Other than knee strain and heavy breathing under exersion from the extra weight I don't have much in the way of pain or health problems. But if the fairy could get rid of what I do have I'd be all for it. If she could also wave her wand over my inner thighs and get rid of the bulges that get in the way of exercising and moving I'd let her hit them too!

If she could get rid of the rough spots it would make losing soooo much easier. If it was that easy then I sure would keep going. I'd be working it and losing all the way down to what my "normal" size should be.

I long to feel normal again. I want to be able to sit in a chair without evaluating it first. Will it hold me? Will the arms cut into my legs? Will I be able to sit in this chair for long without hurting? I want to be able to know I can "fit" anywhere. Not have to use the handicapped stall in the bathroom because the regular ones feel like a phone booth. I want to get back on the roller coasters with my kids. I want to be able to go into a clothing store and know that I can find the "cute" clothes in my size. I just want to be normal.

When I was reading the question and responses (very thought-provoking, Trazey), I was thinking about all of the normal weight people who do not eat healthy foods or exercise. They maintain their weight by not eating much at all or through incredibly rare genes. Yet, studies have shown that poor eating and exercise habits are just as detrimental to thin people as fat people. So, maybe we are blessed that we have the additional motivations that everyone else spoke about so that we are positively impacting our health.

Yes, because I want to be the beautiful person on the outside that I use to be.

Yes I would continue. My motivation in the beginning was better health (my blood pressure was way too high). But now that I'm so close to my goal I've become addicted to the unexpected compliments. I love being suprised at the nice things people have to say. I love it when someone tells me that I inspire them! I also love not having to fear fitting into small places and all of the other NSVs that come up.

Zelma, this is exactly what I was trying to say, but couldn't come up with the right words. You, of course put it perfectly.

I too didn't know how marvelous and fabulous the "benefits" would be, so therefore I'm with you.

I'll even take it one step further. If I had known all the incredible benefits beforehand, the one's I'm experiencing now, I wouldn't have waited soooo many years to actually lose the weight, ON MY OWN - regardless of a magic wand.

After knowing what it's like being obese (the heartache, the health problems etc), I would deffinately keep going. I never want to be like this again.

While she's there doing all that she can make me skinny at the same time.

Health issues have never been an issue for me, but I think I would still lose the weight to feel normal. For instance, just for the lovely feeling of being able to cross my legs properly. A short time ago, I noticed when I crossed my legs, they actually crossed!! The one leg didn't "rest" on my other leg....it crossed OVER the other one!! I hadn't felt that in such a long time...it was almost eerie.... I don't ever want to go back.