80+ lbs weight loss. struggling with loose skin on thighs, sides & muffin top

I’m 30 years old, 5’2”, and my highest weight was around 210 lbs. By the end of 2023, I finally reached my goal weight of around 110–115 lbs after losing over 88 lbs.

Timeline:
- September 2023: first loose skin removal surgery
- December 2023: second surgery (breasts + arms)
- February 2024: revision surgery by the same surgeon

I want to say first that I do NOT regret loose skin removal surgery overall, and I don’t want to discourage anyone from doing it. It helped me a lot mentally and physically. Unfortunately, I had serious complications and believe I was medically botched, especially on my left breast and left arm. I’m currently in the process of pursuing legal action for medical negligence.

My left breast implant is currently causing me a lot of pain and may have complications (possibly displacement/rupture — still being monitored), which made me terrified of surgery again. For a long time, I avoided exercise because I was scared of causing more damage, but my current doctor recently cleared me to train carefully until my corrective surgery.

Right now, my biggest insecurity is the loose skin/fat around my thighs, sides, and muffin top area. When I lie down, the skin/fat on my sides kind of spreads onto the bed and feels very detached/saggy. I know that after massive weight loss, some looseness is normal, and honestly I do NOT expect perfection anymore.

At this point, even a realistic 30% improvement would make me happy.

I’ve recently started going to the gym consistently, focusing on glute/lower body training and finally hitting my protein goals properly. I’m also taking supplements like marine collagen and MSM and have been doing so for over a year. They helped my hair, nails, and hydration, but I haven’t noticed much improvement in skin tightness.

So my question is:
Has anyone actually seen REALISTIC non-surgical improvement in loose skin on the thighs, sides, muffin top, or glute area after major weight loss?

I’m especially interested in:
- body recomposition/muscle gain
- radiofrequency
- microneedling
- skin tightening treatments
- collagen stimulation
- anything that gave even partial improvement

Again, I’m not looking for perfection. I’d genuinely be happy with even a modest improvement without going through another major surgery.

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NSV: Someone didn’t agree with me when I made a self-deprecating fat joke

I’ve lost around 120lbs (54.5kg) since starting my weight loss journey about 18 months ago. I’m incredibly tall (6ft 5 and broad) so I’ve always been able to hide it *pretty* well, but when I got to a certain size and had difficulties managing the stairs etc. it was time for a change and photos taken during that time prove it.

During my journey I’d also been temporarily promoted for a year, and came back to an office with some new faces after the promotion ended (Talk about taking it all on at once 🙄). Anyway, the conversation went to exercise with a new colleague and I made one of my usual self-deprecating fat jokes (because nobody can make fun of you for being fat if YOU make the joke, right?) and a new colleague didn’t agree with me, in fact they kinda called me out for speaking about myself that way.

I truly felt like I had an out of body experience because ever since I’ve been struggling with my weight (Got fat at 11, only now got on top of it at 30) whenever I’ve made one of these jokes people have either laughed along in agreement or rushed to make excuses for me “You’re just tall/broad/it wouldn’t be natural at your height to be skinny” - it was like a stranger/acquaintance hadn’t looked at me and registered me as fat. And that’s never happened before.

It’s an odd feeling, but I think it feels good.

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40 days of gym + clean eating and I’ve only lost 1 kg. Is this normal?

Headline:
Workout: Gym 5 days a week — 2-3 days strength training, 2-3 days Zumba, plus regular incline walking and staying active daily.

Diet: Mostly homemade high-protein meals like eggs, dal, paneer, rajma, fruits, etc. Completely stopped outside food and trying to eat cleaner overall.

I’m feeling a little discouraged and wanted to know if this is normal.

I’m a 31 year old woman (150 cm, started around 63 kg) and for the past 40 days I’ve been super consistent with my routine.

But after all this effort, I’ve only lost around 1 kg on the scale.

Is this normal in the beginning? Has anyone else experienced very slow weight loss despite being consistent? The scale not moving much is honestly frustrating.

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Does anyone else find that they eat more when counting calories?

I don't believe I starved myself when I don't count calories. I felt fine and whatever.

That being said, I'm not good at estimating calories based on my guessed serving size, and I tend to over estimate the calories of what I ate. Then, because I think I ate more than I really did, I have a lighter meal later in the day and a very small dessert.

However, when I count calories and really pay attention to the nutritional info, I see that I am left with a decent amount of calories at the end of the day, so I treat myself to a reeeaaally decadent dessert or more treats throughout the day, or use butter when cooking, fry my eggs, have a second serving, etc.

So, I end up eating MORE because I'm not overestimating calories.

I should also add that I use a weight loss program where you "earn back" calories for steps and weight lifting. I walk easily 15K+ steps a day and work out 5 days a week.

So, I end up with at least a 1,600 calorie budget most days.

(I lose an average of 3lbs a month. It's slow but generally steady)

Edit: I figured out I was overestimating calories because I wasn't using a food scale. Now I'm using one and seeing how wrong my estimates were!

The goal is to get used better at estimating so I don't need the scale, but that's been a challenge

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Is my calorie intake okay for maintenance and activity level?

I have been on my weight loss journey for four years now. I have managed to lose 130 pounds or so. When I started my journey, I used to weight 260ish pounds now I weight 130. After years of being in a caloric deficit (on and off) I want to maintain my current weight (130) while still being active and not sedentary. For reference: 28m, 130lb, 5'8".

My goal for now is maintenance while still remaining active/fit.

I just do not know what my new calorie intake is. After months of being on a deficit, I do not know what a normal healthy deficit is for me.

I have been eating 2,100 calories for now (most online calculators gave me this maintenance for a lightly active person).

However, I do not know if my current activity level puts me in the lightly active category. I worry that I will gain actual fat. I do admit, I have to gain muscle - but my body needs a break -so maintenance is my goal for now.

My activity level: I do 45 minutes of light cardio in the morning, I do not strain myself too hard. I burn around 150-200ish calories (according to my Apple Watch. I also try to get 10,000 steps of movement each day (walking around work, doing chores, etc.) I do 45 min cardio 6 days a week.

Would this activity level be considered lightly active for me?

It feels weird not pushing myself when I do cardio, I'm used to the intensity of it. However, I have to remind myself the goal for my cardio is not to lose weight but to remain fit and for endurance.

My question is, will my new caloric intake of 2,100 calories be enough to maintain my weight as it is now? Like I said, I do not want to gain or lose weight. Does my activity level put my at a lightly active person? I do not want to be a sedentary person, and I do need to up my calories.

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Been told I look taller

6'1" F, SW 237, CW 204 (HW 260). So yesterday a coworker told me I was looking skinny and then proceeded to tell me how much taller I looked as well. I dont work closely with this woman, but we see each other in the building several times a week. Interesting.

THEN today I see someone at work I probably haven't seen in a year, when I was somewhere between my SW and HW. She tells me I look taller, but no comment on my weight. I'm much closer on a personal level with the coworker I hadn't seen in a year but I am not surprised she wouldn't say anything about my weight loss specifically, not offended in the least!

Soooooo do you think I could actually look taller?! I just thought it was so funny that two unrelated people gave me this compliment (I think its a compliment 🤣) two days in a row. I have been doing yoga every day for the last 3ish months...wondering if its helped with my posture and losing weight has just made me carry myself straighter? Or do you think its a way of people acknowledging something is different physically without treading into the weight area?

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Is a weightloss coach worth it?

I’m 32F in a calorie deficit and I’m aiming to lose 50 lbs. I’ve got PCOS, ADHD, mild depression, anxiety and many other issues. I’ve started therapy but that’s separate to weight loss. I’m currently on day 4 of being in a calorie deficit and I want to quit. It’s the mental side of weight loss that I’m struggling with. It’s the constant food noise. It’s like mental torture. I’m miserable and I can’t do this alone. I’ve also got a bit of money saved up and thought…should I just get a weight loss coach? This is for ME. I’m investing in my own health. I need someone to cheer me along the way, atleast for the first six months whilst I get the hang of this. Especially because I know it’s going to take a whole YEAR or more to get to my goal weight. I’m just wondering if it will be weird to pay for a coach who can motivate me? I’m desperate at this point and I keep quitting weight loss because of the lack of motivation. And please don’t tell me “it’s not about motivation, it’s about discipline”. Yeah I know that but that’s not working for me right now. I need motivation and accountability for the meantime. I need external support and I’m not able to do this alone.

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