I have always struggled with my weight issues and have been on some diet or another since the age of 13. I am quite a sporty person and never let my size stop me from participating but I have always thought of myself as bigger than other people. My weight ranged from 86 kgs down to 63 kgs when I was in my twenties but I never managed to keep weight off. When I became pregnant I put on a whopping 25 kgs with my first pregnancy, didn't lose the weight and then put on another 15 kgs with my second child. I am now unable to participate in my beloved netball because of my size and started to experience knee problems. My mother has had knee surgery and was recently diagnosed with obesity related diabetes and my grandmother has also had diabetes. I guess I was at the end of my tether and didn't want to have the medical problems other members of my family experienced. I also wanted to be actively involved with my two busy boys and didn't want them to have the embarrassment of having a "fat mother". I saw a tv documentary about the lapband and began to investigate the possibility.

I was positive about the whole procedure and I recovered very quickly in hospital. Of course there was some discomfort but it disappeared very quickly. As I had travelled to Auckland for the surgery I stayed in the city for the week to ensure that no complications arose. I was able to eat very little at first but it gradually increased and I was back at work in Christchurch a week later.

I am really pleased with my progress. The quantity of food I now eat has reduced by a huge amount and I am certainly not hungry. The band does not take away your own "bad habits" and I have to control my "picking" and limit my food intake. I am now exercising again and have heaps more energy than before the operation.

I travel a lot as part of my job and find that ordering entrees only is the best way to handle eating out. I am trying to take one day at a time and not focus too much on exactly how much I am losing. People are starting to give me compliments about my weight loss and my self-esteem has risen significantly.

The lapband is the best thing I have ever done. I think the simple fact is you cannot eat the large quantities of the past and as you are feeling satisfied you don't have the urges to "break the diet".

The support group has been excellent and is a valuable tool. I can't wait for the day when there are more lapbanders in the South Island so that we can start a little group of our own!

A postscript

It is now 9 months since my surgery and what a change in my life. I am thrilled with my weight loss and have so much more energy. I have achieved a significant goal of mine to return to netball. I am now playing weekly and thoroughly enjoying it.

It hasn't all been easy though. I went through a bad patch earlier in the year when I was overinflated from 3.75ml to 4ml and spent about 5 weeks being very uncomfortable, not sleeping properly and not eating much either. Once I was able to get back to Auckland I was deflated back to 3.8mls and felt instantly better. Unfortunately I think the month of being uncomfortable had a negative psychological reaction for me and I have been on a plateau ever since. However I have recently been reinflated back to 4mls and feel restricted but good. I am confident that I will continue to lose but realise it will probably be at a slower pace than before.

I still consider the surgery to be the best decision I have ever made. I love being able to fit into a size 16-18 and the extra confidence the weight loss has given me. I must confess that I love the attention I get from my colleagues who have all noticed my weight loss.

Two Year Update

Two years down the track and no significant weight gain. When I think of all the diets I've been on and ended up bigger than when I started. This has not happened. I believe I have reached my body's set-point and I fluctuate between 93-95kg. I enjoy life, feel wonderful and, whilst I am not slim, I feel healthy and to me that's more important.

I've had ups and downs managing with the band and currently only have 2.8mls. In the future I may increase the restriction but I enjoy the feeling of being restricted in quantity although still being able to eat most foods.

My exercise plan includes walking and playing netball. I am just generally more active in life!

The band is still the best thing I have ever done. I do not regret it for a second and know it is up to me as to what sort of weight I want to be at.

What I can eat with the Band

This is a normal eating day:

Breakfast: 1/3 cup cereal and milk or 3/4 Up & Go (breakfast drink) or one egg

Lunch: ½ cup soup or ½ cup seafood or ½ baked potato or 2 kruskits with cheese

Dinner: ½ cup veges including potato and small amount of meat (have lots of casseroles, mince, chicken, fish) or pasta and meat (about ¾ cup in total)

After dinner: 2 tbsp icecream (light) and a little bit of fruit (something soft)

Snacks during day: ½ cup fruit juice (I love prune juice to keep me regular) ½ cup yoghurt or yoghurt smoothie - sometimes I might have 4 or 5 small (Snax sized) baked crackers

My exercise regime

This is my regular weekly exercise routine:

½ hour fast walk 5-6 times per week

Light weights - body toning - upper body 4-5 times per week (15 min sessions)

Netball 40mins weekly

Swimming - pulling children along in water, aqua jogging etc 1 hour weekly