I was chronically sick, in pain,

and had a pinched disc in my lower back that kept me from exercising.

I haven't always been overweight,

but after my pregnancies, I really let myself go.

Light weight workouts were not helping with the fact that I was still stiff

no flexibility and low back pain. I could not stand up straight in the mornings.

There was one excuse after excuse another

I was a food junkie and was comfortable with all the ramifications that came with that addiction.

After each child I gained a little more weight,

then a little more, and a little more still. I ended up weighing almost 14 stone.

I finally learned "No Pain No Gain" wasn't true

As I grew into adulthood, I added weightlifting and continued playing sports.  Then the injuries came.

I was trying to eat away my pain, which only caused more pain.

And I had given up on dieting, so I was becoming a Jedi Master in the weight gaining department very, very quickly.

I've been overweight since I was a kid.

I tried diets and different work out videos, but I never followed through with any of them.

I've had back problems for the last 20 years.

I was very discouraged knowing that I had the drive to get myself into better shape but my body wouldn't allow it

where I ballooned to 290lbs in a matter of months due to water weight and the disease ravaging my metabolism.