- J
- D
My wife is an amazing example of what hard work and discipline can accomplish. However every battle brings its scars. The scars I witness on a daily basis are painful to see and since I can only help her in this journey and not do it for her, I'm calling in the the rest of the troops for some support.
As of May 21st, Erin has officially lost 200 pounds!!
From then to now she has lost an above average adult sized man off of her body....let that sink in.
However her battle scars show in the form of 15-45 pounds of loose skin. Shoot it could be even more than that since its impossible to weigh it.
Her stomach now hangs down to her mid thigh and has to be tucked into her pants.
Her legs have skin literally hanging off and puts abnormal rotational force on her legs when she walks.
When she exercises or is active with our kids, the skin flops and bounces like a flat water balloon that will never pop.
All of this is a CONSTANT reminder of who she USED to be.
However, this excess skin is not just a reminder but literally a burden on her body.
It causes discomfort, pain and embarrassment on a daily basis.
There are bruises all over her excess skin from it being tossed around like a rag doll. There are instances where I've seen it get caught in a dresser or kitchen drawer. The seatbelt in her car, pinches her and causes rashes. When the doors lock in her car, she has to make sure her arm is in a certain position in order to not get pinched. Her underbelly gets a constant infection due to the moisture and unhealthy tug from the excess weight the skin produces. Among other things, pain is also a constant reminder.
Not only does this literally cause her physical issues but mentally as well.
Seeing her try on clothes that should fit her and her new body only to feel defeated when the excess skin causes the clothing to not fit and induces further pain and discomfort around the area.
Erin does her best to stay in a healthy mindset but struggles due to the physical representation of who she used to be. This acts as a constant & painful reminder that she used to be twice the size she currently is. It also brings with it the emotional baggage one would associate with being severely overweight. This is the most terrifying aspect of it all.
Reminders such as depression, anxiety, food cravings and strife within herself and her environment are an everyday battle.
As we celebrate her weight loss, we also pray that we see a skin removal surgery in the near future. Surgeries like this aren't cheap. They are a burden financially as well as physically and emotionally for all parties involved.
Any donation will go towards the cost of the surgery as well as any expenses to cover the loss of her income due to the recovery.
Erin runs our home in an epic fashion. While I am working 50-60 hours a week, she is raising our two kids, running her own business and keeping our house in order. She is a rockstar and needs our help!
This Go Fund Me was the very least I could ever do to help my wife succeed in her journey.
Erin has inspired thousands during her journey! She constantly has people reaching out to her for help, encouragement and advice. I see her invest into others on a consistent basis without ever receiving in return. This is her return.
I'm asking from the bottom of my heart, if Erin has touched you with her journey, consider showing her some appreciation and love in the way of donating to her cause.
Sincerely,
Branon
Below is a post Erin made about the skin written in her own words.
I get asked all the time if I have loose skin after losing over 140 lbs.
The answer is YES. I have it everywhere..
my arms
my legs
my face
Since my stomach has deflated it hangs off of my abdomen and comes down to my thighs.
this is super awesome because when I run, it’s like I’m getting my own little applause from the skin slapping my legs
This skin actually causes a lot of issues for me. I have roughly 20-30 lbs total of loose skin hanging off my body.
It’s painful and causes sores and infections.
It's heavy and a constant reminder of the person I replaced.
It retains sodium and water and bloats me everyday. I can fluctuate 4-8 pounds daily.
It messes with my weight loss due to the reasons above.
It constantly pulls my body mechanics out of whack and causes musculoskeletal pain.
Lastly and the worst part.....it causes a horrible issue with me called “Body Dysmorphia.”
I have decided that I am GOING to start pursuing skin removal surgery over the next 12-18 months, this is something that I am doing for ME!
Yes, it’s cosmetic, but it will improve my mental and physical health as well as my quality of life.
I worked so hard to get this far, and I want my body to reflect who I am NOW without being weighed down by all this leftover skin.
Also, I can’t wait to actually see all the MUSCLES I’ve been building up under all this skin! I can feel them, but I can’t wait to see them I see you in there QUEEN! Come on out!
Please know that sharing this picture and creating a fund raising campaign SUCKS SO BAD!!!!!!
But this is me, this is 2.5 years of hard work and recovery... these are my battle wounds from the journey, and I know the testimony is always richer when it’s full of vulnerability and transparency.
Original Post
https://www.facebook.com/erin.mcmichael.14/posts/10221509317834801
As of May 21st, Erin has officially lost 200 pounds!!
From then to now she has lost an above average adult sized man off of her body....let that sink in.
However her battle scars show in the form of 15-45 pounds of loose skin. Shoot it could be even more than that since its impossible to weigh it.
Her stomach now hangs down to her mid thigh and has to be tucked into her pants.
Her legs have skin literally hanging off and puts abnormal rotational force on her legs when she walks.
When she exercises or is active with our kids, the skin flops and bounces like a flat water balloon that will never pop.
All of this is a CONSTANT reminder of who she USED to be.
However, this excess skin is not just a reminder but literally a burden on her body.
It causes discomfort, pain and embarrassment on a daily basis.
There are bruises all over her excess skin from it being tossed around like a rag doll. There are instances where I've seen it get caught in a dresser or kitchen drawer. The seatbelt in her car, pinches her and causes rashes. When the doors lock in her car, she has to make sure her arm is in a certain position in order to not get pinched. Her underbelly gets a constant infection due to the moisture and unhealthy tug from the excess weight the skin produces. Among other things, pain is also a constant reminder.
Not only does this literally cause her physical issues but mentally as well.
Seeing her try on clothes that should fit her and her new body only to feel defeated when the excess skin causes the clothing to not fit and induces further pain and discomfort around the area.
Erin does her best to stay in a healthy mindset but struggles due to the physical representation of who she used to be. This acts as a constant & painful reminder that she used to be twice the size she currently is. It also brings with it the emotional baggage one would associate with being severely overweight. This is the most terrifying aspect of it all.
Reminders such as depression, anxiety, food cravings and strife within herself and her environment are an everyday battle.
As we celebrate her weight loss, we also pray that we see a skin removal surgery in the near future. Surgeries like this aren't cheap. They are a burden financially as well as physically and emotionally for all parties involved.
Any donation will go towards the cost of the surgery as well as any expenses to cover the loss of her income due to the recovery.
Erin runs our home in an epic fashion. While I am working 50-60 hours a week, she is raising our two kids, running her own business and keeping our house in order. She is a rockstar and needs our help!
This Go Fund Me was the very least I could ever do to help my wife succeed in her journey.
Erin has inspired thousands during her journey! She constantly has people reaching out to her for help, encouragement and advice. I see her invest into others on a consistent basis without ever receiving in return. This is her return.
I'm asking from the bottom of my heart, if Erin has touched you with her journey, consider showing her some appreciation and love in the way of donating to her cause.
Sincerely,
Branon
Below is a post Erin made about the skin written in her own words.
I get asked all the time if I have loose skin after losing over 140 lbs.
The answer is YES. I have it everywhere..
my arms
my legs
my face
Since my stomach has deflated it hangs off of my abdomen and comes down to my thighs.
this is super awesome because when I run, it’s like I’m getting my own little applause from the skin slapping my legs
This skin actually causes a lot of issues for me. I have roughly 20-30 lbs total of loose skin hanging off my body.
It’s painful and causes sores and infections.
It's heavy and a constant reminder of the person I replaced.
It retains sodium and water and bloats me everyday. I can fluctuate 4-8 pounds daily.
It messes with my weight loss due to the reasons above.
It constantly pulls my body mechanics out of whack and causes musculoskeletal pain.
Lastly and the worst part.....it causes a horrible issue with me called “Body Dysmorphia.”
I have decided that I am GOING to start pursuing skin removal surgery over the next 12-18 months, this is something that I am doing for ME!
Yes, it’s cosmetic, but it will improve my mental and physical health as well as my quality of life.
I worked so hard to get this far, and I want my body to reflect who I am NOW without being weighed down by all this leftover skin.
Also, I can’t wait to actually see all the MUSCLES I’ve been building up under all this skin! I can feel them, but I can’t wait to see them I see you in there QUEEN! Come on out!
Please know that sharing this picture and creating a fund raising campaign SUCKS SO BAD!!!!!!
But this is me, this is 2.5 years of hard work and recovery... these are my battle wounds from the journey, and I know the testimony is always richer when it’s full of vulnerability and transparency.
Original Post
https://www.facebook.com/erin.mcmichael.14/posts/10221509317834801