The first time I became aware of my weight, I was in fourth grade. At the time, it was common for schools to weigh students and I remember feeling completely shocked when I learned I weighed 130 pounds.
Looking Ahead
Today, I don't follow a diet, but I've become a huge advocate for eating what you want in moderation. To date, I've lost 170 pounds and still feel like I have 25 pounds to lose. My next goal is to establish a fitness routine and build that into my lifestyle. Recently, I started going for long walks with my dog almost every day. But in the future, I'd like to get into the gym and work on my overall strength.
I've made peace with the fact that my journey is continuous and that every day will have its ups and downs. But at the end of the day, without weight-loss surgery, I would have never regained the weight, and never made the changes I needed to regain my health.
So, for anyone who thinks that weight-loss surgery is a cop-out: I fought to be where I am today, and that's something I'll always feel proud of.