A Remarkable Weight Loss Journey
- A woman who weighed 485 pounds at her heaviest managed to shed more than 300 pounds in a year after deciding to reclaim her life. She’s since shared her weight loss journey to encourage others that they, too, can lead a healthy lifestyle and achieve their goals.
- During Lexi Reed’s weight loss journey, she was diagnosed with Calciphylaxis, which is a rare disease that causes calcium buildup in the blood vessels, blocking blood flow. The disease has a high mortality rate, and people dealing with kidney problems or who are obese are at higher risk of getting this disease.
- Body weight is a sensitive subject with physical and emotional impacts. Among cancer patients, cancer treatment can affect your physical appearance and affect body weight.
- Coping with these changes, such as weight gain or loss, hair loss, or infertility, is all possible amid cancer treatment.
- Dr. Marianna Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the parts (or parts) of their bodies mostly impacted by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they may also represent “strength and courage.”
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.”
A brave Indiana woman who once weighed 485 pounds is sharing her weight loss journey to inspire others that they, too, can accomplish seemingly the impossible if they set their minds to it. For many women, body weight is a very sensitive subject that can bring about physical and emotional impacts.
Lexi Reed leads “Fat Girl Fed Up” social media channels, sharing the highs and lows of her quest for weight loss and a healthier life.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Today, Reed smiles and proudly shows off her fit physique. Her efforts have amassed a large following online, and she now hosts events and offers weight loss advice for profit. However, what people see is the tail end of a years-long journey still in progress.
“At my heaviest, I always did my hair and makeup and loved myself – but I always wondered, ‘What if,” she said.
In photos and videos Reed shared online, she is seen as her former self, hundreds of pounds heavier than today.
“I always dreamed of losing weight and not being a prisoner in my own body. I felt like I wasn’t living; I was just existing,” she said.
Eventually, she aimed to bring those dreams into reality and began her weight loss journey. She intensely focused on maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. She shared countless videos on social media of herself at the gym. During her journey, her husband was often by her side, offering his support. Over time, the fat began to wither away. She shared vulnerable and candid photos of herself revealing loose skin.
View this post on Instagram
“Skin is skin; love the body you’re in, and speak kindly to yourself because you’re always listening,” she said.
Reed dropped from 485 pounds in 2016 to her lowest weight, a whopping 173 pounds a year later. Since then, her weight has fluctuated, but she’s currently around 180 pounds.
Although she received numerous bright spots along the way, her quest for a healthier life revealed a new problem. She was diagnosed with calciphylaxis. According to research published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, this rare disease causes calcium buildup in the blood vessels, blocking blood flow. The disease has an “80 percent” mortality, and people suffering from kidney-related problems are at higher risk of this disease. Obesity is also a known risk factor for calciphylaxis.
“Wounds I’ve been left with after fighting a rare disease called calciphylaxis as well as my loose skin from losing weight,” Reed said.
“A disease that caused me to have dead necrotic skin that formed excruciating wounds from my thighs to my shoulders & left behind hard calcium deposits that could reopen in the future despite currently being in remission,” Reed continued.
View this post on Instagram
Reed says she first noticed changes in her face while shedding excess weight.
“My face changed so much that people who’d known me for years didn’t even recognize me,” Reed said.
“I can’t help but be proud of that girl who saw a dream that was uncertain and went after it. It’s not about the weight you lose but the life you gain!” Reed says.
Helping You Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Coping With Body Changes
People, including those diagnosed with cancer, should strive for a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a proper diet filled with fruits and vegetables and exercising – even minimally – can benefit overall health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Being overweight or having obesity are linked with a higher risk of getting 13 types of cancer.”
Body weight that exceeds what the body mass index (BMI) deems appropriate for your weight and height can help determine body fat content. Although your BMI can help you learn if you are at a healthy weight, underweight, overweight, or obese, other factors may contribute to your overall health.
WATCH: Coping with body image.
RELATED: Can weight loss surgery decrease your breast cancer risk?
Cancer’s Impact on Your Physical Appearance and How to Cope
Cancer treatment can affect your body physically and emotionally. Although many body changes are temporary, they can be hard to live with during treatment.
One way to prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand that changes are possible but also temporary. This can also help build up your self-confidence. Your support group, filled with loved ones, can help you during this stage of your journey.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body mostly impacted by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Strongin continued.
If you are able, try managing your physical fitness, weight management, and focusing on your mental health to help you cope with body changes during treatment.
Expert Advice to Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Dr. Ken Miller, the Director of Outpatient Oncology at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, shared some guidelines for cancer survivors who are concerned about a recurrence with SurvivorNet:
- Exercise at least two hours a week, and walking counts.
- Eat a low-fat diet.
- Eat a colorful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends aiming for two to three cups of vibrant vegetables and fruits each day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Studies have shown that being obese can increase your risk for several types of cancer.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.