ALLURE MEDICAL - all•u Magazine all·u Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 26

NO PILLS, NO SURGERY, NO FAD DIETS— JUST WEIGHT LOSS THE EASY WAY BY LISA HOWARD The battle of the bulge: we’ve all been there, and we all know how hard it is to win. It’s not easy to eat right, get good sleep, exercise and manage your stress every day, especially if you have a busy family life. Shawna knew exactly how that felt—she’d been (unsuccessfully) trying to shed pounds for years while working and raising her kids. When she turned 47 and was still struggling, she decided to try something new: the Orbera weight-loss balloon. It’s an FDA-approved device that’s inserted endoscopically into the stomach and then filled with a saline solution. The balloon takes up space in the stomach, promoting a feeling of fullness and helping you eat less and make better choices. For maximum weight loss, the balloon is left in place for six months before it’s removed, at which point you will have gotten used to your new healthy habits…and your new smaller pants! Meal prepping and healthy decisions are key to get the results you want.