Curious to know how celebrities squeeze fitness into their daily lives? Our fitness expert Fitz sits down with the stars and digs out their great and not-so-great methods for staying healthy.

Weighing more than 200 pounds at 5'8," "Guiding Light" actress Caitlin Van Zandt was sick of awkward wardrobe experiences, frustrated by her losing battle with diets and frightened about her pre-diabetic diagnosis. Under the guidance of her physician, she chose to undergo LAP-band surgery. Here, the 23-year-old talks about her enormous weight loss, the exciting life changes she's experienced because of it and why she feels this option is far superior to gastric bypass surgery.

Fitz: What drove you to surgery instead of exercise and good eating habits for weight loss?

Caitlin: You know, I'd been overweight since I was 10 years old and believe me, I have tried every method of weight loss around. Even though I knew how to eat right and exercise, I just couldn't control what I was eating. I was aware that I was eating bad things, but I just couldn't stop myself. I was an emotional eater. I also avoided the doctor because, rightfully so, he'd always give me a hard time. Last year, when I went in for my physical, he told me my cholesterol was sky high, and I was prediabetic. He offered up one more diet before he would put me on the drug Lipitor for high cholesterol. I was 22 years old, and I did not want to be on cholesterol medicine. When that last diet didn't work, we decided LAP-band surgery would be my best option. Trust me, I never thought I'd be one of those weight loss surgery people!

Check out Caitlin's transformation in the gallery below. Post continues after gallery.

Fitz: How much did you weigh before surgery?

Caitlin: I don't feel comfortable giving an exact number, but I will tell you that I was well over 200 pounds, and my size 20 clothes were getting too tight.

Fitz: What made you believe LAP-band was the answer for you?

Caitlin: My surgeon at [New York University], George Fielding, who just happened to be incredibly handsome and Australian, gave me the confidence. He taught me all about the procedure and actually told me, "Caitlin, if you do what I tell you to do, you will not fail." That was the first time I ever felt real confidence about my chances of success. With that, I said "sign me up," and we set my surgery date for February 29, 2008.

Fitz: How did the surgery go?

Caitlin: Before the surgery, I had to go on a liquid diet for two weeks to remove the fat from my liver, but the actual surgery was easy. I literally walked myself into the surgical room at 7:30 a.m., and I remember waking up and looking at the clock in the recovery room at 8:02 a.m. My surgery was laparoscopic, so I only have five small incisions on my tummy, which are about the length of a penny, and they've already completely faded. I had a minor amount of stabbing pain in the abdomen for a few days, but the pain faded quickly.

Fitz: This surgery is a lot less invasive than gastric bypass.

Caitlin: Correct. The LAP-band is a minimally invasive procedure which results in a silicone band around the upper portion of your stomach so you'll feel full faster. Since the stomach is a muscle that can stretch out over time (the more you eat on a regular basis, the larger your stomach and the more food you need to consume in order to feel full), the LAP-band can easily be tightened or loosened in a doctor's office to adjust to your needs. If you're losing weight too fast, the band can be loosened to allow for more food. Gastric bypass does not allow for adjustments at all. In fact, my surgeon says that because someone can re-stretch their stomach out after gastric bypass surgery, people can easily undo what's been done. Many of those patients who have regained weight because of this are now turning to LAP-band surgery.

Fitz: Do you ever adjust your band?

Caitlin: You know, adjustments just allow me to live my life. If I went to Italy and wanted to have some extra leeway to have a cannoli after dinner, I could have it loosened. I could loosen it if I got pregnant or sick, or needed extra nutrition for some other reason. I could also tighten it if I wasn't losing weight anymore. I have a little port near my belly button which is not noticeable, unless I'm purposely feeling around for it. The doctor can add saline through the port if we need to make adjustments.

Fitz: What's been the most fun part about this experience?

Caitlin: Shopping! I used to be stuck shopping at Lane Bryant, Old Navy or Torrid. Now I'm in sorts of fun new stores I'd never even heard of. I'm particularly fond of French Connection and BCBG. Ooh, and I even love shopping at Victoria's Secret now!

Fitz: You were moving into a size 22 before. What do you wear now?

Caitlin: I'm a solid 10, but I can sometimes wear an 8. My goal is to be an 8 for good.

Fitz: Why 8?

Caitlin: I don't want to be one of those typical Hollywood "stick-boy girls." I'm a woman, and I love having curves.

Fitz: What's your favorite body part?

Caitlin: I've always loved having a voluptuous chest, but I think my favorite part is my legs. I have the muscular build that I had when I was carrying around all of that extra weight. Now that they've thinned out, I get so many compliments on them!

Fitz: Do you work out?

Caitlin: I do! I do belly dancing class, tap and yoga. I do stuff to tone up too.

Fitz: How has your love life changed -- both on and off screen?

Caitlin: Unfortunately "Guiding Light" hasn't given me any romantic story lines since I've lost the weight, but my romantic scenes in real-life have improved dramatically. I was in a co-dependent relationship before with a guy who was always trying to get me to diet. We broke up, and I'm now dating a fabulous guy who I actually met in Vegas. We did the long-distance thing for a while, but he's moved to New York to be with me. We met when I was a size 16; he didn't know I had the surgery, and he didn't know I was an actress, yet he thought I was perfect and beautiful anyway. He's in culinary school and frequently makes me healthy soups, since I can eat lots of that.

Fitz: What's your advice for others who are trying to lose a large amount of weight?

Caitlin: People shouldn't be afraid to look in to LAP-band surgery as an option. Of course, they should try to lose weight by simply eating right and exercising, but if that doesn't ever work for you, LAP-band might be your answer.

Check out the gallery below to see how other celebs have dropped the pounds, and put them back on.