It started out as a typical, inspiring weight loss story. Simone Anderson, a young woman from New Zealand, has lost 189 pounds since last August after deciding to go on a weight loss journey.
189 pounds in 11 months? That’s a pretty big deal. She’s done it through a combination of weight loss surgery, dieting, and exercise. So basically, she’s done it healthily, especially for someone who was once at over 350 pounds.
But not everyone is supportive, especially not on the internet. Once she posted a check-in on Instagram confirming that she’d officially lost half her weight, some people felt like they needed to cut her down.
“I do not believe it is the same person…” said one commenter. “People that lose weight that fast from surgery have extremely sagging skin and stretch marks…Yes she could lose the weight but that thin woman isn’t the same person as the heavy one…no way!”
Of course, there’s no reason to doubt Simone, since she’s shared almost her entire journey on Facebook and Instagram. Simone could have just ignored her, but instead, she had a great response. Vulnerability is hard, especially when you’re so hurt that someone won’t believe the hardest thing you’ve ever done. But Simone shared her excess skin with Instagram:
“Throughout my whole journey I have tried to be so honest about the whole experience and tell people it exactly as it’s happened so to be called a fake hurt a lot. And then when it came to posting about my lose skin well that was equally as tough…yes I have lose skin and stretch marks but I don’t feel the need to show them in every single photo I post online.”
We think you’re amazing, Simone. It takes strength to lose that weight and it takes strength to show it. You’re an inspiration to us all!
What do you think of this inspiring weight loss tale?
Photo Copyright © 2015 Simone Anderson/Instagram
