Building the New 蜕变与新生
Donation protected
I am currently working and living in Beijing, China as a 2nd grade teacher. I have been here for almost 5 years. I love my life here in Beijing, but I am ready for a new journey so I have accepted a job in Morocco beginning this fall. Last spring, I decided to take control of my weight here in China and have lost over 100lbs. I would like to get extra skin from my body surgically removed before I leave China.
If you wish to learn more about me and about the surgery before donating to my cause here is a little of my story.
I have been considered “obese” most of my life. I always made excuses for myself. Saying things like, “I am big boned.” “I don’t need to be skinny to be happy.” “Big is beautiful too!” I would hide behind jokes and my loud personality to make it seem I was okay with who I was, but I’ve always been insecure about my body. I would hide when I had to change my clothes, I would wear layers to try and cover every roll in my stomach, I would wear cardigans even if I was hot to cover my arms, and I would avoid mirrors. I wouldn’t even go to the doctor when I was really sick because I didn’t want the doctor to check my weight because then I would have to confront my weight. Last March I finally decided that I needed to take control of my life and start caring about my health. It was time for me to stop making excuses and stop living in fear that I couldn’t do it. Because of my bad choices, I was in danger and at risk of killing myself before I was 40. So I jumped into weight loss and, honestly, it’s saved me.
So, what did I do first? I went to the gym and sought help. I didn’t know how to do this on my own, so I hired a personal trainer. Then, I started researching and seeking help on how to change my diet. I started seeing my trainer 3-4 times a week and then, the other days, I would do cardio. I cut out snacks, soda, bad carbs, and started meal planning. I started learning how to control myself at dinner parties, learned how to eat healthy in restaurants, and as a traveler. My schedule has become more hectic, as I go to work at 6:30am, tutor children to pay for trainers after work and head straight to the gym. I then arrive home at 8:00pm, and I cook and plan for the next day. At first, this routine was challenging, but as I began building a healthier lifestyle, the routine became easier and my body got used to it.
In the last 8 months the change I have seen in my body and my personality has astonished my friends, fellow workers, my trainer and myself. The small goals are what drive me to keep going. I can now wrap a normal sized bath towel around my body. I can cross my legs when I am sitting. I don’t sweat or get body odor as easily, and I can lock the seatbelt on the airplane. I don’t feel as clumsy anymore. I sleep better and feel more energetic. When I first started working out, I walked on the treadmill and as I slowly built up stamina, I can now run a 7K in under an hour. I even joined the girls rugby team in Beijing because I finally believed I could keep up. My confidence in athleticism has grown. Now, I enjoy these healthier activities and enjoy trying new sports and classes.
My goal was to learn to build a healthy lifestyle so I can stop yo-yoing with my weight. I feel like I have done that and am determined to continue my whole life! I didn’t do this to only look better, but to feel better! I don’t want to be fearful to try new things because I am scared I can’t keep up. I never want to hear or use the excuse I can’t do something because of my weight ever again. I don’t want to feel tired when I wake up in the morning or when I walk up a flight of stairs. I want to love myself and challenge myself and conquer any activity that is thrown my way.
My weight started at about 290lbs. Now, I weigh 170lbs. – 20lbs from my goal weight. When you lose this amount of weight, extra skin hangs from your body and becomes impossible to tighten all on your own. It becomes a health risk and a veil covering all of your hard work. After much consideration and discussing with doctors here in China I am hoping to get the extra skin removal surgery this spring. As I am moving to Morocco I want to focus on my new job and my new healthy lifestyle. I would like to not have to worry about surgery during my transition and honestly, I want to move to Morocco with the past behind me. The skin hanging from my body is a sad reminder for me of the unhealthy person I was. It’s uncomfortable and hard to find the best clothes with the skin in the way. I want my next chapter in life to begin with the new healthy, confident Morgan with every intention of continuing the lifestyle wherever I go.
I am asking for help to pay for this surgery from my friends and family. The surgery is less expensive in China, but still beyond my budget as a school teacher. I know that we all have our own financial situations. I am asking that if you can, if you believe in my story, and if you want to donate just a little to my cause, your contributions will help me begin the new life I have in front of me.
Thank you for reading my story and contributing to the next part of my journey. I hope that my story also inspires you to reach your own goals in life and makes you realize that anything can be achieved with hard work and determination.
我目前生活和工作在北京，是一名小学二年级的老师。我在北京生活近5年的时间，现在我已经准备好开启新的旅程，这个秋天，我接受了一份在摩洛哥的工作。 去年春天，我决心开始控制我的体重，至今为止，我已经减掉了100磅。我希望在离开中国之前通过手术将多余的皮脂去除掉。如果您想在捐款之前更多了解我和手术的话，下面我就给您讲讲我的故事。
我生命中大部分的时间都患有“肥胖症”。我总是给自己找借口说，“我的骨头很大”，“我不需要瘦下来才开心”，“大块头也很美”。我会用我的玩笑以及大大咧咧的性格做掩饰，让人看上去好像我对自己很满意。事实上，我对自己的身体并不满意。当我需要换衣服的时候，我会躲起来；我会穿很多层衣服只是为了盖住我肚子上一层层的肉；即使天气很热，我还是会穿一个外套，为了遮住我的胳膊；而且我还会尽量避免照镜子。甚至生病了，我都不敢去看医生，因为我害怕他们会检查我的体重，那样我就不得不面对这个现实。去年三月，我终于下定决心我需要重新掌中我的人生，开始关注我的健康。是时候停止为自己找借口，不再生活在恐惧中了。由于我不负责任的选择，我差点儿在40岁之前丢了性命。所以，我开始了减肥，说实话，减重救了我一命。
那么，我首先做了什么呢？我去了健身房寻求帮助。我不知道如何锻炼，所以我请了一位私教。然后，我开始研究并在改善饮食方面寻求帮助。我开始每周去3-4次健身房， 有的时候做有氧运动。我减少了零食，饮料，碳水化合物的摄入，开始了计划饮食。我开始学会控制自己晚餐的食量，学习在餐馆吃健康食品。我的时间表变得异常忙碌，我6:30开始上班，下班后辅导学生来付教练的费用，然后直接去健身房。我8:00到家，做晚饭，为第二天做准备。刚开始的时候，这个常规对我来说很有挑战性。但是当我开始健康的生活方式的时候，这个常规变得越来越容易了，我的身体也逐渐适应了。
在过去的8个月内，我身体和性格上发生的变化让我的朋友们、我的同事们、我的教练以及我自己大吃一惊。小的目标是我前进的动力。我现在可以用一张正常尺寸的浴巾包裹我的身体。我坐下的时候可以跷二郎腿。我不再那么容易过度出汗。我可以在飞机上系上安全带。我不再感觉很臃肿。我睡得更好，精力更充沛了。我刚开始锻炼的时候，我只能在跑步机上慢走，而坚持一段时间后，我现在可以在一小时内跑7公里。我加入了北京的女生橄榄球队因为我终于相信我能坚持。我在运动方面的信心与日俱增。现在，我非常享受这些健康的活动，希望尝试新的运动和课程。
我的目标是学习开始一种健康的生活态度，以便我可以停止忽上忽下的体重的困扰。我感觉我已经做到了，并且决心坚持下去。我这么做的目的并不仅是为了让自己看上去更好看，更重要的是感觉更好！我不想害怕尝试新事物因为我害怕我不能坚持。我不想再用我的体重作为我不能做这，不能做那的借口。我不想早上一起床就感觉很累，或者爬几层楼就气喘吁吁。我想爱我自己，挑战我自己，征服成长路上的障碍。
我之前的体重是290磅。现在，我的体重是170磅，离我的理想体重还差20磅。当一个人减掉如此大的重量的时候，多余的皮脂并不能自行伸缩。于是这些多余的皮脂就成为了我的一大健康隐患。经过再三考虑以及与医生商讨，我希望这个春天能做一个皮脂移除手术。由于我即将在摩洛哥开始新的生活，我希望将重点放在我新的工作和生活上，不希望过去的阴影影响我未来的新生活。而这些多余的皮脂总是能让我想起我的过去。 它们的存在让我很不舒服，而且很难找到合适的衣服。我希望我的新生活能够以健康的、自信的方式展开。无论到哪里，我都坚持我现在的健康生活方式。
我现在寻求我的朋友和家人的资助。在中国的手术费用会低很多，但是对于一个学校老师来说，还是大大超出我的预算。我知道我们都有自己的财务情况。如果你可以，如果你相信我的故事，如果你愿意捐助我做手术，你的捐款将能够帮助我开始我新的人生。
感谢你阅读我的故事并为我新的旅程贡献力量。我希望我的故事能够激励你实现自己的目标，使你相信只要付出努力并坚定决心，任何事情都是可能的。
If you wish to learn more about me and about the surgery before donating to my cause here is a little of my story.
I have been considered “obese” most of my life. I always made excuses for myself. Saying things like, “I am big boned.” “I don’t need to be skinny to be happy.” “Big is beautiful too!” I would hide behind jokes and my loud personality to make it seem I was okay with who I was, but I’ve always been insecure about my body. I would hide when I had to change my clothes, I would wear layers to try and cover every roll in my stomach, I would wear cardigans even if I was hot to cover my arms, and I would avoid mirrors. I wouldn’t even go to the doctor when I was really sick because I didn’t want the doctor to check my weight because then I would have to confront my weight. Last March I finally decided that I needed to take control of my life and start caring about my health. It was time for me to stop making excuses and stop living in fear that I couldn’t do it. Because of my bad choices, I was in danger and at risk of killing myself before I was 40. So I jumped into weight loss and, honestly, it’s saved me.
So, what did I do first? I went to the gym and sought help. I didn’t know how to do this on my own, so I hired a personal trainer. Then, I started researching and seeking help on how to change my diet. I started seeing my trainer 3-4 times a week and then, the other days, I would do cardio. I cut out snacks, soda, bad carbs, and started meal planning. I started learning how to control myself at dinner parties, learned how to eat healthy in restaurants, and as a traveler. My schedule has become more hectic, as I go to work at 6:30am, tutor children to pay for trainers after work and head straight to the gym. I then arrive home at 8:00pm, and I cook and plan for the next day. At first, this routine was challenging, but as I began building a healthier lifestyle, the routine became easier and my body got used to it.
In the last 8 months the change I have seen in my body and my personality has astonished my friends, fellow workers, my trainer and myself. The small goals are what drive me to keep going. I can now wrap a normal sized bath towel around my body. I can cross my legs when I am sitting. I don’t sweat or get body odor as easily, and I can lock the seatbelt on the airplane. I don’t feel as clumsy anymore. I sleep better and feel more energetic. When I first started working out, I walked on the treadmill and as I slowly built up stamina, I can now run a 7K in under an hour. I even joined the girls rugby team in Beijing because I finally believed I could keep up. My confidence in athleticism has grown. Now, I enjoy these healthier activities and enjoy trying new sports and classes.
My goal was to learn to build a healthy lifestyle so I can stop yo-yoing with my weight. I feel like I have done that and am determined to continue my whole life! I didn’t do this to only look better, but to feel better! I don’t want to be fearful to try new things because I am scared I can’t keep up. I never want to hear or use the excuse I can’t do something because of my weight ever again. I don’t want to feel tired when I wake up in the morning or when I walk up a flight of stairs. I want to love myself and challenge myself and conquer any activity that is thrown my way.
My weight started at about 290lbs. Now, I weigh 170lbs. – 20lbs from my goal weight. When you lose this amount of weight, extra skin hangs from your body and becomes impossible to tighten all on your own. It becomes a health risk and a veil covering all of your hard work. After much consideration and discussing with doctors here in China I am hoping to get the extra skin removal surgery this spring. As I am moving to Morocco I want to focus on my new job and my new healthy lifestyle. I would like to not have to worry about surgery during my transition and honestly, I want to move to Morocco with the past behind me. The skin hanging from my body is a sad reminder for me of the unhealthy person I was. It’s uncomfortable and hard to find the best clothes with the skin in the way. I want my next chapter in life to begin with the new healthy, confident Morgan with every intention of continuing the lifestyle wherever I go.
I am asking for help to pay for this surgery from my friends and family. The surgery is less expensive in China, but still beyond my budget as a school teacher. I know that we all have our own financial situations. I am asking that if you can, if you believe in my story, and if you want to donate just a little to my cause, your contributions will help me begin the new life I have in front of me.
Thank you for reading my story and contributing to the next part of my journey. I hope that my story also inspires you to reach your own goals in life and makes you realize that anything can be achieved with hard work and determination.
我目前生活和工作在北京，是一名小学二年级的老师。我在北京生活近5年的时间，现在我已经准备好开启新的旅程，这个秋天，我接受了一份在摩洛哥的工作。 去年春天，我决心开始控制我的体重，至今为止，我已经减掉了100磅。我希望在离开中国之前通过手术将多余的皮脂去除掉。如果您想在捐款之前更多了解我和手术的话，下面我就给您讲讲我的故事。
我生命中大部分的时间都患有“肥胖症”。我总是给自己找借口说，“我的骨头很大”，“我不需要瘦下来才开心”，“大块头也很美”。我会用我的玩笑以及大大咧咧的性格做掩饰，让人看上去好像我对自己很满意。事实上，我对自己的身体并不满意。当我需要换衣服的时候，我会躲起来；我会穿很多层衣服只是为了盖住我肚子上一层层的肉；即使天气很热，我还是会穿一个外套，为了遮住我的胳膊；而且我还会尽量避免照镜子。甚至生病了，我都不敢去看医生，因为我害怕他们会检查我的体重，那样我就不得不面对这个现实。去年三月，我终于下定决心我需要重新掌中我的人生，开始关注我的健康。是时候停止为自己找借口，不再生活在恐惧中了。由于我不负责任的选择，我差点儿在40岁之前丢了性命。所以，我开始了减肥，说实话，减重救了我一命。
那么，我首先做了什么呢？我去了健身房寻求帮助。我不知道如何锻炼，所以我请了一位私教。然后，我开始研究并在改善饮食方面寻求帮助。我开始每周去3-4次健身房， 有的时候做有氧运动。我减少了零食，饮料，碳水化合物的摄入，开始了计划饮食。我开始学会控制自己晚餐的食量，学习在餐馆吃健康食品。我的时间表变得异常忙碌，我6:30开始上班，下班后辅导学生来付教练的费用，然后直接去健身房。我8:00到家，做晚饭，为第二天做准备。刚开始的时候，这个常规对我来说很有挑战性。但是当我开始健康的生活方式的时候，这个常规变得越来越容易了，我的身体也逐渐适应了。
在过去的8个月内，我身体和性格上发生的变化让我的朋友们、我的同事们、我的教练以及我自己大吃一惊。小的目标是我前进的动力。我现在可以用一张正常尺寸的浴巾包裹我的身体。我坐下的时候可以跷二郎腿。我不再那么容易过度出汗。我可以在飞机上系上安全带。我不再感觉很臃肿。我睡得更好，精力更充沛了。我刚开始锻炼的时候，我只能在跑步机上慢走，而坚持一段时间后，我现在可以在一小时内跑7公里。我加入了北京的女生橄榄球队因为我终于相信我能坚持。我在运动方面的信心与日俱增。现在，我非常享受这些健康的活动，希望尝试新的运动和课程。
我的目标是学习开始一种健康的生活态度，以便我可以停止忽上忽下的体重的困扰。我感觉我已经做到了，并且决心坚持下去。我这么做的目的并不仅是为了让自己看上去更好看，更重要的是感觉更好！我不想害怕尝试新事物因为我害怕我不能坚持。我不想再用我的体重作为我不能做这，不能做那的借口。我不想早上一起床就感觉很累，或者爬几层楼就气喘吁吁。我想爱我自己，挑战我自己，征服成长路上的障碍。
我之前的体重是290磅。现在，我的体重是170磅，离我的理想体重还差20磅。当一个人减掉如此大的重量的时候，多余的皮脂并不能自行伸缩。于是这些多余的皮脂就成为了我的一大健康隐患。经过再三考虑以及与医生商讨，我希望这个春天能做一个皮脂移除手术。由于我即将在摩洛哥开始新的生活，我希望将重点放在我新的工作和生活上，不希望过去的阴影影响我未来的新生活。而这些多余的皮脂总是能让我想起我的过去。 它们的存在让我很不舒服，而且很难找到合适的衣服。我希望我的新生活能够以健康的、自信的方式展开。无论到哪里，我都坚持我现在的健康生活方式。
我现在寻求我的朋友和家人的资助。在中国的手术费用会低很多，但是对于一个学校老师来说，还是大大超出我的预算。我知道我们都有自己的财务情况。如果你可以，如果你相信我的故事，如果你愿意捐助我做手术，你的捐款将能够帮助我开始我新的人生。
感谢你阅读我的故事并为我新的旅程贡献力量。我希望我的故事能够激励你实现自己的目标，使你相信只要付出努力并坚定决心，任何事情都是可能的。
Organizer and beneficiary
Morgan McKinnon
Organizer
West Bend, WI
Morgan Mckinnon
Beneficiary
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