What was the final breaking point that made you decide to go through with this drastic change? WHat made you decide that "this is worth it"? I'm so scared, but I just don't think I can go on like this anymore. Like everyone here, I've tried a million things and I just need to do something. Is this it?

I'm going to one of the informational meetings on Tuesday to see what they have to say. I've been reading this site and I am so jealous of the progress everyone has made. It's just amazing.

My biggest enemy here is going to be me because #1 I can't make decisions, #2 - I am terrified... TERRIFIED of throwing up and from what I've read you just better be ready to throw up at anytime for any reason. Is it worth it? I don't know... thus problem #1.

Anyone?

my breaking point is being 55 with diabetes, high blood pressure, high everything, I am having trouble walking - my knees, ankles and hips kill me. I don't want to be seen in a pair of shorts - I don't feel like going anywhere... my son is getting married in October and I really don't want to be that fat mother of the groom. I want to look and feel great - and be healthy.

I am worried about the extreme measures I've had to go to - and read some of the horror stories. I am having surgery on friday. wish me luck!

I ripped two pairs of pants and one pair of shorts in the same week. Not bust a seam but actually tore the fabric. I knew it was time for a change at that point.

I must not break very easy (in other words, I am uber stubborn!). I've been fat my entire life. I managed to diet myself up to 360 lbs (I'm only 5'5"). Since 2005 I have had 3 total knee replacements and 1 foot rebuilt. Before I found a wonderful surgeon who would replace my botched 2nd TKR, I was actually using a power chair. So... after getting the 3rd TKR I figured "all right! now I can move again, I will lose weight!" but nothing happened. The most I could lose was 20 lbs. At that point I finally surrendered and went looking for WLS (I had looked before but the band & the bypass were the only options and they scared the heck out of me). When I saw the sleeve and researched it I was sold. And... it's working ! Praise God !

As for throwing up - for some unknown reason I woke up after surgery unable to even keep down Water. It was horrible ! But after the doctor ordered an upper GI and I was able to see for myself that there were no leaks and no blockage, I think something clicked in my head and I have not thrown up since.

My breaking point was a combination of things: zero energy, no flexibility and I would sweat like a pig at the least exertion. My appetite was over the top. When you've got a stomach the size of a football, it's hard to eat just a few ounces and convince yourself that you're not starving to death.

About throwing up: I was sleeved on April 16 and have thrown up only once and that was my fault. I ate stewed chicken before my doctor OK'd it and to top that, I ate it too fast. I consider it a part of the learning process and I learned it well with that one lesson. On the brighter side, throwing up after surgery, at least for me was less traumatic than throwing up with the flu or some other malady. Since the food has not yet hit your stomach, there is very little stomach acid involved and you don't feel like you're going all the way down to your socks. For me, it was a quick upchuck and I felt better immediately. Hope this info was not too disgusting to read, but I wanted to allay your fears. This surgery was the best thing I've ever done and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Goodluck.....

My breaking point??? Ok....you asked....... I couldn't reach my butt to wipe it!!!! That's it. Game over. Gotta do something drastic. Enough is enough. Couldn't be happier.

I have not thrown up once since the hospital.

Ok.....u asked!!! When i had to hold my stomach in a ponytail with my left hand...to shave below it with my right hand....wtf!!! Who does this???? #SLEEVEPLEASE!!!

Ok.....u asked!!! When i had to hold my stomach in a ponytail with my left hand...to shave below it with my right hand....wtf!!! Who does this???? #SLEEVEPLEASE!!!

OMG!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

My breaking point was looking at pictures of myself at my daughters wedding today is 3 months post op and 47# gone 40 more to go. Best decision I ever made

yeah, I'm about 2 slices of pizza away from 300lbs. I am missing out on so much. Then when I do something I feel terrible the whole time. I'm 34... no husband or kids like so many say they have the support from. I want all that one day.

Shellbell, you will have that.......I really hope! Regardless of your weight!

I am 42 years old. I spent most of my life single. No boyfriend in high school, sporadic dating in university. I met my future husband when I was 35 and we were only together for 6 months. It wasn't the right time for us. I was about 270 lbs at the time, and he was probably around the same (but he's 6'3" and I'm 5'4"!). Our break-up had nothing to do with our weight(s).

Then, suddenly out of the blue, he emailed me 4 years later. It was one of those "movie moments". I saw his email on my Blackberry. I get a lot of spam all day long so I am always deleting emails. On the Blackberry screen you can't see the whole person's name or subject line.....I actually hit "delete" for his email, but you have to confirm the deletion. I second-guessed myself, and kept it (I didn't know it was from him....I thought it was spam!).

Turns out he was apologizing for his behaviour when we had been together 4 years earlier. He had changed his life 180 degrees and wanted to say thank you for giving him a kick start.

Long story, short (too late, I know!), we started dating in January 2009. In December 2009 while on vacation in Jamaica, he proposed during a candle lit dinner on the beach. And we were married in September 2010 (I was 40 years old and this was my first marriage!). You can see pictures from our wedding in my photo gallery (in my profile).

I was over 300 lbs when we were on that beach in Jamaica. He didn't care. He loves me for who I am, not what I look like.

Now we're both losing weight (me with the sleeve, him with the Atkins) so we can be healthier and live a long happy life together. It took me all these years to find (and re-find!) my soulmate. I'll be damned if I'm going to let my health tear us apart!

It's possible that your path hasn't crossed "his" yet. And you may not have a smooth road (we didn't). But when you find your partner, you'll know it. Perhaps losing the weight will give you the self-confidence you need to feel like you deserve that great guy? Who knows. Either way, I hope and pray you do find your life partner, when the time is right.

And right now, it's the time for you to concentrate on getting yourself healthy and making yourself happy with who you are (all over!).

I was told I had to lose 80lbs in a year or have a knee replacement at the age of 41... Done! Which surgery is worse?!? Too much I wanna do in life, sky dive, parasail, zip line, hike in the mountains!!! I have to have good knees and a healthy weight to do all of those things.. I was sleeved 6/29 and I couldn't have made a better decision! Good luck with your journey!!!

It was a combination of things that all just added up. I hate looking in the mirror, and have been isolating myself because I feel too embarrased to go out in public. I got over 400 pounds. Several people commented to me how great I looked in my wedding pictures and "what happened?" (I was still overweight in those pictures, but not by that much). I can't go grocery shopping without my back hurting. I can't walk far without being out of breath. I sweat a lot, without much effort. I have a hard time fitting in movie theater seats and always worry about seating anywhere I go in public. I HATE clothes for fat people. I hate the way my face looks. I hate the way my body looks. I'm sick of losing, gaining, losing, gaining. I feel like the "real me" is hidden because of my weight.

I am not living life. I'm 32 years old, and I have so much to do, so much to see, and I'm hiding in my house. That's no way to live!

It was a combination of things that all just added up. I hate looking in the mirror, and have been isolating myself because I feel too embarrased to go out in public. I got over 400 pounds. Several people commented to me how great I looked in my wedding pictures and "what happened?" (I was still overweight in those pictures, but not by that much). I can't go grocery shopping without my back hurting. I can't walk far without being out of breath. I sweat a lot, without much effort. I have a hard time fitting in movie theater seats and always worry about seating anywhere I go in public. I HATE clothes for fat people. I hate the way my face looks. I hate the way my body looks. I'm sick of losing, gaining, losing, gaining. I feel like the "real me" is hidden because of my weight.

I am not living life. I'm 32 years old, and I have so much to do, so much to see, and I'm hiding in my house. That's no way to live!

I agree with everything you just said. I am 34 and want to live my to the fullest.

My breaking point??? Ok....you asked....... I couldn't reach my butt to wipe it!!!! That's it. Game over. Gotta do something drastic. Enough is enough. Couldn't be happier.

I have not thrown up once since the hospital.

Oh my god I don't know whether to laugh or cry because it's so true. If someone is in the handicap stall at work I get so mad. In the little stall I have to be a contortionist. This really isn't funny is it?

at beanzilla and aliandrews... you just nailed my life.

Oh my god I don't know whether to laugh or cry because it's so true. If someone is in the handicap stall at work I get so mad. In the little stall I have to be a contortionist. This really isn't funny is it?

I carry a damp paper towel, disposable or flushable wipe every time I go in a stall.