So I guess I'll start at the beginning.

I began dancing at Kathy Marfin's Dance School when I was 4 or 5? We'll settle with 4 1/2 years old. I took everything: jazz, tap, ballet, and hip-hop. I loved dancing so much. On top of dancing, I also played sports: soccer, basketball, and volleyball. I vaguely remember attempting softball. ew.

When the time for high school came, I had to make a choice. You couldn't be on both the dance team AND in sports. I chose dance.

Now, I will say I was NEVER a skinny girl. I never will be. I'm not built for that. I could always stand to lose some weight.

This is me at age 17: 180 pounds.

When I was 17, I decided to stop dancing due to personal feelings and life events. I tried to attempt going back to sports, with a short stint in Soccer my Junior year of High School. But I just became too depressed. Quitting dance for me was like giving up everything about me. Everything I loved.

So in a period of 8 months after stopping dance, I gained 100 pounds. That was six years ago, and I have since gained about another 30 or more. Over those years I struggled to get it off, even had luck with Weight Watchers, but then quit that too and gained it all back..and then some.

Me - Sept 14, 2009 - 329.6 pounds