These incredible before and after pictures show a woman who looks virtually unrecognisable – after shedding HALF her body weight in just 11 months.
Like many girls, Simone Anderson piled on the pounds when she went to university, gorging her way through five takeaways a week, as well as snacking on chocolate, donuts, pastries and muffins.
By the time she graduated, Simone weighed 26 stone 8lb, had jumped from a dress size 14 to a dress size 30, and struggled to even walk around the house without getting breathless.
She decided to shed the stodge – and as motivation, posted pictures of her body online each week so that family and friends could keep her in check.
But before she knew it, 69,000 people were following her journey and willing her on.
In less than a year, determined 22-year-old Simone dropped to a svelte 12 stone, and now posts pictures of her new body online to encourage others.
Simone, from Auckland, New Zealand, has now had surgery to remove her excess skin and recently posted a picture on Instagram that showed off her new stomach, writing: “Look at my stomach, my curves and just overall banging body.
Still incredibly swollen so will only improve from here.”
The 23-year-old professional make-up artist said: “Obviously I know I’m never going to have a perfect stomach, but I can’t wait to be able to exercise without tucking my loose skin into my pants, and know that I can put on a top like everyone else and not stress out about loose skin coming out. I might even be able to wear a bikini.”
Speaking about her uni days, she said: “I was drinking every night as a student and I didn’t know how to cook and couldn’t be bothered learning. I just went for the quick and easy option, which was usually full of fat and carbs.
“My weight wasn’t a big deal to me at that point, as I was too busy enjoying myself.’
“I was always using the excuse, “I’m too busy to workout and eat healthy” when in reality I was just being lazy and unprepared.”
“I decided to set up a Facebook page ‘Simone’s journey to health,’ where I would post pictures of myself to show my progress, as well photos of the types of foods I was eating, to motivate me.
“Knowing people would be watching my progress, pushed me to keep going, as I felt they would judge me if I failed.”
Simone ditched the takeaways and replaced her love of carbohydrates with vegetables and meat, and replaced her sugary snacks with fruit. She also took up exercise, starting by going for walks, which she built up to a run.
She also set up a Facebook page, Simone’s Journey to Health, saying: “It started as just family and friends but soon strangers were liking and commenting on my progress, calling me an inspiration and asking for my advice. It felt amazing.”
She celebrated reaching her goal back in July with a huge party among family and friends and sporting a custom-made gown for the occasion.
Simone has now had the skin removed in an eight-hour surgery by a doctor in Arizona – a procedure she had she funded herself through savings and donations and said ‘couldn’t wait’ for.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Remus Repta and included a breast lift and augmentation to remove extra skin and replenish the volume she had lost, a tummy tuck, and a bra-line back lift.
Simone says: “I know the boost in my confidence will be huge once I’ve recovered. I can’t wait to show my body off.
“It took hours of crying and debating whether to share my story online and for others to see, posting the first picture online along with my weight for the world to see what the hardest thing I have ever done.
“Now, how amazing I feel, it all seems worth it.”
