Sleeveless in Seattle: My Story of Obesity

Go Huskies!

I can say this with a smile on my face now. But when I started at the University of Washington (home of the Huskies) three years ago, the word "huskies" made me sad.

I was a bigger girl, a size 18 to be exact. And of all the words I used to describe myself - plump; big, beautiful woman (otherwise known as BBW); full-figured; and big-boned - husky was the one that made me cringe.

For as long as I can remember, I've struggled with my weight. When I was a little girl, boys would tease me relentlessly. They'd call me names. Fatty. Thunder Thighs. Big-E-Smalls (because I was chubby but never really developed breasts, I guess). And "Husky" (because I've always been a big University of Washington fan).

Even my girlfriends couldn't make me feel better.

"But you have a pretty face," they'd say, as if that helped.

It hurt, but I carried on. I studied hard and was involved in yearbook and Make-A-Wish. But I knew there was no chance I'd ever be homecoming queen or even get asked to prom.

After graduation, I enrolled at UW. My life got better, but it was still hard. I lived in the dorms and made new girlfriends. But I also packed on the traditional "freshman 15" and never felt truly comfortable going out with my friends. They were the pretty, skinny ones. I was still the "husky" girl with the pretty face.

Still, college was okay. It wasn't what I thought it would be, but it was okay. We went to the football and basketball games. We'd hit Lake Washington during the summer, which was cool, but it would have been a lot cooler if I had been able to wear a two-piece like everyone else. And we'd study and talk about guys and hang out.

But I was always the big girl. I felt like Rebel Wilson in the movie Bridesmaids - I had a lot of great girlfriends, but they got all the hot guys and I was just kind of... well... there.

Then, the summer after my junior year I made a decision to actually change my life. I decided to have gastric sleeve surgery. It may seem like an entirely drastic measure for a woman who was only 22 years old at the time, but I was desperate. I knew I only had one more year left at the University of Washington, and I desperately wanted to make the most of it. So I had gastric sleeve surgery because I thought it would help me turn things around.

To make a long story short, it was the best thing I've every done.

Today, I'm in my senior year and loving it. I'm going out, having a blast, laughing and smiling like never before. I'm also meeting guys. Or, I should say that guys are making the effort to meet me. I guess I really do have a pretty face. And now I have a lean new body to match it. In fact, I have a date for the next Husky home game, and it's all because of gastric sleeve surgery, my new diet and a re-energized motivation to stay fit.

Go Huskies!

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