A young 17-year-old woman from Portland is celebrating a triumphant moment after she succeeded in losing 400 pounds in just 15 months.
Kaitlyn Smith was suffering from obesity with 414 pounds and consequently from depression. She has been constantly bullied at high school when she was younger, her class mates pointed and laughed at her. And it was not just them, but people on the streets were watching her and talking about her look.
Kaytlin was considering a gastric bypass surgery. However, when she went to the doctor’s office for a consult she faced with his rude criticism, and lack of enthusiasm that she will never make it. Therefore, she decided that she would lose weight by herself the best way she knew.
She decided to completely alter her life by changing her eating habits and her lifestyle. She hired personal trainer that put her on a strict regime that required a lot of hard work, tears, sweat, and determination.
The most difficult part for her during that process was her self-criticism. She was her own worst enemy and she was constantly challenged by her own mind, thinking that it is too hard and impossible to do it most of the time. However, she managed to realize that she was worth more and that she would have to set aside those negative thoughts and focus on the outcome of the whole journey.
Her routine included weight-loss program that was based on healthy and nutritious food and rigorous six-day exercise routine. Every day was a challenge, but she did not succumb to it and overcame all the obstacles. After 15 months, Kaitlyn was able to look at herself in the mirror and be proud of herself and her accomplishment. However, that was not the end of her battle with obesity.
After she half her weight, she was left with a lot of excess skin that led to infection, joint pain, tearing and mental distress. For that reason, the only way she could get rid of all that excess skin was through a cosmetic surgery. However, she did not have enough money to do it, so she decided to start a GoFundMe where people could donate funds to help her cover the cost of her surgery.
Dr. Michael Salzhauer, a plastic surgeon, heard about her incredible determination and amazing transformation, so he decided to do the surgery for free. Kaitlyn underwent three cosmetic procedures until all of her excess skin was removed.
Now, she finally feels and looks like a completely different person. She is enjoying and living life to the fullest. She is no longer depressed, anxious, bitter and envious like she used to be. She is happier, more fun to hang out and more outgoing person who loves and appreciates herself.
