My childhood was pretty normal.  I was a normal sized kid, had a healthy appetite, always craved the sweets.  It wasn't until puberty that I started to gain weight.  I remember my Mom went back to work and I was home alone after school and had free reign to the snacks.  Boy, did I ever.  Anywho, I began my weight yo-yo around that time.  It seemed to be ok, I was still an ok size, but I had boobs, so that made it all ok.  Then high school, and I was a size 11, and I remember an ex-boyfriend called me "jello-butt" which sent me into an exercising tailspin.  I had the J-lo booty before it was popular, always ahead of my time.  Sigh.  I could never get below a 10, and if I did, it was for maybe a month.  I think the smallest size I reached was a 7, and that was with the help of Phen-phen.  Temporary as usual.

I got married, had children, and was able to get the weight off eventually, though my last pregnancy did take about a year or so of effort.  I maintained around a 13/14.  Then my chronic back problems started acting up, and in 2001 I had my first surgery.  Everything seemed to be working ok, and then I had to have surgery again in 2005, which turned out not ok.  That led to constant pain in my lower back and leg, and increased bed rest.  Which of course led to, you guessed it, weight gain.  So now I have pain, fatigue from not sleeping well, depression from pain and weight gain, and increased weight causing more pain in my lower back.  I have been to all types of specialists and tried all types of techniques, and one thing they all agree on is that I need to have weight reduction surgery.  One thing, my insurance will not pay for it.  Of course.  Will write more later................