Woman who lost 14 STONE shares photos of how her 20lb of excess tummy flab gets in the way
Nicole Castrovince was classed as clinically obese by the time she was 12 and tipped the scales at 25 stone during her mid-twenties
A WOMAN who lost 14 stone has shared candid photographs of the 20lbs of excess skin she has been left with around her stomach.
Nicole Castrovince, 33, from Colorado, America, was classed as clinically obese by the time she was 12, and tipped the scales at 25 stone during her mid-twenties.
After the death of her boyfriend in 2010, the recruitment director decided to overhaul her junk-filled diet and slim down.
However, she is now trying to raise £22,000 to have the surplus skin around her tummy removed so she can finally achieve her dream figure.
"At first my skin was a badge of honour,” she said.
"But now I have this puddle of skin and it feels like I am trapped in my own body. The skin sores are overwhelming."
Nicole used to feast on burgers, pizza, bread and gravy, as well as copious cups of sugary coffees.
She was “bullied” at school because of her weight and struggled to find a boyfriend.
"It was difficult to be a young child and hear people call you fat,” she said.
"Men would say they couldn't date me because they weren't attracted to my body."
Nicole eventually met a man but when she was 26 he took his own life.
In the aftermath of the trauma she vowed to look after her health.
She said: "I had dated my boyfriend for a few years and he struggled with mental illness.
"It was so devastating to me, because he had been my only relationship.
"I realised that this was the path my life was on and it was always going to be filled with pain if I didn't make an active change.”
Nicole was supported by her work colleagues and began training at the gym every day.
She cut out carbs and sugary drinks and lost nine stone within a year.
She said: "I had tried a million things before, fad diets, pills - you name it. But this time it all just clicked.
"For the few weeks the changes were gradual.
"Then I started counting calories and keeping a food journal which really help.
"At first it felt like the weight was just flying off – it was so motivating. It made it so worth it."
When Nicole hit her target weight of 11 stone, she celebrated with a host of activities she'd never been able to participate in before.
She said: "For the first time I felt like I could live a life that was extraordinary and do all the little things I wasn't able to do like zip lining and rafting because of weight restrictions.
"Even normal outings like going to the cinema was embarrassing before.
"I remember the first time I watched a movie after losing weight and feeling so small in the chair."
Nicole also met her current boyfriend, Rohan Lindsay, 33, while working out at her gym.
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She said: “He was the first person I ever really loved, and felt loved by.
"He was so supportive and always made me feel beautiful.”
The pair want to get married but Nicole says the excess skin is holding her back.
"I want to have the surgery so I am not having to be lifting and stuffing my skin into a wedding dress,” she said.
"I just want to feel like every other bride might feel, I want to be free and let the past go and take the next step with this man."
Nicole, who used to try and hide the flab under restrictive clothing, is looking to raise thousands of pounds for a body lift.
She said: "My doctor told me I had to stop wearing the Spanx as much as it was stopping blood flow.
"And I was starting to get chronic back pains from all this extra weight making my centre of gravity off.
"The tissue itself is so damaged, it's really hard to image what it is like if you don't have it.
"I can't wear shorts or short sleeve tops. I am ready to get on with my life and enjoy my new body."
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THEN AND NOW: NICOLE'S DIET REVEALED
THEN
*Breakfast: Bagel with sausage and cheese, large frappuccino
*Lunch: Burger and chips
*Dinner: Fish and chips
*Snacks: Milkshakes, chocolate, chips
NOW
*Breakfast: Vegetable smoothie
*Lunch: Spinach salad with tuna
*Dinner: Fish with vegetables
*Snacks: Nuts, cherry tomatoes