How to Tone After Weight Loss

Losing a large amount of weight quickly, such as during surgery or through a rigorous diet, can bring enormous health benefits to you. But it can also cause a problem: unsightly flabby skin that could not adjust to the sudden weight loss. The next step for someone who has undergone a major weight drop is to tone the new body, and that can take a lot of work. If you are committed enough, however, you can take a number of steps to make your body look like new again.

Instructions

• 1

  Eat healthy -- there's no substitute for a proper diet. Maintain a low-fat diet and eat lean proteins to minimize extra skin. Drink at least half a gallon of water per day and supplement it with sports drinks to replace electrolytes lost through exercise. Eat foods that are rich in water, such as fruits and vegetables. Take an essential fatty acid supplement such as fish oil or flax oil.

• 2

  Adopt a workout regimen that includes aerobics and resistance training. Use exercise to burn calories and help tone the muscles underneath the skin. Adding muscle improves the look of the skin itself by forming a tight layer under the skin. During periods of heavy weight loss, you lose a lot of muscle as well as fat.

• 3

  Consider surgery after about a year if the appearance of your skin isn't improving despite a diet and exercise regimen. Wait about eight to 12 months once you've achieved a certain weight to see how or if your skin properly tightens. Consult with a doctor if that hasn't happened, as you may need surgery. Loosely hanging skin can become infected, and insurance may cover it as your doctor may deem it to be a health risk.