Mike's Big Surgery!

Meet Mike Mau:
Mike is an avid-gym goer, chef,  loving uncle, and so much more. While he wasn't always a self-proclamed "gym-rat" there aren't many days where you won't see him working out at Signature Fitness Club, now. Mike is part of the community at the club, known by most and loved by all who talk to him and hear his story. Always ready to work hard and never any excuses, he has lost almost 200lbs through just diet and exercise. Mike is proof that it CAN be done, and motivation to those who might not feel like they can do it. With that much body-fat and weight lost the hard way, it does come at a large cost. Mike now carries around pounds of extra skin, which can only be removed through surgery- that unfortunately insurance doesn't cover.
While us at Signature Fitness Club can share Mike's story, here is a little bit more, in his own words:

"My name is Mike Mau and I am 40 years old. Two years ago I weighed in at 380 pounds- I knew I had to do something, so I joined Signature Fitness Club: it was the best decision I have ever made in my life.
I didn't know where to start and so I got the help of a personal trainer and never looked back.
After only 5 months I had lost 100 pounds, and then 7 months more I had lost another 80lbs.
To this day I am still seeing a personal trainer and it’s still the best decision of my life.
As of today, I weigh in at 205 pounds and I am finally gaining muscle mass for the first time in my life.

For as long as I can remember I have always been overweight and fighting the battle of obesity. I was always eating fast food, junk food, and overeating... I was going down a road that I didn't want to keep traveling. I never worked out at all- except for getting up off of the couch.
My doctor kept telling me that I needed to lose weight, and so I finally did something about it- and now she is very happy with me.

So, even though I lost all of my excess weight, now I am stuck with all of my loose skin (that I have I assume there is over 20 pounds of). I realized after the first 5 months I was going to have a problem with my skin being so stretched out. I finally went to see a plastic surgeon in March of 2017. I was hoping to get my insurance to cover the removal surgery, but the doctor told me he never heard of anyone getting this surgery approved, except for patients who had the gastric bypass surgery (they get a 50% chance). So, since I lost the weight on my own- worked and worked my butt off in the gym and kitchen- my insurance didn’t cover the surgeries; they called the surgery "cosmetic".
The price to have these surgeries is extremely high: I have seen two doctors- one quoted me at $41k, and the other doctor quoted me at $37k. Both doctors informed me that the skin over time will cause me health issues from the extra skin rubbing against my body (which is the reason why I wear compression clothing wherever I go) and to hide my skin.
I truly hope I get to have this surgery done next year because I can’t stand looking at my skin... It holds me back from  wearing certain clothes, working and moving how I want, or even just having my shirt off in public."

With all of that being said, Mike himself would never ask for money or help, so we are asking for him. 

Please help us reach this goal and help Mike get the surgery he needs.