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

The day I walked into my cardiologists office and the scale read 502.

Although I am this size my weight has never stopped me from doing anything I wanted to with the exception of riding roller coasters.

I've always been the "funny fat guy" and that always helped me meeting people but now I'm 46 and the health problems,pain and general weight related issues are catching up with me. Foot pain, back pain, trouble with knees, dreading stairs etc.

I also have a 10 year old daughter that I WILL walk down the isle one day.

I'm currently at 448 and my surgery is this Tuesday and I couldn't be more ready.

Hope all turned out well and you are ready to begin life all over again. You will feel and see the difference. Way To Go!!

Not fitting into a ride at a park with my daughter, hiking for 20 min with tremendous knee pain, trouble sleeping, wearing the same clothes all the time.... so many straws. I really want to be a good example for my kids. I'm an athlete so being this big is not me. Using food as a crutch is no longer working for me. I left an abusive marriage nearly 2 years ago and if I can do that, I can do this.

WooHoo, you go girl.

I've pondered the idea of surgery for the past 2 years but kind of wrote it off. The real straw that broke my back was a year ago I was on a family trip to disney world with my family. I couldn't fit on any of the rides its embarrassing when they march you past everyone after you can't fit on a ride. I finally had a breakdown that night and cried my eyes out in front of my parents. I finally had a enough of this life style. After we got home i finally got health insurance and started the process of finding a primary care physician and then the right surgeon. Fast forward to today and i am doing my 2 week liquid diet and my surgery date is on the 30th. I am very excited to say the least hahaha.

I had a few "final straws". My first and most important, was being unable to do some of the things that I love to do. I really hit my "oh crap" moment while on vacation in July of this year. I had three incidents occur during that week. First, I had to forego riding to Key West with my wife and friends for a day, because I was hurting so badly from the drive to our Key Largo vacation spot. I spent the entire day on a heat pad while they went and walked around Key West for the day. The second issue was the next day, on a snorkel boat tour. The Water was rough, and the current was pushing pretty good, and I was simply unable to physically swim against the current. I spent only 5 minutes in the water at the reef. Always a strong swimmer, I knew I had to change. The third incident was a couple of days later. We joined some of our friends on their boat, and went to a popular sandbar, where boats anchor out, and basically it is one big party. The water was only about 2 feet deep, and the boat had very short sides (free board), but I simply was unable to pull myself back into the boat. I had to be helped. It was very humiliating. That vacation was my eye opener that I had to get healthy and lose some weight. On no other vacation had I struggled so much, due to my weight.

I am one week away from my VSG surgery. (Dec. 28)

@@Justin Curtis HuuRah!!

@@Craig Wildi Best of luck as this will be a journey and not an easy fix, glad to know that your mind is made up and you are ready. Whatever you do don't give up the fight...This will be the beginning of your new future. God Bless

Surgery Date 12/21/15.

My sensitive feelings when people would choose not to sit next to me on the bus. To be with my girlfriends and know the cat calls are never for me. The way people make acrobatic moves to get out of my way like I'll break something if they brush against me. Feeling clumsy and heavy all the time. Like the only reason that I am so clumsy IS because I am so heavy. Everyone stopping for me while I stop to catch my breath (for what felt like an eternity) while walking on a hike that they felt was easy. Scared to do thrill rides with embarassment of being excused when I

can't fit or the ride wont lock. And then if i can do a thril ride, there is the fear that I'll be the exception and be the 'freak accident' and described as the overweight woman who should have known better when its told on the local news later that day. Sick of the yo yo changes in weight. And weight coming back with a vengance each time, worse than it left. Like a right third hip and growing back boobage.

But the last straws:

1. about to turn 40 next year.

2. diagnosed with diabetes early this year.

3. unable to wear cute shoes and boots due to foot pain.

I am on day #6 of the liquid pre-op diet. The gassy headaches have finally stopped. And its not so bad.

This has to work! Correction: I have to make it work.

you got this

My straw....basically I'm sick and tired of being tired, overweight, and miserable. My journey starts on 12/28/15. I'm scared, nervous, and excited!! Luckily I have a big support system especially my husband. Hopefully I'll be able to inspire someone else.

My straw....basically I'm sick and tired of being tired, overweight, and miserable. My journey starts on 12/28/15. I'm scared, nervous, and excited!! Luckily I have a big support system especially my husband. Hopefully I'll be able to inspire someone else.

good luck!! I go 12/30!!

Thank you!

@luvkoko@cherri2082 WooHoo!! Happy New Year to you both!!!

I have the most loving and kind son-in-law a woman could ask for. ​Recently, my son in law went on a diet and was so engrossed in all nutritional facts and exercise per bite full of anything, no one could eat anything without being analyzed nutritionally. He meant well, but it made me step back and see exactly what I had done over and over again over the last forty years. I realized watching him I was done with the up and downs of weight loss. I wanted some thing more permanent.

I started out at 250 5 years ago, got my ass in gear and lost 80lbs. I hovered around 170 for 2.5 years. Then I quit smoking. I gain half of it back. After being at 170 for those years and finally learning to love me and what I looked like....I found my self worth and my confidence.... only to lose it all when I gained it back. I tried to better myself by putting down the cigarettes and now I can't stand to look in the mirror. My back hurts everyday again (degenerative disc) where it didn't at 170. I can't move and bend the way I had gotten accustomed. I'm tired all the time and my relationship with my two young boys are suffering because of it.

I'm done with it. I'm ready to get my life back.

Edited December 29, 201510 yr by 030608070609

Hi all, I am new here and this is my first post! I apologize for my writing (Spanish is my native language). So, there were several straws, but I feel that being my big motivation is my 20 months old son! He is my world and I want to make sure I will be his role model to live a healthy and long life. Also, my 2nd motivator is my husband (he has PTSD from war) and I want him to find some peace/feel better by leading a healthy lifestyle that includes as much outdoorsy (hiking, camping) activities as we can. And last but not least, I want to feel happy with myself!!!!! I am grateful that I found bariatricpal, I feel like it's a judgment free zone. Thanks

Newbie here. I'm currently researching bariatric surgery institutions and have narrowed it down to UCI and Chicago Institute of Advanced Bariatrics. What got me to this point?

Years of body image issues starting all the way back to elementary school.

Losing weight and never managing to keep it off - usually gaining back more than I had originally lost.

Loving sports, physical activity, CrossFit, and competition, but never being able to enjoy it because of back or joint pain.

Limited clothes/shoe shopping options despite having a love for fashion. Can't even squeeze into a wide-calf boot.

Working in a corporate environment and feeling uncomfortable in business attire so always wearing baggy sweaters, etc. Worrying that my "sloppy" appearance could hold me back from promotion.

Gaining 70 lbs over the course of 3 years. Majority of it being in the last 12-18 months.

As a result...

Could not get on a ride at Six Flags with my 12-yo son this past summer (he was furious that the park didn't make bigger seats lol)

I travel for work and to visit family/friends 4-5 times a year and this last trip I could BARELY squeeze into the economy class seat. It was a painful 4 hour flight.

My son being obviously embarrassed by my size (although he never says it, it is apparent)

Being 33, single, and lonely as hell, but could not even imagine pursuing a relationship or any kind of intimacy.

Hearing the old "you have a beautiful face" statement as if it's supposed to be a compliment.

And ultimately just hating how I look and feel... All day... Everyday.

Needless to say, I'm at the end of my rope right this very moment.

Edited January 2, 201610 yr by Laughkc11