blikemike2013

Well where do I start? I am 40 years old and have been overweight for about 35 of those years. Before starting 1st grade in school I was a slender and athletic child; however, shortly after starting school I began to gain weight. By the time I was in the 6th grade I was the biggest and heaviest kid in my class weighing in at a hefty 280 pounds. Things didn't get any better as I enter Jr. High and High School as when I graduated from high school i weighed in at 360. Luckily I maintained that weight until the late 1990's; however, between the years of 1999 and now I have gained over an additional 100 pounds weighing in presently just under 500. This is very saddening to me, I don't understand what went wrong or how I allowed myself to gain so much weight. Just the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach.

However, years after fighting with the problem of declining mobility and dealing with the continued pain of my joints and muscles that are constantly strained by my obesity I am finally approaching my new birthday of September 18, 2013. I want the next 40 years to be filled with excitement and adventure and with the help of my surgeon Dr. Lee Schmitt I intend to do just that. Live my life to the fullest and enjoy each day free of the debilitating effects of obesity.

My overall goal is to be an example to someone else that finds him or herself in my present situation. Obesity is not a dead end road! You can beat this disease with the help of qualified and experienced surgeons like those at AWLS.

I want to lead by example.