I have NO doubts now that this surgery is the right thing, but being in the beginning processes I'm still amazed that I'm doing this some days. I think back about 6 months and where my head was at that point...I would never have even considered WLS (way too drastic). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

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Sure I, like most of you, have plenty of embarrassing weight-related stories I can tell and plenty of specific depressing moments...those moment usually spurred me into yet another diet. But I remember the "Moment", the EPIPHANY that made me even consider looking into something more drastic, which brought me to the LB. What was your "MOMENT"?<o:p></o:p>

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I'll start...my daughter was studying abroad in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region> and we took a family trip to <st1:City><st1:place>Paris last May</st1:place></st1:City>. This wasn't just ANY trip, we can't really afford a trip like this, but this was our last chance to take a great trip before the kids get old enough to go off and have their own lives. So this was our "Trip of a Lifetime". I dieted and used the treadmill every day in preparation (I was lighter than now- but still 208# then). Our first day in <st1:City><st1:place>Paris</st1:place></st1:City> we climbed the steep wide staircase up the hill to Montmarte-village (235 steps). It was a killer, but I made it after a few rests. Then we climbed the narrow spiral staircase to the top dome of Sacre-Coeur-church (another 237 steps). There's no turning around (you come down a different staircase)...my legs were shaking and I rested in the few tiny alcoves on the way up and flattened myself (yeah, right) to let people pass...I really thought I was going to lose a lung or have a heart attack. My family was waiting and wondering what happened to me at the top. The next morning we visited Notre Dame cathedral (402 steps to the top)...I was sitting on the plaza while the rest of my family waved to me from the bell tower...my "Moment".:angry_smile:<o:p></o:p>

My story...

I have been heavy all of my life...although I was overweight, I was a very active child - swam competively for years. In college things just spiraled out of control - I was no longer swimming and hit 262 (5'10") - that was the last time I weighed myself and am sure that I got higher. It got to the point that I would only wear sweat pants cause nothing else really fit. After college I lost weight by going on extreme diets and working out for hours. In 2004 I made it to my lowest at 178 but was eating about 500 calories and working out 6 days a week for 2 hours. I was always hungry and drank coffee to numb it. Food was this horrible issue. In 2006 I had my first son and gained 60+ lbs - I only lost 30 of it. I then had my daughter this year (July 2008) and gained an additional 20. I was at 225. While my BMI was not excessively high (32) I realized that this was the time to do it. I was back to wearing sweats, feeling horrible about myself and was beginning to effect my relationships. My "moment" came when I yelled at my husband for giving our son a french fry..."I don't want him to be fat" WHOA. I don't want my children to have the issues with food that I have.

I am back to wearing regular clothes. I have a way to go, but am losing weight without being hungry. I am eating in moderation. I still struggle but know that it will get easier.