So I was thinking to myself this morning that I haven't really given a back story about myself to you the readers. I grew up in Hambden Township. I am the oldest of 4 girls (yes my dad was surrounded by girls and managed to pull through just fine!) I graduated from Chardon High School in 2002. I also went to Auburn Career Center where I went for Culinary Arts and also met my husband of 7 years. We have a 5 year old daughter who is a ball of energy. In the spring and summer as a family we love to fish, cook outside, and spend lots of time at my parents house! I guess I started gaining weight in my senior year of high school, I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve about 3 1/2 weeks before school started. I went from a size 6/7 to a size 14 by the time graduation came. So after graduation I moved out and lived on my own and didn't exactly eat the best or exercise, and before I knew it I was married and starting a family. I have been successful in losing weight in the past it has just been a matter of keeping it off, in which you can tell I haven't been at all good about. So this time I decided it isn't just about me, it's about living a long time to see my little one grow up, graduate, go to college, and have her own life. Don't get me wrong I want to do this for myself but knowing that I have a long future with my husband and daughter that could be cut short is what keeps me going! So whenever I am thinking "jeez I don't think I can do this" I just think of all the support I have been getting and it just makes the "thin" in me work harder so it can be seen.