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

I've been overweight most of my life. I remember my Grade 6 teacher writing in my report card that I was fat. I remember weighing 150 lbs in Grade 7. I remember passing 200 lbs in Grade 10. After that, I guess for a while I thought, "Well, what's the point?" and gave myself carte blanche to do whatever I wanted to as far as food and drink went. Everything spiralled out of control after that. When I started NutriSystem when I was 24, I weighed 368 pounds. After 11 months on that programme, I lost 140 lbs and my gall bladder! I kept the weight off until my father died the a year later. Then I went with Richard Simmons, and lost 100 of what I had gained back. It took longer than the little yellow NutriSystem boxes, but it worked. Then my mom died and back came all the weight. Cycle again with Richard Simmons, lose 100 lbs, lose my job. Start a new job that I hate and gain the weight back. Weight Watchers was next. I've lost 120 on WW. I've slacked now and have gained back about 30. I need help. I need a kick in the pants. It's very difficult to stay motivated when everything comes off sooooo slowly and I have sooo much to lose.

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

The worst thing is ever-present fear. The fear of being out in public and having someone make fun of me. The fear of children - they don't know any better than to ask mommy "Why is that lady so fat?". The fear that I won't fit in a seat-- restaurant, theatre, train, car, work ...everywhere. The fear that I won't wake up in the morning because my morbid obesity had finally killed me in my sleep. I want to be able to get up and get out of my house without thinking about the bad things that will happen if I'm out in public. I want freedom from fear.

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 haven't had surgery yet, but I'm looking forward to so much. From the small and mundane -- crossing my legs, to the big and meaningful --travelling.