Seeking Surgery After Weight Loss
Donation protected
Hi, my name is D.J. and I'm looking to raise money for body contouring surgery after a major weight loss.
Believe it or not, both of those pictures are of me. Back in 2012, I tipped the scales at a massive 320 pounds. At 5'7", I was extremely large and extremely unhealthy and unhappy, which caused a lot of depression and other health issues in addition to the weight.
Growing up, I've always been overweight. Coming from a small town in rural Georgia, health and fitness typically aren't at the top of anyone's priority list. As far back as I can remember from age 4 or 5, I'd be given massive portions of very unhealthy foods and would get very little (or no) physical activity afterwards. Years of this lead up to me reaching my all-time highest weight of a little over 320 pounds.
Now, given my circumstances, I could've blamed my background for how/why I was what I was, but I chose (and still choose) not to do that. Instead, I decided to take life into my own hands and do something about it. So, in the fall of 2012, I got up and decided to make a change. Being fed up with how things were and constantly being unhappy, I decided to wake up early one morning and go for a walk around my campus at school, and I have been doing that every single day since then. Walking the perimeter of campus three times is approx. 4.5 miles, which I could barely do just ONE mile of at first, but I took my time and stayed consistent.
By doing this, the weight started coming off dramatically. Excited about the weight loss, I began changing my eating habits as well and eating ONLY things I cooked at home. Doing this plus walking really kicked my weight loss into high gear. Around late spring/early summer of 2013, I also started doing a lot of strength training to help tone up and build muscle. And by October 2013 (a year since I'd started), I'd lost 100 pounds! As of today, I've lost over 120 pounds.
But, with all the success I've had losing weight and all of the great people I've had the opportunity of meeting over the last almost 2 years in the process, I've found myself with a new issue, one I never thought would ever be a problem--loose skin. Needless to say, after losing over 120 pounds, things don't necessarily "go back into place" the way they should. So with that being said, I am in need of assistance to get a complete body-restructuring/contouring surgery. Whether assistance comes in the form of donations, or getting the word out to board-certified surgeons willing to donate their time and skills, or just positive thoughts being sent my way, I'd really appreciate anything I can get.
Most people hear of elective surgery and automatically thinks the person opting for it is "trying to be perfect." But that's not the case; I just want to feel normal for once. I've spent my ENTIRE life being bigger than most people I knew and being embarrassed of it, and now after all of the hard work, effort, and pain of trying to change my life for the better, I'm just wanted the outside to reflect the determination inside. Now, I'm not sure who this message is going to reach or who my story could potentially help--I just want to help others become genuinely happy and healthy, but it's just difficult trying to help others when your own body is causing insecurity. And ultimately afterward, I hope to help others with my story and with the health and fitness knowledge I now have.
Please share this link with your friends and family and help me to get the word out! Thanks.
Believe it or not, both of those pictures are of me. Back in 2012, I tipped the scales at a massive 320 pounds. At 5'7", I was extremely large and extremely unhealthy and unhappy, which caused a lot of depression and other health issues in addition to the weight.
Growing up, I've always been overweight. Coming from a small town in rural Georgia, health and fitness typically aren't at the top of anyone's priority list. As far back as I can remember from age 4 or 5, I'd be given massive portions of very unhealthy foods and would get very little (or no) physical activity afterwards. Years of this lead up to me reaching my all-time highest weight of a little over 320 pounds.
Now, given my circumstances, I could've blamed my background for how/why I was what I was, but I chose (and still choose) not to do that. Instead, I decided to take life into my own hands and do something about it. So, in the fall of 2012, I got up and decided to make a change. Being fed up with how things were and constantly being unhappy, I decided to wake up early one morning and go for a walk around my campus at school, and I have been doing that every single day since then. Walking the perimeter of campus three times is approx. 4.5 miles, which I could barely do just ONE mile of at first, but I took my time and stayed consistent.
By doing this, the weight started coming off dramatically. Excited about the weight loss, I began changing my eating habits as well and eating ONLY things I cooked at home. Doing this plus walking really kicked my weight loss into high gear. Around late spring/early summer of 2013, I also started doing a lot of strength training to help tone up and build muscle. And by October 2013 (a year since I'd started), I'd lost 100 pounds! As of today, I've lost over 120 pounds.
But, with all the success I've had losing weight and all of the great people I've had the opportunity of meeting over the last almost 2 years in the process, I've found myself with a new issue, one I never thought would ever be a problem--loose skin. Needless to say, after losing over 120 pounds, things don't necessarily "go back into place" the way they should. So with that being said, I am in need of assistance to get a complete body-restructuring/contouring surgery. Whether assistance comes in the form of donations, or getting the word out to board-certified surgeons willing to donate their time and skills, or just positive thoughts being sent my way, I'd really appreciate anything I can get.
Most people hear of elective surgery and automatically thinks the person opting for it is "trying to be perfect." But that's not the case; I just want to feel normal for once. I've spent my ENTIRE life being bigger than most people I knew and being embarrassed of it, and now after all of the hard work, effort, and pain of trying to change my life for the better, I'm just wanted the outside to reflect the determination inside. Now, I'm not sure who this message is going to reach or who my story could potentially help--I just want to help others become genuinely happy and healthy, but it's just difficult trying to help others when your own body is causing insecurity. And ultimately afterward, I hope to help others with my story and with the health and fitness knowledge I now have.
Please share this link with your friends and family and help me to get the word out! Thanks.
Organizer
Dee Andrews
Organizer
Atlanta, GA
