In a nutshell,  I'm a single mom with a fantastic son.  Married very young, I left when my son was 10months old (spousal abuse) and have not remarried since.  Several times over the years, I would manage to get on top of things, only to get kicked in the @ss by something - but I managed to keep it together.  I have achieved most of my big goals; earning enough to put my son through college (he's 23), getting my Bachelors degree, things like that.  Over the last 15 years, i have yo-yo'ed up and down in weight, climbing from what I thought was unbearably heavy (150), to unimaginably heavy (240).  A back injury, and a heartbreaking relationship didn't help.

Thusfar, I have not been able to conquer my weight issue with willpower alone.  Even with the help of shakes, pills, shots... I have not been able to sustain a significant reduction.   Although I have concerns about living with the lifelong restrictons of WLS, I am more concerned about the slow and steady upward trend of my weight problem - and the inverse effect on my psyche, mobility, and endurance.

It doesn't seem so long ago, I was very strong and active.  Now, I don't recognize the person in the mirror.  Worse still, I attempt simple things, like yardwork - and am frustrated at how quickly my body gives in.  I have to do something