At her heaviest, Melissa was 310 pounds. She had sleep apnea and asthma. Her clothes didn’t fit, and she couldn’t reach her toes to paint her nails. Melissa knew it was time to make a change.
Her mom, Maureen, also struggled with her weight for years, and at her heaviest was 240 pounds. She had chronic back and knee pain, and used an inhaler to climb the stairs.
After years of yo-yo dieting, hypnosis, and pre-packaged meal plans, Melissa and Maureen decided to commit to long-term, sustainable weight loss — together.
At the Center for Bariatric Surgery & Metabolic Medicine at Princeton Medical Center, Melissa and Maureen got ready for weight-loss surgery with a bariatrics team in their corner.
In the months leading up their surgeries, they worked with expert surgeons, registered dietitians, and clinical psychologists. They underwent medical and surgical evaluations, participated in support groups, and had nutrition counseling to learn the lifestyle changes they would need for sustained success.
They also met with Donna Post, Metabolic and Bariatric Clinical Coordinator & Reviewer, who had bariatric surgery herself in 2015. Post guided them through the preparation process, answering their questions and addressing their concerns with information that merged her clinical expertise and her own experiences.
Then, on Feb. 1, 2017, Melissa and Maureen each had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Since then, the pair have lost nearly 200 pounds combined.
But surgery alone doesn’t account for their success.
Melissa and Maureen fully adhered to the bariatrics program. They stayed in contact with their clinical team, followed nutrition plans, and attended support groups. Their hard work and continued support from each other and their team has paid off beyond the falling number of the scale. Mother and daughter achieved better health while building confidence and self-esteem.
Now they’re exercising regularly, shopping for fun, and enjoying time at the beach.
Melissa’s sleep apnea is gone and her asthma is under control. She can now paint her toenails and breathe comfortably at the same time.
Maureen is off her inhaler. Her back and knee pain has subsided, and she’s even completed a 5K.
Their only regret about weight-loss surgery is that they didn’t do it sooner.
