Catherine Brazeau says bariatric surgery turned her life around

Catherine Brazeaudescribes her mood these days as "euphoric."

The 54 year old mother of four, who is also a travelling sales representative, said abariatric surgery in January has helped her to shed nearly120 lbs,and given her a new lease on life.

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Brazeau said her weight wasn't an issue until she quit smoking at 35, but a self-described food addiction soon replaced cigarettes.

Often she said,shewouldfind herself scrapingextra bites off of plates as she was clearing the dinner table. Other times, she would hide what she was eating, andwait until her family was in bed to go out for food.

"It was a comfort. You know, you're busy, you're raising your children", she said.

"As a woman, you're not even secondyou're like ninth. You have your children, you have your job, you have your husband, you have your house... you put yourself really last."

'I tried everything'

Brazeau said she tried fad diets or other weight loss plans, but the most she ever lost was 20 lbs, and then she'd give up.

"It was just too hard to implement [diet changes] into life," she said. "You know, you're in a hurry. You put food last."

In two decades, Brazeau's weight reached a peak of 275 lbs. She said her once outgoing personality wasno match for her new body.

"You know, my granddaughter would have a play at the Capitol Centre in North Bay. I wouldn't want to go because I'd be uncomfortable ... in the seats."

Brazeau finally decided enough was enough. Herstorywas featured Tuesday onMorning North.

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For more on GreaterSudbury'sobesity problem and what's being done to try to change it, tune in to CBC Sudbury's show Morning North with host Markus Schwabe all week at 7:10 a.m.