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 instant reminder of why i was obese to begin with. The simple truth is - your body doesnt NEED those foods - it just WANTS/CRAVES them. Once they are out of your mind - they are out of your life.

It has been nine months since my surgery, and at my last appointment i hit my 80 pounds lost mark. With only 10 or 15 pounds to go, I truly know that my surgery was a great decision for me and my well being. Just know that each person handles surgery different as well as its after effects. I guess i just had my mind set on not being the fat old lady who never got out of her rut..... GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!:tongue2:

OMG!! You look Awsome! Good Job... you go girl!! haha. Damn.. no pizza, huh?? thats one of my favorite foods.. but i would rather be fit and healthy then stuffing my face with pizza.

What does your average daily menu look like? You look GGGGGRRRRRRREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!! You look Awsome! Good Job... you go girl!! haha. Damn.. no pizza, huh?? thats one of my favorite foods.. but i would rather be fit and healthy then stuffing my face with pizza.

I also love pizza, and realized I could live without the crust because I really craved the toppings. Try this: take a microwavable dish (about the size of a meal portion) cover bottom with pizza sauce (most are fat free and low sugar) then cover with toppings (I use Hormel Turkey Pepperoni, 70% less fat, and I keep Birdseye Pepper Stir Fry in the freezer--just 3 colors of peppers and onion chunks--I sprinkle them over the pepperonis). Cover with Kraft Free shredded mozarella or cheddar and nuke for 2 minutes to heat and melt the cheese. If you like other toppings, look for fat free or low fat. If you try it let me know how you like it. It satisfies my craving for pizza (and I used to eat an entire pizza for a meal, pepperoni, green pepper, onions and extra cheese).

And congratulations on your weight loss.

You look fantastic! Congrats!