A woman who lost 25 stone has the perfect response to being fat-shamed

At her heaviest, Jacqueline Adan used to weigh over 500lbs (around 35 stone) - but, over the course of many months and with a lot of hard work she's managed to shed an incredible 350lbs (around 25 stone), and has shared her transformation story every step of the way.

Now, her many followers on Instagram and her website are seeing a a different kind of progression for Jacqueline, as she goes through operations to remove excess skin from her body.

Despite her incredible work she still faces body-shaming from others – but it just makes her more determined to love herself.

Jacqueline was on holiday recently when she decided to wear a swimming costume to the beach. She wrote on Instagram:

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.

But then, a nearby couple decided they had nothing better to do than laugh:

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.

Her response to those people, and anyone who tries to shame her, is amazing.

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.

More: This woman silenced body-shaming trolls - in four amazing photos