Skin elasticity

L

loneswaneast

Cathlete
I'm 56, was a competitive skier in high school so I've been exercising my entire life. I have been using Cathe tapes for ten years and love her workouts completely.
I've got great muscle development,have excellent cardio endurance and am getting more flexible as I've brought yoga into my routine. I love being able to haul a fifty pound bag of horse feed to the barn, like how my butt looks in jeans even at my age but my problem is skin tone. No matter what I do, the skin is sagging.
Any suggestions on firming tired old skin beside expensive creams or plastic surgery? Are there any exercises that can tighten skin? Thank you.
 
I'm no expert but I have read that as we age and experience a decline in estrogen, changes in our skin tone are to be expected. I believe estrogen feeds the collagen to a degree and collagen is what causes the skin to plump up or tighten.

I'd be interested in hearing what others have to say about the subject.
 
There are no exercises that can tighten skin, and topical creams do not work. Really the only option is surgery or learning to deal with it. Some people say drinking a lot of water "helps" and it may, but nothing will make the sagging skin go away completely except surgery. I have some sagging skin on my thighs (I have lost 80 pounds in a little over two years) and I vacillate between wanting surgery, and thinking I just need to get over myself and live with it.
 
I gained a lot of weight with my two pregnancies and lost the elasticity on my lower abdominal area. I have tried many things to help, but none have made a difference. Oddly, having a bit of a layer of fat underneath makes it look better.

I have noticed that my facial skin appears healthier with less fine lines and wrinkles during certain times of the month when my estrogen levels are naturally higher.

I think that the only true fix is surgery. :)
 
I've heard about women having success with "dry brushing" their body. You can get a bristle body brush from a healthfood store and you brush your body with it (dry, don't wet the brush) and brush your skin with it in upward strokes. I've tried it to help with cellulite and it does make a bit of a difference. It's not magic but it helps and it's cheap and easy to try. HTH. :)
 
RE: Skin elasticity-Thanks to all replies

Thanks to all who have responded. I just re-read my original posting and realized what a dumb question...about exercises for skin...dumb. I do know that developing muscles "raises" things to a degree, but unless you gain the inches required to fill the skin out, we need to live with it, I guess.
I will try the dry-brushing and maybe add some more soy, maca and estrogen producing foods and teas to my diet. I don't know about taking collagen capsules. Poor chickens after all.
 
Anne, if you're looking at getting rid of facial wrinkles see if you can find a dr. in your area who does Fraxel. It's a pretty new laser resurfacing treatment that has almost no down time (traditial laser resurfacing is pretty painful & leaves a nasty scab on your face).

I had my 4th of 5 treatments last week & I am absolutely amazed by the results. I only had the area around my mouth done (smoker's lines) & the wrinkles have virtually disappeared. It is truly miraculous.

Rhytec is another option, it's much cheaper & only requires one visit, but again there is more downtime & you'll have scabbing.
 
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