Woman, 27, is crowdfunding £12,000 to get A STONE of excessive skin removed

A woman who lost more than half her body weight is fundraising to have more than a stone of excess skin removed after the NHS refused to carry out the operation.

Steph O’Shea, 27, was almost 21 stone at her heaviest – but managed to shed 10 stone after years of being morbidly obese.

But after her rapid weight loss Steph, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, was left with saggy skin hanging from her tummy – that she says makes a noise when she moves.

She now wants to have the skin removed so she can finally enjoy the benefits of her incredible weight loss. 

Steph O’Shea, 27, was almost 21 stone at her heaviest – but managed to shed 10 stone after years of being morbidly obese. But after her rapid weight loss Steph, from Burntwood, Staffordshire, was left with a stone saggy skin hanging from her tummy – that she says makes a noise when she moves

Steph, a part-time community worker, has been overweight her whole life, and ballooned to 21st after having two children

Steph, a part-time community worker, has been overweight her whole life, and ballooned to 21st after having two children

Steph, a part-time community worker said: ‘I thought losing weight would make me happier but the lose skin has destroyed my confidence.

‘I wanted to lose weight to enjoy life, clothes and being active instead of wishing or watching other people enjoying themselves.

‘My partner loves me regardless. He says I’m not the same person and that I’m more reserved now that I’ve lost weight. I’m more insecure now.

‘My skin gets sore so I rely on creams when it breaks from sweating excessively or rubs on clothing.

Steph at the halfway point of her weight loss

Steph now, with more than a stone of excess skin

Steph said she lost weight by regular exercise and cutting out processed food including her much loved kebab meat and chips. Left: at halfway through her weight loss, right: now

Steph, now unrecognisable at a healthy 10st9lbs says: 'I wanted to lose weight to enjoy life, clothes and being active instead of wishing or watching other people enjoying themselves'

Steph, now unrecognisable at a healthy 10st9lbs says: ‘I wanted to lose weight to enjoy life, clothes and being active instead of wishing or watching other people enjoying themselves’

‘I rely on body suits to help me fit into clothes better and it also acts as a barrier between jeans as they can be havoc on my stomach with it over hanging.

‘The excess skin holds me back from my ability to be as active as I’d like. I’m conscious people can hear it moving around in the gym so I wear garments underneath to hold me in which can be uncomfortable.’

The mother-of-two, decided to lose weight in January 2017 after a lifetime of being obese and suffering from health problems because of her size.

She said she lost weight by regular exercise and cutting out processed food including her much loved kebab meat and chips.

The mother-of-two, decided to lose weight in January 2017 after a lifetime of being obese and suffering from health problems because of her size

The mother-of-two, decided to lose weight in January 2017 after a lifetime of being obese and suffering from health problems because of her size

Steph three months into her weight loss journey

Steph now after shedding 10stone

Steph said: ‘My partner loves me regardless. He says I’m not the same person and that I’m more reserved now that I’ve lost weight. I’m more insecure now. Left: Steph three months into her weight loss journey, right: Steph now after shedding 10stone

Now weighing 10st 9lb, Steph said despite her dramatic weight loss she still feels insecure about her body after she was left with saggy excess skin on her arms, stomach and legs which causes painful sores across her body and limit her mobility.

Despite a drastic overhaul in her lifestyle to shed the weight, she’s unable to get the surgery on the NHS as it’s considered cosmetic.   

Since setting up the GoFundMe page 14 months ago, she’s raised £485. 

Steph said that she was able to shed the pounds after ditching years of bad eating habits. 

‘I used to survive on coffee through the day then have one super sized plate of mainly fried and processed food at night’ she said.

Now weighing a healthy 10st 9lb, Steph said despite her dramatic weight loss she still feels insecure about her body after she was left with saggy excess skin on her arms, stomach and legs which causes painful sores across her body and limit her mobility. Steph is pictured now showing off her dramatic change with a shift in size of trousers

Now weighing a healthy 10st 9lb, Steph said despite her dramatic weight loss she still feels insecure about her body after she was left with saggy excess skin on her arms, stomach and legs which causes painful sores across her body and limit her mobility. Steph is pictured now showing off her dramatic change with a shift in size of trousers

POST-WEIGHT LOSS DIET 

Breakfast- Yoghurt, granola, piece of fruit with a coffee.

Lunch- Ham or reduced fat cheese pasta/salad.

Dinner- Lean pork stir fry with noodles and beansprouts.

Snacks- bag of crisps under 100 calories or small snack size chocolate.

‘I just cut out as much processed food as I could. I limit myself to one takeaway a month, cook my meals myself and eat lean meats and grill or bake food instead of fry.

‘It’s all about balance and moderation. I still eat crisps, chocolate and drink alcohol.

‘I try and keep my fluid intake at around two litres and go to the gym three times a week for an hour.’

Steph said she is raising £12,000 on GoFundMe to pay for her excess skin to be removed.

She said: ‘I know most people see it as cosmetic and there is a small aspect of it being cosmetic but surgery isn’t a decision to be taken lightly and I’m going to be left with scars.

Despite a drastic overhaul in her lifestyle to shed the weight, she's unable to get the surgery on the NHS as it's considered cosmetic. Since setting up the GoFundMe page (pictured)  14 months ago, she's raised £485

Despite a drastic overhaul in her lifestyle to shed the weight, she’s unable to get the surgery on the NHS as it’s considered cosmetic. Since setting up the GoFundMe page (pictured)  14 months ago, she’s raised £485

Steph said that her weight loss is for 'sanity rather than vanity' and that she's 'done all she possibly can, and now it's in the hands of a surgeon'

Steph said that her weight loss is for ‘sanity rather than vanity’ and that she’s ‘done all she possibly can, and now it’s in the hands of a surgeon’

Steph has been left with excess skin all over her body, including her arms (pictured)

Steph has been left with excess skin all over her body, including her arms (pictured)

‘I’m raising the money on GoFundMe for my sanity rather than vanity. I’ve done all I possibly can to change and the next steps are in the hands of a surgeon.

‘I’ve spent my whole life hiding away from the world. £12,000 is a large sum and I didn’t want to be in this situation but I don’t have any other option.

‘Whilst I lost weight to become more confident that’s not happened.

‘I struggle to engage my core and have a muscle weakness which gives me chronic back ache so it’s more than just skin removal.

'I've spent my whole life hiding away from the world. £12,000 is a large sum and I didn't want to be in this situation but I don't have any other option. Whilst I lost weight to become more confident that's not happened. I struggle to engage my core and have a muscle weakness which gives me chronic back ache so it's more than just skin removal' Steph said

‘I’ve spent my whole life hiding away from the world. £12,000 is a large sum and I didn’t want to be in this situation but I don’t have any other option. Whilst I lost weight to become more confident that’s not happened. I struggle to engage my core and have a muscle weakness which gives me chronic back ache so it’s more than just skin removal’ Steph said

Steph added she was 'self-conscious' about what she wears. 'I have good days where I feel amazing for what I've achieved but then I have bad days and I feel rubbish about my situation'

Steph added she was ‘self-conscious’ about what she wears. ‘I have good days where I feel amazing for what I’ve achieved but then I have bad days and I feel rubbish about my situation’

Steph said that she's 'self-conscious' about what she wears now and that she has to cover up which is 'uncomfortable' in hot weather

Steph said that she’s ‘self-conscious’ about what she wears now and that she has to cover up which is ‘uncomfortable’ in hot weather

‘I don’t want to continue to take painkillers, use creams and be reliant on medication.

‘I’m self-conscious about what I wear, I have good days where I feel amazing for what I’ve achieved but then I have bad days and I feel rubbish about my situation. I don’t want to continue to have issues with clothing and want to have to hide away and cover up.

‘Covering up especially in weathers as warm as we have at the moment is uncomfortable.  

‘I want to enjoy summer times and swimming and blend in and not stand out.’

‘I’m happy with myself and the person I am but incredibly self-conscious and feel I need to cover up to stop rude comments and stares. 

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