Those who say that losing weight won't make you any different than you are now, are wrong. Dead wrong.

Losing weight gave me back my self-esteem. Losing weight let me look people in the eye when I talk to them. Losing weight let me look in the mirror and smile. Losing weight gave me pride of achievement. Losing weight gave me back my marriage, set a good example for my children, strive for a better job, set goals for myself.

I used to believe people when they said I was nothing, told me I was wrong, when they refused to listen to me, belittled me, pitted me. All because I was fat? I believed them and they were wrong. Now I stand up for myself, for my children, for my marriage, for myself. Now they believe in me because I believe in me.

Losing weight makes all the difference. Maybe 10 or 20 pounds wouldn't have changed anything but making me feel better about my appearance. Losing 80 lbs? It's the difference between night and day. I was a lost soul who would let anyone and everyone walk all over me, because I deserved it.

How ironic, I lost the weight because I deserved it.