Sheila H.
As a child I was normal build. I didn't have a problem with weight. I ran around and played just like a normal kid. By the time I reached high school I had grown to a size 16 and was gaining more weight. From there until March of 2004 my weight was constantly up and down. Finally I hit an all time high weight of 319 pounds. My back was failing, my knees were failing. Doctors were estimating that I'd be in a wheel chair by the time I was 35. I tried every diet you could htink of but it just wasn't working for me. My best friend was my Grandmother. She would work with me and try to help me lose weight. She was always there and I loved her dearly. I watched my Grandmother die of congestive heart failure. At that point I made the decision that I would not let that happen to me. I made the decision that I was going to make my life better so I did. I had the surgery March 1 of 2004. I have lost 173 pounds to date. I went from a size 28/30 to a size 8/10. My life is MUCH better now. I'm much happier and I won't need that wheel chair they talked about. My health is much better and my outlook on life is much better.
My only regret, is that I didn't do the surgery sooner.