I am 36 years old.  My weight as of 9/11/08 is 349 pounds.  There is something about feeling free enough to post that to the world.  I am scheduled on November 19, 2008, to have gastric by-pass surgery.  
     I have been overweight all my life.  I have always felt as fat as I am now, though when I was younger I was not near as fat as my family made me feel.  My weight was always made to be a central issue of my younger life.  They finally stopped when I got to a size that they felt was hopeless and that change was not going to happen.
     I have always, until the last year or so been full of energy.  I have a big bold personality and have always tried to overcome my weight with my attitude and abilities.  
     I have a long journey ahead, I guess I'll find out if I really have the pretty face I was always told I have (that statement was always followed by.."but your too fat") and I will find out who I  am without the extra weight. 
     I have 3 sons and a bi-polar husband.  I don't know how I will manage but  I also have the faith of knowing that God will be by my side and has always planned for me to lose the fat, after I found and married the man who would always love and accept me for who I am.  Not only loving me at 349 but also as I lose the fat and become as flabby as a flying squirrel.