When I was 20 yrs old I wore a size 10. Now ten years, a husband, 2 kids, a mortgage, and a pile of bills later I am a size 16. That is a tight 16. Really need to be 18 because I have to unbutton my pants when I sit down just to breathe some time. I was thinking about it today. I used to feel so fat then and wanted to be smaller. Now after carrying all of me around I would love to be a 10 again. Any of you have a similar story?

Definitely! I'm about to turn 32, I have no kids yet I have stretch marks! I was thin until I went off to college and I've packed on the pounds since. I remember weighing myself obsessively when I was a teenager thinking how "fat" I was. I was probably 120lbs soaking wet. It's amazing how our minds play tricks on us. Now that I've been overweight for a number of years, I wonder how it will feel once I'm banded (on Feb. 15th) and start to lose the weight. Will I always feel like a big girl or will my mind match my body? I don't know about you, but I can't wait to find out.

I don't feel like I've lost at all. It takes a long time for your brain to catch up to your body, I think.