My name is Morgan and I am 22 years old. I have been overweight all my life. I grew up where we would go to burger king about 4 nights a week and on the way to school we would get McDonalds for Breakfast. Once I hit 200 pounds at a very young age I kept telling myself I wouldn't gain anymore weight. Then I would get to 225 and tell myself I would never get to 250. Then I hit 250 and said I would never hit 300 pounds. The huge BUT (not pun intended lol) is I never did anything about the whole losing weight thing. I kept eating the way I did. I was so self conscious and had zero self esteem. I ended up turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, and self harm. I have come a very long way in this journey already. I met the most amazing, caring, honest, trustworthy man and I quite the drugs and alcohol and self harm. We got engaged and set our wedding date and then found out we were expecting We kept our wedding date though because I knew if we pushed it off until after our son was born, then who knows how long it would be before we could actually plan the wedding and get married. We got married May 14th, 2011 while I was 8 months pregnant and it was incredible. I loved being pregnant while I got married. The feeling is indescribable because yes it was a commitment day for myself and my now husband but also to our unborn child. The pregnancy was a rough one and I was on bed rest from 14 weeks until about 30 weeks. Normally during pregnancy you gain weight but I ended up losing 40 pounds which was ok because I went into the pregnancy at 370. After my son was born on June 10th, 2011 I weighed about 330. Over the last year I have gained all that weight back and am now up to 374 I am sick of being overweight! I have tried diet plan after diet plan and I get so frustrated when I know I am doing good on the diet and exercising but I would only lose a little bit of weight. I want to raise my son with him knowing how to eat healthy. I want to be healthy for my son and husband and obviously myself so I can live longer and be able to enjoy doing activities with them instead of losing my breath after walking up a small flight of stairs. My aunt had gastric bypass done in 200 and has lost over 100 pounds and has kept it off. After seeing my aunts success, my mother decided to get the surgery done in 2003. She has lost over 150 pounds and has maintained a healthy weight since then. I have been wanting to get this surgery done for a long time now there were just things holding me back. 1. I didnt have the insurance or out of pocket money to get it done. 2. I was mentally not ready to get it done. Now I know it is the right time and I am ready to jump in and make the commitment. I am ready to change my life for the better by starting fresh. Eating healthy. Exercising. Taking up softball and hip hop dance. I am determined!!! I finally have insurance that is going to cover my surgery and I could honestly not be happier! I have my first pre-op appointment September 5th to meet with the surgery center, psychologist and dietitian. I cannot explain how motivated I am and 110% ready! I will be starting weight watchers on September 1st so I can get in to the routine of things before surgery. I have an amazing support system that will help me through my life long journey. I also have been diagnosed with PCOS so it has been very hard to conceive. Our son was a miracle baby, due to having PCOS and not having a period or ovulating for more than a year. Having this surgery will hopefully improve my PCOS and eventually after my surgery and weight loss we will be able to try for baby number two. I also know that this surgery will improve my depression, self esteem, self confidence and make me enjoy and respect life life more.

I am on here to look for advice, support, input, similar stories and make friends. I am looking forward to starting my new and healthy life

Here is a recent family picture when we went to Yellowstone at my highest weight of 374. The second picture is of my mother at my sons 1st birthday in June. She used to weigh the same as me and got the gastric bypass done and is now in her target weight range, healthy and happier than ever. It is very inspiring!

Hey Morgan... Welcome... Sounds like you are well on your way... What an inspiration your mother is!!!

Hi Morgan! First, you are beautiful and you have a beautiful family. Congratulations on making the decision to change your life. I recently made the decision myself! After being overweight my entire life and having the disease of obesity run in the women of my family (yes, I believe obesity is a disease!) and seeing my mom STILL struggle and she is 20 years older than me, I made the decision to transform my life. My daughter is going to be 21 this year and she is going to have revision surgery from band to bypass and could not be more ready. She also suffers from PCOS and is so ready for those symptoms to diminish! She is 5'6" and weights 275. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 240 although I worked really hard and lost 100 pounds on my own over the last two years then when I hit a plateau at 200 pounds, and approached the weight loss center to see if I could get approved, I found out my BMI wasn't high enough! That was a year ago. I have since gained 40 pounds and now my BMI is high enough for approval so I am 3/4 of the way through the process to get approved and hopefully my daughter will be approved and have surgeyr sometime next month. Again, congratulations to you and your mom and Aunt. Some people believe surgery is taking the "easy way out". Nothing could be further from the truth! Surgery is just a springboard to a healthier life! Congratulations again. Christi

Hi Morgan.... first let me say you are a beautiful young lady !!!! And it sounds like you are well on your way to becoming healthy. Your Mom looks fantastic and you will have her for support because its nice to have someone who has been thru this because they understand !!! Before I started the whole process I figured out why I overate !!! I think you have to solve the mental part of WHY to go to the next step (just my opinion). Once you figure out why then you can put stops in place so you don't go back there. The surgery is just a tool to help you along, you have to work with it, eat healthy and exercise. You are on the right road - good luck and looking forward to your updates

You may also want to check with your doctor about support group meetings in your area. I joined one then my wife came along with me to a meeting. Together we now understand why I over ate and what to do about it. They are non- judgementel and like this Fourm full of people that have been struggling with their weight and are now in control of their weight. Support groups are not for everyone but may help to talk to people face to face

Surgery Anniversary 7/30/12