A couple of years ago, Deb K. was always drained after walking from her driveway to her front door. Now, she can complete a 5K marathon in roughly an hour.

“Bariatric surgery changed my life,” she said. “It was the best decision I’ve ever made.”

Prior to discovering the Weight Loss Institute's bariatric services, Deb was an insulin-dependent diabetic with high blood pressure as well as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. She wore a 5x top and a size 32 pair of pants, and even those were growing tight. Her weight and overall health made it difficult for her to play with her grandchildren.

Deb’s journey through the Weight Loss Institute's Medically-Supervised Weight Loss (MSWL) program and bariatric surgery not only transformed her appearance, but it completely altered her lifestyle for the better. Her path to success inspired her daughter, Megg, to follow in her footsteps. Together, they have lost a combined 150 pounds after bariatric surgery.

Megg’s wake-up call came in the summer of last year. Her work as a speech pathologist was becoming increasingly difficult. She had troubling bending over and sitting down to interact with students, and she grew winded walking from one wing of the school to another. This made her realize how inactive she was with her own children.

“I’ve got two little boys, and I knew that I needed to be there for them. I knew that if I didn’t change something, I wasn’t going to be,” she said.

Deb took Megg to see Dr. David Lee, and her weight loss journey began.

Megg befriended other bariatric patients, who helped keep her in check when she was craving a Coke or Starbucks drink. And, of course, her mother was behind her every step of the way.

“Knowing that she had been through what I was getting ready to go through was a huge source of comfort,” Megg said. “I never felt like I was alone. I knew that even if I had a bad day, she’d be there in my corner to back me up the next day.”

Megg’s surgery was in December, but she managed to avoid stress-eating even through the holidays and the transition into a new job.

Now, she enjoys walking and prepping healthy meals with her mom. (They’re both fans of grilled chicken salads with fresh fruit.) They’re able to play catch and trek to the park with the kids as well.

Deb and Megg have always considered each other best friends, and thanks to this huge change in their lives, they’re closer than ever before.