lap-band-related stories
Soap Star Drops 92 Pounds
Celebrity Fitzness Report, Diet & Weight Loss, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
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.
Caitlin Van Zandt Wins at Weight Loss
People told Caitlin she was too young for LAP-band surgery, but doing what young people do to lose weight wasn't working for her, and she wanted to nip her weight problem in the bud while she was still young. Surgery helped her lose 92 pounds, and she'd like to lose 8 more for a grand total of 100.
John Paschal/jpistudios.com
Caitlin says the point is not to be super human and never eat food -- she eats small meals and just a few bites of dessert. Since surgery, Caitlin's asthma is gone, her cholesterol levels are normal, and her BMI is in a healthy range. Her mother, who also had LAP-band surgery, has lost 80 pounds, and her overall health has improved dramatically too.
John Paschal/jpistudios.com
Caitlin says she has reinvented her attitude and has learned to respect herself. She's also enjoying shopping and real-life romantic scenes a whole lot more!
Bleacher & Everard/TeleNext Media, Inc.
New implant may help obese lose weight
Diet & Weight Loss, Reviews & Products
The VBLOC is seen as a safer alternative to gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries. These surgeries, though effective, are extremely invasive and involve certain health risks. The VBLOC is less invasive in that there's no cutting of internal organs.
No one is sure yet if it will work, but the VBLOC is in human trials right now. The research team is looking for participants, so if you'd like to be part of their research study, follow the link for an application.
