My name is Mary. 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 friend. 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. My 30’s are going to be the greatest decade of my life and I have Ready4AChange to thank for it!