Catherine Shanklin from Oklahoma City weighed 420lbs, wearing a size 6xl pant size. Being treated for multiple medical issues including polycystic ovaries, high blood pressure and diabetes, doctors repeatedly warned Catherine she would die if she didn’t lose weight. After multiple warnings that she needed to have a gastric bypass, the childminder decided to lose 260lbs naturally. But Catherine’s journey is not over – now awaiting skin removal surgery to remove the 20lbs of excess skin from her body, health complications have meant she has had to delay having the surgery due to invasive vein removal procedures. “It took me three years to lose the weight. I am so glad I stayed the course to do it on my own and opted out of having surgery.” Describing her relationship with food as her ‘second soulmate’ it became the solution to however she was feeling. Doctors and after one visit to the doctors, Catherine had a breakthrough moment where she realised she could lose the weight. She joined a gym and started walking and running. Catherine’s new healthy lifestyle has been about exercise as adopting a healthier diet. With a dramatic weight loss, Catherine has had to deal with large amounts of excess skin that literally weigh her down. Catherine was due to have skin removal surgery this summer but in order to have the surgery she had to undergo vein removal procedures in her legs. She faced with the news that her surgery would be postponed until 2020. Money raised so far in Catherine’s GoFundMe campaign will remain in her account until she can have the skin removal surgery. “This isn't about being the skinniest person or the strongest person. It's about being healthy and being happy with who you are. It doesn't matter if you're 400, 500 pounds just get out there. It's not going to happen overnight but you take those small steps and guess what you're going to fall.”
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