My Lap Band Changed my Life - Tarzana, CA

11 days postop-Here's what medial thigh lift incisions look like. Kinda hard to be tasteful when there's no way to avoid photographing your vagina....sorry! It's not as painful as it looks. The lipo that was done on the thighs is more painful than the incisions. I'm pretty much back to my normal routine (except the gym) and by the end of the day I'm sore, but no pain.
Boobs are still boxy & hard. How long does it take for them to soften & drop? They only hurt at night while I'm trying to sleep & in the morning...and they ITCH!! I hope they are still swollen & won't stay this big, I didn't want big [RS bleep] star bonkers!
I am happy happy happy with results of both!!

I gained weight with my two pregnancies and continued to gain as life became stressful and I used food to comfort me. I work from home so I have the ability to snack all day and night…..and I did, eating all day! Living with my family who have metabolisms like humming birds and can eat anything they want and as much as they want, was not good for any failing diet I had previously tried. I would diet and exercise, fail at it, losing only 2-5 pounds over a couple months, this would depress me and me being a “depressive eater” I would eat more and gain more weight. This was a vicious cycle for me for years. I was so frustrated with the failed diets and frustrated with exercising hard and not seeing results.

In September 2011, my oldest daughter was in her senior year of high school and I was making her a yearbook page & looking through years of pictures to reflect her 18 years of life. I looked and looked for a picture of her and I and couldn’t find any. For many years I hid from cameras and always made sure I was the one taking the pictures so I didn’t have to be in them. I was saddened by the fact that I was celebrating her life with pictures and there would be no pictures of me with her. In addition to the depressing lack of pictures I had of me with my children over the years, I also noticed my tendency to avoid mirrors. Even looking at my face made me cry. Getting out of the shower (with a big mirror facing the shower) literally brought me to tears everyday. My husband and kids loved me the way I was & were never embarrassed by me. My husband was affectionate in public & walking hand in hand with him made me very self-conscious. I felt like everyone was looking at us like "why is he with her" or "they definitely don't look like they belong together". I always felt so uncomfortable at my daughters' school events or sporting events....they were never embarrassed but I was embarrassed for them. I did not feel like I fit in with my family...they were all thin with athletic bodies, always active & I definitely was NOT active & couldn't even think of doing activities with them like working out at the gym (the way they did), skateboarding, surfing, etc and I certainly was NOT thin or athletic-looking like them. It made me so depressed to feel like I didn't fit in with my family.

I knew I could do it if I just had something to help me. If the scale would just move in the right direction, I knew that would be enough to keep me motivated. I knew I had to do something for myself….for my life….for my health. I received a letter from my insurance stating we had met our family deductible & would have no further out of pocket costs for the year. It was then I decided to start researching & after researching the different bariatric surgeries, I opted for the Lap-Band, because I knew with as young as I am whatever I decided need to be for life...I needed a lifestyle change. That was the best decision I have ever made for myself!!! I was banded in November 2011. I immediately began making changes in my lifestyle, making better food choices and being very conscious of portion control. The scale started slowly moving in the right direction and once I was cleared to exercise after surgery, I started hitting the gym as a last hoorah to make this work. I knew I was going to make this work….I just wasn’t aware when I chose the band, how easy it was going to be!! The pounds started coming off and with each pound lost, the more motivation I got to make better food choices and stay faithful to going to the gym. I have lost 90 pounds in 17 months!!!

In December 2012, I had a TT & breast reduction/lift. You can read that story & why I chose to do that surgery in my profile under the Mommy Makeover section.

I now feel like I fit in with my family, I feel like I belong; I walk confidently with my daughter & I walk with a smile holding my husband's hand in public. I can be active with them including working out at the gym WITH them, I've been skateboarding with my daughter & I plan to try surfing this summer!! I am so happy with my life!!! I knew I was miserable & I knew losing weight would help me be happier, but I never dreamed I could be THIS happy with myself! NEVER dreamed I would be sharing clothes with my teenage daughters!!! The Lap-Band changed my life....not only my physical health but my mental health as well.