Sharon Z. "I am a different person than I was 20 months ago, inside and out."	Richard C. "My health is great now — no sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes and my blood pressure is perfect."	Sandy C. "This surgery has changed my life and brought me so many blessings, I would do it over again, no question."	Rita E. "My closet is full of clothes of every color of the rainbow. I don’t have to worry about if the color will make me look too big."	Carl J. "I can now make it to the top of the stairs faster than some of the younger police officers, AND breathing normally."
Amy M. "I am proud of my accomplishment and that I addressed the problem before it got even worse."	Rosa F. "When I made the decision to have LAP-BAND surgery, I never expected so many changes to happen."	Amanda S. "It goes without saying what my life was like 120 pounds heavier. I had no life."	Cathy K. "For the first time in my life, I know I will never put my weight back on and I do not feel like I am on a diet."

My name is Cathy and I'm 41 years old.  I'm married with five children and have been overweight for as long as I can remember.  I have the most amazing, supportive husband.  He has been there for me no matter what my weight has been.  My weight struggle has been a mental drain on me.  Everything I do revolves around my weight.  I cannot tell you how many things I have missed out on in my life because of me not being comfortable in my body.  My weight has also affected my job.  I have passed up so many opportunities because I did not want to go in front of clients the way I looked.

My sister had weight-loss surgery and was very successful.  One day, I was talking with her about how I felt about my weight.  I had lost about 60 pounds on my own, but had put 40 of them back on and was still gaining.  I had done this so many times in my life and had no self-esteem or the confidence that I would ever lose the weight and keep it off.

My sister told me about the LAP-BAND procedure; I had never heard of it before, so we got on the Internet and started researching.  I decided to make an appointment with a local doctor, but weather issues prevented me from keeping my appointment.  Time went by and I had put off rescheduling the appointment when, one day, a friend told me she had just had the LAP-BAND procedure.  I could not believe it and immediately started questioning her!  She told me all about JourneyLite and her surgeon, Dr. St. Laurent, and I was sold!  I made the appointment, went to the seminar, and had the procedure done.  It was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.  I was banded on February 27, 2007 by Dr. St. Laurent, and have lost 40 pounds to date!

The procedure was done outpatient and I was home by noon that day.  The first six weeks I spent getting adjusted to my band and then I got my first fill.  I noticed a slight difference in my eating, but I soon adjusted to that and felt like I needed for my band to be tightened a bit more.  I got my second fill a month later and this was better, but again, I felt like I wanted more restriction.  The next month, I got my third and final fill.  I now feel like it is perfect -- I am restricted, but not too restricted.  I do not feel like I will be getting any other fills any time soon.

For the first time in my life, I know I will never put my weight back on and I do not feel like I am on a diet.  The way I feel about food and life has changed.  I was always the one that would eat all the food on my plate and then start picking at my kids' plates.  Not anymore!  I am the one that eats some of my food and then asks everyone else if they want any of my food.  When we go out to eat, I usually do not order -- I just get an extra plate and take some food from everyone else.  I LOVE IT!