She walked off 178 lbs

Discover the delicious snack proven to help walkers quadruple fat burn and lose up to 16 lbs a week

- Allison Nemetz

"At this point, gastric bypass is really your only hope," said the doctor, concern on her face. She was reading Debbie Rondinelli's latest tests, which showed dangerously high blood pressure and cholesterol, full-blown diabetes, and a fatty liver-all getting worse in a hurry. "Your body can't support your current weight much longer." She handed her a surgeon's card. The Connecticut grandmother took it, her heart beating faster. No surgery, she thought. No way. But when Debbie opened her mouth to ask for other options, all that came out was a defeated sigh. After all, what else was she going to do? She'd tried every pill and plan out there, and yet she was still carrying 325 pounds. She was always tired, achy, and often sad. "You don't have to decide today," the doctor added. "But do it soon, or it may be too late."

After dinner with her husband Massimo, Debbie reluctantly typed 'gastric bypass' in her laptop. Article after article confirmed the procedure could be a miracle for some. But folks who didn't change their eating habits lost little weight or even gained. That'll be me, she thought with despair.

Debbie tried to eat less with some success. Yet she was at a low point when Massimo's supervisor, Jen, asked the couple to join Weight Watchers with her. Debbie had already failed at the program. "We're too busy," she fibbed. Jen emailed Debbie again. "It's your boss. I have to say yes," she told Massimo. But even as she agreed, she was thinking: I won't last a month.

First small steps