My obesity started when I was five-years-old. I weighed 75 pounds and it just went up from there. I had several obese people in my family.

I am now 46-years-old and very timid. I had gastric bypass in 2002 and my life is much better. I now value my life. I no longer put up with abuse and I no longer hide from people.

I have lost a lot of weight. My top weight was 525. I am now 216. I was down to 185, but the holidays messed me up. I am now on the high protein diet and going to get the weight down.

I wish to achieve 140-150 by the end of 2006. I will. I would like to get into a support group and I would love to meet people and share my changes. I love life now. I love who I am, and even though my body is not all I want it to be yet. It is a lot closer.