New to forums!
Hi there! My name is alice, I signed up for the forums months ago but never really did anything else about it, until now.
I've had weight issues ever since I was 10 years old, I am now 22. I have been in and out of so many nutritionists offices since then, it's just insane. I've been on diets since I was little, and have been in a way 'programmed' to eat specific foods because it's what every single nutritionist/doctor has told me is good for me. I have never been able to lose weight through their diet programs or exercise and because of that I had let my weight control me. I ended up dropping out of high school and finish it as home school, because of how badly my weight had affected me both physically and mentally. I was pretty much the largest girl in school - granted I never once heard anyone say anything bad to my face, but the 'what if's' got to me bad enough to completely shut me out from everyone I once enjoyed being around the most, friends and even family.
5 years ago, I started looking into getting weight loss surgery done, more specifically gastric bypass. At first they wanted to wait until I was 18, and I did. Once I hit that, we started working on it. They turned me down for it because even with all their helping, they could not get my weight to go down to where they needed it to be for it to happen. My required behaviorist decided I wasn't right for it at the time, so I stopped trying and waited a year, before giving it a second try. The second try, I was great up until they made me go see a therapist for some required appointments. Even after her telling me she believed I was ready for it, kept refusing to tell the same behaviorist and kept me going back to her for months before I stopped going and gave up all together.
It wasn't until this year that I learned they were starting to specialize in lap-band surgeries in my area, that I decided to give it a third try. I went to the seminar, I met with the surgeons & other important staff members, and they all decided I was perfect for it. I was recommended Curves by both the therapist and nutritionist, which I have taken up to doing and have been going every day of the week for the last 3-4 weeks. My starting weight was at 445, and I am currently down to 425. Between the curves complete program, and my new exercising habits, I have shed 20 pounds out of the required 40. So needless to say, I am very excited.
So besides the weight said, as said above, I'm alice. I enjoy traveling & reading. I currently reside in Michigan and plan on one day calling Hawaii my home. I'm a bit shy/quiet, but I am trying to become more social and this is kind of the first big step for me. I've read/seen so many stories from amazing women here that have lost massive amounts of weight, and it encourages me to keep going. I am proud of my progress thus far, and trying to get over the roadblock that is my weight.
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ALICE ~ good for you for losin' that first 20 lbs; persistence is so important to reach our goals and stay there. You want to make permanent changes so you can be healthy for the rest of you life. WLS is a tool that can help you get there, but as you already know, you still have to work at it. Losing weight is hard, and so is maintaining, but as you have seen here -- it can be done. Best wishes, for your journey ... 
