My story goes like this. I have been overweight most of my life. I had one yr when I was 12 that I was slim and had a figure! Even at this time, my dad would tell me, Cathy, you've got to take that weight off girl! When I look back   at those pictures, I wonder what in the world was he talking about! I too, had the "fat" gene passed down to me from both sides of my family. I am 5'0" and weigh about 345.We are on the short side & ranging from about 250 - 600 lbs. This is probably why my dad pushed me so hard to keep the weight off. It didn't work! My first husband was abusive and controlling, so I comforted myself w/food - or so I thought. After the divorce, I was free and started socializing alot. Going out to eat w/friends,  packing on the pounds, feeling worthless and still living w/ridicule for letting myself go. People seemed to enjoy judging me, always making comments abour fat people being lazy - (Not true!) and one of the best that I've heard is, that big people don't need WLS, they just need to go on bread & water! How Ignorant! They obviously, don't know what is to fight w/a wt. problem.

I had unknowingly fallen prey to some heartless idoit. I had just parked @ Wal- Mart, a close to the door spot and went in. When I returned to my car, there was a note on my windshield, regarding me being fat & that I should have walked a way to the entrance,(it was definately not put nice!) but,w/o going into detail of the letter, it was very degrading and hurtful. To know that someone was waiting &  watching for me to go in,so that they could leave that note, made me feel like a worthless human being.

I did get remarried and became involved in our church. More socialization! after church we would all go out to get a bite to eat, sometimes a 2nd supper. Years of infertility, due to being overweight & having PCO and major hormone problems, I  became pregant.  I have 1 child, Her name is Moriah. She is a miracle for sure - More weight gain! But, I don't regret having my princess!

I now have more health problems. My knees & back hurt all the time that I can't play w/my child the way she wants me to. I can't get down on the floor or take long walks, especially go on amusement park rides. Now, I'm seeing a possible weight problem w/my daughter and it scares me! I don't want her to be made fun of or go through what I have.

2004 brought me more heartache and thus more eating, but I am tired of grieving and I have decided to get my life back and to enjoy the things that I have not been able to do in a very long time! I've also decide to go back to school, to help keep my mind busy and hopefully by the time I apply for a new job, I will look better, but most of all I will feel better!

With God's help, I will make it!  The "Best" way to predict the future, is to create it! and that's what I plan to do.