Lisa's Story | Managing Weight for a Healthier You
Back in 2016, Lisa McMahon (then 51) attended a Cone Health bariatric surgery conference to support a friend who was considering weight loss surgery. Ironically, Ms. McMahon’s friend ultimately opted not to have bariatric surgery… but Ms. McMahon was impressed with what she learned at the conference and decided to pursue weight loss surgery herself.
“I’ve had weight issues since I was in fourth grade,” Ms. McMahon shared. “If you can think of a weight loss program or diet – I’ve tried it. I’d lost weight many times but always gained it back – and then some.”
In October of 2016, Ms. McMahon had gastric sleeve surgery, and she says her life hasn’t been the same since.
“Before I had the surgery, there was always this little voice inside my head saying, ‘What do you want to eat now?’ and, ‘Aren’t you ready to eat again?’” she said. “But after the surgery, that voice was gone completely. It just changed everything.”
Not only did the procedure change the way she thought about food – it changed the way she thought about herself. Ms. McMahon says she feels better and has much better self-esteem, and that she’s been so happy with how much more she’s able to do as a result of the surgery.
Prior to her surgery at Cone Health, Ms. McMahon weighed 283 pounds, and these days her weight hovers around 170-180 pounds.
“I lost 50 pounds quickly – in about three months – and then the rest came off over the course of that next year,” she said. “Since I lost all the weight, I’ve never been more than about 10 pounds over where I was. I’m very careful to stick with the rules so I don’t gain the weight back.”
Ms. McMahon, who is a nurse at Cone Health, said her experience on the patient side of things within the weight loss surgery department was incredible. She was impressed with the care she received, as well as with the smooth, organized way the whole process worked – starting with the conference she initially attended and leading into surgery prep, the surgery itself and then her care afterward.
“I would absolutely recommend Cone Health to anyone considering weight loss surgery,” she said. “If I had the choice to make again, I would choose this path every single time.”
Tips for Managing Weight for a Healthier You
When is it time to consider bariatric surgery? How can I manage my weight with diet and exercise? Get tips for healthy weight management from Eric Wilson, MD.
Bariatric Surgery at Cone Health
Take control of your weight — and your well-being — with weight loss surgery at Cone Health. When you choose Cone Health for your surgery, you can be confident you’ll receive the highest-quality bariatric care. Learn more.
