I had a steady weight of 59.8kgs before I had a major operation to remove my pituitary gland in my early twenties.

From then on I ballooned. I gained 25 kgs in the first 6 months! The doctors blamed me for the weight gain. The guilt piled on and my weight continued to increase.

I tried all sorts of diets including Weight Watchers, New Look and Dr Aitken's. I had the most 'success' with a weekly visit to a hospital dietician who put me on an eating plan with only 800 calories. I lost 25 kgs in four months but then gained 38 kgs in the following six months!?

My weight eventually settled at 132.5 kgs and I remained that weight for years. As I grew older I began to worry about joints wearing out, chairs not holding me and thinking I would not be far off needing a wheelchair. My whole life revolved around my weight and missed out on social events because I couldn't cope in the heat.

I videoed an episode of Unichem Medical File which profiled a woman undergoing laparoscopic banding. I cried as I watched because here, maybe, was an answer. Within a very short time, I had my doctor's approval and support, had met my surgeon and had pre-op screenings with a psychologist and dietician. All along I expected to be turned down because I was either too heavy or too old (57). Ironically, the heavier I was the more eligible I became. That was such a change in attitude!

For two weeks prior to the operation I was on a fluid diet to shrink my liver and my body reacted quite a lot to that change.

The Operation

My operation took one and a half hours and I was in hospital for two days. I had quite a lot of pain in one area which I through might have had something to do with nerves being cut. That pain continued for two weeks and then suddenly disappeared.

I vomited a little and it took about two and a half months to get my energy back. The lack of energy could have been because of the very small amount of food I was eating. I could only manage half a cup at a time and I had a total of about two cups of food per day.

I exercycled every day for 30 minutes for the first two and a half months until I was strong enough to get outside and walk.

I have lost over 30 kgs in the first few months and feel terrific! I still don't believe it.

I have had to make new clothes as I can't alter the original ones any more. I walk for 30 minutes every morning, can fit into an aircraft seat without an extension belt, bend over and tie my shoe laces, am less affected by the heat, can wear smaller shoes and have the confidence to go overseas with my husband which I would have dreaded doing before.

I still have to overcome my bad old eating habits, like nibbling before a meal, and I was still tempted by Christmas. Four months after my operation I suddenly reverted to eating outside meal times and had to fight the old cravings. I understand that this is common. I worked hard on getting back to more normal eating patterns.

I still have food sticking, occasionally have to vomit and find I can't eat bread or cheese.

I have had to deal with odd comments from people and those who want to know how I've lost the weight. I just say that it was hard work and low fat eating. I refuse to say how much I have lost as that would set up an expectation of how much more I might lose.

I have set goals for myself for gradual weight loss and a final goal weight. I will never regret having the operation. One of the most important factors in my success has been the follow-up care I have received from my surgeon, the wonderful encouragement from the Lapband Support Group and my husband and family.