If you’ve recently lost a lot of weight after being obese for some time, you probably feel like you have a new lease of life. For example, you can probably climb stairs more efficiently, your joints will have less stress, and you’ll also have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

The only possible drawback is the loose skin you may be left with. Health-wise, it’s nothing in comparison to the excess fat you used to carry, but it can still cause feelings of self-consciousness. The good news is, there are some things you can do to tidy it up a bit.

The goal here is to get your skin looking as healthy as possible – and here’s 6 ways to do it!

1 Lift weights

Build as much muscle as possible. When you build muscle, your skin naturally looks tighter. It may not actually get tighter, but it will definitely give the appearance of being tighter.

Focus on doing exercises like bench presses, squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, military presses, and so on. And you also want to lift the maximum amount of weight you can.

More on this topic: How to Build Muscle After Weight Loss >>

2 Tanning

This is a trippy option, but it can work in your favor if tanning is your thing. By getting tanned, your skin will give the impression of being tighter. It’ll also give you a healthy-looking glow and boost your self-confidence.

It’s best to do this through natural sunlight, but if tanning salons are all you have available, then go for it. Just be sure to protect yourself and don’t overdo it. Always follow the directions they have for time and frequency, and never take it to the extreme. Your health is far more important than your skin looking tighter!

3 Hydration

Your skin is an organ that needs hydration, just like the rest. Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This helps keep your epidermal layer supple and healthy-looking.

One thing you don’t want to do is drink a lot of sweet drinks, alcohol or coffee. These can lead to an acidic environment, which is bad for your skin.

4 Massage

Getting a massage helps bring nutrient-rich blood to the surface of your skin, which can make it healthier and reduce the appearance of sagging. You might also want to look into a center that offers a sauna and infrared massage in tandem. This combo enhances the effect even more.

5 Proper dietary approach

Vitamin C, vitamin K, collagen, and omega-3 fats are all good for the skin. Eat foods that contain these nutrients and feel free to supplement with them to get more bang for your buck. Citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, salmon, and eggs are all good foods to add to your diet.

6 Surgery

If you’ve tried everything else, and none of it seems to work, getting surgery is a final option. But try to use it as a last resort. In this case, doctors will remove the excess skin and tighten up the saggy parts. It may seem like a quick fix, but it can come with a longer recovery period. And you’re never without the risk of side effects when getting any type of surgery.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Having loose skin isn’t the end of the world. In fact, it’s a sign that you’ve achieved better health through substantial weight loss. So long as you take some action and integrate a few lifestyle changes into your daily grind, you should be able to reduce its appearance quite significantly.

Just realize that it could take some time for you to see the results. That’s where patience comes in. And even if you don’t get the exact results you desire, recognise the amazing work you’ve done to become a new, healthier version of you!