Expert Q&A

Would I have any potential stretch marks if I went from 225 to 175?

Understanding Stretch Marks During Weight Loss

When dropping from 225 to 175 pounds, the risk of developing stretch marks is moderate but manageable. These scars form when your skin stretches rapidly and the collagen fibers tear. At our age range of 45-54, skin elasticity naturally declines due to reduced collagen production and hormonal shifts, particularly during perimenopause or menopause when estrogen drops. This makes stretch marks more likely if weight comes off too quickly or if you carry extra abdominal fat that stretches the skin outward.

Most people in your situation see new marks on the stomach, hips, thighs, and upper arms. However, if you lost and regained weight before, you may already have faded silver lines. The good news? Losing this amount gradually—1-2 pounds per week—gives your skin time to adapt, significantly lowering new mark formation.

Risk Factors Specific to Your Situation

Your profile matches many readers: previous diet failures, joint pain limiting movement, hormonal changes making fat loss harder, and managing diabetes or blood pressure. These factors increase risk because insulin resistance and cortisol from stress can impair skin repair. Insurance rarely covers prevention treatments, so we focus on accessible, at-home methods from my book The CFP Weight Loss Method.

Key risks include rapid loss (over 2 lbs/week), dehydration, nutrient deficiencies in vitamins C, E, and zinc, and lack of strength training to maintain muscle under the skin. Joint pain often leads beginners to avoid all movement, but gentle resistance work is crucial for preserving skin firmness.

Proven Strategies to Minimize Stretch Marks

Follow these practical steps tailored for busy, middle-income adults overwhelmed by conflicting advice:

Consistency beats perfection. Many in our community see 70-80% reduction in new marks using this approach.

When to Seek Professional Help and Long-Term Outlook

If marks appear despite prevention, they typically fade from red/purple to white within 6-12 months. Over-the-counter retinoids (after consulting your doctor, especially with diabetes meds) or microneedling can help, though these cost $100-300 per session. The CFP Weight Loss Method emphasizes sustainable habits so you maintain 175 lbs without yo-yo effects that worsen skin issues.

Remember, stretch marks are normal and don't define your success. Focus on improved blood pressure, blood sugar control, and joint comfort—the real victories at this stage of life.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows mixed experiences with stretch marks when losing around 50 pounds in the mid-40s to mid-50s. Many report new marks on the belly and thighs despite slow loss, especially women citing hormonal changes and past yo-yo dieting. A common theme is disappointment that insurance won't cover dermatology visits, leading people to try coconut oil, bio-oil, or inexpensive lotions with varying success. Some practitioners in diabetes and high blood pressure groups emphasize building muscle through modified exercise helps skin look tighter even if marks form. A vocal minority says marks were minimal when they stayed hydrated, hit protein goals, and lost no more than 1.5 pounds weekly. Beginners often feel embarrassed asking about skin changes but find reassurance in forum threads that faded marks become barely noticeable after a year of maintenance. Overall sentiment leans toward acceptance paired with practical prevention over perfection.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Would I have any potential stretch marks if I went from 225 to 175?. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/would-i-have-any-potential-stretch-marks-if-i-went-from-225-to-175
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ What is the Russell Clark One Box Protocol and how do terms like Smart Cycling and Hormonal Chaos define his 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset specifically for women over 40? ▸ When the fatigue is real: how to talk to your doctor about this for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Is it just me or is Hashimoto’s greatly underrepresented on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what the research actually says? ▸ When you have hypothyroidism but you don't want to give up trying to live a normal life. 🥲 when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Got diagnosed today, where do i go from here — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ To what extent do Mendelian Randomization Studies provide causal evidence for a particular claim — what does the research actually say for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Gut Microbiome Repair — The restoration of healthy intestinal bacteria through the removal of lectins and grains, essential for long-term weight… ▸ Anyone remember the metal lid you had to use a butter knife to pop off: what to track and how to measure progress while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Im eating so well that I accidently put my body in ketosis and how it connects to gut health and inflammation and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Difference between a 3 day and 5 day water fast for autophagy and the role of cortisol and stress hormones for people with insulin resistance? ▸ How many were first diagnosed with OCD for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📖 Hidden Hunger — A state where the body is overfed but undernourished, leading to constant cravings because the brain isn't receiving the… ▸ Does mental health predict diabetes as much as BMI? Interesting ML study results: how to talk to your doctor about this for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Good calorie amount? Advice to get high volume low cal and more protein when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Coke Zero gave me heart palpitations: what to track and how to measure progress for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What are the wegovy doses in order on a low-carb or ketogenic diet — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Bio-Individuality — The understanding that every patient’s metabolic journey is unique, requiring a personalized approach to dosing and diet… ▸ My weight loss progress so far as a 23 year male who stared eating less unhealthy and does little to moderate exercise. Am I doing well — evidence-based answer for CFP patients for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Crust check 🔥 ribeye done right for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Were any of you guys fans of Journey? How big were they — what the research actually says? ▸ What’s your favorite toothpaste for people with insulin resistance — what the research actually says? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Cutting out carbs/sugar completely helps with weight loss and the effects of IR? Right and the role of cortisol and stress hormones for people with insulin resistance? ▸ I have an iodine deficiency. Won't supplementing cause me to have a flare on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ What to do if you have to eat late dinners?? How to process the dinner quicker so I'm not burping all night long while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📖 Muscle Sarcopenia — The dangerous loss of lean muscle mass often seen in traditional 'crash diets' or high-dose GLP-1 use, which we combat t… ▸ What are some things you loved from your childhood that you (virtually) never see/experience anymore during the weight loss plateau phase on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ What exactly am I supposed to feel when on mounjaro and how do I know if it's working specifically for women over 40 while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Have you cut out snacking in between meals and what are the benefits and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Omnipod. Starting an insulin pump help while doing intermittent fasting for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Estradiol Cypionate- I’ve been underdosing- what dose are you at — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📖 Refined Carbohydrates — Processed sugars and flours that strip the body of nutrients while driving the hormonal chaos responsible for the modern… ▸ If a random dance partner app existed .. would you try it: how to talk to your doctor about this and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Coke Zero gave me heart palpitations: what to track and how to measure progress and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ I sometimes feel like people only talk about the obvious symptoms like irregular periods or weight gain, but the fatigue can be just as overwhelming. Has anyone else felt completely drained even: how to talk to your doctor about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Been on this diet for 11 months and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Im eating so well that I accidently put my body in ketosis and how it connects to gut health and inflammation and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? 📖 Insulin Resistance — A condition where your cells stop responding to insulin, locking fat in storage; our protocol is designed to unlock thes… ▸ Does drinking Sparkling Ice (flavored sparkling water - 5 calories per bottle) during my fasting window break my fast and the role of cortisol and stress hormones during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ What is the connection between Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Has anyone felt better taking antidepressants instead of hrt — evidence-based answer for CFP patients — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Lectin-Free Living — Eliminating inflammatory plant proteins that damage the gut lining and trigger the autoimmune responses that often stall… ▸ How effective is autophagy really helping me lose fat — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Lost weight not exactly willingly and everybody’s weird about it for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) specifically for women over 40? ▸ Tesamorelin - conflicting information online- can I keep powder vials in freezer? Can I keep reconstituted vials in fridge — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend for people with insulin resistance? 📖 Autophagy — The body's natural 'housecleaning' process that occurs during fasting or low-insulin states, promoted during our mainten… ▸ Is the carnivore diet the best WOE to lose weight — what does the research actually say if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Thyroid tests all in range— but high calcium — how a functional medicine approach differs during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Is the carnivore diet the best WOE to lose weight — what does the research actually say on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ 78kg to 58kg for an 18 y/o: How likely am I to have loose skin after weight loss specifically for women over 40 — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Phase 2: Aggressive Loss — A 40-day window of focused fat loss supported by low-dose medication and a specific lectin-free, low-carb nutritional fr… ▸ Should I be worried yet, been sitting for 5 days no movement while doing intermittent fasting if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Can you really Metformin (6 weeks in) for insulin resistance — can the gut stuff actually get better specifically for women over 40? ▸ If a random dance partner app existed .. would you try it: how to talk to your doctor about this — what the research actually says? ▸ What’s your favorite toothpaste for people with insulin resistance for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Compression socks. Worth it? Any recs — how a functional medicine approach differs for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Will eating meintenance calories make me lose weight for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📖 Maintenance Phase — The final 28 days of our 70-day cycle where we stabilize the new weight and solidify the metabolic habits that prevent f… ▸ Has anybody heard of or experienced improvement from neurological disorders through fasting and autophagy if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide — what certified coaches recommend? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Do yall ever daydream of who you were before your diagnosis when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Low TSH, Low T4, and Low T3 simultaneously on Levothyroxine — anyone experienced this and the role of cortisol and stress hormones on a low-carb or ketogenic diet?