I was overweight since I was 10 years old and constantly struggled with the emotional strain of being one of few overweight kids in my class. I was constantly bullied and struggled immensely with body image issues. My senior year of high school I was at my heaviest of 256 pounds. I have always been active (captain of my field hockey, swim, and softball teams) and competed at a varsity level in many sports. It seemed that no matter how much I worked out my terrible eating habits and unfortunate genetics would bind me to my extra weight. My family and I feared for the inevitable health problems I would face and decided to pursue the Gastric Sleeve. I was sleeved the July before entering my freshman year at Baylor University and I honestly think it was the best decision of my life. By December (the month I'm writing this) I was more than pleased with my results and Dr. Yu told me I was above average in my weight loss. This was cool because I can't think of many things I've been above average in. I'm aware that I am among some of the youngest patients at TLC, but I am very happy I was sleeved when I was. I no longer look to the future with anxiety and a false hope but with excitement and a sense of pride I began carrying just a couple months after surgery. In place of my extra weight I have picked up a comforting sense of self worth and I can look in the mirror with my head high. I still have more to lose, but at just 5 months I can say that I am more than happy with my results.