Food has been my solace for as long as I can remember. I thought of myself as fat from age 3 on. After the placement of my cardiac Stent, I was sure I would turn this around. After the difficult recoveries from my broken shoulder and,most recently,broken vertebrae and subsequent months of pain.and living a life the size of a postage stamp, I thought I would surely turn this around. No.

Dr. Melisi and I had a long talk when he was explaining the surgery. He showed my images and said he was going to have to go very deep to get to my spine because of the fat around my midsection and showed me the kind of instrument he would have to use. It was the first time I've had a good talk about the impact of my weight on my back and recovery without shame. I think his kindness actually prompted my determination to lose 25 pounds and work on strengthening my legs to help me.get up with bending forward as I won't be able to for weeks after surgery (Aetna reached out and said it will take at least 2 weeks for approval or denial).

Why am I saying all of this? I guess I don't want you to be a 'Paula'whose denial about the impact of years of obesity. You don't want diabetes so, hang tough!