My name is Patti and I am 47 years old. I have been overweight all of my adult life. I thought about weight loss surgery over the years but always blew it off because I always convinced myself I could lose the weight on my own. Needless to say, I never did.

I would diet on and off and would lose some weight, but I always gained it back. Over the years, I probably have lost a couple of hundred pounds. In 2005, my husband’s brother-in-law, Tom, had gastric bypass surgery. I personally didn’t think it was a good idea because I have always heard scary stories about that particular surgery. Two days after he had the procedure, he died. Tom passed away 3 weeks before his daughter’s wedding.

I hadn’t heard a lot about the Lap-Band until my girlfriend told me she was scheduled to get it done. I was very happy for her, she had reached 303 lbs. and I was worried about her health. She started talking to me about it in detail, and about Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

My husband, Keith, was very nervous about the surgery because of what happened to Tom, so I booked a seminar in which he and I attended. When we left, he was very comfortable with the Lap-Band.

I made an appointment to meet Dr. Cywes. After we talked to him, we decided to go forward with the surgery. My insurance company said they would pay for most of the surgery but I had to meet their criteria. When I did, they denied me. Not wanting to give up, I talked to Dana at Jacksonville Weight Loss Center. She advised me to appeal the insurance company’s decision. So I did. Four long months later, the appeal worked! They overturned the decision.

December 10, 2009 I went into this weighing 232 lbs (250 being my heaviest) and was in a tight size 20. Today, I am at 167 lbs and in a size 8 to 10. I have 15 lbs. to go to reach my goal.

It is not easy and the band isn’t the cure. What it is, is a very powerful tool. That if you use it properly, can change your life. If you’re thinking about weight loss surgery, the Lap-Band is a great choice. Jacksonville Weight Loss Center will walk you through everything. They are very helpful and very supportive. This is the best thing I have done for myself. Now, I will be around for my future grandkids. I wish someone had talked to Tom and his family about the option of the Lap-Band. If they had, he would still be alive today.