Our Testimonials
Deborah, 35 yrs
Wow! Where do I start? I am a 35 year old mother of two children. I come from a family that does struggle with weight issues. In high school, I was not the smallest girl and I did have a few extra pounds on me. Growing up, we were not exposed to fast food on a daily basis, so I cannot blame my weight on being a unhealthy child. My family only ate out maybe once a month. I got married at age 22 and had my first child at 23. I gained 68 lbs when I was pregnant with my son. A year later, at age 24, I had my daughter and gained another 45 pounds during that pregnancy. This brought me to 281 lbs. I would see pictures of me and cry. I knew I needed to be better, for not only my children, but myself.
I divorced in 2004 and took on the role of being the mom/dad to my two children. I knew, at that point, I needed to take action to be the best I could be for my kids. I tried every diet there was and I would lose and gain. I would, of course, gain back more than I lost. The summer of 2009 was my turning point. I weighed 298 lbs and was unhappy, I went to a seminar on the Lap-Band with Doctor Shayani and decided I was going to do it and I wanted him to help me. I was going to lose the weight for good! I was advised to try and lose some weight on my own for health precautions before my surgery; I was able to lose 50 lbs putting me at 248lbs. April 23, 2010 was the day that changed my life. I had my surgery that day at 248lbs. Today, August 25, 2011, I am writing this at 136 pounds and a size four. So far, I have lost 110 pounds on my Lap-Band Journey so a total weight loss of 162lbs!
I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. I have my children and family supporting me in my journey, and I am in an amazing relationship with a fantastic man who also supports me in my journey and tells me just how proud he is daily of my progress. I owe it all to my decision to start my Lap-band journey! I know that this was the best thing I ever did for myself and my children. I can see a huge energy change and also a very healthy life style that my children now are even picking up on. It makes me feel that what I did not only helped me but helped me to be a better mom as well.
This journey has brought me so far. We had a “Biggest Loser” competition in my office and even though I had the band, I was allowed to participate. I kicked it in high gear and became a workout queen. In the 8 weeks of the competition, I lost 19% of my body weight. For every pound that was lost per contestant, my company donated a pound of food to the hungry.
“Knowing that my success was going to help others that needed it was the best motivation for me. The challenge helped me to want it more and more each week. The challenge motivated me to get up every morning and want to get to the gym rather than feeling like I had to go! This challenge assisted me in my choice to have a healthy and fit lifestyle going forward.”~ Deborah Gerry, March 2011
The article above was posted online on our corporate web page and the congratulations started rolling in. The feeling of accomplishment finally set in for me. People started to stop me in the hallway at the office and tell me just how great I looked and how inspired they were. I now hold my head up high and let others know that it is hard work. The Lap-Band is not a miracle tool that sheds unwanted weight off you. You have to want it, you have to achieve it, and you have to be dedicated to yourself in order to succeed. The Lap-band just is the little angel wrapped around your stomach saying, “Come on, we can do it together.”
Deborah before
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Deborah after |
Tammy, 44 yrs
I come from a family that has a history of obesity and chronic illnesses related to being overweight. However, as a teenager and young adult, I was fit and active. The weight problem started for me after having my first two children and and two decades of yo-yo dieting. I could lose the weight easily enough, I just couldn’t keep it off, and would always gain back more than I had lost on numerous commercial diets and programs.
At age 41, I found my glucose rising to pre-diabetic levels. With two small children to raise, I didn’t want to follow in my mothers footsteps; she died at age 54, from complications of diabetes. With my husband’s support, I decided to have the lapband surgery. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Eighteen months later, I have lost nearly 100lbs. I am proud to say that my glucose levels are normal, without taking medications.
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My family and I just came back from our vacation to Mexico, and there is where the impact of having this surgery really hit me. For the first time in nearly twenty years, I wasn’t embarrassed about not having to stuff myself in my seat on the airplane or to ask for a belt extender. I didn’t stress about what clothes to pack, all the shorts and summer shirts fit. I didn’t dread being seen in my swim suit or I didn’t scan the pool area to find a place that I wouldn’t be noticed. I didn’t constantly look around me to make sure nobody watched as I went to the pool to cool off. I didn’t refuse my husband’s request to go for a brisk walk on the beach, because I could actually keep up with him. This year I have pictures of our family vacation, and I am actually in them!
Nancy, 59 yrs
A little over three years ago, I was a very miserable person. I weighed 280 lbs. and was struggling physically and emotionally. I found that I could not go up a flight of stairs without losing my breath and experiencing great pain in my knees. I was also diagnosed with diabetes, which, fortunately at that time, was in its incipient stages not requiring medicine. I also had terrible acid reflux and had borderline sleep apnea. Depression medicine seemed to be the only answer.
All I wanted to do was to just sit down after work and had no energy for anything. Unfortunately, I had a husband in a wheelchair who required a bit of work and was getting to the point that I could no longer push him around. I was concerned that the kids would have to push both of us in a wheelchair soon!
I heard about the lap band procedure and my doctor put me in touch with Dr. Shayani. After a visit with him, I decided that lap band was the avenue that I wanted to go and eagerly followed up with all the tests. On December 5, 2005, I had the procedure done. I cannot tell you how much my life has been transformed! I now weigh about 155 and am a size four. I regularly compete in athletic events... most notably, triathalons and I am 58 years old and am a grandmother of four. In two weeks, I will start an "iron man" competition and have been working hard towards that.
I now eagerly get out of bed in the morning to get my workout done and get off to work. I no longer take anti-depressants and my blood work is fantastic. My diabetes is only checked every three months with it looking great. I have no sleep apnea or reflux and, obviously, I can now run up the stairs without an ache or pain or taking a deep breath. I habitually push my husband on long excursions... often as long as six or seven miles with ease.
The fact that I can no longer eat the way I used to is more than replaced by the joy I have in living my life fully. Has lapbanding changed my life?! You bet it has! It is easily one of the best decisions I ever made! I love to share my story and hope it will encourage anyone who is considering it.