Shannon318

[color=#008080][font=comic sans ms,cursive]Hi, my name is Shannon. I am also participating in The HeadsUp obesity study though Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA. My surgeon is Dr. Andrew Hargroder. [/font][/color]

[color=#008080][font=comic sans ms,cursive]I have not always struggled with my weight. In high school and throughout my 20s, I remained between 130-140lbs. After the birth of my third child at age 29, I failed to lose weight. I remained around 195-205lbs. Then it seemed each year, I packed on a few more pounds, in addition to health issues (high blood pressure and acid reflux.)[/font][/color]

[color=#008080][font=comic sans ms,cursive]When I was accepted into the study, I was at my highest weight of 254 lbs at 5'3". During the initial phase of the study you are placed on a two week liquid diet and at that point I lost 11lbs and was advanced to the second phase of the study. During the month and a half wait for the surgery approval I managed to keep off all but three lbs of the 11 lbs loss. So at my presurgery consultation with Dr. Hargroder, I weighed in at 246. [/font][/color]

[font=comic sans ms,cursive][color=#008080]I was banded on 5/23/12 and everything went well with no complications. I had my two week post surgery check up 6/6/12 and I had lost 19 lbs!!! I was so excited. I have transitioned to soft foods and I am nervous about eating something that doesn't agree with my band and also counting calories. I am really glad to find this site because I haven't found any support groups in my town. I live in northwest LA but my surgery was done in Baton Rouge. I am looking forward to reading the interesting articles and making new friends[/color] [u][b][color=#800080][u]so please feel free to add me as a friend![/u][/color][/b][/u][b][color=#800080] :D[/color][/b][/font]