I was born in Halifax and raised in Antigonish. I’ve always struggled with my weight. I’ve tried all the diets and whether it was Weight Watchers or Atkins it made no difference. I would lose 20 to 30 pounds and then gain it all back. My weight eventually hit 390 pounds. In 2008 I went to a medically-guided obesity workshop where gastric bypass surgery was suggested to me. I didn’t think this was a healthy option for me. That’s when I started researching gastric banding.

Before my surgery I didn’t have much of a life. I was isolated and couldn’t exert myself physically at all, and I was always so negative; it was hard to see the positive in life. I was banded in September 2009 and the weight has been coming off ever since. I only wish I had done it sooner - Slimband is the best thing I’ve done in my life. Since being banded I’ve met so many friendly, supportive people on the MySlimband Community. I believe the only way to succeed with weight loss is to have support every step of the way.

Since losing the weight I’m able to do so much more physically. I’ve become an active kayaker and I’m also looking to do more hiking and outdoor activities. When I was dieting I never had the hope that it would work, with Slimband my weight loss so far has been amazing – I still have more weight to lose before I reach my next mini goal of 200 pounds lost – but even where I’m at today, I couldn’t be happier.