At what point did you finally get fed up enough to make a change in your life and do WLS? My breaking point was when I had an opportunity to go rappelling down a tower used to train the Army how to fast rope out of helicopters. I am scared to death of heights. But with the encouragement of some great instructors at the Air Assault school I rappelled down the rope that was several stories off the ground. Talk about having a 'I feel like a bad ass' moment. I didn't realize that anyone was taking pictures of this event. So months later I showed up to a work function that I was being recognized at. My parents even came for the luncheon. When I walked in there were a bunch of pictures blown up, poster size, of different individuals who were being recognized doing various activities at work. Well one of them was a picture of my fat ass coming down the rope at the rappelling tower. Talk about embarrassed. Th lady who put the event together came running up to me excited about the picture because she 'wanted to capture the moment that I was really empowered.' (She doesn't have a mean bone in her body so I know her intentions were good). I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die. I couldn't even keep my parents away from the picture cause you had to walk by it to get to the event. It was in the moment that I decided I never wanted to have my moments of success overshadowed by my weight.

So what was your moment?

For me, I have consistantly gained wait for the past 16 years up to my highest of 272. In February we adopted my son from foster care. In March we were told our son has a biological sister that will be adoptable this summer. I called my parents to tell them how excited I was that we might be getting a baby girl. The first thing my usually very loving father said was "please tell me you are not getting another child, you are too fat to take care of two children". i about fainted and cried for 2 days.

At that point, although what my father said was cruel, he was pretty much correct. If I was going to be the mother I wanted to be and that my child(ren) needed, I needed to do something serious. At that point I started researching WLS and am now planning on doing the sleeve. I WILL see my children graduate, get married, etc. I will live for them!

My AHA moment was on vacation in NYC at Christmas. However, it built up over several years. Pain, Fibro. Sleep apnea, pre diabetic, couldn't walk, broken foot, cane. Tried every diet being good losing regaining for years. Thyroid issues and more. Then the first family vacation trip with my young adult children and I couldn't keep up. It slowed them down, cut back on our fun and I was constantly tired and sleep deprived. My husband has been the best supporter. Then I had my first grandson. Best decision I ever made and wish I had done so years ago. Not easy, but OMG I feel like a different person. 50 lbs down after 3 months about 30 more to go to be 175 at 5'8.

My breaking point was when I was just to tired to play with my children and enjoy life like I use to....

My breaking point was this year at Disney Land when I couldn't fit through the ride entrance. I felt so embarrassed ,and the worst part was when I had to ask for a seatbelt extender on my flight. My goal is to go back to Disney and ride all the rides with my girls

My latest moment was at my grandma birthday celebration this past summer 2014..... Our family had identical shirts made and mine was a 2X, when I put it on the day of, it was too tight along with my too tight stretch pants! The kicker was when the photographer posted and tagged me AND everyone that was in the same pictures with me on facebook! I was horrified! My rear end looked like a wide load truck! I looked uncomfortably stuffed and you could see EVERY roll even what I didn't know that I had! Since my substantial weight gain, no one on FB had seen a full body shot of me! The only thing that I could do was untag myself:( I'm scheduled to have my life changing experience (VSG) September 26, 2014

Edited September 3, 201411 yr by waitingtoexhale

When I hit 300lbs

After years of fighting with food and yo yoing all over I got serious about exercise and nutrition. For 6 months I walked 10-12k steps a day and ate 1200 or fewer calories. Didn't lose an oz. went to the doctor and said enough is enough.

April 20, 2013 I attended my cousin's Catholic wedding. This meant kneeling. I knelt for maybe 15 minutes, and it was excruciating. 2 weeks later I was still in pain and had to see a doctor and get x-rays. Turns out I had a floating patella, and me knee-cap was off its track. The podiatrist said I needed physical therapy, and if that didn't resolve the issue, possibly surgery. At 25 years old! My body and joints were starting to fail under my weight. I had high blood pressure, Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome, and was prediabeitc. I felt trapped on a terrible unhealthy track, and now surgery was in my immanent future. Something had to derail me, and if surgery was in my future, I decided on one that addressed my underlying problems.

My co-morbidities are all resolved, I exercise 5 days a week, I've reached my goal, and I'm looking ahead to a vibrant future.

Edited December 17, 201411 yr by Ava324

I have always been chubby, after my 1st child I maintained my weight while pregnant with my 2nd I got up to 260, I went on weight watchers and worked out like crazy basically starving myself and lost 77lbs in 3 months. I got pregnant with number 3 and gained all the weight back. I just don't have the energy. I am young and I want to be able to run around and keep up with my kids. My husband is very active and outdoorsy and I want to be able to share that with him. He has never been negative about my weight, he has always tried to encourage me to eat right and work out. I want to live a long happy healthy life insha Allah

My husband became increasingly emotionally abusive over our 23 year marriage, and I ate and ate and ate. Over the last three years he turned his rage against our teen daughters as well. I ate some more. In 2013, I realized that I had to get out of my food fog and take control of my life. Not just for me but for them. I wasn't going to wait until the abuse turned physical. I began the WLS process. Six months later I was banded. Life at home got worse, but I started getting better. Three months later I moved out with my adult daughters and filed for divorce. It took the tool of WLS to put down my food. Everything else followed.

It's only just begun. But my health improving changed everything. My life is worth saving. I didn't feel that before.

Until I was able to put the food down, I couldn't change my daily existence of eating, working and sleeping, no matter how bad it got. Even when he made life hell for my kids. And I was unable to put the food down without WLS.

I'm a food addict. I will always want to reach for food when I'm stressed. I still do. But now I go to two 12-step groups (OA, CODA) and am learning to live life without excess food.

I've lost over a hundred pounds so far, kicked a dozen prescription and OTC meds, got rid of back and most knee pain, sleep through the night, am taking care of some other medical issues I was too ashamed to address before, and look forward to the future.

And I've set a good example for my daughters. Finally.

Watching my friends be all skinny and lose weight while I was gaining

1) when I had the money saved up for the surgery, since my insurance wouldn't cover it.

2) I always said when I had some sort of health issue that would be it, I got Dx with high blood pressure and set up the appointment the next day

Having to start Blood Pressure meds and being told I was Diabetic. Enough