I’ve struggled with my weight for almost as long as I can remember. I tried many different diets, and a few attempts at exercise, and while some worked, nothing stuck. I struggle with depression, and the negativity that comes with being obese didn’t help. I had been suicidal, then, upon deciding that wasn’t a choice, I replaced these thoughts with cutting.

After seeking therapy, and finding an amazing therapist, in 2004, I tamed the cutting, but still didn’t feel like I was mentally in a good place. At the end of 2006, I was 23. I was wearing a size 22 jeans and weighing in at 268 pounds, which at 5’6’’ put me in the morbidly obese BMI bracket. At this point, I felt basically hopeless and helpless, which only increased my food intake. I began meeting with Dr. Cywes and decided to go through with having the Lap-Band Surgery. In January of 2007, we proceeded with the surgery. By Christmas in 2007, only a year later, I had lost 100 pounds.

Now, almost 4 years later, in 2010, I have lost a total of 118 pounds, am wearing between a size 10 and 12 pants, and couldn’t be happier. I’m almost 26, and feel like the beautiful inner me is finally reflected physically. My life has changed for the better. I feel better, both physically and mentally, and definitely have more energy and self-confidence. I also am able to shop for clothes without getting depressed, which feels important, especially for a 25 year old woman. I have recently taken up jogging, which I hated before because I couldn’t handle all the wobbly bits that bounced. I also have found that I love doing yoga, as I don’t have to struggle with all the extra weight in the way.

The weight loss didn’t totally resolve my depression and anxiety issues, but it has helped enable me to participate in activities I find helpful and uplifting that I couldn’t bring myself to do before.

“Hi my name is Courtney, I am 25 years old. I had the Lap-Band Surgery in January of 2007, so I’ve had the Lap-Band for almost four years. I still struggle with depression and stuff, but I used to struggle with it a lot. I kinda redirected a lot my negativity towards massive amounts of eating, and after receiving therapy and meeting Dr. Cywes and his wonderful staff, I love the ladies here, we’ve had the Lap-Band put in and since lost 118 pounds. In January of 2007, I weighed 268 pounds and now I weigh 156 pounds. I was a size 22 jeans and now I range from a size 10 and 12 depending on what store I go to. ”

“I’ve had a wonderful experience and I tell everyone that it absolutely changed my life for the better. It was one of the best decisions that I ever made. I am now significantly more self-confident, I can shop for clothes without being depressed. Coming home upset because I couldn’t find anything I liked that didn’t make me look like a tent. ”

“I have a lot more energy, and I can do a lot more physical activity. I’ve started jogging; I really enjoy yoga because you don’t have to struggle with making all this extra body mass go into these strange positions. My body just naturally goes into them now. And it’s just been one of the most fantastic experiences ever, and it’s really nice that I’ve kinda done it and I’ve continued to see some of the same faces at the office here. They’ve just been really encouraging, and absolutely impressed with my success. I’m constantly telling people about it, and everyone is like, “I don’t understand why did you do it so young?” I said nothing else worked, I tried all this other stuff and this just worked. It’s stuck and totally changed my life. I eat better, I exercise more and I’m just more self confident. So I think everyone needs to do what they think is going to make them feel the inner beauty, that reflects physically and on the outer. And this is what worked for me. I hope you find whatever it is that will make you satisfied with yourself.”