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Obesity & Me

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

For as long as I can remember, I have been overweight. My mom had me start dieting when I was in the 3rd grade. I was always the tall one and the big one of all my classes. I was bullied throughout school and only maintained one friendship at a time. I never felt good about myself, about how I looked. This all led to a depression that spanned 6 years through high school. I truely love my Mom, but she was one of the reasons why I have maintained a low self esteem. She would always tell me exactly how she feels and thinks. So as I got bigger, she would always let me know. "You need to lose weight!' Was what I continued to hear. Now that I am going through with WLS, I get "I don't think you have done enough to lose the weight on your own."

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

I constantly felt like I was the odd man out. Everyone around me is skinnier and happier. I always felt looked down on through school especially in Gym Class. I am getting winded on a full set of stairs and I am also starting to notice more parts of me are starting to hurt. My self-esteem. I miss it. Even in my "get dirty" clothes, I try to look the best I can. I am constantly trying to prove to myself that I am pretty. That I am good enough.

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 have considered WLS before, about 5 years ago. I "chickened" out after going through all the necessary steps. This will be my first (and hopefully only) WLS.

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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