Last year at this time, walking was perhaps the furthest thing from my mind. I weighed 460 pounds and it was all I could do to walk to my car. Today, I am more than 160 pounds lighter, and walking is as much a part of my life as breathing. Even though I chose surgical weight loss to address my struggle with weight, I know that lasting health requires a lifetime commitment to exercise.

On Saturday, I will demonstrate that commitment as I participate in a national Walk From Obesity at 2 p.m. in Winton Woods. Cincinnati is one of 45 cities walking to increase awareness of the dangers of obesity and to raise money for research.

For me, the walk will be a great reunion - a chance to reconnect with physicians from the University of Cincinnati Center for Surgical Weight Loss, friends and family. It also will be a great opportunity to educate people about surgical weight loss.

I had the surgery last fall after trying every diet and program. Instead of losing weight, I was losing out on life. I had no energy and no future. Obesity can cause serious medical conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, arthritis and depression. While diet, exercise, behavior modification or drug therapy can help, surgery is the only effective solution for extreme obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health.

My surgeon, Dr. David Fischer, was wonderful - seeing me through the initial operation as well as some complications - and I truly think he saved my life. Now, I know, the rest is up to me.

Many people believe surgical weight loss is a miracle cure - that post-surgery, people can eat whatever they want, whenever they want. They can't. I can't. Surgery is one tool to lose weight. Patients must change their lifestyle. They must get up, get out and get healthy.

That's what the Walk From Obesity is about. When Dr. Fischer first told me I had to walk a mile a day, I panicked. I didn't think I could do it. How could I, when I became winded just moving about the house? But I tried it and I stuck with it. Today, I walk 4 miles a day five days a week. I have energy, stamina and an active life.

I have a healthy future, too, one that I can control ... one step at a time.

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Linda Renshaw of Colerain Township is a member of the local committee planning the Walk From Obesity and a patient at the UC Center for Surgical Weight Loss. To register for the walk, visit www.ucsurgeons.com or call (513) 475-7770.

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