I've been reading so many posts on here that I finally got up the courage to post my own story. I'm 5'2" and 39 yr old with 40 ready to break down my door next month.

I was not an overweight kid. I was active and ate the very common Hispanic dinner of chicken, rice and Beans every night. My mother did not spend money on chips, soda, or eating a fast food places. I gained about 10 lbs at the end of high school when I dropped the dance team and got a job at mcdonals. Then I gained the "freshmen 15", then I started going out with friends alot, then I started dating my husband and before I knew what happened I had gone from 120 to 200. 15 years and 3 kids later, I ballooned to 310lbs at my heaviest. I've managed to get down to @270 lbs since then.

My issue is.... am I just being vain? I don't have any of the medical issues that plague most people at my weight (yet). I've even done 5k walks to raise money for various causes, mudruns, and the Avon 2 Day Walk for Breast Cancer. Most people say they want surgery to help with medical issues, but I just want to feel confident with myself. I know the surgery will help avoid future issues, but are my current motives wrong? The doctors say it's good for me to do this now, before anything serious comes up, but I feel guilty because there are so many people that have serious medical problems.

No, you are not being vain. Seriously....what's wrong with NOT having those problems?? Head them off now if you can - power to you!!

Our lives are all too short to worry about "am I being vain?"...or the other one "is it the easy way out?". It your health and life. Make the best of it.