Debra G

I have always struggled with my weight. I was a slim growing up, and if I gained a little weight I was able to lose it in a week. But as I got older it became harder and harder to lose. At that time I wore a size 10 to a size 12. I would go up and down with my weight for many years. I have been a very active person my whole life, but when the weight came on I was no longer able to do many of the activities that I loved, like running, long walks, kayaking, bike riding and horseback riding. For the most part I could not fit in the kayak, nor could I even fit on the bicycle seat. Weather walking or running, I would lose my breath.I tried everything to lose the weight as i got older, but I would fail every time. I got so depressed, I lost my self esteem, I hated he way I looked. When I would get on the train or bus, I could tell that people were thinking "omg please do not have her sit next to me". I remember going on a plane on time, the seat belt almost did not fit around me. When I would sit in a train or a bus, I would take up my seat and half of the seat next to me.  Eventually, I ballooned up to 288 pounds, and I wore a size 24.I would try to diet and work out, but that would last maybe 1 or 2 weeks, but then I would cheat and fall off the wagon, then I would say what the heck, I already gained a few pounds, and then go right back to eating as usual. And of course, my health was going downhill fast. I had it all - asthma, joint problems, surgery on both knees, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, gastritis and an ulcer.  I had such severe back pain that I had to have steroid shots on order to walk, and I was told was told I needed back surgey if I ever wanted to walk again without pain. I was taking more meds then a 80 year old! I saw every doctor out there for each of my medical problems. but it was when my orthopedic doctor told me I needed back surgey to be able to walk again without my cane and without pain, I said thats it - I'm too young to be falling apartn this way; I need to do some thing for my health.Even though I didn't want to admit it, deep down I knew that most of these problems were related to my weight. So I tried even harder to loose the weight with many different diets, Weight Watchers, etc., but I frankly could not maintain the self-discipline that was required. I cried many nights because of my frustration. I had heard about weight-loss surgery, but my husband and my family were against it because they thought it would be dangerous. However, I began to research the possibility of surgery, and I discovered that there was a technique called lap band surgery that was far less radical than the bypass surgery I had heard about.  About 1 1/2 years before my lap band surgery, I started to look around for possible places to have this surgery done.  One of the places that looked very interesting was the NYU Program of Surgical Weight Loss. They had a seminar scheduled, and I went there with my husband.  Although my husband was still very skeptical, by the time the seminar was over, we had learned a lot and our fears had been addressed. We both felt very confident in the staff, and we were both on board.In addition to our newly-found confidence in the staff, we did additional research that confirmed that we had indeed found the very best place to have my surgery, with the very best team of doctors and staff available. In fact they have done at least 10,000 of these surgerys as I recall, including the likes of Al Roker and Star Jones. There are three fine surgeons at the Weight Loss Program, and it was difficult to choose.However, I decided on Dr. George Fielding, one of the pioneers of lap band surgery with many years of experience.  Not only that, but Dr. Fielding himself had had the lap-band surgery, so i knew he would understand my feelings, and where I was coming from. From the time I began my 6 months of pre-op preparation, I had 100% confidence in My doctor and all of the staff - each one was more caring and helpful than the next - they are all gems!I had my surgey on October 26, 2009, weighing in at 288 pounds and wearing a size 24.  Now I am 208 pounds, having lost 80 pounds, and I am down to a size 16/18, having lost 7 or 8 dress sizes. My goal is 150 pounds, and I am well on my way!Now I feel so much healthier and I look SO much better. I don't need to take most of those meds I was on before the sugery, and MY BACK PAIN IS GONE AND SO IS MY CANE!!!  Also, my food bill is way down, my medical co-pays are way down and am walking 3 miles a day, and working out every day without shortness of breath!!!I also have a blog now, where I share my experences with others, called "Life After Lap Band" (http://life-after-lap-band.blogspot.com/ ). On this blog I share recipies, excercises that I do and my journey with my lap band.