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A diabetes diagnosis prompted this mom-of-four to undergo weight loss surgery which helped her lose a staggering 69kg – but left her with extremely stretched excess skin.
Stephanie Cotton, from California, US, spent many years of her life binging on junk food and consumed more than 3000 calories every day.
“I was in constant pain, so I was miserable; my body was so heavy. I had diabetes, high blood pressure and constant joint pain,” says Stephanie.
Her unhealthy lifestyle led her to put on a whopping 139kg which left her dealing with severe pain and a diagnosis of type one diabetes.
“Being diagnosed with diabetes was the ultimate decision-maker for me.
“Both of my grandfathers passed away from things that could’ve been prevented. One from a heart attack and the other from complications with diabetes,” she says.
Fearing for her health, the single mom decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery back in 2005 to help her lose the bulk of her weight.
The weight loss surgery saw the brunette beauty shed an inconceivable 69kg. She now only consumes around 1 200 calories every day by simply munching on high-protein and low-carbohydrate foods.
Stephanie has also made the local gym her second home by working out six days a week and she even takes jogs during her lunch breaks.
“Losing the weight has completely changed my life. I can do so much more; I can run, dance, workout, play with my kids, and enjoy life without the weight of my body holding me back,” she says.
While her weight loss journey has been successful, the excess skin left behind on her body has been a rather stubborn thorn in Stephanie’s foot.
“The hardest thing so far has been my loose skin.”
“It’s hard to bust your butt daily in the gym while your efforts are slightly hidden by the skin, which is why I’m having excess skin removal in December,” she says.
The single mom has decided to share her story in hopes that people will strive to be a more authentic version of themselves.
“Be honest with yourself about what you want to achieve and set reasonable goals to achieve them. It’s not a race to the finish line,” she says.
Sources: Magazine Features
