Eighteen months after my Gastric bypass surgery at Spire Hospital, Southampton, I have lost 7 st. 3lbs. On the morning of my operation in May 2009, I weighed in at 21 st. 4lb, at the height of 5 ft 6ins I was classed as morbidly obese.

My GP had suggested over a year before that, after years of unsuccessful dieting and weight related health problems, I had a Gastric Bypass, but I had been unwilling to commit myself to such a potentially dangerous operation (I’m on life-long Warfarin so operations are especially risky for me.) However my sister, Patricia, had decided to go ahead, her weight problems were similar to mine, and she persuaded me to join her. Dr Michael Van den Bossche was the surgeon that would be performing the operation and after a consultation with him we were both put on the waiting list for a Gastric Bypass.

After months of waiting for the Guernsey list to go down we both decided to go to Southampton for the operation and were both booked in for the same day! Patricia went in for the operation first and was still in the theatre when I was taken to the preparation room so it was a relief when the nurse told me just before I went under the anaesthetic that she was fine.

After the operations, which went smoothly for both of us, we were well looked after by the splendid team at Spire Hospital. We trundled around the corridors together on the compulsory walks to keep the circulation going and giggled at the minuscule helpings of food we were eventually offered, but still couldn’t manage to eat it all.

On returning to Guernsey several days after the operation we got into a routine of walking and gentle exercise. Having someone to talk to about problems with eating and what to cook was great. We often swapped mini meals so that we didn’t get bored with the things we made. Patricia has a family so was soon cooking for them too and making sure that she could puree and eat whatever they were having. I spent quite a lot of time freezing mini potions so that I wouldn’t waste food.

We were able to return to work after a few weeks of being looked after by our family, and despite being very tired we both managed to cope. Not being able to drive for six weeks was the hardest for me as I live on my own.

When the time came to get off the puree and onto solid food Patricia was fine. I however was not. I couldn’t keep anything down and eventually it got so bad I went to see Dr Van den Bossche again. It turned out that my oesophagus had shrunk after the operation and was blocking up. After a simple operation to stretch it (I was in hospital as a day patient), I found it was much easier to eat solids and progressed through the staged eating plan easily. The weight dropped off and at the end of the year I was pleased to be only a stone and a half from my target weight. Patricia reached her target weight shortly after the year was up.

Exercising on a regular basis is my biggest problem now. I do about half an hour on an exercise bike most days (in the fine weather Patricia and I go out on our bikes) but find that without company I give up with visiting the gym as frequently as I should. I have only lost a few pounds in the last six months, and I know that I have to make a more regular commitment of time in order to shift the last stone. Ongoing health problems have restricted my ability to do some forms of exercise and I have had to stop cycling, even on the exercise bike, for over two months as I have had problems with my circulation and general health.

It is still a thrill for me to be able to go into any clothes shop and to be able to buy “normal size” clothes, and meeting people who haven’t seen me for ages is great. They often don’t recognise me until I talk to them. When they ask me how I have lost weight I tell them I have had the operation and most have been really pleased for me.

In all, having a “partner” for the whole process was absolutely great. The mutual support was fantastic and made the difficult times easier and the celebrations much more fun. I would suggest anyone who has a similar operation join a support group or find someone else who is having the operation to talk to. This isn’t an easy way to lose weight and involves lots of life changes, mostly positive. I would advise anyone who has had it suggested to them by their doctor to think it over carefully and talk to other people before they commit, but in the long run it’s your life and body so you must make the decision.

I was never a small child, always on the chubby side, and as I grew up into my teens so did my weight. I was always told it was just puppy fat and that I would soon lose the weight, but it didn’t happen.

My teenage years were hell, I always felt that I didn’t fit in and was left out. My weight held me back, I couldn’t find clothes that made me feel good or fitted me well. This sent my self confidence to a very low level, and living on such a beautiful island as Guernsey, surrounded by beaches, was a nightmare. I dreaded the summer when my friends spent the days on the beach swimming and playing ball games as I didn’t have the confidence to wear bathers. Most days I would make excuses not to go and spent my summer days alone in my bedroom. Eating in public was always a fear, as there was always seemed to be someone looking at me or making a horrible comments (like ‘no wonder she is fat’) and I was often teased and called Ellie the elephant.

I’ve tried every diet under the sun and every slimming pill that has come on to the market without any success. At one point I managed to get down to twelve stone then fell pregnant with twins and ended up putting on 4 stone, which I couldn’t shift once they were born. I became pregnant again and put on another stone. Over the next few years I was constantly dieting and felt my children missed out on so much during their childhood due to me being overweight.

I read on the internet about the gastric bypass and wished I could have it done. A few more years went by before I finally plucked up the courage to speak to my doctor about the operation. He put me in touch with Mr Van den Bossche the surgeon, who explained the operation from start to finish. He went over the procedure in very fine detail answering many questions, then he asked me to go home, do some further research and think very carefully about the procedure, making sure I was fully aware of the seriousness of the operation.

I had to convince my husband and family about the benefits the procedure could bring and, naturally, they could only focus on the things that could go wrong. After a couple of months of consideration I decided that having this surgery would be my only chance of ever feeling normal about myself.

In April 2006 I went into hospital feeling the happiest I had ever felt, knowing that finally I would get the result I wanted. After surgery I came around feeling elated and I felt so well I was allowed home after one night in hosital. I had my food liquidized and put into ice cube trays to control the portion size, but within 5 days I was eating normal solid foods. I lost a stone in the first week and then my weight kept falling off; within 10 weeks I had lost a massive five stone. By the end of September 2006 I had lost a total of six and a half stone and people didn’t recognize me. For the first time  in my life I felt good about myself, I was able to go into the fashion shops and pick up clothes that fitted.

A few people said to me that I was selfish, as the operation was potentially life threatening and I had my children to think about. Yes, it is a very serious operation but with much careful consideration and research I decided my weight posed more of a threat to my health than the operation.

My confidence has rocketed; my only regret is that I should have had this gastric bypass operation years ago. My weight has stayed the same for the last three years which I’m really happy about. I eat healthily now and can only eat small amounts at each meal (child size portions). I also walk for an hour every day. This is not a miracle cure but it is a life changing experience. Now that I’ve lost so much weight I can eat in public and not feel like all eyes are on me. Thank you so much Mr Van den Bossche for making this happen, you made it possible for me to get a life and enjoy it.

In January 2006 I decided that enough was enough and went for a consultation with Mr Van den Bossche – I must say that it has changed my life.

I was 23 stone and in size 28 clothes, felt tired all the time and didn’t like to go out as I thought everyone would stare at me (for the wrong reasons) I was fed up with “should you be eating that” comments all the time, going to buy clothes was a nightmare not being able to find something nice that would fit. I was 39 and didn’t want to be fat and 40.

It was the best decision I have EVER made, I had tried every diet  under the sun and usually managed to lose 2 stone or more then put back on 3  – the weight was having an adverse effect on my health and I knew that if I carried on the way I was going it would seriously damage me. I always read about other slimmers saying “if I can do it anyone can” – that is the most aggravating comment.

After a great consultation with Mr Van den Bossche he decided a gastric band was the way forward for me, so in January 2006 I went into the Spire Southampton Hospital and after a one night stay started my new life. That is what Mr Van den Bossche has given me – my life back.

I loved the fact that each month my weight went down – it’s a gradual process and at first no-one really noticed, but after about 4 months people would comment on how well I was looking and asked if I’d been on holiday. The compliments increased and as the weight loss became more noticeable I started to get more confidence. It has been 4 years since the procedure now and I work in a different job, so mix with people who don’t know I had ever had a weight problem. When I tell people I was 11 stone heavier then now they look at me with disbelief. I show people my photos and they really cant believe it. When I bump into people I haven’t seen for a few years they walk straight past me!

I wanted to thank Mr Van den Bossche – he is my saviour – and without him I would never be in this position.  I love my new life – and my husband loves his new wife (he sayst he doesn’t like all the second glances I get, but I do, as it’s for the right reasons now).

Mr Van den Bossche asked me to write all the pro’s and con’s to having a gastric band for people who are contemplating weight loss surgery. There are millions of pros: being able to walk up the stairs without that second thought; slipping into size 12 trousers and feeling good in them; having more energy than when I was 20; the list goes on and on – and I’ve sat here for ages thinking about the cons, and the only two I could think of were: new clothes every month; and you can’t eat a big meal – but as you never feel hungry that’s not so bad is it!

I won’t say “if I can do it anyone can” – just go and see Mr Van den Bossche he will show you that it is possible.

Presenter of BBC Guernsey’s popular breakfast show, Gary Burgess used to be, quite literally, a larger than life figure, but he’s undergone a massive transformation recently.

Since a life-changing weight loss operation in September 2009, the 34-year old anchorman is now as light on his feet off-air as he is on it. Anyone who knew or had seen pictures of Gary before his gastrectomy could now easily walk past him in the street.

Not that long ago, the word ‘big’ would have pretty much summed up the former 19-stone presenter. Six months after his operation and already more than seven stone lighter, these days 5ft 7in Gary is, to steal a radio soundbite, nearly half the man he was.

It’s all a far cry from last summer when he was sporting size XXXL clothes, had a 44in-waist and worshipped at the foot of his own ‘chocolate and crisps cupboard.’

So where did it all go right, then? Firstly, Gary, who felt he had tried every diet and gym membership known to man, finally accepted that when it came to food he had no will power.

“It’s like any other addiction – it’s hard to explain why you do it to yourself. I would feel so sad, getting home from the station, eating biscuits while counting the calories on the packet.

“I knew I was a heart attack waiting to happen, I was worried about diabetes, I had asthma attacks and I was classed as morbidly obese. But while I realised I had all these problems, I had no solution. I was slowly killing myself but somehow I just couldn’t stop.”

Then, a letter from his much-loved mum Linda proved a catalyst. After she and his dad Ken, who live in the UK, had been over to visit, Gary got a letter saying that they’d both enjoyed a wonderful time but were desperately worried about his weight.

“I realised I had been deluding myself and I realised my solution was surgery.”

That surgery can lead to a 60% weight loss within 12 months and after meeting with the surgeon, who outlined the procedure and other options, Gary went away to think about it. After discussing it with his partner and family, Gary’s operation, which cost £8,700, went ahead in early September at Spire Southampton Hospital, and his recovery saw some pain, tears and even a spot of swearing at a strict but ‘brilliant’ nurse. But within a day of the keyhole surgery she had him walking about. He hasn’t looked back since.“Basically the decision I made last year has changed my world: it’s given me my life back.”

“I don’t feel hungry and I can’t overeat or I’d be ill. It’s the perfect solution for someone like me.”

The change has left him feeling fighting fit and well on course for his 11-stone target. He has much more energy these days and a far busier social life.

“Basically the decision I made last year has changed my world: it’s given me my life back.”

My name is Stephanie, I am 41 years young.

I started to put weight on 18 years ago at the time when not only my best friend died, but I also split up from my partner. I was alone and sad and ate for comfort, with my weight escalating to 18st 5lb and my clothes size reaching 24.

I had many classic problems that come with being Morbidly Obese. Health wise I suffered from high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, prolapsed discs, breathlessness, excessive sweating, heartburn and chaffing sores. Add to that the general misery my weight caused me and the embarrassment I felt when I saw people looking at and judging me.

I was alone and sad and ate for comfort, with my weight escalating to 18st 5lb and my clothes size reaching 24.Then I saw a programme about weight loss surgery, and it was like someone switching the light on. I researched more and found out about many of the different types of weight loss surgeries but the BPD/DS sat so well with me. The sleeve part gave me the restriction that I needed to stop overeating and stopped the feeling of hunger. The bypass section meant I could still eat a relatively normal high protein diet, as I love meat.

I met Michael in December 2008 after being recommended to see him via a friend who is a previous patient of Michael’s. The consultation was an open discussion about my choice of operation. He made me feel at ease and gave me his honest opinion and explained the operation in detail, how technical it was. We discussed the pros and cons and the risks, but he was very reassuring and informative, and I left knowing that I was in good hands.My life has changed so much, I am 9st 8lb, I am a size 10/12, food no longer controls me.My surgery took place in January 2009. Michael and his team are kind, human, easy to talk to and very professional, they made me feel very at ease on what is a very nerve wracking day.

So where am I now? Well let’s just say my life has changed so much, I am 9st 8lb, I am a size 10/12, food no longer controls me, most of the time I have to remind myself to eat, I am never hungry and I eat like a normal person would eat.

I laugh and smile all the time because I have so much energy, I go to the gym three nights a week, I have taken on a new job because I can get about and travel now, I love to go out and I have begun to date again. The only down side is that I now spend way too much money on new clothes!

I really could eat whatever I wanted without putting on weight until about the age of 15.  Looking back I realise that it wasn’t so much what I ate but the portions I ate.  I was an emotional eater. I turned to food whether happy or sad, hungry or not.

Over the past 25 years I have tried every diet possible and admit that during a real low point in my early twenties I tried some extremely harmful methods of trying to lose weight. I spent a fortune on personal training for two years, but looking back now I realise that until I could control my destructive eating habits and unhealthy attitude towards food, I was throwing money down the drain.

The turning point came four years ago when I started my own company. Although all promotions showed me smiling, my self confidence was at its lowest. It was time to take steps.

My doctor referred me to Mr Van den Bossche who talked to me about my eating habits and the options available to me.  He suggested a gastric bypass, an operation that was performed by keyhole surgery. At this stage I was 17.5 stone and wearing a size 20 clothes. It took just six months for seven stone to drop off and for me to be able to buy my first pair of size 10 jeans. I now eat like a slim person and make my food choices on a quality over quantity.

Three years down the line, the three small scars are barely noticeable. I have used the operation as a tool to help me overcome my obsession with food, following a healthy diet on a ‘little and often’ basis and rarely get to the hungry stage.

I have loads of energy, run on the cliffs and attend yoga classes. I now look forward to the next party and I’m more than happy having my photo taken, I guess the only downside is the fortune I have spent on a new wardrobe.  I’m so grateful to both my doctor for listening to me, and Mr Van den Bossche for helping me get my life back. This is the best gift I have ever given myself.