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

I’m not sure if I have the right to post on this site because I am undecided about bariatric surgery. I just know that my life needs to make some drastic changes. I have not been over weight for all of my life, nor did I succumb to bullying or teasing through my young years into high school or college. Life was quite the opposite for me… people loved the way I looked, I was often told how pretty I was; I believed it, and even had somewhat of an ego. It was in my early 20s when I began gaining weight and the only comments from everyone (even those with good intentions) were geared towards how pretty I “used” to be – well, that cut pretty deep. I’ve been battling now for all of my adult years, and at 35 with recently being diagnosed with diabetes, I have decided that it’s time to take a stand. So, here I am. I'm researching my options, trying to find support folks to stand behind me, and then going to move forward to creating the life I envision for myself, whatever it takes.

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

Being invisible. I don’t get teased or feel ridiculed. Instead, I feel as though many people don’t even see me. They look over me, around me, beside me or right through me and never even seem to notice – well, they never notice me.

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 not had the surgery.