Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

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I wanted to post this on my one year bandiversary... Today is the day! When I went in for surgery, I weighed 235, with a BMI of 41.0. I was embarrassed that I was 31 years old, and morbidly obese. I didn't suffer major health problems, except for sore knees, god-awful snoring that showed slight sleep apnea, and I was always tired. I had two little girls, ages 2 and 4, who I wanted to have a healthy active lifestyle with. I knew that in my current state, that was not going to happen. As a woman married to a man who could eat ANYTHING and stay underweight, I was frustrated and jealous. I didn't seem fair... The most discouraging part was the constant feeling of …

On Monday, I had to work the day shift to teach a few topics at an all day conference where I work. Normally, I wear regular clothes and a lab coat. For the conference, I wore dressy clothes and no lab coat. I saw many people I had not seen for months (170 people attended). MANY people came up to me to tell me it's quite apparent that I have lost weight, etc. It's nice that the loss is showing. For lunch, 50 pizzas were delivered. I had brought a protein bar with me so I took my 2 pieces of pizza to my skinny secretary and had lunch in the office with him. It felt great to have control over the food. Prior to the surgery, I could have easily devoured 4 pieces.

Today is my birthday. I'm 65. It's hard for me to believe that because I don't feel it. I also feel as though I've had a rebirth. This surgery is giving me a new lease on life because I'm finally on my last diet ever. I'm going to diet to lose the weight and then just eat healthily after that. The sleeve will allow me to do that because if the restriction. That is what I've needed all of my life. I see some people here who have been discouraged by spouses, family etc. because they are 'too old'. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are 'too old' for ANYTHING in life. I have plans for at least twenty-five more years and I'm going to leave it dancing.

I have been "challanged" to share my success story and am happy to do so. I had my surgery in Jun 08 and since then I have lost over 120 lbs and went from size 28 to size 6 petite. The restriction I have as a direct result of the physical changes to my insides has been a part of my success but there is much more involved, The sleeve itself helps me feel full faster and stay full longer and has allowed me to develop a different relationship with myself, food and eating. I am now mindful of my eating which was a new concept for me. I do not diet per se, that never worked before. I am however now making better choices. The bottom line is, regardless of surgery we are all …

Hi everyone, I am a newbie to this interesting website. Great place to meet and great with other sleevers. Although I have not had surgery yet, I am meeting with my NUT and Co-ordinator on July 21. It looks like surgery will be in the fall. I am part of a 5 year study on VSG performed in Halifax, NS. I have been battling my weight all my life. I have been on a waiting list for surgery for 5 years but then that surgeon retired. So my Dr. referred me to the weight loss clinic last fall. Things are moving along quite quickly. I am scared and excited but hopeful that this will be the beginning of a new life for me. I am a mom to a 26 year old boy. He is as lean as a bean. W…

I had emerged from a childhood of being obese as a slim size 6 teenager vowing never to be fat again. A decade later I was bigger then ever. There was no one specific event that made me decide that having the Lap Band placed was the right decision for me, rather it was all of the small indignities that were becoming common place in my life. There were many, but with each new indignity I became more hindered in my ability to live the type of life that I wanted to. At first not being able to cross my legs was just something that I would have to live with. Then I had to start looking for seats without arms, which made going to a movie an anxiety producing event. Eventually s…

I had my body fat measured at the gym today and they claimed it's under 18%! I'm not sure I believe this, but it still makes me happy. My scale hasn't budged on body fat % in months and I've lost visible fat pockets so I know it's down from what it's saying.

Having the lapband surgery on March 5th 2008 has given me my life back. I was home bound for years. Good part of the time spent in bed. I had surgery on my back twice total of 4 disc I have knee problems which is getting better. high blood pressure ,cholesterol . I am off of 4 medications now. I go out almost every day I can go to stores to shop now instead of shopping on line or off television . Was able to go to Atlantic City. Bingo, and walks. I really didn't care wether I lived or not I was depressed almost gave up completly. Then I saw Lapband I went to seminar And I thought I have nothing to lose but this weight so I did it. Best thing I ever did in my life I have h…

Hello Everyone, I am scheduled for surgery on 6/3. My Pre Op visit to the doctors was on the 21st of May. The dietician instructed me to begin liquids on 5/22. However, I have eaten a little on Memorial day (just a piece of steak and about 3 diced potatoes). I am starting straight liquids today 5/26 until the date of my surgery. Not eating anything on Memorial Day was a great challenge. Is a week prior to my scheduled surgery enough time to do straight liquids? Please advise me of whether this will pose an hinderance on my surgery. Getting cold feet, as I have read several posts about perhaps making a bad decision to have the surgery -- these thoughts occurred in t…

I had surgery March 24, 2008 and I have lost 105 pounds as of right now. I am still losing but it has slowed way down. I started out wearing a size 26 and today I am wearing a size 10! It is frustrating sometimes and there are sometimes complications but I would do it again in a heartbeat! Whatever you do, don't give up no matter how frustrated you get. Its hard work and it doesnt do it for you, but the results are worth it! Tracy Edit: this as of today, I am in a size 8! Yippee!

I had my surgery 1.5 years ago and the results have been what I was hoping for. I can't honestly say that they exceeded my expectations only because my expectations were so high based on my research before the surgery but I can say that the results have been simply amazing and has changed my entire life around. As you can see from the before and after pictures my appearance is so different as to be almost unrecognizable. I have a girlfriend and we are in a serous relationship. I met her at a New Years Eve dance party that I never would have attended before the surgery and we danced most of the night. I have been able to lower or go off of many of my medications and my o…

Hey there all you fellow banders. My name is Stacy and I'm from Tennessee. My surgeon was Dr. Stephen Boyce out of Knoxville, Tn. I had a wonderful surgeon and all of his staff is amazing. I had my surgery on August 18, 2008. To date I have only lost 13 pounds, but I plan on losing 100 more pounds to get to my first goal of 150 pounds. After I reach that goal, I am hoping to reach my second goal of another 20 pounds to be at 130. :tongue2: I have not always been overweight. As a matter of fact I was under weight until I was 20 yrs. old and had my first child. My OBGYN never once told me I was gaining to much weight and by the time I had her, I had gained 100 pounds. I …

I was just thinking about my life and how many times I have lost weight. I then was wondering after losing the weight how often did I put it back on plus more...... After repetative weight loss and weight gain the final DIET I was on was the Adkins Diet and I lost 55 pounds and then after 6 months of losing I gained 75 pounds in 5 months. I couldn't take it anymore..... I truly believed that I was a lost case and just believe that I am supposed to be 251 pounds and DEPRESSED..... Whether it was the band or finally my 41 years at the time and the respect for life I began rethinking my health and how badly I wanted to live without medical issues. I have kept my weig…

So here are the stats: 75 lbs down 73 inches lost BP from 160/98 to 114/88. Sugars from 102 to 83 No aches or pains. From no exercise to walking 5 hours a week and taking 5-1 hour classes a week. Size 24 to a 12 No diet coke for over a year. No alcohol for over a year. Kicked caffeine in the last 4 months. Still working on the sugar thing... I also submitted a "Wow" moment to OH and have been informed that my story and picture have been accepted for a future issue. Very Cool. Best of all, I feel normal. Most of you will know what I mean by this. I don't worry about the size and strength of chairs. I don't measure myself against others to see if I am the big…

"Dream the Ridiculous, then make it happen" Matt Quinten had a dream to become lean. Obese all his adult life, Matt was the guy at school who would forge permission slips to get out of PE, having never competed in a Sports Carnival or a Swimming Carnival. Throughout his life he would break toilet seats under his weight, would be scared outdoor furniture would snap, and had to source clothes in his size from the Internet. Matt had tried diets, tried to exercise, tried shakes. The lot. Nothing worked long term. Matt even tried to lift weights as early as 12yrs of age, played junior rugby to try to find something enjoyable and run around, tried gym memberships, training wi…

My journey began a long time ago but until last year I did not realize what an easy desicion it should have been. I am diabetic and have been for 24 years. I have high cholesterol, manic depression, thyroid that does not work, and on top of that I was dealing with bone healing issues. I broke my leg in 2005 and it did not heal so I had to have surgery to have the hardware removed. Broke it again a year and half later and could not heal. During those three years I had gained 80 pounds. This of course spiraled my diabetes out of control. I decided I needed to make a decision to do something and realized I could not do it alone. I researched the lap band for a long time b…

This is the link to my diary that I kept before, during, and after the life-changing surgery! myjourneywithlapband's Xanga Site

My story is just like everyone else's. The struggles of gaining and losing the same 100 pounds, that eventually turned into more. Every diet out there, I have tried. I've bought that T-shirt, worn it, out grew it, gave it away.. The story line is just like the same ol' song, just a different singer. I've watched a million commericals about weight loss, focusing on that magic cure. Of course, the logic side of me, knew --- There is no "magic" cure. I beat myself up for not having the will power to succeed. Of course, I would lose, just to gain it back plus some. Who didn't. Last year, my hubby and I purchased our first home. I was so excited, lots of planning to do, buyi…

I am not going to lie and say everything has been roses. I do have extreme bouts with the mucus but I do not regret the decision at all. I have more energy that I could ever imagine, I recently had an interview and put on the suit I have not worn since my wedding and it fit better now than it did back then. I get compliements almost everyday. I wish I could do something about the mucus, i have tried the warm drinks, apple juice, pineapple juice nothing seems to help. It was still worth it and continues to be.

I guess my story's like most of yours. Never was thin,even as a teen, I got married had a child and lost all the weight.Two years later had another child and gained weight, had another child 18 months later,gained,lost a baby, gained, then 4 years later had another child gaining all the way. Went back to college 3 years bettering my grade each time,Gained weight. I worked with mentally & physically handicapped adults and kids. I loved my work. I guess it kept me from thinking about my weight. One day at work I thought I was having a heart attack....Lucky for me it was just heart wall pain caused from my gallbladder.I had High blood pressure and diabetes.My sister…

I grew up husky (as they called it). Never was thin. I graduated HS at over 200. Then my first year of college did alot of walking and went down 40 lbs or so. Then started creeping back up. Got pregnant 12 years out of HS and gained 60 lbs. I wasn't able to get rid of it. Went on to have 2 more kids (all c-section). I started having more health problems, depression and severe back pain. More and more aches and pains. Migraines started coming on more frequently. I started hearing more about gastric bypass but didn't want something so severe. Had some distant friends have the surgery and they had good success. Starting hearing more about lap band and did some research…

:thumbup:My story is like this I have always been over weight and tried every diet and then some took every pill they said was magic (bull) and would lose the water weight and gain it right back, then I said I need to go to the meetings on the different surgery's and oh I did and was gonna have the gastric bypass and chickened out two times then I talked to a woman that I see at Bob Evans and she said her Daughter had gastric bypass and cant stop losing weight, and alot more that scared me, so I said what about Lap Band she said if I wanted to do one go with that one so third time going through the meetings I had decided to go through with it and thank God I did , I start…

Hi Everyone, It's great to read so many success stories. I can't say enough positive things about having this done. I'm healthier and happier and have no regrets. I feel great now. I still have weight to lose but my confidence in my ability to do so is so high. I used to go on diets all the time but in the back of my mind I knew I would fail. This time, I won’t fail… and with losing 50 pounds so far I’m well on my way to success. I’m getting a lot of comments from people now on how good I look. I finally decided to buy clothes that actually fit me instead of a bunch of baggy clothes with flower prints on them and the great comments keep coming! It’s a nice fee…

After struggling with my weight my entire life, my decision to have the Lap Band surgery was one i will never regret! While some people would not have looked at me and automatically labeled me obese, my body and my BMI definately did. At 28 yrs.old, I weighed 252 pounds and had a BMI of 40! With no children of my own yet, i knew that this time in my life was a perfect time to gain a permanent solution to my weight problem. Now don't get me wrong - there are some days that i wish i could rip it out from inside of me - simply because i am a greedy eater! Sometimes i wish i could have a hamburger or maybe a slice of pizza - but then i KNOW that i CANT have it and it is an i…

Fellow lappers and prospective one's- if you are thinking about it- it is the single best thing I have ever done in my life. I have lost about 53 pounds in a year! I haven't been this way since before I went to college! and love every minute of it. My success is not so much in the band but in my attitude. Even before the surgery I went in knowing that this was NO magic bullet and this weight didn't come on in 5 months and sure as heck wouldn't come down in that time either. Instead it will come down the same way it went up- but I will help my body a bit by giving it the tool (lap-band), the committment (5-6 days of one hour biking religiously) + 2-3 days of lifiting and t…

I am amazed at the transformation I have gone thru so far this year. I did alot of research prior to my surgery. I was very fearful that like every other "diet" this would not be a long-term answer. But, I am happy to say that this was the answer I had been searching for. The surgery was the switch I needed to flip to put myself on a different path. I reached my original goal weight after just 7 months and have maintained that weight. I feel like I need to exercise and am excited about what I can do. If I miss a couple of days, I am motivated to do more next time (quite a change from a girl who avoided ANY exercise at all). I think about food differently. If I …

Last summer, I had an epiphany on my state of being. I didn't like where I was physically or emotionally. I realized that the emotional side had so much to do with the frustrations and inability to change physically. This epiphany was "Just Focus and Do It!!" I wanted change but had been unwilling to give change my focus. I was determined to FOCUS. I had been researching WLS for a few years. There were so many options and they all sounded so radical. I started hearing about the LapBand and about the same time I had my epiphany, I ran into an old friend. We had dinner together, Chinese food. She was eating slowly and talking quite a bit. Something inside told me to raise…

Ok, here we go! My story is the typical story I suppose. I was born fat, stayed fat all through childhood, and then into adulthood. When I was a freshman in high school, I was just shy of 300 lbs! I always just used the excuse that I was "big boned"! Thats how my family and I explained it away. My weight held me back from a lot. I was very shy and hated to be "in the spotlight" everywhere I went. One of my worst childhood memories was being at an amusement park and being denied entry into a ride because I exceeded the weight limit! I was crushed, and I will never forget that day. Well, about a year ago, my mom mentioned the lap band procedure to me. At first, I …

Best Thing I ever did was have the surgery, I can't even begin to tell you just how much it changed my life. A few stats below, may help you make the decision to have the surgery. 23/07/05 Weight 162.9Kg 05/09/08 90.4Kg 23/07/05 BMI 50.3 05/09/08 28.2 23/07/05 Fat % 62.8 05/09/08 27.1% 23/07/05 Fat Mass 101.2Kg 05/09/08 24.6Kg

My story is like many others. I had spent a life of luxury on the "skinny side" of things until I had my second child in 2 years. My body had become my enemy and my metabolism was cruel. No matter what I did I could not loose weight and keep it off. I was miserable and felt like a stranger in my own skin. After countless failed diets, pills and gimmicks I had given up. And then, one day I took my young daughters to the movies. Not a place you would think you would realize you have to change your life, but it was for me. When I went to sit next to my daughter I couldn't fit into the seat, at all. I was horrified and at that moment it hit me while standing to watch the movi…

This was the best thing I could have ever done. I haven't had any complications, no drama. I guess we have all gotten to the point where we are ready to shed this weight and keep it off. Not everyone here who has had the surgery was really ready (you can see it in their responses). Of course we're used to eating whatever we want, whenever we want, but look where that got us:thumbdown:. For me, this has been and will continue to be a life changing experience. I am eating better than I ever have in life, I'm exercising (I mean really exercising), I work out 5 days a week , 2 of those days with a personal trainer. It's only been about 6 weeks since surgery and I am getting s…

Ok so this is my story. I started seriously thinking about Lap Band along with a co-worker, when some friends starting talking about a Dr. in Mexico where she had just returned and the price was very reasonable and the Dr. was awesome. My insurance would not cover the procedure so it was going to be self pay so price was important. So I started communications with the clinic and got some questions answered and decided to go for it as did my co-worker. She actually went 2 weeks before me. (sent her as a guinne pig) if she came back in one piece I would be more comfortable! :lovechoc: So my date came...I did a liquid diet 10 days before the surgery and boy that was har…

:thumbup: I'm sure you have heard them all and I am also sure that my story is not new or different, so that being said ...here is my story!!! I was born with a healthy appetite and had to watch my weight from a young age. I remember putting myself on a bread and water diet in 6th grade. (What did I know about carbs then, haha) I weighed 120lbs when I was 11yrs. old. (I am only 5' tall now) I peeked at 145lbs in 8th grade. ( I felt like a blimp) At the age of 16 I went on a low carb diet and did lose weight, down to 115-120lbs. I maintained this weight (except for a few times I snuck back up to 130, but managed to get it off) through high school and colleg…

I have known about lap band surgery for many years but have always made the comment that it wasn't something I would attempt til y head was in the right place. I am a compulsive overeater and didn't get to my pre-op weight by eating salads and jogging 5k a day. The fisrst photo is on the morning of my surgery nad the 'current' one is from 11th June - about 8 weeks down the track - must get something more current as I have lost another 20lbs since then! This is the NEW me photo - the photos are great to keep your head in shape when you have those days where you beat yourself up!! I have battled my weight all my life - the first diet I remember was at 11. I have lost n…

Having the lapband has changed my life. I would recomend it for anyone. I feel so much better. I still have a little ways to go. I have 38 pounds left to loose. I will get there. My surgeon and her staff have been wonderful through the entire 7 months. Good luck to everyone who plans to go through with the lapband. :shades_smile:

this is my story - I've always had a weight problem. I hated who I was and how I felt. My before picture was taken Christmas eve last year. I had nothing to wear and was 241 lbs. We went to my brother in laws house and of course there were many pictures taken. My husband and son were a great support and made me feel as comfortable and I could be despite my obesity problem. I could not take it anymore. I was tired all the time and my knees were starting to bother me. I decided to have the lapband. I was banded on March 3 and have lost 60 lbs since. I feel so much better. The weight has been coming off at a much slower pace but i know I will get to my goal. I love my lapban…

I was very unhappy in my body. I was always active in sports and I even ran a 26.2 mile marathon, but could not shed any weight. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. This disease among other things does not allow a woman to lose weight very easily especially around their mid section. I packed on the pounds even though I was active and tried to watch what I ate. Finally at 231 pounds I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and I decided to visit the Barix Clinics of Ohio. They helped me see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that I could achieve my dreams. Along with PCOS comes infertility and it has always been a dream of mine and my husband's to hav…

I was banded in Feb (2008). It was the best thing I have ever done. Yes, I had complications..I had an infection and I was in terrible pain for over 2 weeks, but it was still the best thing for me. At the rate I was going, I was heading for a heart attack, so if I had to have 2 weeks with pain, whoopee, better than having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bad heart. MUCH better! Stop it before it gets to that point. Now my blood pressure is 102 over 68 and I have never felt better in my LIFE!! I still have 27 pounds to go, but I know I will get there. I go to the gym 3 days a week and I have signed up for some running/walking races. Never in my life did I th…

Ok. So my story has been told before. So here is the short version... Banded 22 Feb 2005, after one last year long try to "do it on my own". I was 24 at the time, and suffering from PCOS, type II, high blood pressure, and my knee and back were killing me all the time. My health sucked. I also looked pretty bad. I was pretty enough, and my husband loved me just as I was, but I really wasn't happy with the way I looked at that weight. So, I was banded, and at about six months post op, I became a veggie. No real reason, it was just something I wanted to do. I also started running. Slowly at first. But by the time I was a year or so post op, I was running 4 or 5 km a …