Lose the Loose Skin

Some of you may know my partner, Jared, but let me introduce him for everyone else. He is a 36-year-old floor sanding champion who has a deep love for cycling and drumming. Jared takes care of everyone around him and is easily the kindest and most genuine person I've ever met.

Three years ago, Jared didn't look like the person he is today. He weighed 675 lbs and walked through life in the ultimate denial of how bad his health and personal habits had become. "When you weigh over 350 lbs, a normal scale doesn't show your exact weight, so if you avoid mirrors, it is easy to deny how large you actually are." - Jared

It wasn't until Jared's doctor weighed him at a whopping 675 lbs that he knew something had to change if he wanted to live. His doctors advised him that weight loss surgery was the only option because the weight Jared was would be almost impossible to lose on his own. If you know Jared at all, he loves a good challenge, and that statement was all he needed. He walked right out of that appointment and into a Planet Fitness gym for a membership determined that he would work off the weight on his own. His first step was walking. He would walk as much as he could every day, which started as less than a 1/4 of a mile. Slow and consistent, he walked further and further until he could jog. Later in his weight loss journey, he found cycling and it has been the perfect fit. He now cycles anywhere from 30-40 miles a day. For the past year and a half, he has remained at a loss of 450 lbs!

Because of this dramatic weight loss, Jared now has 40 lbs of excess skin that quite literally hangs off his body. He consistently gets rashes and sores because of his cycling routine and had two hernia surgeries because of the additional weight added to his abdomen from the excess skin. Insurance doesn't cover the surgery to remove the excess skin because it's considered cosmetic, so we are here asking for support to help Jared get a surgery that will quite literally change his life.

If you've read this far, I hope you'll consider donating. He will be letting you know how it is going as we approach his June surgery date. Even if you cannot contribute monetarily, please consider sharing this campaign wherever you're comfortable. Social media has made miracles happen, and we are hoping nothing less for Jared!

Instagram: @jaredhamburger

Venmo: @jaredb4487