Toned arms, a firm butt and a flat belly—we all want this, don’t we? But as all things, getting a perfectly chiseled body requires much effort and it doesn’t happen overnight. Even after weight loss, you have other concerns, such as loose skin. How does that one tackle that to get a toned body? 

Our body is capable of so much, but ladies, it does take some time for it to adapt to changes! So, in case you’ve shed all that unwanted fat in a short period of time, you might find yourself stuck with loose skin after weight loss. 

So, what do you do? First of all, you need to identify if it is excess skin or a thin layer of stubborn fat. If you pinch more than a few millimetres of skin, then you still have some fat that needs to be lost, before your skin can be tightened. If it’s stubborn fat, then you need to keep training to lose it. 

Here are some tips that you can follow to tone up your skin after weight loss

weight loss

Build your muscles

The first step is to build muscle to tone up after a weight loss. In most cases, rapid weight loss is caused by high levels of cardio and a calorie-deficient diet. What happens here is that muscle is lost with the fat, and that can cause the skin to look saggy. It’s a good idea to perform compound resistance exercises to burn fat and build muscle at the same time.Try different kinds of exercises, including deadlifts and squats to tone your body. Also, don’t refrain from using heavy weights—it won’t make you look bulky in any way!

Exfoliate your skin

If saggy skin after weight loss is troubling you, then you must try exfoliating your body. That’s because it will help promote blood circulation and remove dead skin cells from the surface. You could use a dry skin brush before you shower, just work it in circular motions starting from your feet and up to your heart. If you don’t want to do this, you could also try using an exfoliating body scrub, while you are showering. It will also help to reduce cellulite.

After weight loss: Moisturise

Hydration is important on the inside, but also outside. So, while drinking plenty of water is a must, you also have to moisturise your skin well to keep it healthy. Use a good moisturiser that has collagen or natural oils such as coconut, almond or olive oil to lock in moisture. Moisturising well also helps to reduce stretch marks, so make sure you follow this step every single day!

Massage well

Just the way exfoliation does wonders for your skin, so does massaging! That’s because it increases the circulation of blood to the skin’s surface, thereby promoting the growth of new skin cells. What’s more, it also helps to reduce muscle tension. You could use a thick cream that has shea butter to massage your skin. If it feels too slippery, then pat the skin down with a towel and massage with dry hands.

Eat healthy foods

There are certain foods and drinks that can help to boost skin elasticity after weight loss. For one, make sure you consume generous amounts of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. Also, include nuts, beans and legumes that help the body to replace dead skin cells. Try to include a portion of oily fish such as mackerel and salmon a few times a week. It is believed that omega-3 fatty acids keep your skin soft and supple.

Stay away from sunbeds

While it’s tempting to hop on a sunbed to hide any imperfections under a glowing tan, the ultraviolet (UV) light that you are exposed to on a sunbed can significantly damage your skin. Over time it can cause your skin to look old, wrinkled and leathery, but there is an even more serious danger than accelerated ageing.

Sunbeds can damage the DNA of your skin, which may lead to skin cancer including malignant melanoma, the most fatal type of the disease. Opt for fake tan if you want to achieve a safe golden look, there are now a number of spray tans that can last over one week that won’t damage your skin at all.

Love your body

Beauty is not skin deep, the important thing is that you feel happy in yourself after a weight loss. Loose skin is a natural process, even if none of the techniques above work for you, you should still be proud of the body that you have worked so hard to achieve. Think of your loose skin or stretch marks as reminders of just how far you have come, be proud of your body.

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