Woman posts bravely honest weight loss photos to silence online haters

Before and after photos of weight loss can almost seem too good to be true, so it's always refreshing to see someone brave enough to share their honest results. However, people should never have to feel pressured to share every detail of their weight loss change because of some online haters.

New Zealand-based hair and makeup stylist Simone Pretscherer Anderson recently posted on Instagram about how she went from 169 kgs (about 372 pounds) to 83.85 kgs (about 184 pounds) over the course of 11 months.

I am officially half the person I was 11 months ago! From 169kg to 83.85kg, I can't even begin to explain in words what this accomplishment feels like. I set my self a goal that seamed so far out of reach at the time but I have stuck to it and with a lot of determination, will power, drive, motivation & compromise I have achieved my goal. Proud doesn't even begin to describe this feeling! Every 5am start, every single workout, tear, crying fit has all been worth it! From a BMI of 51.6 to 25.6. Now by no means does this mean my journey is over, from here I am setting my self many more goals, from maintenance, to toning, to increasing weights at the gym, half marathon to full marathon, more ocean swims and more sporting teams. This is just the beginning of a brand new and improved me, one who won't let anything or anyone get in the way of achieving what ever I decide to put my mind to. COME AT ME WORLD!!!! A photo posted by Simone Anderson (@simone_anderson) on Jul 10, 2015 at 1:19pm PDT

Her program consisted of a balanced diet, exercise, weight loss surgery and a lot of motivation to make the change. In her inspirational post, she also implied that she had no intention of plateauing either. Anderson wrote in her post, "I am setting my self many more goals, from maintenance, to toning, to increasing weights at the gym, half marathon to full marathon, more ocean swims and more sporting teams. This is just the beginning of a brand new and improved me."

Anderson also created a Facebook page dedicated to her weight loss journey, which has gained thousands of followers. Since her post two weeks ago, support came flooding in on social media from other people who related to her story.

However, there were some people online who accused Anderson of faking her progress. Her detractors claimed that they did not believe the before and after photos were the same person and that if she had truly lost that much weight, she would have excess, loose skin.

I don't no why but every single comment that called me out for being fake and a liar really bothered me far more than it should. I think it's because it took hours of crying and debating whether to share my story online and for others to see, posting the first picture online along with my weight for the world to see what the hardest thing I have ever done. Throughout my whole journey I have tried to be so honest about the whole experience and tell people it exactly as it's happened so to be called a fake hurt a lot. And then when it came to posting about my lose skin well that was equally as tough. So here we go I hope this helps all the "non believers" - my face uncovered, yes my hair and eyebrows are a different colour as I'm going back to blonde, yes I have changed my phone from Samsung to apple and have moved house so the background has changed (it has been 11 months people, things change!), my skin colour varies in every single post as I get a spray tan once a week on a Thursday and often change the depth of the colour I get depending on what event I have that weekend, yes I have lose skin and stretch marks but I don't feel the need to show them in every single photo I post online, I have shared my excess skin picture before so if you had bothered to click on my page you would have seen it and as for my ears changing in appearance?! Well I can't see that haha so who the hell knows!!! Maybe weight changes ears lol. Hope this helps :D now lost 85.7 GO ME! A photo posted by Simone Anderson (@simone_anderson) on Jul 12, 2015 at 4:54pm PDT

Instead of ignoring the trolls, Anderson faced them head on with another, brutally honest photo of her mid-section, which showed the loose skin that was left behind after losing weight.

Anderson's emotional post noted all the so-called "evidence" people claimed when accusing her of faking the photos. She wrote that she was dying her hair back to blonde, she gets a spray tan once a week, bought a new phone and moved to a new house. Apparently all this change in under a year was inconceivable to some people.

As for needing to show her skin in order to silence body shaming trolls, Anderson simply wrote, "Yes I have lose skin and stretch marks but I don't feel the need to show them in every single photo I post online."

Anderson is currently saving up for a surgery to remove the excess skin since there is no other way to remove it through diet and exercise.

Other than posting about her continued progress, Anderson also shares plenty of glamorous snapshots on Instagram and Facebook from photo shoots, weddings and other events that she does hair and makeup for.

Tonight I have @beccakfoster 25th! I always feel like a boss when I wear a jumpsuit haha My jumpsuit is @topshop_nz, bag, bangle and earrings are @asos and shoes are from @andreabianishoes. A photo posted by Simone Anderson (@simone_anderson) on Jul 18, 2015 at 12:41am PDT

This evening I have @briaaaaar flat warming ☺️ Top is @frenchkissfashion, jeans are @supre_instagram, belt and shoes are @glassons, bag & hat is @asos, necklace is @_mimco. A photo posted by Simone Anderson (@simone_anderson) on Jul 23, 2015 at 11:28pm PDT