smbonier

[b][size=5][font=comic sans ms, cursive][color=#ff0066]My name is Stephanie Bonier! I am 24 years old and live in northern Illinois; not too far away from Chicago. I am currently a therapist at a rape-crisis center. In September, I married my best friend, Greg. He has been so supportive through this entire process and I am so happy to have him by my side.[/color]

[color=#ff0066]Ever since I can remember, I was always the 'big girl'. In elementary school and middle school, I was made fun of a lot because of my weight and didn't know what to do. During high school, I tried to slim down but things did not work as I had hoped. Then when I got to college, things got worse; talk about the 'Freshman 15' it was more like the 'Freshman 50'. [/color]

[color=#ff0066]During college, I decided that I needed to do something about my weight. I had started Weight Watchers and it worked for a period of time, but I then gained all the weight back and more. After my Weight Watchers stint, I attempted to do Slim-Fast, Jenny Craig, Alli, and even Nutrasystem. All were epic failures. And I really needed to try to loose some weight because I was getting married in September 2012.[/color]

[color=#ff0066]For a while, I had researched the Lap Band but did not say anything about it to my family. I feared that they would think that I was doing it as an 'easy way out'. I continued to wait to really do anything and finally called my mom and told her what I was thinking. She was apprehensive about the idea of me having surgery because I had never had surgery before; but something needed to be done. My blood pressure was on the rise, along with my cholesterol; and I was becoming fearful about having children in the future.[/color]

[color=#ff0066]On July 10, 2012, my mom and I went to my consultation appointment with Dr. Woodard at Central DuPage Hospital. My questions were answered, along with my moms, and I made the decision to have the surgery. Since I was getting married in September, I knew that I would have to have the surgery after; and I was fine with that. [/color]

[color=#ff0066]Starting in July, I began the process of the medical tests, psychological tests, and other requirements in order to have the surgery performed. At the end of August, everything was done and I was told that I would need to wait for the insurance approval. The day before my wedding, I got a phone call; THE SURGERY WAS APPROVED! It was one of the best phone calls that I had gotten and I was so happy.[/color]

[color=#ff0066]After getting home from my honeymoon, on September 16, I set my surgery date; October 10, 2012, 3 months after starting the process! I began my pre-op diet and started preparing for the surgery.[/color]

[color=#ff0066]I was banded on October 10, 2012! I am so happy with the decision I made and know that I am going to have such a healthy life from now on.[/color][/font][/size][/b]