Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

A few months ago, I was researching on ideas to tighten my loose skin around my abs. I came across a video by Philip McCluskey about the benefits of  using MSM powder for tightening skin. Philip is an expert on weight loss as he lost over 200 pounds and has little, if any, loose skin. Check out his video when you get a chance to see how MSM, along with a few other ideas, helped him to tighten his skin. He is also co founder of Vimergy, a company that sells a variety of herbs.

I had never heard of MSM before and decided to do some more research on the subject. I found out that aside from tightening the skin, MSM helps with arthritis, wrinkles, improves flexibility, strengthens hair and nails, accelerates healing and detoxifies the body. Another benefit for body builders is that MSM can help clear away lactic acid after workouts. After reading all that MSM does, I decided to purchase a small bottle to see if it would make a difference in my abs as I continue my workout routine.

I'm choosing a non-surgical way to tighten my abs and it's going to take work. Today, I did a Power Pump class at the Y. I started this class a few weeks ago, at the recommendation of my trainer. The class is great because I learn so many new exercises each week and get a great workout in.

After the class, I had my personal training session. My trainer went over my weight and checked my BMI. The scale has been reading between 208 to 209 pounds. My BMI is at 26 so there is some room for the weight to go down, as anything over 25 is considered overweight anyway. My body fat will be measured during my next session, which isn't until March. 

I know a lot of people are beginning to shovel the huge mounds of snow, especially in eastern Connecticut. I thought I'd remind everyone to stay safe this winter and make sure you use common sense when shoveling.

Remember to take short breaks, don't do too much at once and don't lift too heavy, especially if you are not used to lifting. Remember that snow can get very heavy! Make sure to lift with your legs, not your back.

My aim isn't trying to lose more weight. i guess I have to keep reminding people of that. I know I've written about this before but I still hear the comment "Don't lose any more weight".

Today, someone hadn't seen me for a while and said it. Instead of realizing that I was about the same weight I was when she last saw me, instead she needed to remind me that I don't need to lose any more weight. I don't know why it annoys me when I hear it, but it does. I think it's because I've maintained right around the same weight for over two years now. As my body fat percentage changes, the only weight I lost was a couple pounds (two pounds, to be precise) from my lowest weight. And I've been maintaining this weight for weeks now, of 210 pounds.

My trainer measured my body fat with calipers today. Basically, my thighs and chest have less than 10 percent body fat. My abs are still the troublesome spot, but the measurement came down for the abs too. Right now, overall, my body fat percentage is at 13.34 percent! My last reading was a few months ago and it was 13.95.

So the tightening begins! The way my trainer sees it, the body fat can't go down much more in the legs and chest as it's all muscle. This will cause the body to take away the fat from the only area it can get it from... the abs. There is still enough fat in there so that when fat is taken from the abs, the skin should tighten and I should have some definition.