Woman who lost astonishing 22 STONE without weight loss jabs reveals why she's not embarrassed about her saggy skin in swimsuits
Lexi Reed, 34, who lives in Indiana with her husband Danny, gained 1.2 million followers on her Instagram account @fatgirlfedup after sharing her journey.
In a recent interview, she said that although she's now 'covered in loose skin', she refuses to hide her body—and wears her swimsuit with pride.
Lexi lost the weight after tipping the scales at 34st 9lbs.
Even after undergoing skin removal surgery in 2018, a significant amount of loose skin remained.
Her legs are also marked by varicose veins, scars and firm white or yellow bumps caused by a rare, potentially life-threatening condition called calciphylaxis.
The illness, which prevents her from swimming—something she once loved—causes deposits to build up in blood vessels, leading to clots, ulcers and in some cases, death.
But Lexi said: 'All those things tell a story of the battles I've faced and won.'
She added that at her heaviest, when she felt like 'a prisoner in my own body', she wasn't worried about loose skin—she was worried she wouldn't live to see her 30th birthday.
It wasn't until 2016 that she began her dramatic weight-loss transformation, prompted by a friend who challenged her to 30 days of exercise, along with no takeaways, alcohol, soda or cheat meals.
The challenge proved to be the motivation she needed. Within the first month— without the help of weight-loss jabs—she lost more than a stone (23lbs), and went on to shed the rest over the following two years.
'I lost all my weight with diet and exercise,' Ms Reed said. 'No meal plan, no trainer, no surgery and no medication.
'[I'm] fighting for my health and this new healthy lifestyle daily because I never want to go back to being almost 500lbs.
'I love this body for all it's done for me and despite any skin or scars, I'm just so grateful to be healthy, happy and alive every single day.'
Although she admits it's difficult not being able to swim, Ms Reed says she's simply 'making the best' of her situation.
In a recent Instagram post, that has received over 19,000 likes, she said: 'My journey hasn't been easy, but I'm so grateful every day to still be here fighting to be the best version of me.
'I'm grateful to still be alive despite any scar, skin, or calcium that I've been left with & I'll take fighting this one wound any day over 30!'
The comment section was flooded with supportive comments from social media users praising her body positivity.
One user wrote: 'Wow you heroin!!! I love that you love your body because you have survived.'
A second user commented: 'I applaud you and am so proud of you for making yourself vulnerable and educating people.'
Meanwhile another user wrote: 'I also had calciphylaxis on both sides of my legs. That was the most excruciating pain I have ever felt in my life.'
In a supportive comment, her husband also wrote: 'I'll never forget when the doctor came in and diagnosed you with this disease, and all of the emotions that we felt.
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