• Nicole Velez weighed 244 pounds at her heaviest in November 2023.
• The 31-year-old who works in a members' lounge at a Florida airport struggled with self-confidence.
• A 60-minute outpatient procedure helped her lose over 100 pounds because it curbed her appetite.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Velez, 31, from Tampa. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My job is welcoming members to Delta Airlines' Sky Club lounge.

"Are you new here?" customers often ask. "No," I'll reply. "I've checked you in many times before."

They can't believe that I'm the same person I was 11 months ago. It's because I've lost 109 pounds after a non-surgical procedure.

My portion sizes are about a quarter of what they used to be. I feel full after eating much smaller amounts. My new figure has given me a lot of confidence and a new lease on life.

I tried every diet in existence

My weight has been up and down my whole life. I started dieting at 9. It was triggered by an unkind comment from a boy while I was rollerblading up and down a hill. "Wow, you're fat and you can rollerblade?" he said.

I went home and looked in the mirror. In my mind, I saw a large person staring back at me. I regretted raiding the fridge for pizza and eating sugary cereal with sweet, condensed milk. But I couldn't stop myself as an emotional eater. As I got older, I realized I could get through a 4,000 calorie meal and remain hungry.

Over the years, I tried every diet under the sun. In my 20s, I lost 60 pounds but regained it within months with an extra 20 pounds on top.

I suffered aches and pains, despite my young age. My back hurt. Everything hurt. I had to slide out of bed because I was too heavy to pull myself up.

Then, last year, at 244 pounds — far too heavy for my 5ft 6in frame — I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes. It was a shock. "I either have to change my ways, or this disease will kill me," I thought.

I looked for solutions on the internet. I chance upon the non-surgical procedure Bariendo, which cost me $11,000. It was approved by the FDA in 2022.

The weight came off quickly

Bariendo is an hour-long endoscopic that shrinks the stomach by 70%, causing a reduced capacity to take in food. The experts told me it alters gut hormone signaling, leading to reduced appetite and increased feelings of fullness.

I took one day off work and followed a clear liquid diet. I lost exactly 45 pounds in 45 days. Then I graduated to protein shakes and regular food, including raw, vegan meals. I make sure to drink at least a gallon of water a day.

The weight came off quickly. I now weigh 135 pounds. I went from a size 18 to a size 0 and had to buy a new wardrobe. Best of all, my bloodwork showed I was no longer pre-diabetic.

My confidence is much better. I have a good social life. I can swim and rollerblade again. I'm happier than I've ever been since that boy's thoughtless comment in 1991.

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