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Obesity & Me

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

Before I had the surgery 10 years ago, I was completely out of control as far as emotional eating. I used food to extinguish all my emotions, and that lead me to weighing over 325 pounds.

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

The deterioration of my health, I was 34 years old, and could not even go up a flight of stairs without being completely out of breathe. I had three small children, and I knew I had to change my life or I would not be there for them. Also the feeling of being invisible to people, in my career, it was as if I wasn't there.

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

Being able to move and not feel that my body is against me. Being called "beautiful" and not feel invisible. Being 44 years old, and people confusing me with my 21 year old daughter. My life has changed and I now feel that I have a life and a voice.

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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