I started gaining weight around the 5th grade and continued to grow until about the age of 19. I successfully lost 100 pounds around the age of 19-20. It was only after I began having hormonal problems at around the age of 30 and began packing on pounds. After my hysterectomy at the age of 40 the weight just continued to pile on and I was not successful with anything I tried. Photos of me during this time are far and few between as I hated how I looked and felt physically. I had thought about weight loss surgery for many years as I had friends and family undergo different procedures. Some successfully completed the journey and some did not. At this point in my life, I felt I had nothing to lose other than weight. I made an appointment in March of 2017, scheduled my procedure for April 2017, and lost approximately 90 pounds in the course of a year. It was the most important decision I had ever made for myself. I am grateful to TLC and Dr. Yu for their commitment and guidance with my journey.