Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I signed the financing papers today...agreeing to pay back $21,936.24 with interest included. My date is set for May 15th, 2013.

My start with weight issues goes as far back as I can remember with my first memory when I was 5 and crying because I didn't want to wear a bikini to the beach. How do you have body image issues when you're 5? After speaking to my Mom about this memory she was upset...telling me that I was a healthy weight as a child. I have no memories of my family ever saying anything negative to me.

In high school I was considered a giant...I'm 5'10" tall and graduated at 190 or so. I would give anything to be there now. I was healthy and active when I was younger.

I started to put on weight when I became a server...all that delicious food! I managed to keep weight off because I was constantly on my feet. Then came my sedentary lifestyle. I literally sit at a desk all day yet continued eating all those rich foods and more of them! The heavier I became the more I ate...you know the drill.

I've spent thousands of dollars on weight loss and never got anywhere. Last year, my Mom had a heart attack and had a stent placed. Only one...but it was scary. My Dad was diagnosed with diabetes about 20 years ago and just in February suffered a minor stroke. They detected three blocked arteries in his heart and he underwent a triple bypass...exactly one month ago today. He has overcome alcoholism, my Mom lost 60 lbs 10 years ago and kept it off...and they go through this. I had to start asking myself some serious questions.

Is this the path I wanted to take? Did I want to continue playing Russian Roulette with this amazing body I have? Although my parents have made healthy changes...they still did damage...I only hope I'm not too late. Even if this is my fate, I will enjoy every last minute in this gift...my body. Life is too short and I'm sick of asking myself what if!!??

The time is now, and I'm thrilled to start this new chapter of my life. This tool...will be only that. There is nothing more precious than life, and my aim is to start living it. I start this journey with the trip of a lifetime to Hawaii. I return home to my first appointments with my medical team and a liquid diet and will have this surgery on May 15th of this year.

What an amazing year this is going to be! These changes, right from morbidly obese damage(my current weight is 310 lbs), to my goal weight of 159lbs, I look forward now to every day that I wake up breathing.

My new goal is to run in a marathon. I turn 40 this year, so hope to run in the Queen City Marathon on my 42nd birthday!

Thanks for reading everyone...and for all the support I've already received here. It means a lot. Band together now has a whole new meaning for me! Many of you are truly inspirational...and I look forward to becoming a member of Onederland, having hundreds of NSV's and even getting on the scale!

Thanks to all of you...for being you!

Leanne

Congrats on taking back your life! I related to alot of what you said. Lots of the same reasons I was banded as well. I turned 40 this past December and I said that I would not wait another year to get the help. I call this year Transformation 40! And it has already proved to be successful!

Keep this great attitude and you will do fine.

Congrats again.

Good for you! As a fellow Canuck that is also self-pay, the cost is daunting. I can see you have come to the same decision as me-- You are worth it!! You must feel great, knowing that you have gotten yourself 1 step closer to your end goal. Woot! Woot!