬😬😬😬

[@laforrestwhitfield2543]

I like to add the vital protein collagen in my black coffee, does this break a fast?

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for reaching out. This is an important question. I love collagen, but I would save it for your eating window for a couple of reasons. 1. It will "break" your fast. It has calories and protein, so your body will see it as a feeding. It won't stimulate your body as much as other protein sources, though, which leads me to point two. 2. Collagen is not a complete protein. It is missing the amino acid tryptophan. It is also pretty low in leucine. These are the reasons that it isn't as "bad" as other protein sources in your fasting window, but this also means that it won't do a good job of stimulate muscle protein synthesis. You will be much better off if you consume your collagen with other proteins (that have more leucine and tryptophan) so that your body can actually use it to preserve or build muscle. I personally take my collagen with the meal after my workout. I feel like this sends as many signals to my body that I should be using it to rebuild and repair. I hope this helps. I can't wait to share more in this series. Reach out if you have other questions.

[@jeng5757]

Commercials every five minutes are so annoying. Please look into changing your settings.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

I will definitely look into this. I have not set any of the ad-related stuff myself. I will see if I have any say in the matter. I watched it on my sons phone to see the issue but only saw 1 ad that was skippable after 5 seconds.

[@johnbemery7922]

Remember those pictures of prisoners released from ww2 concentration camps? They were rail thin, but none had sagging skin, so enough fasting will eventually get rid of it.

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Thank you for sharing. Most of them were not obese to begin with, so it is no a perfect analogy. But your point is very well taken. Now you have me interested. I will see if I can find any research specifically done on these people to see if they made any comments about their skin.

[@TORAH-613]

The only reason why people worry about the loose skin is because if they have loose skin after losing weight is that they can go out in public half naked to show their body off to the world. Id rather be clothed and be in public ALIVE than to be stiff in a casket 6ft under. People need to focus on their health more that showing their body off.

[@DatGirlPorsha05]

Loose skin can be painful too with chafing/burning and rashes... Its not only aesthetic

[@vishambarchauhan5622]

Theres no prevention

[@GrowGrayMatter]

Prevention must be possible since there are people who lose significant amounts of weight without having loose skin. I have seen people lose 80-150 pounds with barely any loose skin (or none at all). Part 2 covers some of the best strategies to improve your chances: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m2kGCfbbNqrLs