I have thought long and hard about why I wanted the sleeve. Today my reasons were confirmed. I went to back to school night for my son and was mortified by either 1. The desks are MUCH smaller than when I was in school or 2. I have gotten THAT much bigger!!! How embarrassing, I almost didn't't fit in the chair!!! Then I got stuck!!!! I can not wait to be sleeved.....3 more months to go!!!!! Please share your wake up call moment!!!

My wake up call is when I noticed how hard it was to just do the basic things like walking for long periods and be out of breath, feeling like I couldn't look at my self in the mirror without feeling like I was just to big to be happy with myself. Every time I went to the doctor I was always getting on the scale and the numbers were getting worse every time I went. All my lab work was coming back with border line or diagnosed with this or that ,just couldn't take it any more.

Various wake up calls for me... Not fitting in the bath, I couldn't fly because I felt like I didn't fit in my seat properly so I haven't been on holiday for three years, just looking at myself made me sick, always wearing pants to weddings and functions because a dress looked silly on me, and physically I really wanted to do what other people were doing.. Running etc!! I had to wait 13 months to have my sleeve once I had my band removed!! It was a long wait!!

I know this is corny but my youngest, Jolie, will be 17 in a week. She loves to go window shopping. She's perfectly fine not buying anything because she knows we have such a tight budget. I can not keep up. I have a spinal problem and end up going and sitting in the car. I hurt, am sweating my ass off and there she is being so supportive. "It's Ok mom, well look around next weekend". It is the same every weekend. This is the only real time we have for girl talk and I'm missing out. I need to get this weight off my hips and spine to lessen the pain in them.

Granddaughters had to push grampa around the theme park in a wheelchair and he was too fat to fit in rides. Now we can run to rides and ride until we puke.

Mine was a test coming back pre-diabetic. Scared the beejeezus out of me. I had gotten used to all the other problems with being overweight, such as worrying if Southwest will kick me off the plane, not being able to stand more than 20 minutes, and feeling embarrassed when running into people I knew from high school. I thought, "Ok, this is my reality. I will just have to live with such things." However, the idea that I would have to live with diabetes was too much and got me off my rear and started me on my journey.

My "moment" actually came when I realized how many things I either miss out on or just plain can not do because of my weight, especially things that have happened in the last couple of years.

It amazed me how much I adapted my life to fit my obesity. I always need to plan where/how I can sit, my mobility is starting to suffer, and I find it more difficult to find clothes because I am at the larger end if the size range at all of the "Fat Man" stores.

I have (or had been) a pretty functional obese person but that has changed. I feel very positive about upgoming surgery and I know it will be assist me in living a better, healthier life.

My moment was not being able to tie or buckle my shoes without a struggle. I'd have to get my daughter to do it for me. Also, being put on high bp meds and having sleep apnea. It scared me that I stopped breathing 90 times in 1 hour. That's crazy!

I've always been a hands on type of person. I used to be anyways. Installing new tile in my bathroom, changing out my garbage disposal, painting, etc. My moment came when I realized that I can no longer get on my knees to do anything. They constantly hurt, and it is next to impossible for me to get back up unless there is something close by to grab on to. I have a real fear of being that person that "I've fallen and can't get up".

If I don't do this, I'm going to have to give up doing things I need and enjoy doing.

I also remember getting on a ride at Great America and they couldn't lock the shoulder rest because I was too big. I was so embarrassed. I had to get off in front of all those people. I can't wait to get this sleeve. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories!! I guess we have all gotten to that point. At least it's not the point of no return!