I was never overweight while growing up. I did not start gaining weight until I was 28 when doctors found that I had an irregular heart beat due to an egg-sized hole in my heart. I had corrective surgery and came out a new woman, however, within two years I had gained 30 pounds. I tried many diets to lose weight; I was practically a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, yet nothing seemed to work long term. When my father passed away a few years ago, I was so sad that I gained even more weight. It got to the point where I couldn’t wear the types of clothes that I liked; I even stopped looking at myself in the mirror.

Having worked in the health care field, and from my own personal experience, I have seen firsthand what can happen when you don’t take good care of yourself. I knew that being overweight posed a series of serious health risks such as diabetes and hypertension, and I knew that I owed it to both myself and my family to find a solution before my health got worse. A personal friend recommended Slimband and after several meetings with the surgical team, they agreed it was safe for me to proceed with surgery.

Although the procedure was being done in Toronto, the 4 hour flight from Calgary wasn’t going to deter me. Getting the Slimband was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Initially I was concerned that due to the fact that it was surgery it would be quite involved. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was in and out in only a half an hour and I was immediately able to return to my normal routine. In one year, I’ve gone from 200 pounds down to 148. I was also thrilled to find that four months after the surgery, my blood pressure normalized after 10 years of being on medication to control it. Thanks to Slimband, I have found a lasting solution to my weight loss goals.