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

I had a love/hate food relationship with food before my bariactric diet. Growing up my Gma (GOD rest her soul) punished with food. She would make me eat everything on my plate and then chastise me for getting fat. I don't blame her but I do believe that is where my eating problems began. My mother was the complete opposite. She rewarded with food, kept me home from school to go out to eat, anytime money came in the house it was our special treat to go EAT. Sunday breakfast consisted of sausasge, gravy, biscuits, hash browns, pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, toast and was an all day event. If it was gone before dinner then I was on my own. I was 29 years old before I realized I didn't care for sausage or pancakes and I was eating them out of habit.I became Diabetic at age 29 and it forced me to look at what I was eating.

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

The worst thing about being overweight is the diabetes. IT's a vicious cycle. I need the insulin to stay alive. I need to lose weight to help the diabetes but the insulin makes it down right almost impossible to lose weight. It makes me tired, angry, and keeps it in my mind that I am going to die because of this disease. The 2nd worst thing about being overweight is that I put myself on the sidelines all of the time. I either don't participate because I'm so tired or because I'm too embarrassed. I can't wait to be living life instead of watching it pass me by.

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'm still waiting on my surgery date. I am at the end of my 6 month insurance dieting and with any luck I will have it mid May.