2 Successful lap band patients in 1 pair of before pants!
I have battled obesity as long as I can remember. I vividly recall the pain and embarrassment of being weighed in my elementary school gym, praying that the school aide would not announce my weight for everyone to hear. I started dieting at the age of 10. My days were defined as good or bad by what I ate and how my clothes fit. I have been on every diet you can think of; I took diet pills for years; I cannot remember a year when I didn’t gain or lose at least 40 or 50 pounds. My hunger never went away.
I was an overweight (okay, fat) child, an overweight teen, and an overweight adult. I spent my life yo-yoing. For me, dieting was like holding my breath; eventually I had to come up for air. The irony is that except for my battle with weight, I’ve been successful at everything I’ve ever attempted. I’m very fortunate. I have a great marriage, two wonderful children, and true friends, and I’ve enjoyed a successful career as an executive in Fortune 100 companies. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never take off the weight and keep it off. I wasn’t stupid and I wasn’t lazy. I was tired of doctors telling me that I need to eat less and exercise more …
When I decided to get my band, I didn’t tell anyone except for my husband and a few close friends. I was afraid I would fail again. I was afraid of the stigma associated with being obese and “resorting” to weight loss surgery. I have been maintaining a healthy, normal weight for nearly two years now. I am now the fit girl at the gym. I am the active mom at school, I am the confident presenter in business, and I am a more loving wife, because I no longer carry the burden of my weight on my body and in my heart. I am a different person today, and I love Banded Living™. I feel confident that I will be able to maintain a normal weight for the rest of my life.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I can so relate when you talk about your days being defined by how your clothes fit. From the time I was 9 I used to have fat or skinny days. Your story is so inspirational! It’s nice to hear someone be so honest about something that can be so painful.
Gloria, WOW! I haven’t seen you since we moved, when you first got your lap band and your pictures are amazing! I remember not long after your surgery having you, Tom, and the kids over and feeling so bad that we were eating Wood Ranch barbeque ribs. You just rolled with it and said you could still eat – not a problem! And you did (just not as much as you might have before the surgery)! You really gave me the confidence to go through with the surgery and get the lap band myself…which I did one year after you. I’m not sure I would have been so eager to go through with it if I hadn’t seen you be so successful first. You don’t know this, but I had your “after” picture that you sent me posted in my office for a long time so that I could be inspired every day! Yes, I was inspired! Thank you my friend!
This blog is terrific. Straight from the heart, the story and the content will be inspirational for anyone with a weight problem. I am proud of you for being so forthcoming and so open.
What a wonderful thing you are doing for everyone out there looking for guidance on weight loss surgery. Very inspirational! And you look fabulous!
Hi Gloria, I was just reading through your blog (which is awesome by-the-way) and I keep hearing about Sandi. She sounds so wonderful and what an incredible story!! She seems like an amazing mentor and you call her “your angel”. Well my question is how do I find a Sandi? My surgery is on Feb. 25 and I hope I can find someone to be my Sandi through this exciting journey!
Hi Dani,
I talk about Sandi, my mentor a lot, and you’ve seen her Banded Living blog. I was very lucky, my surgeon’s practice has an angel’s program – and Sandi vlounteered as my angel. Basically these are patient volunteer mentors. Not everyone is fotunate enough to have the resources of an angels program. That’s one of the reasons we started Banded Living.
Thank you so much for suggesting your blog to me. We have very similar stories! I am glad to know that there are others out there like me! Congrats on your journey! You give me true hope and inspiration in my own weight loss journey!
I had lapband 2 weeks ago, so far so good. I Am exercising daily and following my program, feel great!
Hi I’m getting my band on december3 2010 I’m very nervous any tips for me I’m 30 years old I weigh 285
There is a lot of information here on my blog about how I prepared for surgery. Come join our membership community at bandedliving.com. We have a whole area dedicated to preparing for surgery – you can link directly to http://www.bandedliving.com/public/department41.cfm. We also have areas to give you tips, support and ideas as you are recovering and transforming and yes maintaining! We have an incredible supportive community of people you can learn all sorts of tips from and gain support. Congrats on your decision to take charge of your health.