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

I have always been overweight, for as far back as I can remember. I have tried several diets and eventually I just gave up. The constant feelings of failure can really get to a person. I went through years of therapy, and after bringing childhood problems to the surface and dealing with them I felt that I had the strength to fight obesity and take on the world. Again, I went to bed every night being a failure. I thought that once I learned to deal with my past trauma that I would be able to finally lose weight. I came to the realization that I have an amazing life. I have a wonderful family, a wonderful group of friends and the most amazing man I could ever ask for. I was living a life that most people my age could only dream of. I came to realize, my issue now is that Im unhappy because I am very overweight, and I eat because I am unhappy. After spending a year working with a dietitian, my therapist asked if I had ever considered Gastric Bypass. I called my family doctor and arranged an appointment to see if I could get a referral. I didnt think I would be able to get this surgery, I didnt think I would qualify, and I didnt think OHIP would cover it. I had all these negative thoughts going though my head. A chance like this surgery seemed to good to be true. That was 15 months ago. It has been a long and tedious process but I am finally booked for surgery. My surgery date is March 12th 2012. I start my pre-op diet on February 13th.. I am terrified and excited. I will be having my surgery at St Michaels Hospital in Toronto.

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

It is hard to narrow down the worst thing about being overweight. A few of the things that I struggle with everyday is: -Not being able to breath, or running out of breath. This is not only hard on my body and heart, but its so embarrassing to be huffing and puffing in front of other people. - Moving is difficult and often I have to sit out on daily activities that I want so bad to take part in. -The judgement from other people is enough to break a person .. when your overweight everyone seems to feel that they have the right to treat you like your unhuman. They comment, they stare, they give you unasked for advice and they act as though they understand what its like to be 200,` 300 or even 400 pounds over weight. I could go on, but if your reading this than you most likely know all the struggles.

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 had my surgery, no complications. I am almost 3 weeks out and doing very well :)