Metro woman shares dramatic weight loss success story, how did she do it? – kfor.com

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NORMAN, Okla. – Last fall, we first told you about a brand-new way to trim your waistline – the Orbera weight loss balloon procedure, which promised great results without invasive surgery.

To see how the method worked, Rhonda Hickman agreed to let us follow her on a very personal journey to lose weight and change her life.

When we first met Hickman, she told us her goal was to lose around forty pounds.

Losing weight had always been a challenge for her.

“I’ve done Weight Watchers. I’ve done low fat, high protein diets. I have actually done weight loss pills, but the weight has actually always seemed to come back,” Hickman said.

This time around, Hickman decided to try something different.

It looks like a small balloon filled along with water.

Once placed in the stomach, it makes you feel full.

Orbera weight loss balloon

“It kind of feels like you’ve had a partial Thanksgiving dinner all the time,” said Dr. Ronnie Keith, who performed Hickman’s balloon placement procedure at his clinic, Dr. Keith’s Wellness Options in Norman.

The method is designed to help those wanting to lose 40 to 100 pounds but do not want traditional weight loss surgery or the down time that comes along with it.

“It’s a low risk procedure,” Keith said.

Hickman was among the first patients in the country to try the procedure, but that did not scare her at all.

Hickman had thoroughly researched the Orbera balloon and put her faith in Keith and his staff, hoping for great results.

“Rhonda’s been a champ, though. She’s worked real hard,” Keith said.

Hickman lost 12 pounds the first week after the balloon was placed in her stomach.

After one month, she was down sixteen pounds but did not stop there – a diet and exercise makeover six months in the making.

“I feel like a brand-new woman today,” Hickman said.

See what Hickman looks like now, and learn about an unexpected result of her treatment that has actually changed her whole family for the better.

Join Marianne Rafferty on Tuesday at 10 p.m. for ‘Victory Story.’