Loose skin and waist circunference: What do?

Nutrition Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Doc,

I am trying to decide if my weight loss is ending. I lost quite a bit of weight (~120kg) which resulted in some loose skin and I’ve being thinking if I should aim to a lower waist circumference because of it.
My current WC is 89cm, but the highest circumference in the midsection is ~95cm.
My height is 183cm and weight is 83,4kg.

So, what do?

2

I’m not sure depending on where your measurements are being taken, but either way the excess skin may be contributing here. Depending on the rest of your medical history, you’re likely fine to stop weight loss considering the amount you’ve lost thus far and work on long-term adherence. Really nice job getting it done!

3

I followed your video for the waist circumference and the higher one is ~10cm bellow that. I had high cholesterol, but by March it was normal. Aside from a cardiac arrhythmia (under control), no other medical issue.
My next goal is to work on long-term maintenance, but I would like to be on the safer side before transitioning to that.

4

I just want to chime in because I was in a similar situation a few months back. I’m ~179cm, and went from 134kg to 75-76, the majority of it in the first year of two. At a certain point, my waist circumference would have trouble budging around the mid 80cm range, but I didn’t account for the excess skin from being obese most of my life. For several months, I still tried to get my waist circumference down from eating at a -1000kcal deficit, but I was just pointlessly grinding for nothing as my body “peaked” in losing fat. I’ve stopped and figured out my maintenance (~2600-2800kcal), and happy at staying between a 86-88cm waist and ~78kg.

5

Copy that. I think you’re likely okay, but it’s hard to be 100% certain about the role of the skin without seeing it. In any case, I think the amount of weight loss and your measurements make me feel somewhat comfortable in saying you’re probably fine at your current weight.

6

Understand, I will keep loosing for a bit longer, shooting to lower the highest point of the midsection to < 90cm, then add 200-300kcal every two weeks until the weight stabilizes.

Thank you for your time and for all the information that you and BBM publishes.

7

Thank you for chiming in.
Thankfully, I seem to still be loosing fat, my question was more so I can form a rough plan of the transition to maintenance.
Looking at the photo on your post I appear to be in a higher body fat.
And man, I feel you that being on a cut for a long time gets hard sometimes.