“I’d tried every diet and just couldn’t stick to them. Now with the surgery I feel a lot happier in myself and much more outgoing.”
Mr. M, gastric band patient

“I felt too big for the world. I even developed a fear of travelling because I couldn’t fit in the seats and it was so embarrassing.”
Mrs. M, gastric bypass patient

“I would have been dead within a year with my high blood pressure and diabetes. I had to be there for my daughter.”
Mr. L, gastric bypass patient

“I had no confidence, couldn’t exercise, felt tired all the time, couldn’t shop in ‘normal’ shops and I thought I had to put up with that – but you don’t!”
Mrs. A, gastric bypass patient

“I don’t obsess about food anymore. I know I don’t have to finish my plate and it’s so great to have that control back.”
Mrs. T, gastric bypass patient

“I’d always been big and spent my whole life comfort eating. I felt so down and holidays filled me with dread.”
Mrs. M, gastric bypass patient

“Over my 25-year battle with my weight I had tried everything to lose weight and absolutely nothing worked for me. I was diagnosed with diabetes and my health was rapidly declining.”
Mrs. T, gastric band patient

“The doctor said that I would probably be dead in five years if I didn’t do something. I wanted to see my children grow up. I was in constant pain with my knees, ankles and back.”
Mrs. B, gastric bypass patient

“I was miserable. I was always crying, never wanted to go out, was so irritable and self-conscious and I couldn’t see any way out.”
Mrs. A, gastric bypass patient

“The best change is feeling that I have control back over my body and life. I no longer have to put up with how I am but can change how I look and feel.”
Mrs. M, gastric bypass patient

“The last straw was on a flight to Las Vegas for my birthday. I spent the whole journey crying as I was so uncomfortable and then throughout my time there I was dreading flying home.” Ms. P, gastric bypass patient

“My weight had yo-yoed my whole life. If anything went wrong I turned to food. I realised I couldn’t waste any more years and wanted to see my grandchildren grow up.” Mrs. H, gastric bypass patient

“I had hit rock bottom. With so many aches and pains, feeling depressed and heading towards 50 I didn’t know how long I had left at the weight I was.”
Mrs. R, gastric bypass patient

“I knew I wanted a family in the future and by being obese my chances of conceiving were dramatically reduced.”
Ms. M, gastric band patient

“People never took me seriously before and thought I was stupid because I’d got to that size. Now I feel listened to and respected.”
Mrs. S, gastric band patient

“I used to be so bitter about my weight. I wasn’t a very nice person to be around for my family as the comments and stares from others really got me down.”
Mr. H, gastric bypass patient

“I used to hate going out and would make up any excuse to get out of things. The biggest thing for me is now feeling fitter and healthier and I can sleep soundly throughout the whole night!”
Mrs. S, gastric bypass patient

“I couldn’t remember not being fat and had dieted my whole life. I used to wake up thinking I was going to die and wrote my will and planned my funeral as I was told I only had a few years left.”
Mrs. S, gastric bypass patient

“Going out was horrific – I couldn’t find any nice clothes to fit into. Shopping is now a joy and I’ve got a whole new wardrobe!”
Mrs. G, gastric bypass patient

“I’d always been bigger but just kept getting bigger. I had no energy, suffered with hypertension and diabetes was looming. I was at an age where I needed to take action quickly.”
Mrs. W, gastric band patient

“My joints constantly ached from carrying so much weight around. I never looked good in clothes, but now my self-esteem has sky-rocketed! My weight is no longer an issue.” Ms. K, gastric bypass patient

“I was so low I couldn’t get any lower. I would eat to fill a constant black hole and it became a vicious circle. My health was terrible and I now feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life.”
Mrs. L, gastric bypass patient

“I felt I was going to die if I didn’t address my weight problem. I wanted to enjoy life with my children rather than never having the energy to join in or being restricted by my size.”
Mrs. E, gastric bypass patient

“People now see me how I always wanted to be seen. I’m taken seriously at last, and I no longer am addicted to or controlled by food – what a wonderful feeling!”
Mrs. S, gastric band patient

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