Those words were spoken by a famous radio talk show host and they struck me like a mack truck!!! When I was a young girl I was nicknamed Foxy Roxy. I had no concerns about weight and no idea that I had the potential to be the plus-size woman that I am.

My mother never made me eat anything I didn't like, but she always prepared healthy meals for us. If I didn't like the green stuff, I just didn't bother. But I would serve myself an extra helping of the white stuff.

My palate never matured, but I never saw a problem until my mid 20's. Pretty soon after losing a fiancè to suicide, I began the emotional eating that stuck with me.

My family didn't like my fiancè in the first place, so I couldn't (very well) turn to them for emotional support after he died. So, much of my grief I internalized. I ballooned from a size 9 to a size 20/22. It was not an overnight occurrence, but it was out of control before I realized there was a problem.

I used to be mad with the world for being so hard on me. I mean, really, I was still the same person. I was just going through some STUFF. No one understood. I must say that I don't blame anyone for my habits, . . . just for the way they treated me as a result.

So, this year I turn 40. And, thanks to those words I heard on the radio, I decided that THIS YEAR is the year I will change my choices. THIS YEAR I will CHOOSE to love myself more than I ever have. THIS YEAR I will take care of ME the way I have my daughter, my parents, and my husband. THIS YEAR I will kiss my plus sizes goodbye. THIS YEAR I will eat as much of the green stuff as I can and much less of the white. THIS YEAR my treadmill will no longer serve as my coat rack. THIS YEAR I will begin my journey back to foxy.

Thursday, June 5, 2008 I had my lap band surgery in Tijuana Mexico. I have had some complications with my port and had to have a second surgery. But I am still 30 pounds lighter than when I started.

256/225/160:thumbup: