Cleopatra_Nik

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Obesity & Me

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

In short, I've always been overweight. I was born 9 lbs., 3 oz. I was a big kid who grew into a big teenager who grew into a big woman. This wasn't so much of a problem for me until about 2001, after the birth of my second child, when my weight surpassed 300 lbs. This was the heaviest I'd ever been and following a breakup with the father of my two daughters, I began to descend into a cycle of negative feelings and unhealthy eating behaviors. I consider myself a food addict who has a tendency to medicate with food.

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

The worst thing about being overweight was not being able to keep up with my young children. I also felt I was being a negative role model for them, teaching them my unhealthy ways of eating and living a sedentary life. I decided that if I was to be a positive role model to them I had to transform my body and my relationship with food.

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

There are so many things I enjoy about my life now that I've had weight loss surgery. I can keep up with my children (who are considerably older now). I can run, dance, jump and do most anything I want to do. I also love that I love what I see in pictures. I used to dodge cameras. Now there are plenty of family memories captured on photo that my children and I will smile at for a long time to come.

ARE YOU READY TO PAY IT FORWARD & SHARE YOUR JOURNEY? Your journey will help highlight the many ways weight loss surgery improves lives and makes a difference in our families, communities and world. EACH JOURNEY COUNTS as a voice towards greater awareness.

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