I’ve loved food for as long as I can remember.  I’m the youngest of four children, so we always had a lot of food at the table.  I was never “the fat kid” at school, but I was always at least 20-30 pounds heavier than my classmates.  My weight spiraled out of control when I was in college.  I left high school weighing 180 pounds. By my 2^nd semester of freshman year, I weighed over 200.  My weight kept getting higher.  I had tried and failed at the Atkins diet, and I was successful at Weight Watchers, where I lost 16 pounds.  I eventually got off track, and gained back all of that weight and plus some. My weight constantly yo-yoed.  I’d get down to 240, and then go through a depression where I’d get up to 260. When my father passed away in February of 2008, I lost weight from sadness and grief and weighed in at 230.  By the end of the year, I ate through my pain, and ended up at over 280 lbs.  I’d avoid getting on scales or looking in the mirror.  I hated what I saw.  I finally decided to look into getting the Lap Band in November of 2008.  Dr. Provost held a meeting that explained the procedure, what to expect before and after, and helpful tips about keeping the weight off.  He explained that obesity is a disease that is treatable.  I contacted my insurance company, and by the beginning of 2009, I was approved for the surgery.    My surgery date was scheduled for March 30^th, 2009.  A lot of people tried to talk me out of it, but I was determined to use this tool to lose the weight.  Pre-surgery, I weighed 283.  Today, I weigh 185.  I feel better physically and emotionally.  I get on the scale frequently now to track my weight loss, and I love what I see when I look at myself in the mirror.  The Lap Band saved my life, and it’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Before Surgery

After Surgery