Life before the Lap BAND was a very difficult time for me. I'm in the catering business and I used to have my staff with me all the time. I could not walk into supermarkets or malls, so I'd send someone else in. I would sit in the car, hand over the lists and have them purchase what was needed. It was difficult to walk, go upstairs and even breathe. I was also embarrassed going into people's homes; I was worried of what they were thinking.
I just got to a point where I would eat and eat. I loved food - it was something I had to have. Then it just got way out of hand and I had to do something about it. I tried various diets. I would lose the weight, but eventually I would gain it all back, plus much more. So I went to my family physician for the hundredth time and he prescribed a new weight loss pill. It made me not want to eat, but it also made me feel tired. I was not getting the correct foods my body needed because my brain was telling my body not to eat. It ended up making me feel high all the time and I couldn't function properly. It just wasn't the permanent solution that I needed to keep the weight off.
In the spring of 2007, my life changed. I was watching television and I saw a commercial for The Lap BAND Centre. I phoned in and spoke to TLBC's Patient Care Coordinator. She was absolutely amazing, so I decided to go in for a consultation.
During the consult, she put me on a scale and asked me, "How much do you think you weigh?" I thought I weighed 350 or 380 lbs. However, when I got on the scale, I was shocked to find out that I was actually 487 1/2 lbs. You see people on television that are 500 lbs; I always wondered how they managed to walk around. I questioned how I was walking around because I was almost 500 lbs. It is not unreasonable for people my size not to know what their weight is - there are no scales that measure above 350 lbs. Until that moment, I hadn't been on a scale for 25 years. It was a real blow when I found out how much I really weighed.
When considering the cost of the procedure, I looked at the amount of money that I spent on a daily basis to justify if I could afford it. Before the surgery, I would spend $100 a day on take-out food, which totaled $700 a week. I realized, if I could afford to spend that much on take-out, I could afford the surgery.
As an obese guy, I was never treated with respect. When you come into TLBC, they treat you with respect because they want the final results for everybody, and they are committed to it.
I had my surgery in the summer of 2007. The staff was very professional and treated me with the utmost respect. The recovery was fast - I had my surgery on a Wednesday and the following Monday I was fully capable of going back to my regular routine. I have lost over 150 lbs and I am 75 lbs from my weight goal, and it still keeps coming off! I went from a 66" waist to a 46" waist! I am enjoying this new tool that is helping me lose weight, and I thank Dr. Yau, who has been my lifesaver.
I have never enjoyed my life more than I have in the past couple of months. I can do things now that I couldn't do since I was in high school! I no longer breathe heavily, I can walk upstairs, put on socks, tie my shoelaces, and for the first time in my life, females are finally approaching me and saying hello!
The Lap BAND has changed my life. Everywhere I go, I can't stop talking about it. I recommend this operation to anyone who is ready and needs permanent weight loss. TLBC gives people hope and the support they need to achieve their goals.
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I'm scared too, to give up food. It will not be the same ever again. I'm 43 and being monitored for 3 more appts then insurance approval. My knees have arthritis and they hurt sooooooo badddd! I feel sore and fatigued all the time for the last 6 months real bad! I'm 360 and wondering if I'll lose as much as you. I'm hopeful! Thanks for the sharing!
Dizzidc 1 year ago
@39RatRodCoupe , good question
99minerkc 1 year ago
i admire u hope i have ur confidence i cant even walk hoping to get a band fitted but im shit scared
janperry1960 2 years ago
wow im right where u were. im 575 and looking into wls/vsg. thanks for making a video about your sucess
crosspecans 2 years ago
How much skin you need to have removed.
39RatRodCoupe 3 years ago
Good for you keep up the good work.
killarmani 3 years ago