My name is Larissa McConkey, I am 35 years old and, in brief, here is my gastric band journey.

I have been overweight all my life and at the age of 21 I was officially declared disabled due to a crippling back disorder; too painful to walk, sit or enjoy life, if I had to go out during the day my breakfast would consist of coffee and pain relief. I tried every diet going, all the milkshake diets, all the slimming clubs - and they worked, but for a very short time - then I was back to square one.

At the end of August 2005 my life was at its changing point. I came home from holiday a day early as I had my first appointment in Bristol the next day; three weeks later on the 21st September my life changed for the better when my band was fitted.

I had a BMI of 46 the day I had my surgery; three fills later, 36kg down and my BMI is 31.6. It has been a slow but steady process; I am now down from a size 28 clothes to a size 16 and my weight loss journey is not over yet.

I found they journey quite easy as I wanted to lose weight so badly. I followed the rules most of the time - I did try to cheat, but you're only cheating yourself. Yes, you can still eat ice cream, chocolate and cake, but you are only defeating the purpose of your band and eat just one more mouthful that you shouldn't and your "baby belly" rejects it. You learn to eat the good food first; your meat and vegetables, dairy, etc and you put them first before your cakes. The band is a personal learning curve which you go through everyday - food you used to be able to eat you can no longer, your favourite vegetables that you cook to a crunch, now have to be soft. I find I cannot eat pickles anymore they make me feel sick, and bread and pasta and rice I find hard to eat.

I went through so many different emotions - from sheer joy of dropping another dress size, to utter frustration because I wanted to finish that meal on my plate but couldn't, growing confidence which comes from nowhere and out of the blue. Learning to accept compliments, I still blush and don't know how to take them. The band really does change your life, at the age of twenty one I was a young disabled woman, I am now a qualified teaching assistant in a local primary school, having just finished my NVQ2, I have now started the NVQ3 course, and eighteen months ago I wouldn’t have the confidence to do this.

Most importantly I can now also be a real mum - I can run around a field and play football with my son, and I can go clothes shopping with my daughter. My husband loves the new me. I am so happy now, full of confidence and I was so miserable being fat that I just cannot believe I didn't have my band sooner.