Acting has been an interest of mine all my life. I did get involved a few years ago, studying it at uni and also tafe (a college), but never stayed with it. I let my weight get in the way. I was way too self-conscious.

I'm getting the band soon and I'm thinking now I might be able to give this a really good go. If I don't have the weight to stop me, then I might just be able to stick with it long enough to have some fun. I'm not expecting a huge career now, but to at least be able to work in the industry, maybe just teaching others, would be a blast.

Anybody else been interested in acting at all?

I don't know much about acting in Australia but here in the states we have community theaters and you have people in all shapes and sizes and ages. My daughter has always been active in the theater and she's always been a plus size girl and has had many starring rolls, she also sings and has a beautiful voice and has much confidence in herself which I'm very proud of. If they have something like that there jump in it's a great place to meet a lot of nice people. It's not like movies or TV where there's so much emphasis on being a certain look or size, at least not here, good luck Nancy.

No, that's definitely the same here. As I said its been my issue about my weight stopping me. I've been stopping myself, not anyone else. With the weight gone, what was stopping me is gone.

I know how you feel. I'm a pianist, and have been lucky enough to have done a bit of performing, some of it as a musical theater director in local theater. I was always conscious of my weight, and felt that others were judging me, too, though no one ever said anything. Truth be told, I learned there were others who were plus sizes too, but like you, I let it get in the way, and haven't actively tried for much lately. I guess for me, the trick is to do what I can (I still perform) and even though I feel like there's not enough room for me, the piano, the singer(s) and the audience, I keep going. It's not always easy, but it works for me.

Good luck. Let us know when you decide to take those steps back toward your dream!