My beginning weight was around 340lbs, and I'm down to about 296 now after about 6 months. I suppose I've lost more like 50-60lbs of fat, since I've been gaining a fair amount of muscle as well.

I've been losing weight and gaining muscle by doing a couple strength training days a week, then a couple cardio, keeping my diet that day appropriate for what I am doing. More protein and carbs on the strength days, and more green vegetables and fiber on my cardio days.

The main problem is that since I fluctuated weight so much over the past 4 years, I have a decent amount of stretch marks around my mid section. I don't want to become too skinny too fast because I know the skin can become loose and the stretch marks will become more visible. It has discouraged me in the past, but this time I will not give up.

Does anyone else have experience dealing with stretch marks? I use lotion (cocoa butter & Vitamin E) after bathing and keep the skin well hydrated to minimize the appearance, but the last thing I want is to reach my target weight and still not like how I look.

Is losing weight more slowly going to give me skin a better chance to "spring back"? Any suggestions are welcome.

One or two pounds per week is best. Stretch marks suck, but most people who gain or lose weight are going to get them no matter how much lotion you put on them. You could always go to a dermatologist when you're done losing weight if they're still bothering you.

Frankly I feel that if your going to get them, you are going to get them. Some people do, and some dont. Heck, my wife has been thin, and a little heavy, and has had two kids, and not one streach mark to be found. Me, I have them all over my gut, and I am very prone to them.

I think the stretch marks come when the skin is expanding, and I don't think there's much you can do about them except not expand. Also I agree with S, some people seem more prone.

As far as the skin springing back, that is a separate issue to the stretch marks really and it also seems to be influenced by individual differences. How much change there is and how old you are seem to have an impact, but also, some people have skin that bounces back more than others. There are a lot of threads on this here, if you are chasing more details, but I haven't seen anything about something which would make a definite difference.

As far as looking better goes - if you lose weight, you will look better no matter whether you are happy with your skin or not. For example see wishes before and after pictures - she is not happy about her skin - but she's pretty happy about the difference losing weight has made to her life and her appearance.

I always worried a little about how losing weight would affect my skin. I knew it was smooth for my age and I figured that would change. Well, it did look a little more wrinkled - but everyone reckoned I looked 10 years younger.

I'd say go for it. Lose your weight. There is so much for you to gain.

The way I think of it, I'm not too keen on taking my shirt off now. So after I lose weight, if I have a ton of stretch marks and loose skin, I'll still look better than I do now. Plus, I'll feel tons better.