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

I've always been taller than everybody. In the first grade, I was taller than the teacher. From the age of 12 on, I fought the battle of the bulge. I was anorectic in 1980 (age 23) -- I dropped 50 pounds in less than 6 weeks, ate less than 150 calories a day, existed basically on gallons of black coffee and three packs of cigarettes a day, and spent the next two years in therapy getting over it -- and by 1990 had GAINED 150 pounds. I lost 100, promptly got pregnant with my second son, and over the next decade gained back about 180. Lost some, gained it back, lost some, gained more back. It went on and on. In those years, I tried every diet -- low carb, high carb, low protein, high protein, Weight Watchers, Overeaters Anonymous, fasting (a popular favourite), yadda yadda ... and in the process completely ruined my metabolism and my self-esteem.

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

Having my children get into fights because other kids called their mom "fat".

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

Everything ... from walking through turnstiles without getting stuck (that one still surprises me) to being able to buy over-the-knee boots without stretchy inserts AND tuck my jeans into them -- and still do them up! But, most importantly, participate in my own life and the lives of the two exceptional young men I call my sons ... and the great long-suffering guy I married who loves me anyway.