Losing more than half of your body weight is never easy, and this 19-year-old made it happen. Kaitlyn Smith once weighed 414 pounds and struggled with obesity as a kid. Out of desperation, she decided to get gastric bypass surgery and the procedure paid off. With help from a health coach and diet and exercise, Smith lost a little over 200 pounds! She truly looks like a different person, but Smith's issue was the hanging excess skin that came afterwards. I was in shock when I saw the new Kaitlyn!
Read more ¿Qué más?: Woman loses 185 lbs easiest way possible & you can do it too!
Her story speaks to so many young women out there. So many kids get picked on or are treated poorly because of their weight. By no means was the weight loss easy for Kaitlyn. She wore a size 32 and clothes four times larger than an extra-large. I'm sure she felt trapped in her body as a teen.
She wrote on her page, "Through all the tears, soreness, and sweat I still gave it my all. I did NOT quit!" I love how raw and honest she is about this transition. It can't be easy to completely change your diet and lifestyle, but she proves that you can presevere and succeed. By the photos, you can tell she's a much happier person. She feels sure of herself and exudes confidence. I'm sure all of the pain and hard work has been worth it.
She has started a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising enough money to get her excess skin removed. The surgery costs an estimated $50,000 and Kaitlyn has managed to raise $7,395 so far. That's amazing! "Thank you so much everyone for the donations and support! It means more than you'll ever know!" she wrote. I hope she gets the funds she needs and stays in great health. She's worth it!
Images via Kaitlyn Smith/Facebook, GoFundMe
