Describe your behavioral and emotional battle with weight control before learning about bariatric surgery.
I have been overweight since I was 5 years old. I didn't know what it was like not to eat candy, ice cream, sweets, and I didn't know what it was like not to sneak food. For all of my life my Mom would say (bless her heart) Honey, you have such a pretty face if you would only lose. My ex husband wanted a svelt long haired size 5 wife (notice the word ex here!) My darling husband of 22 years loves me as I am but wants me to do the best for me. I was bullied as a kid, made fun of, and as I grew older, I let my profession do the talking for me and not worry about my weight. What a sad existence that was.
What was (is) the worst thing about being overweight?
Not liking who you see in the mirror. Not being able to buckle a seat belt on an airplane. Not being able to buy clothes in a regular size shop. Not being able to not have your knees get so bad that you have to have both of them replaced before you are 57. Not being able to keep up walking (or in my case I waddle). Just not liking yourself so much that you cry and wonder how in the heck you got to be like you are.
If you have had weight loss surgery already, what things do you most enjoy doing now that you weren't able to do before?
I love throwing out all of my 'fat' clothes!!!!! I also love not living to eat - now I eat to live. It's a wonderful feeling.