Get on your bike and get out of the driveway. For the first few times that's it. GEt out of your driveway or whatever you have and go down the street or just turn around and come back. Do this a couple times till you know you'll be ok. Then try the street. Every day try a little more. Get out on the street but take it slow. It will come back to you - and you'll get your confidence back. If you have to drive to the end of the driveway and come back every day for a month it's still worth it because all of a sudden the fear will be gone and you'll be confident. You can go from there. Good Luck. My friend did it the slow way after an encounter with a deer - she's back on and glad she did. But she couldn't get back on and just ride again - had to build up the self confidence.

Hello Angela, If you have a lot of questions and need support, I suggest you vist the Main Message board or your State message board. I am sorry to hear that you are battling depression. I thought I would never be on a bike again. Since surgery, I have bought a Harley and ride on the back of my hubby's. It is such a great feeling. I know you want to feel good again. The surgery is a tool. It is not a cure. If you have the surgery you will never be able to pig out again. But you really have to watch what, how muchyou eat and learn portion control. Please do the research and talk to others who have had the surgery. Before deciding if the WLS is right for you. Now matter what you decide, you must start taking care of yourself by cutting out junk food, drinking lots of water, taking vitamins and exercising (even if all you can do is walk or do chair execises). Wishing you the best of luck in your WLS journey Hugs, Margaret D

a friend shoo'd me over to this site due to I have alot of questions when it comes to surgery. Battling depression alot due to my weight. I refuse to ride the harley with the husband anymore due to my weight gain . Really am considering to check into the surgery...want to be able to ride again and feel good and not like I am heavier than the scoot. I guess one question is does it really work? Been begging my doc and she says we'll discuss it. Just tried every diet out there and due to health probs the weight won't come off..just want something to work for once. Angie

Yep, know what you mean. I over-analyze too. I guess it's the accountant in me! I guess that's why my confidence isn't where it should be. I recommend anyone who hasn't taken the safety course to do so. My instructors were a husband and wife team and they made everyone very comfortable. I have thought about taking it again too, except for that ?!@$# box exercise! It scared me half to death. Dropped the bike twice on that one. When it came time for the exam, I was gladly willing to lose those 8 points! I just went out of the lines and put my foot down just as much as I wanted to. I wasn't dare going down again! My instructor was very impressed with my determination to keep going. Most would have quit after the second drop. It was my ego that was hurt more than my a$$. Being that I was 270# taking the course and all I wasn't about to let anyone see this big girl quit. I am having problems with flat footing right now too. I am pear shaped and my legs are big, so I have a fear of hitting that pipe, so I tiptoe some on the right. My husband doesn't like that, so we lowered the shocks on the back and we're getting ready to lower the front too. It sits funny now without the front lowered. Anyway, enough about me. Have fun and just take all experiences as lessons learned. You'll pick it back up in no time now that they weather is warmer. Write back again if you want to chat more! Lori

Hey Denise, Girl do I know what you're talking about! I laid mine down because my hand rolled on the throttle coming out of a parking lot at the beach. Not too fun when you're 3 hours away from home! Luckily, we had trailered them down and the boys went and got the trailer and loaded it up for me. I twisted my knee pretty badly and it took a couple of months to get better. I haven't ridden since. That was February. All I can tell you is to get back on and try again. Remember those days when you were learning? Try that for awhile until some of the jitters go away. Practice will make things easier. Believe me - I'm telling myself the exact same thing! You husband is giving you excellent advise. Try the back roads and parking lots until you feel more comfortable. Check out this website. vtwinmama.com. It's extremely informational and it has a section for accident survivors plus other interesting areas. It has helped me tremendously. Take care and keep you will overcome this! Lori