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

8 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, been dieting ever since. Have done TOPS, WW, LA Weight Loss, hypnosis, several expensive medical weight loss centers, gym membership (yes, I work out, too, I know the membership fee doesn't burn any calories itself!), personal trainer, and more. Highest weight 223, lowest adult weight 150 (maintained for 6 years, then Norplant....). Social eater, celebrate, commiserate, entertain, stay awake (work nights at times) with food. Oh, yeah, Atkins is great for weight loss, but.......My mother had gastric bypass surgery in about 1980 (with revision in 2010), my sister also had RNY in 1999, they lost a bunch of weight with surgery (my dad lost weight with cancer, then died). Generations of short round people make up my family tree. Have now decided to do this for myself (VSG), insurance will say no comorbidity (BMI 37), and then to MExico? Will that be easier? Will it kill me? Can I afford it? I have 2 kids in college and a grandbaby in daycare (price of that equals college tuition--lol! and she can't get a loan!) Early in planning stages, wondering how difficult it will be to access my HSA to repay. How long will it take to get it done?

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

Social aspects of being "fat", teased, ridiculed, laughed at. Clothes that don't fit or come from the fat girls' store....ugh. "You have such a pretty face"...physical aspects of it, everything is harder! Sitting in plane seat is uncomfortable for everyone, but if you're not tiny, ewwwww sorry.

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

Surgery now scheduled for March 15, 2012!!