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

I was caught in an emotional battle with using food for comfort, anger, depression, sadness, and so on! I would eat too much, and then beat myself up and start the cycle all over again.

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

Feeling like I was nonexistent. I come from a family 5 children, and I felt like I didn't fit in a lot of the time. I'm realizing this was all in my head of course, now I understand that. The most painful part of being overweight was the constant teasing from classmates. It is so painful to already feel invisible at home, and then be pointed at and made fun of.

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

For me the most satisfying part has been the ability to not think about food as the enemy. I really enjoy what it put in my mouth instead of worrying about it. Secondly I get to do more with my family and friends and not get tired. The most amazing result is that I actually enjoy working out. I can actually move and do things for the first time since I was like 10 years old.