Lexi Reed.Photo:Lexi Reed/Instagram (2)
Lexi Reed/Instagram (2)
The influencer’s fitness journey — which she beganin 2016 at 485 lbs. — was derailed following a59-week-longbattle with calciphylaxisthat landed her in the hospital and left her covered in scars.
But now, Reed, 32, says, “the comeback is always greater than the setback.”
In a video postedon InstagramTuesday, Reed shared that her final weight for 2023 was 196 lbs. — nearly a 90-lb. loss from her March starting weight of 286 lbs.
“Calciphylaxis took so much from me and when you’ve lost so much it’ll make you fight harder than you ever have before,” Reed wrote.
“This was personal for me after everything i went through. This was fighting to survive & refusing to be another casualty to a disease that didn’t stop for anyone in its path.”
Calciphylaxis is a rare and serious condition in which calcium builds up in blood vessels and blocks blood flow to the skin, according toCleveland Clinic. It can lead to open wounds and potentially deadly infections.
For Reed, the disease required a number ofpainful debridement surgeriesto remove damaged tissue so her wounds could heal.
And as Reed shared on Instagram, “I didnt want to be a victim of my disease any longer - so this year when I finally felt in control again I refused to let it stop me & fought back to get here. - start today!”
It was the second milestone Reed hit at the end of the year, with the fitness influencerdropping below 200 lbs.on Christmas Day.
“I have some news!” she said while vowing not to cry. “I went to four Christmas centers yesterday. I worked my butt off all year and today for Christmas, for myself, I hit 199.4 lbs. I got back to ONEderland! That means that I’ve lost 86.8 lbs. since March. That means that for Christmas today, I’m giving myself the gift of my health, I’m giving myself the gift of my future, I’m giving myself the gift of a better life.”
Reed’s husband Danny shared his support, commenting, “You’ve fought one hell of a battle babe and you are so much stronger than calciphylaxis. 2024 is going to be your best year yet. I love you and looking forward to all our goals together.”
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source: people.com
