My weight became a problem after I married my husband. I was always a big girl, but once my husband and I were living under the same roof, we became each others’ enablers when it came to putting on the pounds. Time went on, I had two beautiful daughters, and my weight continued to climb.

My family’s eating habits were just awful; we were always eating out and making very poor food choices. I was embarrassed just driving my kids to school during this time. I worried what the other mothers would think. I tried every diet out there and ‘dieted’ myself all the way to 273 pounds. It got so bad that I was finding my joints ached all the time and I was often out of breath.

My husband and I eventually reached the point where we feared our weight was affecting our health. Plus we were setting a horrible example of healthy living for our daughters.

It was my husband who took what I then thought was a radical approach by looking into weight loss surgery. He eventually decided on Slimband. After his banding in April 2010 I noticed his quick recovery and so I put my fears aside and had my own Slimband surgery in May.

Since having the procedure I’ve created a whole new me – I’m healthier than I was in high school. I'm down to 200 pounds now, and well on my way to reaching my goal of 130 pounds by following the Slimband Program. My husband and I bought Harley motorcycles last August to reward ourselves for losing the weight. I love riding my bike, and I love the new lease on life Slimband has given me. My husband and I are still each others’ enabler – but where before our surgeries we worked together to put on weight, now we’re partners in losing it for good!