Rob, aged 29, BMI 29

Ever since I left university, I've piled on the pounds. Beer and takeaways really took their toll! After a few years of dieting I was just like a yo-yo. I'd go back up to 17 stones, then I'd get back down to about fourteen. It was totally demoralising. So I'd go back to the beer and curries.

As I got near to my 30th birthday, I just felt that something had to be done. I'd done pretty well with a diet but I knew it wouldn't last. I saw an advert for the National Gastric Balloon Centre in the Daily Mail and gave them a call.

After a thorough consultation, I decided to have a balloon to try to get me back into a sensible eating pattern whilst I was still on a bit of a roll with my diet.

The six months with my balloon was much easier than I expected. I got tons of help and support from the Centre. In fact, I bet I had contact with them almost every week. I must say that I found their programme really easy to keep to. It's not about a strict diet. It's much more about education and behaviour change.

It's now six months since my balloon came out, and I am still finding it easy to control my food intake. And my beer intake too! I'm back in the gym and I go swimming at least twice a week. I've also got a lot more energy at work too.

I truly believe that having my balloon was the very best present I could give myself. It's not cheap, but it was worth every penny. As they say at the Centre - "Lose weight. Live better. Live longer".

I believe that.

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