bmahov
My story... Hmmm. I think we all have been down this path before. 
Always was a heavy kid. In fact, I distinctly remember buying "huskies" from Sears for a year or two. My parents were both overwieght, Dad with his typical "dad belly" and my Mom was obese. The kids, meaning me and my sibs, weren't exactly watched when eating. We were an active family, though. I think that was the most frustrating part of the weight for me. I was always active, yet overweight (300+). We'll skip the "dark" high school years. 
While I was teased or just ignored, I did have some wonderful friends. So it wasn't that bad.
College was when I came into my own (1992)... And started to lose weight. I realized people who were true to themselves accepted you if you were true to yourself. I stopped "hiding" behind my weight, using it as an excuse for so many things. I actually had my first date and a first kiss during these years. Yes, I would live college again... Anyway, I can remember what I weighed, but I think it was around 250.
After college, well, I wanted to lose more weight. I began taking diet pills. I was working two jobs, so they actually gave me extra energy. Weight started to fall off. Could be that I didn't eat and just took the pills. Not a good combo. Then I hurt my back. Badly. I was laid up for 4 weeks, not being able to do anything, but lay flat on my back. I had a friend who smoked, so I started this habit. Financially, I realized I couldn't do it anymore and had to move home in '99. My mom was dying from Uterian Cancer and I became my father's helper. When she passed away in '00, I was on autopilot. I was smoking 1 pack a day and taking up to 10 diet pills. Yes, I looked great (170), but I was on the path to die at 40. I quit the pills. In ' 05, I quit smoking. Then my thyroid quit. I put on over 100 pounds in 2 years. When the weight starting coming on, I begain to look at surgery. This was 2004. I decided to try again and joined Weight Watchers and the local rec center. In 9 months, I lost 7 pounds. That was it. Frustration was high and I was fighting depression. Last summer, I took a trip to Croatia with my dad and nephew. It was when I had problems not only with the airplane seats, but also the cafe seats, I began looking into the surgery. However, I still fought it thinking there was something else I could do. I tried NutriSystem for 2 months. Again, minimal, 2 lbs, weight loss. I decided this was it and went to a gastric bypass seminar. I then called to make the appointment.
At that point, I was scared sh**less. I mean, what if it doesn't stick? What if this and what if that? I have been going support meetings, which has helped and also lead me to you all. Now, I'm awaiting my surgery as a second chance on life. A chance to be able to play softball again, let alone walk up a flight a stairs. Be the confident woman that I was and know is in me, fighting to make an appearance. Heck, I might even date again. 
But what it all boils down to, for me, I'm going to be living again.
