A WOMAN who managed to change her life by shedding nearly half her body weight has revealed how she has now been left with massive folds of loose skin.
Teresa Parent who once weighed 42st, says she now feels much better but her incredible transformation left her with a “hanging apron” of loose skin.
Teresa, from Long Beach, California, is due to have an operation to remove the loose skin.
In an emotional video posted on TikTok, Teresa shared what her body looks like before the life-changing surgery.
Unable to hold back tears, she said: “I used to weigh 600 pounds and I have worked really hard over the last four and a half years of my life to lose 370 pounds.
“In four days, I am having an abdominoplasty surgery to remove my hanging apron stomach. You can see it hangs down to my knees. This is what it looks like when I sit down.
“It makes me look much bigger than I actually am. It’s very painful, it’s embarrassing, and it’s shameful but I try to focus on the fact that I’m a weight loss warrior.
“I have worked really hard to save my own life and in a few days this is all going to be gone and my life is going to be forever changed for the better.
“I’m documenting this for myself and sharing this with all of you because I hope that it helps to normalize obesity and loose skin and all the things that go along with weight loss.”
At the end of her message, Teresa stood up and said: “This is what my hanging apron stomach looks like when I am standing up. As you can see, it hangs down a lot.
“It causes me so much physical and emotional pain you guys, and I cannot wait for the skin to be removed.”
Her followers praised her for her honesty and wished her good luck ahead of her upcoming operation.
One said: “This isn’t shameful. It’s a badge of your incredible courage and tenacity.”
Another TikToker said: “You are facing this with a lot of grace. Please know that we are with you 100%.”
Someone wrote: “It has to be difficult to be this transparent and real with people. You should be proud of your courage!”
One said: “It has to be difficult to be this transparent and real with people. You should be proud of your courage!”