Being large most of my adult life, I had grown comfortable with my size, but as I grew older my body had become a burden. At 345 lbs I had developed Type II diabetes. As a result, I had to take medication 4 times a day and developed diabetic neuropathy in my fingers and feet. My doctors informed me that I would only be able to sustain any quality of life for the next 8-10 years; all of this due to my weight. My only option was permanent weight loss. The LAP-BAND® is a non-invasive surgery. I experienced dramatic weight loss, had a small recovery time and experienced little discomfort. A year and a half later I went from 345 lbs to 212 lbs, a loss of 133 lbs. I no longer take medication for diabetes and have been completely cured of the disease. Because of my weight loss with the LAP-BAND® I am now able to live life again, instead of just existing. As one of my LAP-BAND® friends said, "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels".