I wish I would have been able to do this.

Teen loses 500 pounds without surgery A life can be changed, even saved, just a few steps at a time. That is the story of 19-year-old Justin Willoughby's life. The Bradford, Pennsylvania teen weighed 800 pounds when he was 16 years old. "I felt like I was trapped inside a prison I couldn't get out of," Justin said. Justin said he was always a heavy boy, but his weight really ballooned when he was in junior high school. He said he has an anxiety disorder, and he turned to food for comfort. "In the mornings I'd have maybe three sandwiches for breakfast, or sometimes eggs and sausage. I don't remember how many," Justin said. The rest of the day would be full of snacks like more sandwiches and large bowls of sweet cereal, candy, cookies, and whole milk." On top of that, he never exercised. By the time Justin was in the tenth grade, he was being home schooled and weighed 800 pounds. He was so heavy, his foot once broke through the floor of his home. "I couldn't even go to the bathroom by myself," he recalls. "I couldn't bathe myself." Justin admits his parents implored him to lose weight, but he ignored their pleas. "We tried to tell him, you're gaining, you're gaining. You've got to stop," said Justin's mother, Diane. "He said no, I don't have to." The tide changed when Justin had to visit his doctor to retain him. It had been well over a year since his last visit, and his weight had greatly increased. "I couldn't even get down my steps, I was so big," Justin said. Somehow, he made it to his doctor's office, where the reaction was one of shock, and Justin was sent to Presbyterian Hospital of Pittsburgh. There, doctors gave him a stern warning. "Sitting on that bed, the doctors said, Justin, you're going to die if you don't do something about it," said Justin recalling the visit. That's when his three and a half year weight loss work began. Without surgery or drugs, but with the help of a physical therapist and nutritionist, Justin cut way back on how much he was eating, cut out candy and high fat foods, and substituted whole wheat bread and pasta for plain white carbs. He also started moving again, one step at a time. "Taking ten steps and sitting down, getting back up, taking ten steps, and sitting back down," he said. Now he walks a mile or more. Justin also has had two surgeries to remove excess skin from his body. One procedure removed 20 pounds from his chest and abdomen. Another surgery removed more than 10 pounds of skin from his arms and legs, and he faces two more procedures. Justin said he is now down to about 310 pounds, and his dream is to weigh around 200. "You've got to want it yourself," he said. "It's either you live the rest of your life overweight, or you do something about it." Copyright WGRZ 2006. All Rights Reserved Tammy

I seen that on tv last night. It almost made me ashame that I was only 260lbs. And had gbs. Because I did it for my looks not my health. And now I am the sickest I have ever been. In the hospital every 2 months. Yes I admit it!!! I did do it for the wrong reason. I was tired of being left out. Tired of not being able to ware cool clothes. Yes I was tired of not fitting in the booth when I went out to eat. And going to a concert was crazy.....I did not fit in the seat at all. I give thanks to him. He opened my eyes..... I do feel guilty as can be.........There are lots of people that need it for the right reason. I am a selfish..........no wonder I am so sick. I guess this is my pay back for doing wrong..............And I can't believe I just admited it that I did it for the wrong reason. Please don't anyone scold or bash me............I am only human.........And Just wanted to fit in........I am single with 2 kids......Not many men want a fat women with 2 kids. And I get lonely..........Well enough before I say more to get yelled at. God bless you and have a good day. Amy

Amy We all had our personal reasons for having WLS and the psychological stigma of being obese is a legitimate one. We are all "only human" and I would be lying if I said I didn't want to look better too. Please do not feel that your current medical problems are any kind of payback for being selfish or vain. I pray that your medical issues will be resolved and you gain the health and happiness you desire. Tim

I agree that this is one lucky young man. He is indeed fortunate that he is doing something about his obesity at an age when he can recover more easily than some of us older folks and hopefully has not caused any permanent damage to his body. Even though my knees feel much better I had an orthopedist (sp?) tell me I will eventually need surgery on at least one of them. I hope he can continue with his healthier lifestyle and remain at a lower weight. Tim

Thanks for posting that Tammy. That was a great story. I wish I could have done it that way too, but I spent so many years wishing I could have done it, that I don't worry about it any more. I did it the surgery way and have absolutely no regrets. It's so nice to not have to worry about hunger anymore. That was always my downfall, even when I was losing weight pre surgery. It's so freeing to not worry about it. So please don't beat yourself up over it Tammy. We're all different and chose the path that makes the most sense for us. Hugs hun! Lisa