Antonia R.

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Obesity & Me

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

I struggled with weight all of my life. I was always slightly heavier than all the other girls my age. I was never skinny but never noticeably big enough to be called fat. As I got older and developed more as a young girl I gained more and more weight. Hitting puberty early only exaggerated the discomfort I felt. I was always and active kids ,but weight was always a struggle. The abuse I suffered from in my childhood contributed to my struggles.

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

The worst thing about being overweight is the judgment you receive from others. People can be blunt and blatantly disrespect you and because you are fat they thing it is a right. The opinions of others hurts even more when you are passed up for opportunities you have earned because of how you look. Missing out on the things you enjoy can also really bring a person down.

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 hope to enjoy playing sports, extreme types of exercise, and just moving my body with grace. I feel sloppy this way and ungraceful. I just want to feel comfortable in my body again.

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I say adults that have done it in commercials and thought since I was young I would have to be and adult. My friend had the surgery through a Chicago program and I decide that since I have worked at this for years I should give this a try. I am Medically healthy except for my obesity and it is affecting my hormones and joints.

Describe your experience with getting insurance approval for surgery. What advice, if any, do you have for other people in this stage?

I am not there yet but I am doing everything so they have no excuse to deny me.
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