A new chapter in life

Meet Maria. She is a wonderful woman in her forties, full of warmth and positive energy.

Maria comes from Dalarna in Sweden, where she lives in the countryside with her husband. Her daily life consists of working, hiking, strength training, and exploring the world of organisation and decluttering. These days, Maria feels fitter than ever. She loves meeting up with friends, going out for dinner, grabbing a coffee, or shopping. "I love bubbles, cinnamon rolls, and cars. And my happy place is our apartment in Spain," she says cheerfully.

The decision to have surgery

For years, Maria struggled with her weight and her self-image. "I was tired of constantly thinking about what I could and couldn't eat. Hating my body and how it looked and felt eventually became too heavy a burden for my mental health," she shares.

Despite her concerns and fears, she decided to contact a clinic and undergo a gastric sleeve operation on 24 February 2020. Before the surgery, however, Maria had doubts. "I wondered whether the operation would go well, whether I would achieve the results I wanted, and whether I had made the right decision," she says.

Fortunately, she received support from a friend who had undergone the same operation in 2015. "She was a huge support. I also looked for information online and discovered the Lev Ditt Liv website and the blogs of Ursula and Louise. Reading about their experiences gave me the courage to take the step."

The path to new habits

On the day of the surgery, Maria was nervous but also full of anticipation. "I had only been under general anaesthesia once before in my life. But the staff at the clinic made sure I felt calmer and well cared for," she recalls.

After the surgery, Maria focused on building healthier habits. "I learned to eat plenty of protein, to eat regularly, and to plan my meals." She realised that this was a new lifestyle, not a quick fix. "We have to help our tool so that it helps us. It's not always easy — we're human and things happen."

Maria faced challenges, particularly because her mindset did not always keep pace with the major changes happening in her body. "The biggest challenge is that my head doesn't always match the changes in my body. And honestly, sometimes it's still difficult," she admits.