Hello everyone. I am 20 years old and now 280 lbs. This is the highest I have ever been in my life but I've always been overweight even as a child. These last 30 lbs that I've gained have really messed me up. I can no longer even walk for long periods of time. My back feels like it's going to snap in half if I walk for more than 10 minutes. For someone who "eats a lot" I have a lot of vitamin deficiencies and for someone who is 20 years old I don't think I'm too healthy. Anyway, I have lost weight in the past myself, I just have a hard time keeping it off. I lost 55 lbs 2 years ago and gained 80 lbs back. For the past year I have been working towards getting weight loss surgery. I'm finally done with all my testing and requirements. I'm just waiting for a response from insurance. I should be getting the lap band by the end of the month. I just need a tool to help me stop from binging when I feel like I want to give up. After doing all the tests I discovered I have low vitamin D, low vitamin b12, it should be at 500 and I was at 250, no wonder I never have energy. I have low iron and always have, and I have high liver enzymes which means my liver is fatty. I also have gallstones, well had, I had my gallbladder removed last month in preparation for the band. I also have low blood sugar and minor sleep apnea. As you can see losing weight is not just about looking good for me, it's about getting my health back! And I will do what it takes to get to a healthier happier version of myself.

Anyway I can ramble on and on lol but I am here to share my journey. I have been documenting my process on youtube in video blogs. There is a great community on there as well as on facebook and 3fatchicks. If you would like to follow my journey feel free to subscribe to my channel: http://www.youtube.com/abandarina and if you make videos, or have a weight loss facebook please let me know so I can follow your journey as well. We are all in this together, let's help each other!

I suggest that everyone make videos to document there journey. It really helps and you'd be surprised how therapeutic it is to go back to an older video and see how much smaller you are! Even if you don't post your videos and share them with the world, make them for yourself and keep them on your computer so YOU can see how well you are doing when you feel like the scale isn't moving!

I totally understand what you're going through. I'm 21 and between 287-278. I'm on and off my diet constantly and it just gets sooo frustrating. This isn't exactly how I wanted to spend my 20's. Its plenty of things I want to do and at this size its impossible! But tomorrow is monday and im going to give it another try because im just so tired. I keep making plans like "next year I'll be there. I'll be pretty..." And just like clock work it never happens so im just tired. But I love your videos and im considering making vlogs also/

I really think you should. It does help, a lot. and the community on there is so helpful. it's just like 3fatchicks but with visuals. it's good to have multiple sources of support. And like I said even if you're too shy to post your videos make them for your own record, so you can see that even though you "only" lost 10 lbs and thinks it's nothing because you have 100 lbs to lose, in the video you can see your face is not as fat, and I swear it motivates you! And also if you're shy about your weight you don't have to announce it on video, you can only share what you've lost and your struggles. I love the youtube community. I'm a little different then you since I'm getting the lap band surgery so I follow mostly weight loss surgery people. but there are all kinds of people on there! I'm glad you like my videos and I hope you make them too, if you do let me know so I can subscribe to you. And do you have facebook? It would be a faster way to keep contact... you can search for me "bandarina's journey"

Now i've considered lap band and I got alot of helpful info through your vids. I'm going to talk with a dr about that possibility because I just have a such a big problem with my appetite and maybe with a lap band i wouldn't be able to over eat? Hopefully I wouldnt have to go that method I want to try a stronger pill like phentermine first. I hope to find a good alternative to that because i was allergic.

I understand what it is, as many of us do, to be definitely unhappy with our health. I've started my own journey almost two months ago, and it's been awesome. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope the surgery goes wonderfully for you. It's never too late to make a good start with your health

Congratulations to you as well! It's so amazing that you are getting you are taking control of your health. Best of luck to you sistaa!

Make sure you get the pills from a doctor and are monitored, those pills can cause liver failure, gallstones, and urinary infections.