Hi from Brisbane Australia

[Mrs Firth 1]

Hi everyone,

My name is Lynda and I am 58 years old, married with three adult children and six grandchildren. I am originally from England and two of my sons and four of my grandchildren are over there. My other son and his two children and adorable wife are over here. I have been married to my new husband Bill for a year and four months, finally finding him after twelve years of widowhood.

I was always a slim person, throughout my early years, my first marriage and having my three children. I was between 54 and 57 kilos all my early adult life. Then my rather violent marriage broke up and things didn't go smoothly and I started to turn to food and beer to self soothe. Within a year I had blown out to around 130 kilos. Amazing. I was there for a while then lost most of the weight, down to about 80 kilos. Stayed like that for a while then back up again, then down then up, to 126 kilos, then using Weight Watchers I went down to 68 kilos and stayed there for two and a half years. Then I met Bill and my lifestyle dramatically changed as he was living in Sydney and I was in Brisbane. Life changed and so did my weight, very slowly, almost imperceptibly and that was the real problem. Two years later I had ballooned back to 108 kilos and knew drastic steps had to be taken. I had gall stones and the surgeon refused to operate, directing me to lap band instead.

I had my surgery three weeks ago on March 16th, 2011. I have lost 10 kilos since then.

It is tough, particularly feeling like I have no energy with the very low calorie foods. The indigestion can be excruciating, and I have a swelling which I am seeing the surgeon about today. But nothing is insurmountable now. What needs seeing to will be seen to and this is going to be the best journey of my life.

I have a 'before' photo up on my fridge and I am working towards the 'after' photo. I have been out with Bill today looking at clothes and declaring that I will no longer look at plus sizes because I will have slimmed out of them very soon so will not buy anything new until I am comfortable in a size 16 again - the top end of the 'normal' sizes.

I have been between size 8 and size 32. How difficult for me to appreciate my actual body and how distorted my body image must be.

I am a psychologist, practicing in my own clinical practice in Brisbane. I have clients who struggle with their weight and body image. I am also a trained hypnotherapist but refuse to use this on people with weight difficulties because we need to look at their own personal issues first. Then we can be using behavioural modification to help with the new life styles people are learning.

I am very fulfilled helping people in this area, more so because I know personally how difficult weight problems are.

I am also convinced that the main issue is that we don't know the reality of our bodies, and find it extremely hard to track what we are actually like in terms of size and shape, and relative to what the media and retail portrays to us as 'normal'.

So all you beautiful people in lap band land, aren't we awesomely brave, deeply caring about our loved ones by caring about our own health, and ever so full of true grit to be able to face the challenge, feel the fear, and go ahead and do it anyway???

Very proud to be in lap band community, where people who know they are worth it reside and share.

Lynda (Mrs Firth, and also Dr Firth.....and hoping to be svelt Firth eventually!)