Hi Everyone,

My name is Michelle.

I'm a mother of 2 wonderful young men (at the time I'm writing this, they're 20 & 13).

I'm a remarried widow, to a man that makes my soul sing, my heart soar and my dreams come true each day that I wake up and see him next to me.

I'm of Italian / Greek decent, and my entire life was based around food.

I'm not an emotional eater, but there was always food around based on emotions, for example, lots of food for weddings, funerals, graduations, celebrations, birthdays, good days, bad days, etc.

A few years ago I looked into getting banded but my insurance wouldn't cover it.

I felt completely defeated, between being rejected for surgery, yo-yo diet plans, and everything that goes along with it.

Then, last year (2014) I decided to look into it again since my insurance company finally changed, and I noticed procedures did too. The sleeve caught my eye immediately and I researched it for quite some time before meeting with my dr and making the choice to move forward. And now, finally, on March 18, 2015 I'm getting the Gastric Sleeve procedure done and couldn't be happier to finally leave this old me behind and break out of this jail cell and walk in the sun of life again a free woman.

I also "came out" on Facebook. Can't say anyone was particularly supportive regarding the surgery, but no unsupportive comments either. But I worded it very carefully and I really didn't leave an opening to comment one way or another. I really don't care what anybody thinks since I am so sure it was the right choice for me. However, people are always eager to tell you you look better than you did before....what a mind job that is....

Edited March 29, 201511 yr by LovinSoul

I went back and forth with it mentally for weeks, talked to my husband and finally decided to do it, and I'd do it all over again if I had to choose again.

Monday means new week and new #'s...

Down a total of 23 lbs

Inches, I'm down:

1.5 in my chest

5 in my waist

5 in my hips

2 in my thighs (1 each)

2 in my biceps (1 each)

5 in my calves (2.5 each)

That's a total of 20.5 inches gone!!!

(Not lost, cause I have no intention of finding it again...)

????