On Jan. 29th, 2010 I had LAP-BAND® surgery. For yearrrrrrrrrrrssss I hated the idea of weight loss surgery! I saw it as the easy way out and something I just could not do. I lost over 40 pounds in 2006 and slowly regained all of it and the scale just kept going up. I gave myself until the Fall of 2008 to re-lose the same 40 pounds and if I did not I told myself I would get surgery. Surgery to me meant I had failed. Something I just don't do...but I looked at it in terms of raw data and taking my ego out of it. At the point I went to my pre-op appointment I was 299.5 pounds. I am 5'1'' I was floored! At that point I was on auto pilot and my paperwork went through pretty fast and I had the surgery maybe 2 or 3 months later. I actually pushed it back because I wanted to see Barack Obama sworn in least I died during surgery (lol) drama queen that I am. A/w it was a painless event aside from the port healing and I had some hard times early on trying to lose. Even though we all say I know its not a magic bullet deep down I think we all feel like suregry is a magic bullet. I live my life on a diet and do a lot of exercise. Its what I must do. I know some people can just eat less and lose weight but my body has never been like that. I am feeling great though and looking great I am down 75 pounds in 1 year and my goal was 100 but I am ok with 75 for now.

I am an open book (aside from my identiy lol) for feel free to email or post questions!

I opted to tell a select few people maybe about 8 people everyone else just knows I work out like a mad woman and in the end that is what is making the biggest difference. I am grateful for the LAP-BAND® but if i had more info I would have done the sleeve but time will tell. I like the long term accountability. Anyway I'll try and visit more often!

Congratulations on your success!

Your post is EXACTLY what I need to hear! I felt the same way about the surgery (that it was a cope out and meant I had no will-power) until my surgeon said "would you feel the same way about high-blood pressure meds? or surgery to repair something else?" I'm scheduled for surgery this Thursday, the 4th of Feb and I'm SO ready for it! Thanks for the inspiration!

75# is awesome! Happy Bandiversary! -BG

Thanks reading this made me realize I am running away from accountability. Its time to run to it. You have voiced everything in my head.