What was the final thing that you encountered that made you say this is enough? I have had numerous.

1. Leaving a wife and 2 sons, Husbandless and fatherless.

2. Not being able to get on amusement park rides with my sons.

3. Not being able to take my wife to a concert, because i could not fit in a seat.

4. Avoiding restuarant,movie theaters and sports complexes with tiny seats.

For me, walking through a a department store and some little child looking at me like im a alien had to be one the hardest things.

Respectfully,

Joe

Final straw I would say after having 5 operations to correct my eye sight due to diabetics complications.

And being hired by cheesecake shop for cake decorating and couldn't even fit in the bath room so embarrassing.

Then getting fired from the job same day because I couldn't handle the work load.

So now I'm just looking for the money to pay the gab for the operation for gastric bypass all hospital and theatre is covered thank god >_<. But ATM I'm dieting on 2 health shakes a day and small dinner been feeling a lot better while doing 30 min exercise a day.

I've thought about it for years but always thought, "I'm not that bad, I can do it on my own". I'd go on the healthy eating binges and lose 5-10lbs and stall out then gain that plus another 5-10 back.

I've always been able to justify my size by saying that I didn't eat any differently than the average sized person but when you've destroyed your metabolism with yo-yo diets, and aren't physically active, it doesn't take a lot to make you gain.

However the turning point for me actually came from watching one of my employees... He's larger than me and was recently hospitalized, for the second time, due to his kidneys shutting down. Prior to that, I've watched him struggle just to walk across the store. He can't stand for more than a couple of minutes at a time and suffers from severe edema in his knees and ankles. But even after all that, he doesn't change his diet or even seem to care what he's doing to himself.

Seeing that and thinking about how he's justifying his actions to himself made me realize that I'm doing the same thing. I've been lying to myself and I don't, WON'T, end to the same way.

So I went to a free seminar and had my first appointment with the surgeon a week later. I'm working toward a first week of November surgery date. If not, it'll be January.

• I have an uncle that I am very close to. He's always been large and has had health problems, including a heart attack in his 40's and another two years ago, in his 70's. Due to his last heart attack, his began seriously dieting and exercising. He now weighs LESS THAN I DO. That was my ah-ha moment.

My crappy lifestyle is what got me in this situation, all self-induced. As the saying goes, idiocy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I am FORCING myself to change, for the better. I am having the sleeve surgery on October 10, 2014 and I intend to be healthier and happier.

Just yesterday decided to have the sleeve. I went shopping yesterday to buy a dress to wear for a wedding, first dress shopping in 3 years. nothing fit, except 1x, looking at myself in the mirror was a shock, my sister,bless her, said nothing, but she is a 50+, size 0, fitness professional. We had the same physique not that long ago. I want it back. Follow my journey. Info session NEXT WEEK.

I am getting sleeved on 9/26, and I don't think there was a particular "straw" per se. However, it was on my mind constantly--the fact that I can't wear the nice clothing I want to wear, the fact that I was always looking at co-workers and others and thinking, "Why can't I be thin like that?" The next thing I knew I was at an informational meeting, with the idea of getting a lap band. Didn't want anything permanent! But I could tell that my doctor is not crazy about the lap band. He said he is currently removing more lap bands than he's putting in. That kind of sealed it for me. Anyway, it's all been cumulative. I was once thin so the memories are there. I saw an old video of me when I was a size four and I was eating my heart out . . . I couldn't believe how good I looked! "Did I appreciate it?" I thought to myself. I know I would now! One thing that pushed me to do it was that this past summer I turned down an invitation to go to my 35-year high school reunion. There were people there I really wanted to see! I have turned down many invitations, but soon--no more! I just got tired of the whole weight issue/body image monopolizing so much of my though processes . . .

Hi Joe, I believe most of us can relate with your reasons. I have a 3yr old daughter, I want her to be healthy and active, how can I teach her to be all that If I'm not? That's when I knew I had to do something!

@@Luana526

I feel same as you do on clothing and wondering why.

I've always been a style dresser and since getting large - it's hard to feel good about one's self when over weight and wearing 2X size clothing. I'm scheduled for sleeve within next month or so - waiting on psychiatrist to clear. He said I need a few more sessions of counsel.

The final straw for me was bladder leakage. I have struggled with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis in knees & back but bladder leakage was the last straw, I am 51 & too young to wear diapers. My smaller sister had the same problem & they fixed hers but because I was obese they told me I had to loose weight.

I was asked when I was due and I'm not pregnant! Besides that I have been overweight forever and now my knee hurts , my back hurts, and I'm done watching everyone I know get this surgery and lose weight and I'm still the same old fluff ball.

My 4 year old son cheerfully looked up at me one day and said, "Mom, I wanna be big and fat like you and Dad!" That was when it really hit me that I wasn't being a very good role model for him, and that if I didn't do something soon, he'd be just like me and his father. I look at all the risks I'll be facing and still get scared and question whether or not surgery really is the answer, but then I looks at my little boy and realize I would do anything for him to know a better way to live.

Aside from that being THE MOMENT I knew I needed surgery, I had been thinking about it for years because nothing I did on my own was permanent. My knees and ankle still ache every day, the PCOS is so bad that I'm haing trouble conceiving baby #2, I can't even go to a movie without feeling jammed into a seat, and I got a ticket once because I couldn't put my seatbelt on. When I demonstrated this to the cop, he was very unsympathetic.

Mine was my 5 year old daguhter telling me that she wanted me to be skinny like her .. This was a real wake-up call for me.....and my knees and hip aching constantly to the point where it was waking me out of my sleep.

Mine was when my grandson said grandma look when I put my arms around you my fingers just touch. That hurt so bad and now

My last straw was of course health issues but i was at a kmart browsing through the racks and an employee male by the way, tells me escuse me miss the plus sizes are not here are farther down!! I was so caught off guard it just destroy any confidence i had left plus a amusement park ride situation as well not anymore july 1st i was reborn feel better than ever im 48 pounds down happy energetic i received my 30's august 18th in good spirits optimistic and thankful to god for every blessing my kids my husband and of course my sleeve! All of you are an inspiration and great support

This might be off topic but I do not know where to post this.

The photos that you post on this site are not secure. That means anyone in the WORLD who wants to use a photo of a sweet looking person and who has even a rudimentary program, can lift your photo(s) and use them any way they like.

You might want to think twice about posting a photo of yourself anywhere at any time on any site on the Internet. I hope this site has a feature where you can remove your photo if you wish. Ask.

You might wonder who would lift a photo? Maybe some flim-flam artist from Nigeria who sends people a letter saying that he is a 35 year old female from South Africa in need of funds. Scam artists will use whatever photos they can get a hold of. Don't ever post your photos anywhere.

finally realized that i have EVERY excuse not to go anywhere anymore because i feel so horrible about my weight. i refuse to take pics or let anyone take pics of me. my husband is 12 years younger than me and i am embarrased to be his OLD & FAT wife. i cant sleep at night because my legs and feet hurt. people have been asking me if i am pregnant.... when i see people i havent seen in a while they say "you look so different" yeah i look fat.... im down to one pair of pants that fit...