During the application phase for my surgery I tried to think back to the first recognition that I was overweight.  I looked at pictures and noticed that it would be more correct to say that I was always plump but had sporadic bouts of skinniness!!  I can remember though that my first introduction to Weight Watchers was at about 12 or 13 with my mother.  That was during the days of liver, tuna and making sure the tomato was seeded!  I can remember taking my lunch to school and eating my salad with flake tuna while the other kids had the typical school lunches. 

In 1993, at the age of 27, I suffered a ruptured lumbar disc and had to under surgery to remove it.  At that time i'd say I was about a size 14.  Since then I've never been physically fit and my weight begin to creep up at a more significant rate due to a higher degree of self-imposed inactivity.

Each year I'd watch my weight creep up the scale until this past year when the additional health issues began to pile on.  In May of 07 I was diagnosed with hypertension and began medication for it.  In June of 07 I had a knee cartiledge repair where they found a great amount of arthritis.  The MD even told my husband afterwards that given the amount of arthritis he observed during the surgery that he expects I will require a knee replacement before he retires! 

I am now 41 years old and newly banded (11/2/07)!!  I am 5'5" and start my journey with a BMI of 42.3 (weight 254).  

My goals are to be a healthy, active and involved parent for my lovely daughter.  I want to be a proper role model for my daughter and by taking action to get my health to where it needs to be I am doing just that!!