Losing extra weight and starting healthy habits is hard enough on its own, but with the added pressure from your friends, family, and even complete strangers, it can sometimes feel like an overwhelming challenge. As social creatures, we desire to fit in with the group but in a society that values slim, athletic bodies, our weight can seem to put a wrench in our social interactions. But, after losing over 300 pounds, one woman decided that enough was enough. She boldly ignored the haters laughing at her and wore her bathing suit at the beach for the first time in a very long time.

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Jacqueline Adan reports to always struggling with her weight, at one point reaching over 500 pounds[1]. With an incredible effort, she managed to change her life around by eating better and exercising more and was able to lose 350 pounds.

If you lose weight very quickly, your skin doesn’t shrink down to the size of your body, but instead becomes loose and hangs off of the body. Jacqueline had already been in the process of several skin removal surgeries in order to shrink her excess skin.

Recently, while on vacation in Mexico she decided to wear a bathing suit without a cover-up, something she had been unwilling to do for a long time. But, when she went to the hotel pool she immediately encountered bullies, who began to blatantly point at her legs and laugh amongst themselves.

Instead of allowing this to affect her, she simply held her head up high, smiled, and went for a swim in the pool.

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On her Instagram account, she wrote openly about the incident, stating: “To be honest, yes it bothered me. But I was not going to let people like that affect me anymore! I am not going to let what other people think of me stop me from living my life. They do not know me.”

When we were on vacation in Mexico a few weeks ago, it was the first time I had worn a bathing suit in a long time, and it had been even longer since I wore a bathing suit without a cover up. I was nervous to take my cover up off and to walk into the pool or walk on the beach. I still felt like that same 500 pound girl…then it happened. A couple sitting by the pool started laughing and pointing at me and making fun of me as soon as I took my cover up off. So what did I do? I took a deep breath, smiled and walked into the pool. That was a huge moment for me. I had changed. I was not the same girl anymore. Yes I still have a lot of loose skin, I may still feel insecure at times, and yes I may still get made fun of. To be honest, yes it bothered me. But I was not going to let people like that affect me anymore! I am not going to let what other people think of me stop me from living my life. They do not know me. They do not know how I have worked my ass off to lose 350 pounds. They do not know how I am recovering from major surgeries. They have no right to sit and point and laugh at me. That’s why I smiled. It does not matter what others say or if they try to doubt you or try to bring you down. What matters is how you react to it. How you feel about yourself. Loving yourself just the way you are is hard. Others might not like that. That’s ok. I hope you love yourself. Love your body. I hope you keep doing you and just keep smiling! . . . . . #jacquelineadan #jacquelinesjourney #effyourbeautystandards #selfloveclub #selflove #lovemybody #lovemyshape #loveyourself #teamself #extremeweightloss #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #beforeandafter #beforeandafterweightloss #wlstories #onaquest #bodybuildingcom #bodypositive #bodyconfidence #bodyposi #transformationfitnation #motivationmonday #mondaymotivation #fitfam #fitspo #bodytransformation #igtransformations #transformationjourney

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Her photo has received over 30,000 likes and many comments of love and encouragement. She now shares her story, as well as health and fashion tips on her blog and social media, spreading a message of self-love and worth.

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“You have the magic within yourself to change.  You are strong. You are powerful.  You can do it.  Now, you have to believe in yourself, work hard and never give up”.

Jacqueline continues to share her weight loss journey with her followers, often posting words of encouragement from her own experiences. Here’s to more strong women like Jacqueline!

In 2012 I found myself weighing more than I could ever imagine…I was over 500 pounds. I decided to set off on a journey to not only lose weight, but change my lifestyle and my relationship with food and with myself. I have lost over 350 pounds through changing my diet and exercising. I did not have weight loss surgery, and I did not start off at a gym. For exercise I began walking and moving as much as possible. I was scared to join a gym, but it was something I always wanted to do. So I eventually signed up, walked in, and did the best I could. I was scared, so that’s exactly why I did it. I quickly began personal training as well as continued with taking group classes and met some amazing people! I pushed my body and my mind to new limits. I began talking to a counselor to change my behaviors and my patterns and to deal with the negative self image I had of myself. I am now in the process of having excess skin removal from losing so much weight. Having my excess skin removed is the best decision I could have made for not only my physical health and well being but my mental health as well. I am still on my journey to a healthier and happier me, but along my journey I have not only lost a lot of weight, but am learning to love myself, my body and my life fully! Just remember to take it one day, one pound at a time and never stop believing in yourself! You can achieve anything you want if you work hard, never give up and always believe in yourself! You can do anything!! . . . . . #jacquelineadan #jacquelinesjourney #transformationtuesday #tuesdaytransformation #weightloss #weightlossgoals #weightlossjourney #weightlosssupport #weightlosscommunity #weightlosstransformation #poparmy #onaquest #bodyposi #bodypositive #bodyconfidence #bodypositivewarrior #bodypositivemovement #bodybuildingcom #transformationfitnation #igtransformations #beforeandafter #beforeandafterweightloss #wlstories #lovemybody #loveyourself #effyourbeautystandards #lovemyshape #joyfitclub #perfectlyimperfect #extremeweightloss

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*Article originally appeared at Healthy Holistic Living.