"I would recommend this to anybody trying to lose weight"

Gastric band surgery has helped me shed 50 kilos and has made a remarkable difference to my life. The change in me has been dramatic.

What I have lost in weight, I have gained in self-confidence. As well as having a new man in my life, I find that shopping for clothes has become a pleasure. I now buy size 12-14 rather than size 24-26. I don't worry so much about wearing make-up as I'm more comfortable in my own skin. I can walk across the road without feeling self-conscious. I can eat an ice-cream in public without worrying what people will think of me. I can buy groceries at the supermarket without being frowned upon.

I had been trying to lose weight since the age of 13. I come from a family of chronic overeaters and had tried every diet in the book. My weight was causing all sorts of health problems. I could hardly walk and was heading for a knee reconstruction. I was always tired, I had sleeping problems, and even going to the theatre was an effort as I couldn't fit in the seat.

I finally decided to take serious action when I saw Dr Jim Toouli on TV. Having a gastric band fitted was my last chance of living a normal life. Following the surgery, I lost a couple of kilos in the first week and then proceeded to breeze through the recovery.

Twelve months later, I had reached my goal weight. It's not a quick fix… you have to be disciplined and make a conscious decision to eat less. You don't talk calories… you try different foods and smaller portions and find what works best for you. It comes down to being sensible. I believe it's the easiest and best solution for being overweight.

I received fantastic back-up from my doctor, and the support group was very helpful. I've made lots of friends through this and encouraged several friends to have surgery. It has helped every aspect of my life and I am very happy with my weight. I would recommend this to anybody trying to lose weight.

Maureen, Age 57, SA