Curious to hear from everyone, at what point you realized SOMETHING has to be done... I was sitting at the edge of my bed one day not too long ago watching tv the had faded to black for just a few seconds---at that moment I saw my reflection for the first time in a very long time and it was as though someone hit me with a bat and I just thought to myself "what the hell has happened to me and when did I get this big"... I never realized that I dont look at myself in a mirror and havent for many years... Ive had several moments like this since then but this tha one that made me decide something had to be done or I wouldnt be around when my daughter if I continued.........

<3 brknhrtd8911 <3

I had a couple...

I noticed that I refused to have a ton of pictures of myself on Facebook. If I looked in the mirror I would INSTANTLY get depressed (even if I felt good beforehand!)!

I think the kicker was when I went to a local theme park with my DF. I had to get off a ride because they couldn't buckle me in. This was a work event for him so I was mortified and embarrassed....I did everything I could not to cry in the middle of the park while he went on the ride.

I knew something had to give--my asthma is the worse it ever has been (its a good day if I don't get a sharp pain in my chest from breathing, and that doesn't happen too often). There is also a chance for diabetes (going for the official test this week......)

I have no energy to play with my future step kids who I love dearly and it kills....it really sucks

I am so sorry. Know exactly what you've been going through. Been there, even the park. Asthma not bad at all but no stamina. High BP. On edge of diabetes.

Am trying to get myself through all the clearances within a year and can't seem to get there. Keep having to go back to this one or that because expired. LOL

We will do what we need to, for us.

Hearing u talk about theme parks brought back memories... I remember having to get off a roller coaster too.. I couldnt even fit in what i called the "fat seat"... mortified... I just wanted to crawl in to a hole...

<3 brknhrtd8911 <3

My 14 yo daughter said something to me when i first started my journey back in march that has stuck in my head... We were talking about how much weight i would be losing after the surgery and she says to me... "i cant imagine what u would look like 100-150 lbs smaller because ive never seen u like that before" and i just thought to myaelf, how sad, i never really realized how much ive missed out on in her 14years :-(

<3 brknhrtd8911 <3

Hello! I'm new here.My surgery date is September 26/2013! I decided it was time to have surgery when I had my 2nd back surgery. I just said that's it!! It took 7 months for me to do the program and only 5 days to get approved!!

My moment occurred in the shower. I was trying to clean personal areas and I was no longer able to. I refused to allow myself to get any bigger and need my husbands help in getting cleaned.

Hello eveybody! I can relate to all of your stories havent been skinny in my life have no energy no libido( sorry if its tmi!) dont tk pictures anymore cant play with my boys10,5 and 3 its tough the embarrasing situation of me at a store and one of the employees without me asking tells me to go to the plus size section cause thats were my "size" was and i couldnt fit on a ride either today its my 29th bday an i refuse to keep missing life beacuse of my weight no more!!!! Good luck to evryone on your journeys! Karla

I didn't really have any ah ha moments. It was just life in general. I have been over weight my entire life. I always wanted to get the surgery but never had insurance that would cover it. I adopted a baby girl last year and I couldn't even carry her up and down the stairs. God forbid there's a fire I would be huffing and puffing trying I get her to safety. When I applied for hard ship insurance through the local hospital I was told that if I wanted the surgery it was covered 100%! That was the day I made my first appointment. I seen the surgeon three weeks later and he told me he wanted me to loose 34pounds because he didn't feel comfortable operating on me at my weight which was 484 pounds. So now about 6weeks later I am down about 30 pounds. I have changed my eating habits and yeah I have slips but the next day I'm right back on track! I want to live to see my daughter graduate and get married. I'm doing this for myself as well as for her. She deserves the best and at 484 pounds I can't give it to her.

So far I have seen a few changes with myself. I can now walk up the stairs without getting winded. I can carry my daughter up and down the stairs with no problems. My back doesn't hurt when I walk. My clothes are looser and people are asking me if I have lost weight because they say my face is thinner. I can not wait to hit this 34pound goal and start out on my next goal!!

I'm 19 years old and I have PCOS, take 3 pills a day for high blood pressure, pre diabetes, and was hospitalized last September for kidney failure. It just sucks being so young and realizing that your body is so unhealthy that your organs are starting to give out on you now. What's next, my heart? I knew it was time to make a change. I have so much life left to live, and I can't waste it in a body that can't live like it should be able to.

So surreal coming on this thread today. I happened to be going thru old pictures of my nephews wedding and I kept telling myself... How did I let myself get so big!! My boys tell me know they can't remember me being that big!!! So the mind does forget but my soul never will forget how miserable I was!!! So thankful for my new lease on life!!

date of surgery 02/21/13 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

So surreal coming on this thread today. I happened to be going thru old pictures of my nephews wedding and I kept telling myself... How did I let myself get so big!! My boys tell me know they can't remember me being that big!!! So the mind does forget but my soul never will forget how miserable I was!!! So thankful for my new lease on life!!

date of surgery 02/21/13 surgery weight 340 lbs. current weight 146 lbs

Kristy3k am I reading that right you have lost almost 200 lbs in 6 months? If so that is amazing (even not that amount of time it is still phenomenal). What is your secret to the amazing loss? I'm in the same boat.

I have not had my surgery yet but I am curious also. My ah ha moment was when we took family pictures and I hate taking pictures but they talked me into it, so when I looked at those pictures I was mortified... I could not believe I was so big

Thanks everyone for sharing your expierences with me..... Its nice to know that Im not alone on this journey :-)

<3 brknhrtd8911 <3

I am also new to this site. I had a lap band 2 years ago. I lost 79 pounds and felt great even though I was still 204 pounds. I went through a vet stressful situation and started gaining weight back. I am devasted now. I have gained 50 pounds back. I am now having trouble walking long distances climbing stairs and other personal things. I am now waiting on insurance approval. Are any of you scared of this procedure to the point at times you know this is what you want and then you are afraid to have it done. Just need some encouragement. Thanks for listening

I had lost eighty pounds four years ago with Optifast. I felt great, got rid if my fat clothes and bought a entire new wardrobe. When I stopped the program I began to gain weight again. It snowballed and after three years I was back where I had been before. And as I gained I had to buy bigger and bigger clothes. Last Christmas I topped my previous highest weight and was down to only one pair of work pants and a few shirts that fit. I couldn't button my winter coats. I refused to buy anything bigger! Going past my highest weight hit me hard. I'm normally a positive happy person but I became depressed. I was in constant pain - back, knees, and feet and was prediabetic. I knew I had to do something or my life would not be worth living. I couldn't live without joy in my life.

My boss had the band and did well. I started by talking to him. He told me our insurance paid for it. I began to look at it as a more serious option. I researched and talked to people and talked to my doctors. One made my appointment for the seminar, the other congratulated me and hugged me! After the seminar it was full steam ahead! I don't regret it. And the joy has come back to my life. :-)