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

I have always been a "stocky" kid. I was "large" boned. I don't recall ever being under 150 pounds. When I was fifteen I weighed 165 to 170 pounds. I tried all sorts of diets. I went in for injections. I took caffeine pills. I took over the counter water pills. Used ex-lax. Went on a starvation diet...sure I got some quick results with a few of these methods, but the weight just came crashing back on me. Talk about YO-YO dieting, that is what I actually was doing. I started Atkins, tried eat right for your blood type, weight watchers, and tops. Nothing seemed to help me. I have been struggling with health issues that also work against my weight loss trials. I have hypothyroidism due to having my thyroid removed. My weight just sky rocketed after the surgery. I gained like 50 pounds when I was told I had tumors on both sides of my thyroid. Had surgery, then wow, I just seemed to gain and didn't have to eat.

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

Being embarrassed. The emotional issues I face being overweight. I am embarrassed to attend my childrens' school sports due to my weight. I can feel all eyes upon me when I try to sit at a game. I know I embarrass my kids so I try not to attend. I don't need anyone picking on them because of me. I shy away from public. My husband even commented that he is embarrassed to be seen in public with me. He tells me that I am physically repulsive and that I should be grateful that he has taken pity upon me, and married me. I have been living like a recluse for the last 23 years. I missed out on having friends. Girls night out. Going shopping for clothes at nice places...I just missed out on living.

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 not that lucky. I don't have a date set yet.