Woman shamed over loose skin has perfect response

Samantha Brodsky
Updated
Photo credit: Instagram/Jacqueline Adan
Photo credit: Instagram/Jacqueline Adan

From Cosmopolitan UK

At her heaviest, blogger Jacqueline Adan weighed 36 stone. "I was unhappy, felt stuck and did not love myself," she confessed to nearly 50,000 Instagram followers. So, she made a change and through healthy eating, exercise and undeniably determined efforts, she lost an incredible 21-plus stone.

Adan is embracing her new body - as she should. And it was on a trip to Mexico that she wore a bathing suit for the first time in years without the security of a cover up.

"I was nervous to take my cover up off and to walk into the pool or walk on the beach," Adan wrote in an Instagram post that has received almost 28,000 likes. "I still felt like that same 500 pound girl ... then it happened."

When we were on vacation in Mexico a few weeks ago, it was the first time I had worn a bathing suit in a long time, and it had been even longer since I wore a bathing suit without a cover up. I was nervous to take my cover up off and to walk into the pool or walk on the beach. I still felt like that same 500 pound girl...then it happened. A couple sitting by the pool started laughing and pointing at me and making fun of me as soon as I took my cover up off. So what did I do? I took a deep breath, smiled and walked into the pool. That was a huge moment for me. I had changed. I was not the same girl anymore. Yes I still have a lot of loose skin, I may still feel insecure at times, and yes I may still get made fun of. To be honest, yes it bothered me. But I was not going to let people like that affect me anymore! I am not going to let what other people think of me stop me from living my life. They do not know me. They do not know how I have worked my ass off to lose 350 pounds. They do not know how I am recovering from major surgeries. They have no right to sit and point and laugh at me. That's why I smiled. It does not matter what others say or if they try to doubt you or try to bring you down. What matters is how you react to it. How you feel about yourself. Loving yourself just the way you are is hard. Others might not like that. That's ok. I hope you love yourself. Love your body. I hope you keep doing you and just keep smiling! . . . . . #jacquelineadan #jacquelinesjourney #effyourbeautystandards #selfloveclub #selflove #lovemybody #lovemyshape #loveyourself #teamself #extremeweightloss #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #beforeandafter #beforeandafterweightloss #wlstories #onaquest #bodybuildingcom #bodypositive #bodyconfidence #bodyposi #transformationfitnation #motivationmonday #mondaymotivation #fitfam #fitspo #bodytransformation #igtransformations #transformationjourney

A post shared by Jacqueline⬇️300lbDiet&Exercise (@jacquelineadan44) on Sep 18, 2017 at 5:37pm PDT

When people around her started "laughing and pointing" at her loose skin (over two stone's worth, a side effect of drastic weight loss), Adan had a choice. She could let it stifle her spirits, or she could push forward, just as she's been doing.

"So what did I do? I took a deep breath, smiled and walked into the pool," she told her followers. "That was a huge moment for me. I had changed. I was not the same girl anymore."

Adan admits that some days, she may still feel insecure and get offended by the hate (and that's only natural). However, "I am not going to let what other people think of me stop me from living my life," she said. "They do not know me. They do not know how I have worked my ass off to lose 350 pounds."

She's right - when we step out into the public eye, no one really knows what we're going through. Only we have a true grasp on how our journey has unfolded and how we're better for it.

Adan closes the post beautifully: "They have no right to sit and point and laugh at me. That's why I smiled. It does not matter what others say or if they try to doubt you or try to bring you down. What matters is how you react to it. How you feel about yourself."

Hi! My name is Jacqueline! When I was at my heaviest I was over 500 pounds. It was hard to do anything and I definitely was not living the life I wanted. I was unhappy, felt stuck and did not love myself. Finally I decided enough was enough and I took control back of my life. As of today I have lost over 300 pounds. I am also in the process of having excess skin removal surgery. My journey was far from easy. It was filled with many ups and downs. It took hard work, sacrifice and never giving up, even if it was challenging. It took blood, lots of sweat and many tears. But I would not have changed a thing. It taught me to fight. It taught me to never give up. And most importantly it taught me to believe in myself! My journey is still far from over, and I still have a long way to go but I can honestly say I am doing so much better! Along my journey I did not only lose a lot of weight, but I gained my life back! There is no stopping me now! It's never too late to fly! . . . . #jacquelineadan #jacquelinesjourney #effyourbeautystandards #selflove #lovemybody #lovemyshape #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #beforeandafter #beforeandafterweightloss #extremeweightloss #wlstories #onaquest #bodybuilding #bodytransformation #bodybuildingcom #poparmy #transformation #transformationfitnation #trainlikeabeastlooklikeabeauty #transformationtuesday #tuesdaytransformation #fit #fitspo #igweightloss #fattofit #naturalweightloss #fitfam

A post shared by Jacqueline⬇️300lbDiet&Exercise (@jacquelineadan44) on Sep 19, 2017 at 3:38pm PDT

"I think the most rewarding part of my journey has been finding true happiness and changing the relationship I have with myself," Adan told GoodHousekeeping.com. "I am learning to love myself and take care of myself and finding out who I am and who I want to be."

Last year, Adan's fiancé set up a YouCaring page to raise money for the skin removal surgeries she's in the process of receiving, which insurance will not cover. In total, she has undergone four and will need at least two or three more.

Adan hopes to finish up these surgeries and to continue sharing her journey with others, one full of empowerment. "I want to help [them] learn to love themselves along with me," she said, "and help spread more love in this world."

From Delish.

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