Loose belly skin has many causes: pregnancy and losing a significant amount of weight are probably the two most common. We all want to look our best and having loose skiin around our middle is unsightly and can make us feel bad about ourselves. Whatever the cause, you have several options to help tighten loose skin.

Before you jump right into thinking you need a surgical option try these less invasive options.

1. A simple daily exercise program may be just the thing for you. Get your body moving and include some specific core exercises like crunches and lunges. If you firm up and tone the muscles in your sides called your obliques, the skin should follow suit and tighten as well. Get some cardio in, too.

If you can’t stand running or walking on a treadmill then get out and go for a walk around the neighborhood or find a friend with some free time and go run around the tennis court for an hour three times a week. Running after all those mis-hit balls can be quite the awesome workout.

2. If you adjust your eating habits along with starting a simple daily exercise program you will find your loose belly skin tightening up even faster. A low-fat, low-carb, high protein diet will help whip you into shape in no time.

3. Stay away from sugary drinks and snacks. All they will do is add fat to the already loose skin and then you will have two problems to deal with instead of just one.

4. Stay hydrated. This is the most important thing for everyone. Your skin will love you for it and it will reward you with remaining elastic. Drink one-half of your body weight in ounces of water each day. If that seems like too much or you find you are spending an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom then back off to just 8-10 eight ounce glasses everyday.

5. Do some research about skin tightening creams. They are out there and you can buy them over the counter. They may have a skin firming compound in them and also a moisturizer to help increase your skin’s elasticity.

6. If you try everything I have suggested here and find it does not give you the results you want then talk to your personal physician about maybe making a referral to a plastic surgeon to discuss a tummy tuck. This should be your very last resort though. There are risks involved with every surgery and a tummy tuck is no exception.

Pain is one obvious side effect, the risk of infection is another, not to mention the recovery time of about six weeks. The results you get when the surgeon tightens up your loose belly skin may be absolutely amazing but you will not be able to even stand up straight afterward for about a week, so you will need someone with you for at least the first 24 hours until you recover from the anesthesia and get your bearings and learn how to move effectively.

Tags: Atkins, Cardio, Core Exercises, Crunches, Eating Habits, Elas, Exercise Program, Free Time, Healthy Diet, High Protein Diet, Loose Skin, Losing Weight, Low Carb High Protein Diet, Lunges, Moisturizer, Obliques, Ounce Glasses, Pillsbury Doe Boy, Skiin, Sugary Drinks, Surgical Option, Tennis Court, Treadmill —