Joanna E.
She has lost 80 lbs.

Joanna thought she was destined to be obese.

I was always the heavy girl. While I was in college, I gained 60 pounds. I had no energy or desire to do things I loved like shop for clothes or go out with friends.

Video: Watch Joanna’s Story

I never really had one of those big “A-HA!” moments that made me decide I wanted the Lap Band procedure. It was a lot of little things. It was everything! I couldn’t cross my legs. I got winded when I walked my dog or climbed my stairs. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes — that was scary! I’d get determined and fill my fridge with healthy food, then throw it all away a week later. I’d join a gym, but hardly ever go. It seemed like I’d work out like crazy and lose 5 pounds, then eat one cheeseburger and gain back 10. I eventually just reached a point where I realized that I couldn’t do it on my own. I needed help.

Someone at work had gotten the Lap Band procedure with True Results, and that was the first time I ever thought about a surgical option. So I checked it out and I was convinced that Lap Band was the right choice for me. I was nervous, though. Not about the surgery (they have a great safety record!) — no, I was afraid that I was going to be the ONE person that couldn’t make the Lap Band work for them. But here I am, enjoying this new life. The True Results aftercare program is awesome. They encourage me and teach me new ways to push myself and keep up the weight-loss. Being accountable to those follow-up meetings really helps. And it works! I have so much more energy that I’ve even become more productive at work. And I’m not just dropping sizes, I’m skipping sizes.

What’s funny is that for the longest time, I thought my body was incapable of being anything BUT obese. I thought I had tried everything, but it turns out that the Lap Band was the one tool I had been missing.