GodsTyro

I have always been overweight, even as a kid. I can't even remember learning proper nutrition as a kid. I do remember going to nutrionists because of my weight issue and being told this is what I can and cannot have while my entire family who was overweight as well was still eating whatever they wanted. Needless to say, going to a nutrionist never stuck, and losing weight never happened.

I continued to balloon in weight all thru school and by the time I was 26 I was at my heaviest of 315 pounds. I can't remember what "Clicked" for me, but something just did and one day I started going to a gym, I lost 70lbs thru diet and exercise and having a trainer 2x a week, however that quickly changed and I don't know exactly what the turning point was for me.

My father wasn't doing well health wise - Diabetic, Congestive Heart Failure, Stage 4 Kidney Failure...the list can go on and on; but on top of that I also had 5 personal trainers at my gym in a matter of 5 months, and having a trainer that already knows what you are capable of and able to handle is EXTREMELY important. After a while I just stopped using the trainers, and I gave up - I'm not sure if it was because of the issues with my father - having to go thru amputations, watching his body give out on him, starting up of dialysis and the stress of wanting to be close to my mom and dad to help them out while at the same time being so far away (40 hours) in Arizona.

The lap band surgery had always been on the back of my mind, and I had told myself if I couldn't lose the weight this last time on my own then I would seriously look into the surgery. After gaining the 70lbs back I had lost in a quicker time than I had lost it, I finally looked into the lap band surgery and was thankful that my insurance covered most of it.

My insurance required a 6 month pre-surgery regime which I completed and had my surgery on November 1, 2013 - On November 19, 2013, my father passed away from complications to diabetes. My father had always wanted me to get healthy, to not be in the place a few years or twenty years from now exactly where he was (7 Leg Bypasses, Quadruple Heart Bypass etc.) and I had promised him on his death bed that I would make sure I would get healthy for him, I would make him proud and that I loved him beyond measure.

It is now July 2013 and I am officially down almost 90lbs. The lap band certainly has made it easier, but you must put in the work to get the results you want. I go to the gym 5-6 days a week and I have a trainer I absolutely love, whom has also become one of my good friends, 3 days a week for an hour a piece. I have watched in just the last few months my body change, tone and become stronger. I know I will need surgery when I get the rest of my weight off and I know a lot of younger folks tend to not do the surgery because they would rather the fat than the extra skin. I just urge those that think that way, losing the weight, having another surgery or more to get rid of the extra skin is going to be so worth it - your self confidence will be boosted in just the weight you lose, and when you have the surgery to remove excessive skin (if you have it) then it will only go higher. You will also be in a much healthier place, one where you don't have to worry about diabetes because of obesity or all the other medical conditions that come with being overweight.

I do not regret getting the lap band surgery, but it is only a tool. You still have to put in the work to get the results you want. I still have another 70lbs to go and I look forward to seeing my body change and tone even more than it already has while the year passes by.