Share and Follow
A young woman who lost half of her body weight after developing obesity-related health issue has revealed the one thing she continues to struggle with since slimming down.
Jess Dromgool, from Auckland, New Zealand, who tipped the scales at 110kg in 2020 has revealed she now struggles with having ‘excess skin’.
The 28-year-old recently shared a video with her 17,000 followers on Instagram where she spoke of her ‘confronting’ skin.
‘It can be pretty confronting but there is not one day I am not thankful for my body and all she has been through,’ she said.
Scroll down for video
Jess Dromgool, from Auckland, New Zealand , who tipped the scales at 110kg in 2020 has revealed she now struggles with the idea of having ‘excess skin’
In the video Jess grabbed at her stomach and the skin at the top of her legs to show the audience the result after losing 54kg.
‘Loose skin. It can be one of the biggest fears we face when we come across a journey of extreme weight loss. As for most it’s a reality that has to be faced,’ she wrote.
Jess previously revealed she had always been overweight due to overeating – but was more than happy with the way she looked.
‘I quite fancied myself bigger; I felt beautiful and never hated myself [for being] fat,’ Jess told FEMAIL.
But she had to start losing weight when she developed a range of health problems including the chronic condition Lipedema, which would cause her limbs to swell.
After using gastric sleeve surgery as a tool to fast-track her weight loss, Jess is proud to have dropped half her body weight by focusing on her diet.
But despite her improved health the choice to drop the weight has been difficult.
Jess said while she has chosen not to get the excess skin removed at this stage it does bother her some days – so she reminds herself how much her body has done for her
‘I’ll be the first to admit I was slightly fearful of what a life and body would look like post extreme weight-loss,’ she wrote.
‘I was fearful of would I still love my body? Would loose skin cause me the same heart aches that living in an over weight body did?,’ she added.
‘The truth is some days are harder than others and I guess that’s why they call it a journey.’
Jess is proud of her body for always holding her up – from when she weighed 110kgs to now.
‘My body is beautiful, my body is strong and she is mine. As humans we are not designed to be perfect, we are not equal,’ she said.
She also explained that she will be keeping the skin, for now.
The young woman lost the weight over 14 months and now weighs just 54kgs
‘We always have choices in life and if one day I choose to have skin removal that’s okay too. But for now, I choose to embrace the days where I love my body, it’s been on such a journey.
‘Some days my loose skin bothers me, but on others I remember just how far my mind and body has come.
‘When you choose to look at something in a positive light and reinforce it with love, you choose to see the beauty in it and for today, that’s what I choose.’
Jess’ followers thanked her for the raw post.
‘Thanks Jess. I struggle with this every day. We need to learn to love ourselves more. Your posts inspire me,’ one woman wrote.
‘Thank you for being so brave and posting this! I’m very close to your pre-op weight and you’re such an inspiration to me,’ said another.
‘Love you can be proud enough to show us there is a down side,’ added a third.
Jess previously went into great detail about her weight loss and how she got to weigh 110kgs in the first place.
While she fuelled her body with nutrient-rich foods, Jess described herself as a ‘lifelong emotional eater’ who would ‘never feel full’
While she ate nutrient-rich foods, Jess described herself as a ‘lifelong emotional eater’ who would ‘never feel full’.
Consequently, she gained weight from high calorie consumption and little to no exercise.
As her weight increased, Jess developed painful shin splints and cystic acne, and everyday activities that should’ve been easy became increasingly difficult.
‘Being overweight since early childhood I had tried every trick and tip in the book. As a result of lifelong learned patterns and behaviours, I didn’t have the understanding on how to help myself,’ she said.
Jess attempted enjoying the gym, doing yoga and going for walks with friends but broke her foot in January 2020, causing her to gain more weight.
‘After much deliberation, I needed a long-term solution and tool to assist me in this journey,’ she explained.
On November 2, 2020, Jess had gastric sleeve surgery – a medical process that involves removing a portion of the stomach.
On November 2, 2020, Jess had gastric sleeve surgery – a medical process that involves removing a portion of the stomach
After recovering from the operation, her diet of healthy foods remained the same, but the serving sizes decreased.
‘I have the same mindset towards food in the sense there is no such thing as bad or good foods. I have always loved nutrient-rich foods, fresh proteins and fresh foods have been a favourite,’ she said.
‘How and what you choose to fuel your body with is the difference, and it makes a difference to how you feel.’
Today she eats three meals a day, doesn’t snack and uses the Woop food service platform.
To lose the weight faster, she joined F45 and now exercises ‘with ease’.
‘Movement whilst not being overweight is so enjoyable and being able to do something so naturally with my body like going for a walk is something I will never take for granted,’ she said.
‘I had cystic acne which cleared itself within the first few months of losing my excess weight.
After recovering from the operation, her diet of healthy foods remained the same, but the serving sizes decreased and she joined F45
Today Jess eats three meals a day, doesn’t snack and uses the Woop food service platform. More importantly, she said she was searching for freedom in her life and is incredibly proud of what she has accomplished
More importantly, Jess said she was searching for freedom in her life and is incredibly proud of what she has accomplished.
‘Change has opened up so many avenues of my life that I felt limited in really reaching or striving for potential in. I now live a life that is limitless,’ she said.
‘To date I have lost 55kgs and I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been.’
