Woman Who Refused To Have Gastric Bypass Surgery Lost 260lbs Naturally - But Has Been Left With 20lbs Of Excess Skin That Feels Like 'Gravity Constantly Pulling Her Forward'

A woman who would struggle to breathe after walking up a flight of stairs or from tying her shoelaces is now on a waiting list to remove 20lbs of excess skin after losing more than half her body weight.

Catherine Shanklin from Oklahoma City tipped the scales at 420lbs and wore 6XL pants size at her heaviest.

Catherine (pictured before her weight loss) would go to an amusement park and have to watch everyone else have fun, at her heaviest

She suffered from a number of health conditions, including polycystic ovaries, immune disorders, high blood pressure and diabetes. Doctors repeatedly warned that she was putting her life at risk due to her weight.

Medics urged her to have gastric bypass surgery after multiple warnings about her health, but Catherine persevered to lose 260lbs entirely naturally.

Catherine Shanklin, from Oklahoma City, who once weighed 420lbs, revealed she's been left with an estimated 20lbs of excess skin since overhauling her lifestyle

However, her weight loss transformation isn't over, because she's currently waiting for surgery to remove an estimated 20lbs of excess skin.

Catherine has had health complications, causing her to delay having the surgery while her body heals from invasive vein removal procedures.

Despite the hurdle, she admits that she can't believe how far she has come.

'It took me exactly three years to lose the weight,' she said. It still shocks me when I see pictures and I'm like, "Is that really me?"

'I am so glad I stayed the course to do it on my own and opted out of having surgery.' 

Describing her relationship with food as her 'second soulmate', Catherine revealed it became the solution to however she was feeling.

Catherine, who suffered from conditions including polycystic ovaries and immune disorders, defied doctors advice to have gastric bypass surgery instead losing 260lbs entirely naturally

She continued: 'I feel sad, I am going to eat, I am bored I am going to eat, it is an emotional connection that I had with it that literally I knew I had to break up with it. It is an addiction; I think it is just like a drug or anything else.

'Being 420lbs we would go to an amusement park and I was the one standing on the sidelines just waiting there for everybody to have fun. Riding on a plane, I was the person that had to have that extra seat belt all the time, and sometimes probably need two or three extenders.

'I was being held back from so many things and just the simple things like tying your own shoe, like being out of breath or going upstairs.'

Doctors repeatedly warned Catherine about her dangerously heavyweight but she only managed to lose small amounts before putting it back on again.

However, after one particular visit to the doctors Catherine had a breakthrough moment, where she realized she not only needed to lose weight but that she could do it. 

Via - Dailymail