Alex Brecher

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We're happy to announce that the BariatricPal Store now carries the entire line of over 80 Walden Farms Calorie Free products! Walden Farms dressings, creamers, syrups, sauces, dips, mayo, peanut butter, spreads, and jellies have no calories, fat, carbs, gluten or sugars of any kind! Check them out at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/walden-farms .

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Why Does It Matter? There is an expression that goes, “Shoot for the stars and you’ll hit the moon.” The idea is that if you set your sights high but fall short, you will still achieve something great. The theory may sound good, but it may neglect to consider reality. The truth is that for many of us, another saying is truer: “Success breeds success.” That is, when you hit one goal, you are motivated to keep working towards your next one. You build momentum as you hit goal after goal, and those goals then act like stepping stones to those proverbial stars. The Trap of “Too Much, Too Fast” There is a common tendency overshoot when it comes to weight loss goals. These are some reasons why. We want to lose weight so badly that we think only of the dream goal. Most of us tend to think of ourselves as above average – so we set our weight loss goals at higher than average. We set deadlines that are too short because we are so focused on getting there that we forget to recognize how wonderful the journey is. We set our goals based on what someone else lost. Classic Failure: “All or Nothing” One of the surest ways to set yourself up for failure is to set your weight loss goal to be too many pounds within too little time. It is comparable to the “all-or-nothing” mentality that so often comes with dieting: you are doing fine until you eat a cookie, and then you figure that the day is wasted, so you might as well finish the bag of cookies, skip your workout, and order pizza and breadsticks for dinner. The same mentality after weight loss surgery can get you into the same trouble. If you aim for an unrealistic 20 or 30 lb. in your first month and instead hit a respectable 5 to 10 lb., the “disappointment” can discourage you so you do not try as hard. Realistic Weight Loss The amount of weight you can realistically expect to lose depends on your procedure, how much you have to lose, and your own drive and other individual characteristics. An average gastric bypass or sleeve patient might lose about 50% of excess weight. For example, Someone who is 5’4” tall and weighs 245 lb. has about 100 lb. of “excess” body weight and might set a goal to lose about 50 lb. Another way to look at it is to take a rough estimate of average weight loss with your procedure for your surgeon’s patients. You might use that number as the basis for your own weight loss goal. You could also look at your final goal – say, 100 lb. down – and divide that by 1 to 2 years – in this case, a seemingly modest 1 to 2 lb. per week. Setting Realistic Goals For weight loss or any other goal, you can follow certain guidelines for realistic goal-setting. Set your goal to: Include a realistic amount of weight loss. Leave yourself enough time to achieve that amount. Include interim goals that you can celebrate and use as motivation. Provide for rewards as you progress, so you stay motivated. Allow enough time for plateaus and setbacks. They will come. Keep It in Perspective Strange but true…weight loss is only one of many reasons to get weight loss surgery and follow a healthier lifestyle. What about…? Gaining energy? Getting healthier? Feeling more confident? Participating in more of life? Along with setting weight loss goals, you can set other goals for healthy eating, working out, and trying new things. You will always have something to chase after and you will be able to see more progress every day.

Are you or someone you love struggling at an extreme weight over 600Lbs? BariatricPal is working with the producers of My 600 Lb Life and searching for individuals weighing 600 pounds or more who are ready to make a life change. My 600-lb life follows the lives of real people suffering from super obesity that embark on a year-long journey to regain their health. If approved they receive gastric Bypass Surgery. Each episode tells the powerful story of one super obese individual. Many are home-bound, relying on family care just to live day to day. They make the courageous decision to save their lives and change their world forever. If this describes you or someone you know, then please send the following information to us via email to castingcalls@BariatricPal.com : Name Age Height Weight City, State Brief Bio Phone number

McDonald’s, Burger King, and the Other Burger Joints Burger joints are the epitome of fast food, but they can be surprisingly diet-friendly if you are careful. Plain, kid-sized burger patties, grilled chicken, and salads without bacon, croutons, and other unhealthy additions are all easy to fit into your weight loss plan. Choose a side salad instead of fries or onion rings, and you can have a filling and healthy meal. Skip: buns, mayo, shakes, and crispy chicken. Panda Express The premise is great – choose a dish with protein and vegetables, skip the fried rice and chow mein noodles, and feel good about a high-protein, high-fiber meal. This is actually possible when you avoid breaded and sugary choices, such as Orange Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp, in favor of Mushroom Chicken, String Bean Chicken Breast, and Broccoli Beef. If you are still hungry, add a side of Mixed Vegetables for 80 calories. Skip the appetizers – all of them! To put things into perspective, an order of Broccoli Beef plus a side of Mixed Vegetables has 230 calories, while an order of Orange Chicken plus a side of Chow Mein plus an order of Cream Cheese Rangoons had 1,080 calories. Skip: rice, noodles, breaded chicken, beef, fish, or shrimp, and rangoons and egg and spring rolls. KFC and Other Chicken Places Choose “grilled” instead of “fried,” “crispy,” “original,” or “breaded,” and you will be well on your way to a high-protein, low-carb meal. Get pieces instead of a sandwich, and be wary of sugary or fatty dipping sauces. Green beans and corn – no butter – can round out your meal, but stay away from the other sides, such as Skip: fried and popcorn chicken, biscuits, baked beans, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, and mac and cheese, and creamy dipping sauces. Pizza Hut and Other Pizza Places As at any restaurant, moderation is your best bet at pizza places, too. You will not go too far wrong if you can stick to a slice of thin-crust pizza with light cheese, ham or chicken instead of pepperoni or sausage, and any vegetables that you want to pile on. Other promising choices are baked wings (5 grams protein, 60 calories each) and a salad with grilled chicken. Skip: thick-crust pizza, too many slices, pasta bowls, breadsticks, and dessert pizzas. Taco Bell and Chipotle So many of the components can be healthy for you, but somehow, they can come together to create an unhealthy disaster. Protect yourself by ordering from the bottom up. Choose chicken or grilled steak; as many vegetables as you can find, and some cheese or avocado. Add a few beans if you want, plus a generous scoop of salsa, and your Mexican-style meal can keep your waistline happy. Skip: tortilla chips and shells, tortillas, rice, nacho cheese sauce, fatty ground beef, sour cream, creamy sauces, and quesadillas. Panera and Other Cafes Many cafes promise fresh ingredients, but do not mistake “quality” for “waist-friendly.” Look for green salads with vegetables, grilled chicken or feta, and nuts or avocado. You can also get a good bet when you see broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle or vegetable, and lean turkey or ham. For breakfast, look for egg whites, plain oatmeal, and fresh fruit. Skip: pastries and sugary beverages, bread, large quantities of salad dressing, mayo-based spreads, fatty meats, and add-ons such as croutons and chow mein noodles. You can find a healthy meal at almost any place you end up at, and often, you can plan your order ahead of time. Just look for the menu online so you can see your options and the nutrition information. Then let someone else do the cooking and cleaning up, and enjoy your tasty meal.

We're going to carry every Walden Farm's product in the BariatricPal Store within the next two weeks or so. They have over 75 products! I like so many of them! It really depends on my mood. I'm attaching a list of all their products to this post in the order of their popularity across the US. WF Ranking.pdf

Obesity is considered a disease now by the American Medical Association and other leading organizations. In many ways, this is something to be grateful for, since it means that doctors are now expected to treat obesity rather than simply suggest that you go home and lose weight. However, there is a risk too. Take note of the research. Studies have already shown the potential for people to give in to obesity due to its classification as a disease. In one study, overweight individuals who read a story about obesity being genetic ate more cookies than a group of individuals who read a different story. In another study, overweight individuals who read an article explaining that obesity is a disease ordered and ate more calories from a menu at lunch than a control group. Distinguish “disease” from “doom.” A drawback of labeling obesity as a disease is the tendency to feel doomed or to feel like a victim. That could lead you to stop trying to be healthy, but that mindset is ridiculous. That would be like giving up using sunscreen simply because skin cancer is technically a “disease,” or skipping the measles vaccine because measles is a “disease.” Genes and the environment interact to affect your health. You do not need to succumb to obesity simply because it is a “disease.” A disease means that something it wrong; it does not mean that you cannot do anything about it. Even if you suspect that you do have obesity gene or two, your own choices still affect your weight. Consider identical twins with a genetic predisposition to obesity. If one twin eats 3,000 calories a day from pizza, ice cream, and beer, she will end up weighing more and being less healthy than the other twin, if she eats 1,500 calories a day from vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Rather than feeling sorry for yourself because of your genes, make the most of what you have. Any effort you put in will yield benefits. Pull your weight (so to speak) in the doctor’s office. Doctors may have general guidelines for treating obesity patients, but that does not make them experts. You have the right to the best possible treatment, which means you have the responsibility of helping your doctor along as needed. Let her know if the plan she suggests is not going to work for you, and tell her what you really need. She should be grateful to hear from you, since the concept and practice of treating obesity rather than ignoring may be new to her. In addition, demand the compassionate and respectful care you deserve. If your doctor or anyone in the office is rude to you or treats you without respect, speak up. You might consider being polite the first time; they may not even know they are demeaning. Obesity is a disease, but it is one you can influence with your healthy behaviors and your decision about weight loss surgery. Let yourself feel better knowing that it is a disease, but do not let that be an excuse to play the victim. You can fight obesity successfully!

Fast food is part of life for almost all of us. Instead of letting it destroy your good intentions, use it for what it can be: a break from cooking and a meal you can love while you lose weight. This quick guide has just a few tips for how you can get the meal you need at some of the most popular fast food chains in the country. Let us know in the comments if you have other fast food hacks! McDonald’s, Burger King, and the Other Burger Joints Burger joints are the epitome of fast food, but they can be surprisingly diet-friendly if you are careful. Plain, kid-sized burger patties, grilled chicken, and salads without bacon, croutons, and other unhealthy additions are all easy to fit into your weight loss plan. Choose a side salad instead of fries or onion rings, and you can have a filling and healthy meal. Skip: buns, mayo, shakes, and crispy chicken. Panda Express The premise is great – choose a dish with protein and vegetables, skip the fried rice and chow mein noodles, and feel good about a high-protein, high-fiber meal. This is actually possible when you avoid breaded and sugary choices, such as Orange Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp, in favor of Mushroom Chicken, String Bean Chicken Breast, and Broccoli Beef. If you are still hungry, add a side of Mixed Vegetables for 80 calories. Skip the appetizers – all of them! To put things into perspective, an order of Broccoli Beef plus a side of Mixed Vegetables has 230 calories, while an order of Orange Chicken plus a side of Chow Mein plus an order of Cream Cheese Rangoons had 1,080 calories. Skip: rice, noodles, breaded chicken, beef, fish, or shrimp, and rangoons and egg and spring rolls. KFC and Other Chicken Places Choose “grilled” instead of “fried,” “crispy,” “original,” or “breaded,” and you will be well on your way to a high-protein, low-carb meal. Get pieces instead of a sandwich, and be wary of sugary or fatty dipping sauces. Green beans and corn – no butter – can round out your meal, but stay away from the other sides, such as Skip: fried and popcorn chicken, biscuits, baked beans, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and gravy, and mac and cheese, and creamy dipping sauces. Pizza Hut and Other Pizza Places As at any restaurant, moderation is your best bet at pizza places, too. You will not go too far wrong if you can stick to a slice of thin-crust pizza with light cheese, ham or chicken instead of pepperoni or sausage, and any vegetables that you want to pile on. Other promising choices are baked wings (5 grams protein, 60 calories each) and a salad with grilled chicken. Skip: thick-crust pizza, too many slices, pasta bowls, breadsticks, and dessert pizzas. Taco Bell and Chipotle So many of the components can be healthy for you, but somehow, they can come together to create an unhealthy disaster. Protect yourself by ordering from the bottom up. Choose chicken or grilled steak; as many vegetables as you can find, and some cheese or avocado. Add a few beans if you want, plus a generous scoop of salsa, and your Mexican-style meal can keep your waistline happy. Skip: tortilla chips and shells, tortillas, rice, nacho cheese sauce, fatty ground beef, sour cream, creamy sauces, and quesadillas. Panera and Other Cafes Many cafes promise fresh ingredients, but do not mistake “quality” for “waist-friendly.” Look for green salads with vegetables, grilled chicken or feta, and nuts or avocado. You can also get a good bet when you see broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle or vegetable, and lean turkey or ham. For breakfast, look for egg whites, plain oatmeal, and fresh fruit. Skip: pastries and sugary beverages, bread, large quantities of salad dressing, mayo-based spreads, fatty meats, and add-ons such as croutons and chow mein noodles. You can find a healthy meal at almost any place you end up at, and often, you can plan your order ahead of time. Just look for the menu online so you can see your options and the nutrition information. Then let someone else do the cooking and cleaning up, and enjoy your tasty meal.

Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve patients , any bariatric multivitamin you choose needs to contain: 3 mg thiamine (that’s vitamin B1) 18-36 mg of iron 800 mcg of folic acid 2 mg of copper The BariatricPal Store is located in Long Island. Most deliveries to NYC are next day.

According to KGTV & many other news sources: -- "A class-action lawsuit has been filed in Maricopa County against Dr. Mario Almanza, a doctor who performs weight loss surgeries in Tijuana. There are more than 20 people and businesses, Including WeightLossAgents named in the lawsuit. It also includes an Arizona woman believed to have been recruited for doctors in Mexico. It alleges fraud and negligent misrepresentation." I say it's about time!

If you can't afford the event or were on the bench about attending the SouthEast VSG WLS Convention in Orlando, Florida. We are giving away two FREE tickets. Please PM me if you're interested.

Join BariatricPal in Sunny Orlando Florida on Friday, April 27th & Saturday, April 28th at the Embassy Suites Hotel for another weekend designed to Educate, Motivate, Inspire and Celebrate you, during your Weight Loss Journey. Surrounding yourself with other's on the same journey is one of the best ways to get the support you need or desire. Get professional and practical tips on life after Weight Loss Surgery. Conference fee includes the Fashion Show, All White Themed Banquet (with a Florida twist), Door Prizes and More. The conference is for any pre and post op patient, no matter which surgery you've had. Visit www.southeastvsg.com for more information. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. See you there!!

We just posted the signup form for free plastic surgery consults by Dr. Alex Galvez and BariatricPal Hospital MX. We have a limited amount of time and slots available on Friday & Saturday. If you're interested in plastics, please schedule your consult as soon as you're able at http://www.slyreply.com/app/sheets/m1d6ss2x5y8n/

Good morning, everyone! Here's a recent honest unboxing of the BariatricPal Box of the Month Club from Becca The gastric Chef on YouTube!

That was my "plan" too!

These were great suggestions! Any others? I just watched two AWESOME videos by Becca, thanks!

I'm curious which WLS social media influencers our members are following on Instagram and YouTube?

Take note of the research. Studies have already shown the potential for people to give in to obesity due to its classification as a disease. In one study, overweight individuals who read a story about obesity being genetic ate more cookies than a group of individuals who read a different story. In another study, overweight individuals who read an article explaining that obesity is a disease ordered and ate more calories from a menu at lunch than a control group. Distinguish “disease” from “doom.” A drawback of labeling obesity as a disease is the tendency to feel doomed or to feel like a victim. That could lead you to stop trying to be healthy, but that mindset is ridiculous. That would be like giving up using sunscreen simply because skin cancer is technically a “disease,” or skipping the measles vaccine because measles is a “disease.” Genes and the environment interact to affect your health. You do not need to succumb to obesity simply because it is a “disease.” A disease means that something it wrong; it does not mean that you cannot do anything about it. Even if you suspect that you do have obesity gene or two, your own choices still affect your weight. Consider identical twins with a genetic predisposition to obesity. If one twin eats 3,000 calories a day from pizza, ice cream, and beer, she will end up weighing more and being less healthy than the other twin, if she eats 1,500 calories a day from vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Rather than feeling sorry for yourself because of your genes, make the most of what you have. Any effort you put in will yield benefits. Pull your weight (so to speak) in the doctor’s office. Doctors may have general guidelines for treating obesity patients, but that does not make them experts. You have the right to the best possible treatment, which means you have the responsibility of helping your doctor along as needed. Let her know if the plan she suggests is not going to work for you, and tell her what you really need. She should be grateful to hear from you, since the concept and practice of treating obesity rather than ignoring may be new to her. In addition, demand the compassionate and respectful care you deserve. If your doctor or anyone in the office is rude to you or treats you without respect, speak up. You might consider being polite the first time; they may not even know they are demeaning. Obesity is a disease, but it is one you can influence with your healthy behaviors and your decision about weight loss surgery. Let yourself feel better knowing that it is a disease, but do not let that be an excuse to play the victim. You can fight obesity successfully!

Oh my! Sounds like your order got mixed up with another!! Please follow customer service's advice and I promise we will take care of this for ya! The 2nd box was literally just shipped over the last day or two so this is definitely an error on our end!

Love at First Sight I was enthusiastic about the promise of the lap-band from the moment I first heard about you. Could you be the tool that could end my struggles with weight? Could it be possible that there could be an end to my unhealthy relationship with food? Could I say goodbye to the liquid diets, the low-carb diets, the fat-free diets, and all the other fad diets I had tried? You had worked for my friend; could you work magic for me, too? I dared to hope. I got surgery in July of 2003. Honeymoon and Beyond Surgery went as expected, and you lived up to your promise. I lost weight – nearly 100 lbs. – and hit a healthy BMI. I felt better than I ever had. Sure, you made me work hard for every pound, but each victory was so sweet that there was no question that I would not follow your guidance. In so many ways, the honeymoon period did not seem to end. Life has gotten better and better as I have gained confidence that I can maintain goal weight and prevent regain. Not once did I look back with regret. A Helping Hand for a New Lease on Life With the lap-band, I was able to gain control of myself and my life. I enjoy life’s events for themselves, and not for the food that comes with or after them. I am able to keep up with my children, who are my greatest joys. I have energy and confidence. You have made my relationship with food better, and that is liberating. I eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I give in to my cravings and become satisfied with only a reasonable amount of the food I craved. There have been bumps along the way, but you have been my dependable gauge and silent cheerleader throughout. My Life and My Livelihood Along with my health, you also gave me my career. Out of necessity, I started LapBandTalk.com as soon as I came home from the hospital after surgery because I needed the help of other patients. Not in my wildest dreams did I think that impromptu discussion forum would become my career. To LapBandTalk, I added other boards for the other weight loss surgery types, and they eventually became BariatricPal to recognize that we are all in this together. I am now honored and grateful to be able to call my life’s work my true passion – helping people through weight loss surgery. Nearly 15 years after I started a discussion board to help myself, BariatricPal now includes the forums, the store with protein products and bariatric vitamins, and even a full-service program for weight loss surgery in Mexico – at BariatricPal’s own hospital. I have gotten to meet and work with all kinds of wonderful patients, surgeons, and others in the weight loss surgery community. Time to Part Ways It is on a bittersweet note that I bid you, my lap-band, farewell. I have no real choice; multiple medical professionals agree that the safest decision is for us to part ways. I have been struggling with acid reflux (GERD) for a few years, and symptoms are getting worse, especially after my Lap-Band slipped. I also have been diagnosed with pre-Barrett’s esophagus and severe erosive gastritis, most likely caused by my lap-band. I will get my lap-band removed and opt for gastric bypass to help me maintain my goal weight. The lap-band may not last forever, as it was meant to. I know the I will succeed with the Gastric Bypass because I already have the skills I need to eat right. Of course, I am a little worried. How could I not be, after having been so successful with you as my partner for 15 years? But as is necessary with anything in life, I will do my best. I will take what I have gained from you, my lap-band, and carry it forward. Thank you, and farewell.

I haven’t been online much since my surgery and wanted to update everyone on my progress. I’m no long an MGB patient. My surgeon revised my procedure to a full RNY Gastric Bypass. After performing the MGB, my stomach had active bleeding due to severe erosive gastritis secondary to my Lap-Band. Having had long term exposure to a foreign body (my Lap-Band) for 15 years caused me to have Barrett’s esophagus and sever erosive gastritis. My surgeon had to redo my entire WLS procedure again to insure an optimal outcome. In my case the RNY was the indicated procedure. Thanks to everyone who has reached out over the last week! You concern and caring words meant the world to me.

I suggest other members that have questions about the box read https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/bariatricpal-box-of-the-month-club please.

No way! You’re paying for say 2 bars instead of 7 and you get a decent variety on top of that. Normally you can’t purchase 1-2 of any items we sell since they’re sold by the box or case. We ran the actual #’s and I promise the box is a great savings but even more so, it’ll give you an opportunity to try things without committing to larger amounts. There are more benefits coming too....if you’re unhappy in a month or two drop us a line and we would be glad to work with you.

If you’d have purchased all the items individually for our last box (which you can’t because you normally need to buy them by the case). Your total actual cost would have been exactly $49.37 + $6.99 shipping for a total of $56.37 per box. Not only are you saving good money, you’re also getting the opportunity to not commit to large amounts per item, you save an extra 10% on any items you’d like to re-order that you enjoyed. There are a few other benefits that I have t mentioned as well. Did you receive your first box yet? So far the feedback we’ve received has been fantastic. Unlike other bariatric boxes, we actually purchase the items we send each month. Most of the other players get vendors to “donate” items to their box in order to garner publicity for these products. You generally get products that aren’t truly bariatric friendly or they’re the least popular products these vendors would be disposing anyway. We don’t cut corners and would LOVE any and all feedback you have.