Reconstructive Surgery

As a child growing up, I was ALWAYS the heaviest between my two older brothers and the other kids in my class. I felt as if I never truely fit in and when high school hit, things just seemed to go down hill. I was teased and felt as if only a VERY select few people liked me. I often turned to food to deal with my emotions and in doing so I could never lose weight. After high school I continued to gain weight, depression had set in, and I felt as if my life were in a downward spiral.  At 21 I was waking up with back pain each morning and I barely had the energy to climb the stairs in my appartment. Fear set in; I was going to die if I continued to live as I did. So I changed my life.

For a little over half a year, I woke up every day and went to the gym; I also changed my eating habits, but none of it seemed to work. Then I got sick and was forced to go to the doctor. After undergoing many tests to rule out everything, my doctor diagnosed me with thyroid diesease, which was preventing me to lose weight and making me sick. Medication was an option my doctor gave me, but after another 3 months and no changes, I was suggested another option... 

Many people ask me how I lost all my weight, well here is my secret... I had  weight loss surgery. To be more specific, I had a gastric sleeve on January 21, 2013. I have kept this from as many people as possible, because I am ashamed that I let myself reach that point. However, it is a part of me now. I made a life and death decision and wouldn't change it for anything. People judge me the moment they hear I had surgery and say I took the easy way out, but I didn't. In fact, I took a harder route. Weightloss surgery is more than an anatomy change. It is mentally, emotially, and physically life changing.  The decision to have the surgery was hard and when I recieved news that I had been approved by my insurance to have the surgery, I almost backed out. I'm glad I stuck to my decision and moved forward in my life.

Over the past 2 years I have worked hard to lose roughly 140 lbs from my highest weight of 308lbs. There have been many ups, downs, and plateaus along the way, but I continue to push myself each day. I eat clean, with the occasional cheat meal and I workout daily. I never miss a day in the gym unless I feel like my body really needs a rest. While I am very happy with my results of weight loss, being healthy, and living a healthy life; I feel as if I am trapped in the wrong body.  I try not to wave, because of the excess skin hanging from my arms. I have muscles! I worked hard for them and I want to be able to greet people properly without them glancing at my arm because my 'bat wing" caught their attention. I want to be able to jump higher, run longer, and move faster, but my excess skin holds me back. As hard as I push myself, I believe I can further.

With that being said, I have decided to under-go body contouring surgery which will remove excess skin that will never regain its shape from my body. As well as enhance the areas which have lost its shape. Consults with surgeons have concluded that I currently have about 20-30 lbs of excess skin (probably more towards 20 lbs, which is still a lot!) Though my pictures may seem as if I look normal; each day I wear two Spanx, skin tight leggings, and loose shirts (generally) to assist in tucking and hiding all that loose skin. I also have to wear two Spanx during my workouts to keep the excess skin in place as I move around, so that I may not cause rubbing and sores to develope. Needless to say, I get quite annoyed with having to put on two Spanx every day. I would give anything just to be able to workout in a sleeveless shirt and shorts!
Since I am a full-time college student, studying and preparing for a career in the medical field, most of my funds go towards paying for my education. I save what I can and I was able to save almost enough money for at least one procedure, however emergencies have occured and I was forced to dip into my savings. I know there are many other people in the world who deserve your donations more than myself, but I would be greatly appreciative of donantions from anyone who understands my story and mindset. Any amount counts. Please help me towards my goal, so that I may one day be able to move freely without feeling weighted down by my past.

Thank you,

Christie