Monday May 23rd, 2011 was the day my life completely changed course.

Growing up I was always overweight. I was that one kid in school that everyone teased. Falling through a wooden chair during indoor recess in 4^th grade didn’t help either (in my defense it was already broken!). I was even put in a group for kids with self esteem issues… although that was not the way it was sold it to me at the time… I thought I was special, not emotionally disturbed 😛.

Over the years my family tried many ways to help me lose weight. At age 13 and 180 pounds I was introduced to Weight Watchers for the first time; however, I never stuck with it for very long as I continued to join, and rejoin, and rejoin, and rejoin over the years.

Weight loss has always been, and still is a mental battle for me. The summer before my senior year of high school I volunteered for the Red Cross’ Save a Life Summer Camp. During a field trip to the hospital we took a tour of their wellness center. The people gymmin’ it were mostly physical therapy patients, athletes and medical staff. When I learned that anyone could join I signed up that day. Throughout that year I believe I lost a total of 22 pounds, and went through yet another round of Weight Watchers. I was 18 years old and 200 pounds, but I was in the best shape of my life… or so I thought.

Not long after that came college. I didn’t get into my first choice school, but I didn’t want to live at home for a year and then transfer so off I went to start college as a summer freshman at a school I really didn’t want to go to. You know how people talk about the “Freshman 15”… well I took that to mean 15 each semester… and then some I gained about 45 pounds that year before deciding to move back home and do a semester at community college (yes, I know hindsight is 20/20, but I don’t regret my decision of going and trying it for a year).

When I finally transferred to my first choice school (which is apparently a much easier way to get into a school) I gained another 35 pounds. I was now 21 and 280 pounds… but it was ok because I was in love and my now husband had loved me at my then heaviest weight. Fast forward a few years to our wedding, 25 years old and 320 pounds. And then another 4 years to Monday May 23rd, 2011… 29 years old and 370 pounds.