Rosie O'Donnell had 'emotional turbulence' with 50 lb. weight loss

Rosie O'Donnell has returned to The View after a seven year absence, and not only does she have new-found excitement for the show, she's also fifty pounds thinner.

The 52-year-old comedian had a procedure known as a vertical gastric sleeve, in which generally more than half of the stomach is removed, leaving a thin vertical sleeve.

O'Donnell told ABC News backstage that she's healthier, but getting used to her new body isn't all positive. She said, "The fact that I look so different has been difficult and unexpected. Everyone assumes that obese people would just be jumping for joy that they were healthier and thinner and able to fit into store-bought sizes, we don't have to go to the plus store. But it's also filled with a lot of emotional turbulence, you wouldn't expect."

O'Donnell credits her heart attack in 2012 and her marriage to Michelle Rounds for prompting her to take action. She said, "When we decided to get married, [my wife] said, 'But I want 40 more years and I don't want you to die on me, so you need to do something for your health.'"

You can watch O'Donnell and the rest of The View gang weekdays at 11am on ABC.

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