Lap Band Surgery: Mary's Success Story

My name is Mary Lichtenwalter. I am 30 years old. I had been overweight pretty much my entire life. I am 5’8 and at my heaviest I was 280 lbs. But my story begins in about the 5th grade. My mother started to take me to a nutritionist so that I could learn how to eat better and hopefully lose some weight. The only problem was, food was my best f>riend. I would sneak food and hide in the closet to eat it. I was extremely outgoing but always tried to dodge the criticism of my weight by making a joke or two. To me my behavior seemed normal. I continued to become heavier as the years went on. By the time I was 18 and graduating high school I was over 200 lbs and in a size 18. It only got worse when I left to go to college. Most girls put on the freshman 15 but I put on the freshman 40.

I tried every diet under the sun. I went to weight watchers, overeaters anonymous, I did the cabbage soup diet, diet pills, and finally hypnosis…boy was that ever a joke! Then I met a guy who was an overeater too and got into a relationship. I got very comfortable and the pounds kept creeping on. One day I just looked at my fat naked body in the mirror and started to cry. I guess I knew I was overweight but didn’t realize just how much. Then I had a light bulb moment. I knew I wanted a change. I knew I wanted a healthy body. I knew I was missing out on so many things because of my weight. I knew I could never do this alone. I knew I needed a long term fix.

Then in November of 2005 my grandfather called. He had heard of Ready4AChnage and the team in Mexico from a client of his. He asked me to look into it and see if the lap band was something I might be interested in. I was on the phone with Judy the next day. There was no looking into it. I knew I wanted this. I wanted this more than anything in the world.

After talking to Judy who answered all of my questions and calmed all of my fears I booked my surgery for December 27,2005. I was a basket case on the flight down. I had all of these thoughts in my head that maybe this wasn’t going to work for me or that they would find a reason I couldn’t do it. It was the longest flight of my life! When we arrived in Monterrey I was treated like a queen. Hand carried all the way. The entire experience exceeded my expectations. The facilities were cleaner and nicer than anything I have seen here in the states. My mom who came with me used to be a nurse many years ago and even she was impressed….and that is hard to do! I can’t say enough good things about the entire staff. It was truly a wonderful experience.

Coming back home was so easy. I wasn’t in any pain. I dropped 18 lbs in the first week. I kept thinking my scale was lying to me but each day I continued to drop.  I am almost to my year anniversary and have lost 110 lbs. I still have about 20 – 25 more to go. I can’t tell you how great my new life is. I am doing things that I would of NEVER done when I was fat. I am finding bones I have never felt before. I can sit comfortably in an airplane seat and movie theater seat. I have a new found zest for life. I want to get out there and live my life instead of sitting inside and watching everyone else live theirs.

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