KimM
I have been fighting weight gain since I was in the 6th grade. Since then, I've lost weight only to regain it, then start the process over.
Two years ago, my family doctor told me about Lap-Band surgery. He thought it would be a good option for me. I had never even heard of it until then.
When I found out some more information about the surgery, I started to get excited. I thought that, maybe, for the first time, I'd be able to keep the weight off.
Before surgery, I weighed 250 lbs. I had slightly elevated blood pressure, sleep apnea, acid reflux, trouble breathing with activity and heat, sensitivity to heat exhaustion, joint pain (esp, in my knees, back, & feet), as well as heart problems and diabetes in my family. Basically, I was writing checks that my body could not cash.
Two years later, I have lost 93 lbs. and most of my health problems. In fact, I feel 20 years younger, full of energy, hope and a new-found confidence.
My doctor and surgeon have helped me get my life back. And thanks to my support group, family, and friends, I'm able to keep motivated and share my excitement with others.
Six years later, I have maintained a 100 pound weight loss. I feel so good, I sometimes forget what it was like when I was heavy and all of the health problems that went with that. I would have never thought I'd be able to say that 6 years ago. I've never before been able to maintain any weight loss for more than a year, and that was while I was still on a maintenance diet and exercising regularly. What an amazing freedom from the sense of bondage that food used to hold in my life! Praise God!
I thought is was time I updated my profile. I had surgery in 2004. It has been 17 years since my lap-band surgery and I have kept 90 pounds off. At my prime, I had lost 110 pounds. I would have never believed that I could keep 90 pounds off for this long prior to my lap-band surgery. I have gone through some health issues over those years and even had to have all of the fluid removed from my band twice but we slowly added the fluid back each time.
Even though initially I was seeing my bariatric surgeon every other week to tweek my fluid levels, over the years that schedule has gradually changed and I usually only go in about once a year to see my bariatric surgeon for a check-up/fluid adjustment. I want to encourage everyone to not give up or feel like you have "failed" in your weight loss journey. Just keep working through the tough times to get back on track and read as many WLS articles as you can to inform and encourage yourself. A couple of years ago I had a 15 pound regain in 2 weeks following a serious medical issue involving all of the fluid being removed from my band and having to take steroids as part of my treatment. Steroids are terrible about causing weight gain. The weight regain that happened because I had no block of hunger and the reduction in ability to control actual eating was so disheartening. It took a while to get back on track, but because I refused to give up the fight, I was able to lose the weight back off and continue to enjoy the health benefits I got during those first few "honeymoon" years.
No matter which type of weight loss surgery you've had, I encourage you to keep fighting for your health and all of the weight loss benefits you will continue to have by keeping the weight off.
About Me
Before & After
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