Hi there, I have been reading all the stories on this site for some time now & after getting some great advice on here, I feel it's time to tell my story.

We were do I start! I am 35 years, weigh about 93kg & live in Australia. Up to around 8 or 9 years of age I lived a very healthy lifestyle of Water skiing on weekends with my family. I don't remember having any over eating problem however I do remember being told I didn't eat enough. At around 9 my parents separated & that's where the over eating began.

I have suffered with weight problem ever since. Although I know how my problem started & accept that, how does one break life long habits when they can never avoid the drug (food). I have been anorexic, bulimic, binger & now just over eating sloth. I smoked when i was younger & had no problem cold turkey to give up. I don't have any other strong holds in my life so "why can't I beat this".

Well I have tried every diet (as most of us on this site have) and I have had success loosing up to 25kg only to regain the weight again & again. I think I'm a strong person & I put everything in to what every project I'm doing but I just feel like such a failure when it comes to weight loss. Why is it so hard to stay slim! Last time I lost weight I said that's it never again!! I threw out all my fat clothes ( really regretting that now I have nothing to wear lol)

I even went as far as to enroll myself in a fitness course. I spent 1 year full time studying fitness & nutrition once again I lost weight about 10kg & got a job as a fitness instructor (to my amazement) I was teaching les mills classes at around 85kg the weight was too much on my back & I was still eating more & more the stress became to much & I stopped. Since then I have gone back into a downwards spiral I'm still working in a gym but as a receptionist and i know everyone is noticing the weight gain. The more I'm there the worse I feel with the continued feelings of failure.

Well that's where I am now. I feel I can't be on this merry-go-round any longer. Ive stopped solialising, caring for myself & I'm just a shell. I remember one small time in my life where I loved myself I was slim wore pretty clothes & loved the way it felt "I was slim"!

My super has been released & I now have to take the big leap to book the surgery. I hope this tool will help me towards releasing my from my life long battle.

Thanks for reading & would love to hear back from you.

Your friend and colleague in the battle of the bulge

Thank you for sharing your story! It is hard sometimes to put all of our personal experiences out there for the world to read. You will be happy you have made this decision. All though we differ in life one experiences the pain of living the "big life" is the same. I been big all my life and struggled with weight. And let me tell you this has been one of the most freeing things I have ever done. I no longer struggle with food. Your little tummy will have built in portion control. That in itself is awesome. It is difficult to over eat. You will not be comfortable and it is not worth it. It is so worth it doing this surgery and I would do it again tomorrow if I needed to. The freedom that it brings is life changing. No more guilt or shame regarding food... WOW I never thought I would see that day. Best wishes to you! Tina

Thanks Tina it is awesome to hear you now have that freedom on control with food. Thanks for telling me your story & encouragement all the best on your continued journey