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

My name is Debbie. I am a 41-year of married mother of 2-beautiful children, ages 5 and 8. I have been overweight all of my life, from the age of 10 on. I have tried every diet, weight loss supplement, physician supervised program and strenuous exercise program out there. After ballooning to almost 300 lbs. after the birth of my son, I finally decided to take the next step and chose WLS. I met with Dr. Attia and decided that the Lap-Band would be the best choice for me. After all the preparations and insurance approval went through, I was banded on April 30, 2008. What a happy day for me...or so I thought. I did not know what was ahead in my journey. (To be continued)...

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

Hmmm....what was the WORST thing about being overweight? As I read this question, so many thoughts raced through my head that I cannot list just one, so I'll tell you a few. 1. Not being able to comfortably sit in an arm chair, airplane seat, resin chair (without snapping the legs off, lol!), sporting or concert seats, movie theatre seats, etc. 2. Being too large/too heavy to ride amusement park rides with my family. 3. Not being considered "professional" because of my size, despite my overall apperance or intellect/ability. 4. Multiple health issues as a result of carrying around another person or two. 5. Shortness of breath going up a flight of stairs 6. Under belly irritation (eww) 7. Being whispered about by clothing store staff, or even told they didn't sell "fat clothes" when I walk in a "regular sized" store, looking for clothes for my daughter. I could go on but you get the idea...

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

Although I experienced modest weight loss, I became so ill I wasn't able to enjoy much so hopefully will be able to come back with some great activities soon!! =)