New here - so an introduction.

I will be 42 this Friday. My wife and I have been married 24 years and have three awesome kids. Our two oldest are both girls (22 and 9) and both are special needs. Our youngest is 5 and ALL BOY! I've always been heavy. I know I have an addiction to food. I don't drink, never have done any sort of drugs, don't smoke - I cook and I eat. That's always been how I "medicate" myself. Eat til you regret it.

Three years ago August 6th, I was in a rollover car accident that I should never have survived. I literally walked away with a severe concussion and damage to an already troubling issue with my back. I was laid up for about a month and the weight really started to pile on. I didn't realize how living life was slipping away from me.

The eye opener came when we took the kids on our annual Disney World vacation. We do the Disney Cruise and then about 5 days or so in the parks. This was the first time our son was really going to be able to go on anything and everything he wanted, and it was that awesomeness of seeing the "magic" through his eyes for the first time. Problem was I had hit 450 + pounds and just couldn't do it. I had to rent a scooter to even go to the parks. Even riding that wore me out. I was so upset with myself that guess what - I ate myself sick. When we got to the ports on the cruise I stayed on ship. No way I could walk that far. I stayed back and ordered room service.

About a week after the trip,my son and I were snuggling in the chair, and he asked me "Daddy, are you still going to be on the earth when I'm a daddy?" It broke my heart. I started to look into my options and then with both eyes closed, praying for guidance, I jumped into the deep end.

Started my pre-op diet at the end of May and had surgery June 12. Lost 25 pounds on pre-op and have lost 18 since surgery. I'm very excited about this journey to get healthy and to make sure on next year's trip to see Mickey - nothing's getting in Daddy's way!

Good luck to you!!!