travelinpants
Well, my story is the story of so many of you. I was chubby as a child and my mother and I made our first trip to Weight Watchers when I was in the 6th grade. I fought with the scale throughout high school, switching between the grapefruit diet and my own 1000 calorie diet and graduated weighing 135. I put on the "freshman 15" in college and graduated/got married weighing 150. By our first anniversary, I weighed 165 (you know, marital bliss and all that). I lost 30 lbs after my first son was born but gained it all back. Eighteen months later, I was pregnant with my twins and only gained 30 lbs with that pregnancy. I lost the pregnancy weight and then some, but began my real climb in weight in 1987. I gained and lost, gained even more and lost again. This vicious cycle continued until 2007 when I began my quest to find a solution that would help me keep this weight off once and for all.
Fortunately, my weight never kept me from doing anything with my husband and kids, but I was self-conscious. I managed to camp in the Grand Canyon, white water raft, horseback ride on the Oregon Trail and ride in a hot air balloon over Mount Rushmore. Through it all, my husband has shown me unconditional love and loved me even when I was disgusted with myself. My boys were great too. They never noticed (or commented) when I lost weight or mentioned it when I gained weight. I guess to them I was just plain old "Mom".
My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow and I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life. I have read so many inspirational stories on this board and thank you all for the support and encouragement you've shown me as I prepare for this monumental change.
