Weight Loss Survey Responses

The following are Kym A.'s responses to the Weight Loss Survey:

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

I think like most overweight people, I tried to tell myself that I was "ok" with my weight, I wore a mask around others and protected myself from others stares and comments by avoiding social gatherings. Looking back now, I think I was more fortunate than some, in that my faily and friends never nagged me about my weight, I didn't have to put up with the usual comments like "can't you just push your plate away?" or "why don't you exercise more?" I think they thought I was happy the way I was, I never tried the "miracle pills" I didn't go on "yo-yo" diets, I tried a low fat diet when I was about 34 and lost 17# in a month, I was thrilled with that, but then I got pregnant and piled it all back on and more. I didn't bother trying again after I had my baby, I just loved food too much:)

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

Fo me, it was that I couldn't participate in my young son's lives as much as I wanted too. The one thing that really upset me, was one day I heard my 7 yr old telling his friends "Mom doesn't do fun things with us like Daddy does, she just helps us with our homework" that just about broke my heart!

How did you first find out about bariatric surgery and what were your initial impressions of it?

I had heard about it about 10 yrs ago back home in England, but it was hard to find information on it then. Then I heard about Carnie Wilson having the surgery and started to follow her story, I watched the surgery "live" on the internet and was convinced that I just HAD to have it too, I thought she was really brave doing all this in the public eye, she was and continues to be my inspiration:) My first impression of the procedure, was that it was a "miracle"