4:50pm Wednesday 24th February 2010
A NORTH Yorkshire woman lost half her body weight in less than a year when she took drastic measures to fight obesity and had a gastric band fitted.
Linda Ralph, 49, of High Bentham, shed ten stone in 12 months, dropping from a size 24 to a healthy size 12.
“At over 19 stone, I was morbidly obese, I was killing myself,” said Mrs Ralph.
“I could picture myself as a fat old lady waddling about with sticks and it scared me. I knew I had to take responsibility.”
After years of dieting, Mrs Ralph decided to change her lifestyle and travelled to Sweden to have a gastric band fitted.
Her husband Nick took a series of photographs to chronicle her weight loss every six weeks.
“It was horrible, standing there in a bikini, but it spurred me on,” said Mrs Ralph.
“I took a long, hard look at myself. At my worst I’d reached over 20 stone. My husband and children were incredibly supportive and we discussed it as a family, but it was something I had to do by myself.”
Her procedure was organised through the Weight Loss Surgery Group, co-run by bariatric nurse Wendy Stubbs.
The silicone band - which lasts for 20 years - was fitted around the upper stomach using keyhole surgery.
“After the operation I was left with five tiny scars and released 24 hours later,” said Mrs Ralph.
“It was daunting, but the whole process was so comfortable and supportive.
“Initially I was on liquids, then soft foods. Because your food intake is limited, you feel full quicker. At first I thought: ‘I can’t survive on those portions’ but I got used to it.”
Mrs Ralph’s obesity developed after she injured her back during a traffic accident.
For more about the Weight Loss Surgery Group ring 0800 7879029, or visit wlsgroup.co.uk.
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