My skin

This can't be normal

I used to take very good care of my skin when I was in my early 20's I started to use Alpha Hydrox face wash and Oil of Olay lotion with sunscreen. RELIGIOUSLY! It was my preemptive strike on my face aging. Eventually once I turned 30 I used eye gel too. I stopped doing that in 2006. Whether it was me meeting my husband in 2005 that made me stop or getting fatter that made me stop caring, I don't know. I thought I still looked good no matter what and I was ok to not take really good care of my skin. I'm lucky enough to have good genes. However, it is a documented fact that the collagen in your skin starts to break down at age 25.

 If you know me or if you've been watching my face over the last two years I think I'm getting "droopy face". It's something that is common in people who lose a lot of weight, particularly people who have gastric bypass or lose weight fast. I of course have not had a Gastric Bypass and I'm not losing weight fast I'm just losing a lot of weight, period. I expect it to 'snap back' eventually to a point. I have hope based on something I heard someone who spoke at that open house say that it can take three years for your skin to 'snap back' based on what her Doctor told her. Funny thing is that people usually look older when they lose weight and according to many people I'm aging in reverse with my weight loss.


One thing that really concerns me is my smile. A while ago I could just smile and my face knew when to stop smiling. Now I try to smile and I don't know where my smile should stop. Yes, there is only so far you can smile and your face will stop. However, my smile doesn't look the same. Sometimes I hold my bottom lip off to the side too. I also look fake when I smile now. I blame my stretched out skin.

The underside of my face today..

Fortunately there are exercises for the body so you can firm up but none for the face. Well, at least none I believe really work. So I've started to take really good care of my face again and I really believe there is a difference. I'm back to the same ol' same ol' of Oil of Olay with sunscreen and eye gel. I need to get to the store and get myself some Alpha Hydrox face wash and I'll be looking at other options I can use.

As far as the rest of my body I need to do toning exercises. I'm not going into what my body looks like but a certain dairy product comes to mind. I definitely have some areas I want to work on like under my arms and my stomach. I don't think I'll ever wear a bikini, not that ever was a bikini wearer. Last time I wore one I was four. I am sure if I ever wear a bathing suit again, that last time I remember wearing one was in the 90's, I'll probably have to wear a swimming skirt and I'm ok with that! I might need to do some serious targeted toning to wear a bathing suit again or even shorts again.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Right now I'm good without wearing a bathing suit and shorts and have been for many years.

Thanks for reading!