Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.

You know you are not alone, but yet, you feel so isolated because of the sheer embarassment of being heavy and unable to control this aspect of your life. I became so consumed by depression, that my ability to truly live life and enjoy being alive were always compromised. Walking down the aisle of an airplane was enough to make me sweat, getting the looks from people that you know were thinking "please don't have him sit next to me". I was riding an emotional roller coaster. I processed my insurance requirements and after 6 months, approved and scheduled. I chickened out the day before surgery, feeling like such a loser that I had to have surgery to control this issue. Saw a nutritionist, eventually losing 75 lbs,only to gain 85 lbs. back. Three years later I had the bypass surgery, lost 177 lbs, have regained the confidence I needed to live life.

What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?

The lack of self confidence and just knowing people looked at you so disapprovingly. My turning point was being eliminated from a roller coaster while my daughter sat there able to go on without me.

If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?

Crossing my legs is something I never imagined doing, yet getting in and out of a car without panic that I will not fit feels prett awesome as well!