- How long have you been obese?
I can't say for sure but as an estimate I would say it started when I was about 15, which would make it 9 years now.
- What is your opinion on how society treats the obese?
I think I have been lucky in that my own personal experience isn't that representative of most others, but the fundamental difference I've noticed since slimming down is that people find me far more approachable and are less on their guard. The opposite sex especially seem far more comfortable. In retrospect I would say that my bulk and the way I looked to most people sparked off a kind of fear of a) the unknown b)social awkwardness and c)a great big beardy thuggish looking guy.
- How does being obese make you feel?
Physically tired when faced with long flights of steps...emotionally though I'm rather content. I don't honestly believe any cause for extremes of happiness or sadness have been rooted in weight issues. Again, being simply obese now rather than morbidly (bordering on super) obese I'm a little sad about what I talked about in the previous response, of not realising people were treating me differently until I had a basis for comparison. So, paradoxically enough, now that I'm thinner I'm a little more down on the whole thing.
- Have you or are you planning on having weight lose surgery?
No, in fact it was when I heard a doctor suggest it that I finally realised things had gotten out of hand. I guess at heart I'm so cheap I realised that going through the hell of adapting my diet from a decadent one to a healthy one was the preferable option next to the expensive quick-fix solution. Hope this was of some help