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

I was overwight most of my childhood. I was on my first diet in 5th grade. I had a few years of normal weight in college but after I married and had my first child the struggle started again. Following the death of my husband and even with a wonderful successful remarriage my weight ballooned to 325 pounds. I never felt pretty. However, as I look back at pcitures i realize I was beautiful for much of my young life, but the feeling I was too large all the time skewed my vision. I have a very responsible professional job but was often discounted because other people also could not see beyond the fat. I succeeded at every diet under the sun. Weght Watchers, Nutrisystme, jenny Craig. Atkins, South Beach - until I stopped and the weight came back I tried the next one. I had diet pills and counseling and massive depression. My wonderful husband chose me when I weighed 250 pounds and would have loved me to keep the "curves" but he saw how tired and miserable I was and he encouraged me to seek a more permanent approach to nutrition control.

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

I was constantly tired and felt chronically ill. I could not play the theatrical roles I had the voice and personality and talent to do.

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 am almost over 7 years out. I lost 176 pounds. With exercise ( treadmill and Pilates) and careful eating my weight holds steady between 150 and 155 pounds. I wear size 6 clothing ( I was a 10 before I got a tummy tuck). I enjoy wearing fashionable clothing. I have a lot more energy. I enjoy that my professional colleagues no longer dismiss me based on my appearance. I love how far I have come with Pilates - I can do exercises I had no hope of doing before. My knees no longer jurt. I have no more breathing problems. I no longer need a CPAP machine.