Imagine you're at the gym and running on a treadmill.

You're trying to improve your health and accomplish a goal that three years ago, you never thought was possible. But as you make progress and get closer to achieving that goal, someone walks up and hands you two 20-pound dumbbells that you must carry in order to keep going.

The extra weight puts more stress on your body and the finish line is now further away. What would you do?

The easy answer is to drop the weights and keep going.

For Brian Flemming, he can't drop the weights, because those 40 pounds are attached to his body. Flemming has made headlines around the world after he lost 390 pounds thanks to a rededicated diet and exercise routine.

But that dramatic weight loss has left Flemming - a Canton Township native - with an estimated 40 pounds of loose skin on his frame that has made it more difficult for him to reach his goals.

"I constantly have to deal with it," Flemming said about the excess skin. "It causes me anxiety. It's a constant reminder. It's tough because it's a part of my life that I'm trying to put behind me."

Putting it behind him is difficult as everyday Flemming wakes up and is immediately reminded of just how far he's come in his life. It's reminder that triggers both positive and negative emotions from him.

On the one hand, he's proud to have lost nearly 400 pounds - Flemming once weighed as much as 625 pounds - but on the other hand, the extra skin has inhibited his ability to get past his own history.

"I don't think it's a side of weight loss that people typically see," Flemming said.

With 40 pounds of skin hanging off his body, Flemming said he's started having significant back problems coupled with various rashes that result from the skin rubbing together. It's also taken a mental toll on Flemming as his physical appearance is striking to many.

"I'm very apprehensive because I don't want to take my shirt off in public. I don't want people to stare at me," Flemming said. "When I have all my clothes on, it seems like I really fit in. Going to the gym and going to pool and going for a swim, that's a different thing."

Flemming wants to have the skin removed by a plastic surgeon. However his previous insurance company wouldn't cover any of the costs as they consider it a cosmetic surgery. Since he is between full-time jobs, Flemming does not have insurance now, but the options he's looked at also do not cover the surgery or the deductible is so high, he can't afford it.

It's been a frustrating process for Flemming as many insurance companies are starting to cover bariatric weight loss surgeries because of the long-term savings for insurance companies. Flemming has been told if the rashes ever started to cause infections insurance may cover the surgery.

When news of Flemming's transformation first made waves, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by a friend that would help pay for the estimated $22,000 in costs. Recently, Flemming got more involved with the campaign and released a video showing just how much of an impact the excess skin has on his body.

The campaign was roughly halfway funded as of the weekend. Should the campaign receive more money than is necessary for the surgery, Flemming will donate the remaining funds to Muscular Dystrophy charities.

Jackie Eastham, a close friend - Flemming's inspiration for losing the weight - has myotonic dystrophy and because Flemming credits her with helping save his life, he thought it was only appropriate to donate to causes striving to find a cure.

"I don't know if I would be around if it wasn't for her," Flemming said.

Regardless of whether Flemming is able to raise the money for the surgery, he continues to train so that he can run a full marathon later this year. Having competed in several 5K runs and a half marathon last year, Flemming said he's still got that goal of running a marathon ahead of his to accomplish.

He recently passed up a chance to try out for the television show "American Ninja Warrior," because he felt he wasn't physically ready to compete on such a difficult show. Typically, competitors on the show are in great physical shape and Flemming felt his strength wasn't at a level where he felt like he had a real shot to compete.

"I'm still working on his upper body and a strength training regimen," Flemming said. "I hope to get to that point eventually, but I'm not quite there yet."

He continues to work with his Facebook group Team 383 as he and Eastman have hosted a handful of group gatherings in the U.S. and one in London. The group now has approximately 11,000 members and Flemming is toying with doing more meetings via Skype or other online methods in order to reach more people.

"We love being able to help people," Flemming said.

Because he is frequently asked for advice on how to lose and keep it off, Flemming said he's considering going back to school and becoming a certified fitness trainer or getting a degree. He said having actual credentials behind him would make him feel more comfortable when people ask him for advice.

Flemming admits that he isn't a doctor and always tells his people asking for his advice that they should see their doctor for beginning any sort of weight-loss program.

Still, Flemming continues working with people he's met all over the world and the idea of continuing that work is intriguing.

"If it was something I could do full time I would love it," Flemming said.

Matt Durr is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Email him at mattdurr@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.