I'm feeling Hot Hot Hot.

What a change I have experienced in the last few months. It's like all the weight that was physically holding my back was doing the same for my personality. I feel like I am blossoming. Most of the changes are for the best, while there are a few that are not. But for the most part I am so pleased with what I am becoming. The new me is much more outgoing, happy and secure with myself. I still have alot of weight left to lose but with the change I have experienced up to this point I have most definitely made an amazing change.

I like the person I see in the mirror most of the time. Before I lost the weight I rarely did my hair or make-up and I never worried about my clothes because I felt like even if I put in the effort I still looked bad. I looked like a fat girl trying to fake cute, but I don't feel that way anymore. I feel hott. That feeling of confidence in myself has translated outward too. Other people are noticing a difference and responding to it. I don't ever remember anyone telling me I looked beautiful or hott other than family and close friends before I lost the weight, but now I can't count the number of times I have been told this even by people I hardly know.

This confidence has also given me the fortitude to stand up for myself. I don't let people walk on me the way I used to. I have found my voice to tell people when they are behaving inappropriately towards me. This surgery saved my life, it gave me a life, in more ways the one. I am so blessed and lucky to have made this decision. I wish everyone who would benefit from this surgery could have it. It literally changes your life almost instantly. There is nothing that would change my mind if ever given the opportunity to take it back, this band is mine and no one will ever take it from me.

I've heard said time and time again that having weight loss surgery is taking the easy way out. It seems that many people, especially those who have never struggled with their weight believe this way. As someone who has had the surgery I can say without a doubt that having the surgery is first of all not the easy way out and secondly not a guaranteed weight loss solution. Making the choice to risk your life to undergo any type of surgical procedure is not a light decision, and once you have made the decision and had the surgery it is a long process to heal and learn to listen to your band. In my case I even had to undergo a second procedure for my band. But regardless of the difficulties I would not change my mind.

With so many ways to get around the band to eat things that are full of fat and calories it takes a lot of self control to resist bad choices. Ice cream will slid right past the restriction, everything can be consumed in small quantities, you can ignore your doctors orders and drink soda and alcohol. I've always struggled with self control, that's one of the reasons I became large, and even with the band my lack of self control can put me at risk to regain the weight I've lost and potentially gain even more. I guess my point is that surgery is not the easy way out. The lap band is a tool that can either be a great help to you if you are using it the right way or a waste of time and money if you decide to make poor choices.