I was overweight all my life. I had very low self-esteem all my life. I did not like myself. I was told I was dumb and fat all my life, so I believed it. I was told no one would ever date me or love me because I was overweight.

I had back problems for years the doctors told me to lose weight. I tried all kinds of different diets nothing seemed to work. In June 2002, I ended up having back surgery and having two disks removed. I did lose 75 pounds, but gained it all back plus more.

I asked my family doctor about gastric bypass surgery. I had surgery on Dec. 11, 2003. I weighed 289 pounds. Unfortunately, I had complications and was in the hospital for almost a month. I had to be resuscitated three times and I also had more surgeries after this.

Due to complications, I got up to 320 pounds. I am now 136 pounds. I finally like myself and I am going back to school full-time.