will the loose skin ever go away?

I lost 55 pounds last year and have been the same weight now for about 5 months. I’ve become a competitive runner and cyclist, along with some strength training. According to the various calculators on the internet my body fat is around 7.5%. I’m pretty ripped and buff everywhere but the belly, love handles and lower back. I still have a bunch of loose skin in those areas and I would love to have a six pack mid section. How long if ever does it take for that skin to tighten up?

Congrats on the weight loss. I myself know the pain that you are going through with the loose skin. I lost over 200 pounds in about a year and a half, and even after that and serving in the Army (11b infantry), i still had loose skin. Really it just takes time, almost 2 full years before you will know how much elasticity your skin has and how well it will fully adapt. After that time you may want to consider surgical options. Until then about all you can do is stay hydrated and try to pack on some muscle, not just tone up but try to pack on a few extra pounds and fill yourself back out. Sorry i cant give a better answer, but please remember there are no creams or other gimmicks that can fix the problem, all you can do is wait for your skin to tighten up, and try to fill it back out with muscle.

Strength Training for Cyclists Part 3