Reading your story brought me to tears, it was like I was reading a chapter out of my own life. Food has been my whole life, the only constant in my life from as early as I can remember. My mom left the state when I was 9 and I was left with my alcoholic father whose was emotionally not available. I was never restricted on my food and was always alones as I to had no friends. My dad died when I was in high school then there was nobody there at all. I consistenly spiraled out of control into an abusive marriage but was able to get out by moving to a new state. I have been here 8 years and would also diet and do well for a while then always fell off the wagon and gained more back each time. I've been trying for weight loss surgury for 7 years and been denied 5 times including all my appeals. I had basically given up hope and any shot of being an average size. I decided last summer to give it 1 more shot and started jumping through all the hoops once again. I took 3 months to complete all the test and I kept waiting for an answer and nothing. I would call the dr. and they kept saying insurance needed more info so I said here we go again and said it's never gonna happen. All of a sudden in feb 7th 11 i got the call I had been approved. I had waited so long I didn't know how to react. It took a couple of weeks to sink in and of course I went on an eating spree for 2 weeks. Starting march 1st I started my liqid diet and was banded on the 15th of march 2011. It was so nice to see someone that i can totally relate to, day of surgury i was 296 and this morning weighed in at 284. I know it will slow down greatly after I'm able to eat real food. I am hungry alot and geting sick of liquids or I decided to try a scrambled egg today and it didn't got so well, so back to soup for me. How are you doing with your hunger? It's not easy doing 180 degree turn in routine but for the first time in my life I'm starting to believe I deserve it and I know my 2 beautiful girls deserve the best mom possible. I felt like the loss of food was like a death in the family. Did you have similar feelings? Its not easy to reverse 37 years of bad eating habits. I am not good on the computer and havent figured out how to do my profile yet but I will keep trying. Thank you for sharing your story. By the way my name is Tanya...I hope we can stay in touch and help motivate each other. Have a great day.