Alex Brecher

Please let me know where this setting is located. I do not see anything like that :-(

Just use the REPORT function and we will immediately terminate his account next time he pops up. That's exactly what we did this morning. There's zero to be worried about here.

Among the seemingly endless list of rules for your diet after weight loss surgery is one that seems innocuous, but can, in reality, make you question whether you are even a good candidate. That rule is to avoid carbonated beverages. That includes colas and other soft drinks, beer, sparkling water, and anything else with bubbles…for life. Do you need to obey this rule? If so, how can you reconcile yourself to life without fizz? Here is the information on carbonation and WLS from reasons to avoid it to what you can have instead. Can Your Stomach Really Stretch? The top reason given for avoiding carbonated beverages after weight loss surgery is to prevent your stomach, sleeve, or pouch from stretching. A major purpose of getting weight loss surgery is to make your stomach smaller, and stretching it would, as the fear goes, undermine your weight loss strategy. Is this a realistic fear? Probably not. There are probably two parts to this idea. First, there will almost certainly be a small amount of stretching after surgery, naturally. There is no evidence that you can prevent this, or that drinking carbonated beverages affects it one way or the other. Second, drinking carbonated beverages may lead to the effects of stretching, that is, overeating, for a slightly different reason. Carbonated beverages are very filling; they seem to take up a lot of room in your stomach. If you get used to the feeling you get when you drink them, you may start to have more trouble recognizing the subtle fullness signals you have when you stick to your small post-op meals. This lack of ability to feel full may be the “stretching” that people report. Carbonation Is Uncomfortable For most patients, the post-op recovery process is long and uncomfortable enough. Adding bubbly liquid into the mix can make it worse. The gas in carbonated beverages can cause bloating and stomach pain. The bloating and stomach distension can put stress on your surgical wounds and delay healing. A Sign of Dedication For many patients, and according to some health professionals, cutting out soda is a sign of your dedication to your new lifestyle. Some may see a soda habit as a sign of continued dependence on junk food, or an unwillingness to change. Another concern is that drinking soda can easily lead to eating whatever it is that you are used to eating with it: possibly chips or a burger or nachos. For WLS patients who want a “clean slate,” soft drinks and beer may not fit in. P.S. Carbonated Beverages Are Unhealthy Along with all of the above WLS-specific reasons for skipping soda is another reason: carbonated beverages are generally unhealthy. The sugary ones are obviously unhealthy - they add pounds and spike blood sugar – but there are other problems, too. Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas can lead to excessive insulin responses, which can raise diabetes risk and also make you hungrier. Phosphoric acid in cola can erode your tooth enamel, leading to decay, and may lead to decreased bone mineral density and risk for osteoporosis. Cola can also decrease absorption of calcium. Refreshing Soda Swaps If you are drinking soda for hydration and comfort, you can look to other cold drinks to fill the void. Look for non-carbonated, low-calorie, sugar-free choices. Flavored water in a ready-to-drink bottle (be sure to choose low-calorie, noncarbonated versions) or that you make yourself with Flavor Enhancers. Infused water that you make by adding citrus fruit such as lemon, lime, or orange, strawberries, peaches, or mint leaves, to ice water. Decaffeinated iced tea ready-made from a bottle or that you make yourself with tea bags. Drink it unsweetened or use a low-calorie sugar substitute. You can try green, black, herbal, and fruit tea to find a variety that you enjoy. Iced green or black tea with a sugar substitute (if you need it sweet) plus a squeeze of lemon. Energizing Caffeine Jolts Take heart if you are dependent on your soft drink for a caffeine boost, but you are not a fan of hot drinks or bitter taste of coffee. There are plenty of ways you can get your caffeine and burst of energy without sipping coffee, which has about 80 to 160 mg of caffeine per cup. For context, a can of cola has about 45-70 mg caffeine. Energy drinks: 60-160 mg caffeine Water enhancer: 45 mg caffeine Iced tea: 5 to 40 mg caffeine Hot tea: 10-40 mg caffeine Caffeinated over-the-counter medications: 60-300 mg caffeine (be careful!) Do remember that you will probably need to abstain from caffeine for the first month after weight loss surgery to allow your surgery wounds to heal. Some surgeons will ask you to give up caffeine for life.

Do you need to obey this rule? If so, how can you reconcile yourself to life without fizz? Here is the information on carbonation and WLS from reasons to avoid it to what you can have instead. Can Your Stomach Really Stretch? The top reason given for avoiding carbonated beverages after weight loss surgery is to prevent your stomach, sleeve, or pouch from stretching. A major purpose of getting weight loss surgery is to make your stomach smaller, and stretching it would, as the fear goes, undermine your weight loss strategy. Is this a realistic fear? Probably not. There are probably two parts to this idea. First, there will almost certainly be a small amount of stretching after surgery, naturally. There is no evidence that you can prevent this, or that drinking carbonated beverages affects it one way or the other. Second, drinking carbonated beverages may lead to the effects of stretching, that is, overeating, for a slightly different reason. Carbonated beverages are very filling; they seem to take up a lot of room in your stomach. If you get used to the feeling you get when you drink them, you may start to have more trouble recognizing the subtle fullness signals you have when you stick to your small post-op meals. This lack of ability to feel full may be the “stretching” that people report. Carbonation Is Uncomfortable For most patients, the post-op recovery process is long and uncomfortable enough. Adding bubbly liquid into the mix can make it worse. The gas in carbonated beverages can cause bloating and stomach pain. The bloating and stomach distension can put stress on your surgical wounds and delay healing. A Sign of Dedication For many patients, and according to some health professionals, cutting out soda is a sign of your dedication to your new lifestyle. Some may see a soda habit as a sign of continued dependence on junk food, or an unwillingness to change. Another concern is that drinking soda can easily lead to eating whatever it is that you are used to eating with it: possibly chips or a burger or nachos. For WLS patients who want a “clean slate,” soft drinks and beer may not fit in. P.S. Carbonated Beverages Are Unhealthy Along with all of the above WLS-specific reasons for skipping soda is another reason: carbonated beverages are generally unhealthy. The sugary ones are obviously unhealthy - they add pounds and spike blood sugar – but there are other problems, too. Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas can lead to excessive insulin responses, which can raise diabetes risk and also make you hungrier. Phosphoric acid in cola can erode your tooth enamel, leading to decay, and may lead to decreased bone mineral density and risk for osteoporosis. Cola can also decrease absorption of calcium. Refreshing Soda Swaps If you are drinking soda for hydration and comfort, you can look to other cold drinks to fill the void. Look for non-carbonated, low-calorie, sugar-free choices. Flavored water in a ready-to-drink bottle (be sure to choose low-calorie, noncarbonated versions) or that you make yourself with Flavor Enhancers. Infused water that you make by adding citrus fruit such as lemon, lime, or orange, strawberries, peaches, or mint leaves, to ice water. Decaffeinated iced tea ready-made from a bottle or that you make yourself with tea bags. Drink it unsweetened or use a low-calorie sugar substitute. You can try green, black, herbal, and fruit tea to find a variety that you enjoy. Iced green or black tea with a sugar substitute (if you need it sweet) plus a squeeze of lemon. Energizing Caffeine Jolts Take heart if you are dependent on your soft drink for a caffeine boost, but you are not a fan of hot drinks or bitter taste of coffee. There are plenty of ways you can get your caffeine and burst of energy without sipping coffee, which has about 80 to 160 mg of caffeine per cup. For context, a can of cola has about 45-70 mg caffeine. Energy drinks: 60-160 mg caffeine Water enhancer: 45 mg caffeine Iced tea: 5 to 40 mg caffeine Hot tea: 10-40 mg caffeine Caffeinated over-the-counter medications: 60-300 mg caffeine (be careful!) Do remember that you will probably need to abstain from caffeine for the first month after weight loss surgery to allow your surgery wounds to heal. Some surgeons will ask you to give up caffeine for life.

Ha! The forum name was created by a group of ladies many years ago. I agree with you, we should change the name. It's been updated.

How would you like to eat less and enjoy your food more without conscious effort? That sounds like a weight loss gimmick, but research says that it is possible. A number of surprising details that seem unrelated to food affect your meal, so you might want to pay attention. They may be worth implementing in your home, or you can use them to your weight loss advantage when choosing where to eat out. Turn down the music. Listening to loud music reduces the amount of sweetness and saltiness you taste. This can make you choose to prepare or order more sugary, saltier dishes, which is bad for weight loss. Also bad is if you increase the amount you eat so you can get the same satisfaction as you would if you could taste it well. Soft, pleasant music can help you taste your food better and enjoy it more while eating less. Dim the lights. Bright lights, such as those often found in fast food restaurants, can make you eat faster without even realizing it. In contrast, dimmer lighting can help you relax and slow down. You do not need to eat every meal by candlelight, but glaring lights, especially if the walls are white, can cause you to wolf your food a little more. Use a smaller plate. The research is clear: use a larger plate, and you will eat more. Eat from a smaller plate, and you will eat less. Try using the smaller plates from a full set of dishes, or buy yourself a few fun children’s plates to eat from. To apply this at a restaurant, ask for smaller portions, since the less you are served, the less you are likely to eat. Be color-conscious. Research shows that people eat more when their food is a similar color to the plate, and they eat less when their food contrasts. You may not be able to match each component of your meal to the proper color, but you can be aware of the trend. You can also use it to help yourself eat more of a particularly healthy food, such as serving yourself cauliflower on a white plate. Check the mirror. This one may feel a little cruel, but you’ll do anything for weight loss, right? Eat while you can see yourself in a mirror, and you will probably eat less. You do not need to eat dinner in your bathroom or cover your walls with mirrors. You can put a small mirror in your dining room. Since the trick apparently only works for unhealthy foods (people in one study ate less chocolate cake but no less fruit salad while watching the mirror), you can probably just skip the dining room mirror and eat only healthy foods at home. When at a restaurant, face the mirror if you can. Nothing can take the place of healthy eating, but you can take steps to make your efforts go further. Do your best to maintain a healthy eating environment at home so you can shed the most pounds without so much effort.

There is great news: probably not! Your surgeon and nutritionist should have the last words, of course, but some experts and many weight loss surgery patients agree that caffeine is okay, with caution. Arguments against Caffeine First of all, why wouldn’t caffeine be okay after weight loss surgery? There are a few concerns. Caffeine is a known trigger for heartburn and acid reflux, which is already a concern for bariatric patients. Caffeine interacts with nutrients and can reduce your body’s absorption of calcium and iron – two nutrients that you are already at risk for deficiency. Caffeine may increase your risk for ulcers and/or delay their healing if you get one. Official Guidelines The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is a leading organization for weight loss surgery. It suggests avoiding caffeine for the first 30 days after weight loss surgery because your stomach or surgery area is still sensitive. After that, be mindful of getting enough fluids and be sure to avoid high-calorie, sugary sources of caffeine. Benefits of Caffeine and Coffee Caffeine does not just energize you and wake you up. It improves mental focus and increases metabolism to burn more calories. It might also improve insulin sensitivity to help lower blood sugar. Long-term, caffeine consumption is linked to: Lower risk for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. Lower risk for strokes. Lower risk of heart disease. Coffee itself appears to have additional health benefits, beyond those of caffeine. The Risk of Acid The main trouble with caffeine is its acidity. The acid can irritate your stomach, particularly at your surgery site when it is trying to heal in the early post-op weeks. The trouble is not just caffeine; coffee itself, as well as cola, is acidic. You can go risk-free with a decaffeinated version of Acid-Free Coffee so you never have to miss your favorite morning brew. Myth: Caffeinated Beverages Are Dehydrating The word on the street is that caffeine dehydrates you. Even health professionals often believe this and tell their patients this. The fact is that it simply is not true, at least, not at normal levels of caffeine consumption, such as 250 to 300 mg at a time, or 2 to 3 cups of coffee. Yes, you will lose a little extra water shortly after drinking your caffeine (who isn’t familiar with the extra trip to the bathroom after a cup of coffee?), but your body will compensate by conserving more over the next several hours. Dehydration is a strong threat to bariatric patients. In fact, ASMBS says it is the most common reason for post-op patients to be readmitted to the hospital. People who mistakenly think caffeine is dehydrating might avoid caffeinated beverages, and make the serious mistake of forgetting to make up for the missed fluid. Don’t make this mistake! Non-caffeinated may be best for hydration, but caffeinated is a close second, and it is a far better choice than hospitalization! Warning Signs If your surgeon and nutritionist agree that caffeine is okay, and you do choose to indulge, keep an eye out for some warning signs that you are taking more than is safe. Anxiety, restlessness, or jitters. Trouble sleeping. Headaches. Upset stomach. Rapid heartbeat. Heartburn. Also, ask your doctor about caffeine if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Watch the Sugar! Sugar does not always come to mind when thinking about caffeine, but it is something to be careful of. There is no sugar in coffee, and no sugar in tea. There is even no sugar in unsweetened chocolate, such as 100% dark chocolate or baking cocoa. However, there is absolutely a lot of sugar in many foods and beverages with caffeine, as you can see from the following list (keep in mind that the general goal for sugar is to stay under 25 grams a day, and WLS patients may be aiming for less): 26-66 grams: Caramel Mocha 9-22 grams: Caffe latte 20-50 grams: Hot chocolate 22 grams: Iced tea 10 grams: 65% dark chocolate 27 grams: energy drink Smart Caffeine Consumption If you do choose to drink coffee or take caffeine in other forms, such as through tea or energy drinks, you can take steps to stay safe with it. Limit caffeine consumption to 250-300 milligrams per day, or the amount in about 3 cups of coffee or 6 cups of tea. Do not take caffeine within 6 hours of going to bed. Take your calcium, iron, and supplements containing calcium or iron separately from when you consume caffeine. Do not use caffeine as a substitute for sleeping enough. Sleep will help you lose more weight not only by promoting energy naturally but also by normalizing hormone levels to reduce hunger and cravings. Other Cautions with Caffeine If you depend on caffeine from soft drinks, you might need to find another source. It is not just a question of switching from regular to diet soda to avoid sugar. Carbonated beverages can make you overfull. Taking them regularly can make you less able to feel the effects of your surgery, and you could begin to overeat. If you are a regular caffeine drinker, do be aware that you will need to at least take a break for about 30 days after surgery. You can wait until your surgery date to give up caffeine, but there’s a caveat. If you are dependent on caffeine, you can suffer withdrawal headaches for a few days when you stop taking caffeine. You might want to quit caffeine before your surgery, instead of waiting until afterward, so you can get over your headaches. That way, you will not have to deal with headaches while dealing with any post-op pain.

Dude, you're rocking it! What an awesome transformation. You LOOK happy!!

Weight loss surgery patients need to focus on getting enough protein, but that is not the only important nutrient. Carbohydrates have their place, too. Use them right, and you can benefit with more stable blood sugar, lower disease risk, They can even give you a better chance of keeping off the weight for good. In general, look for less processed, higher-nutrient, higher-fiber, lower-sugar carbs 1. Oatmeal. Despite its high carb count, oatmeal is one of the healthiest foods, even for weight loss surgery patients. It is a whole grain (gluten-free, if you are wondering), and is a source of soluble fiber. People who eat whole grains instead of refined ones have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and weight gain. Have oatmeal with nuts or peanut butter for a little extra healthy fat and protein, and add cinnamon for a sweet flavor without sugar. No law says oatmeal needs to be sweet. Turn it into a savory bowl with a poached or hard-boiled egg, some feta cheese, and sliced cooked mushrooms. 2. Pear. Pears have a lower glycemic index and glycemic load than many other fruits, so they do not spike your blood sugar as much. They have soluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar. They also provide lignans, which are heart-healthy. You can do way more with a pear than use it as a dessert or a side for cottage cheese, although those work, too! Try serving it with all-natural ham, or tossing it with mixed greens, walnuts, bell peppers, and cooked chicken breast. You can also turn it into a salsa to top fish or chicken along with diced onion, tomato, and cucumber, plus chopped cilantro and lime juice. 3. Beans. Beans are a starch you can love since they pack in the fiber and protein along with vitamins and minerals. They are linked to lower risk for certain cancers, as well. If they bother your stomach, try having small portions or using an enzyme product such as Bean-o. Kidney, pinto, garbanzo, and black beans – they’re all good! Make hummus with garbanzos and olive oil, or try vegetarian chili with beans, tomatoes, other vegetables, and seasoning. Or, make a taco salad or naked burrito with fat-free refried beans. 4. Pumpkin. Pumpkin has a medium glycemic index, but so few carbohydrates that your body will barely realize that it is there. Aside from the potassium and fiber in pumpkin, you will find amazing amounts of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene – and that can only be a good thing after weight loss surgery. Butternut and acorn squash have a few more carbohydrates but are also excellent choices. Stir pumpkin and cinnamon into your oatmeal, or mix them into non-fat cream cheese for a flavorful, protein-packed spread or dip for apples. Add chunks of butternut squash to stew, or blend pumpkin into a soup to make it creamy. 5. Peas. Peas may have a bad reputation, but it is undeserved. Choose snow peas or sugar snap peas in the pod for a dose of vitamin C and fiber. Use them raw or lightly cooked to preserve their antioxidants and keep their glycemic load down. Use them in salads along with lettuce, chicken, and chopped vegetables, or dip them into Greek yogurt-based dips. You can also use snow and sugar snap peas in stir fry – just be sure to keep them crunchy.

I suggest finding a store in Canada that carries this. Our fees to ship to Canada are ridiculous. I wish we had other less expensive, reliable options. Cross-border trade and shipping aren't fun, or cheap.

From now until February 14th at midnight the WLSFA is offering a 10% discount and 14 raffle tickets if you register for the Making a Difference patient conference Who should be registering? pre and post ops WLS patients support people of WLS patients (there will be a special session for them) medical professionals who work with bariatric patients WLSFA patient conferences are more than a meeting with great sessions, they include meet & greet opportunities, an expo where samples and services are shared, and lots of fun. Your attendance at our event helps save a life and give hope to someone who is in desperate need of a surgery grant. The 23 grants that have been awarded over the past 7 years are a result of hundreds of WLS patients and businesses that have had the vision to save a life ... one grant at a time. Won't you join us in our 8th year and help make a difference in the life in at least one more person who is in need? Find out more information or register here: http://www.wlsfa.org/2018-2/

Hey BariatricPal Members! I am excited to announce the new BariatricPal Private Facebook group ! We are an exclusive group that is open by invitation only – and you’re invited! You can get the support you depend on from BariatricPal over on Facebook, too. We’re here for advice, encouragement, and companionship as you make your way through the WLS journey. To join the group, just click or tap this link. Then click or tap “Join Group.” And hurry! If you join within the next 15 days, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a 1-year subscription to the BariatricPal Box of the Month Club – a $300 value! See you on Facebook!

Exactly! We hope Facebook changes this policy soon. We will change the group to secret at that point. I've reached out to our point of contact at Facebook and they told me that this is one of the most requested groups feature requests. I hope they pay attention to their customer needs soon!

We are a LiquaCel authorized distributor! Check out https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/liquacel

It also will not show up in your Friends newsfeed that you are part of the group and any of the group's posts. It's a private Facebook group.

I can only make it closed. Nobody can see that you're part of the group by viewing your Facebook account or profile.

So we thought so as well and it turns out that we can not allow members to access the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BariatricPal/ if we change the group to a "secret" group. I wish Facebook had the option to hide members in closed groups!

The link should be working now, thanks!

Are you on Mobile? We are trying to figure out the issue, thanks!

Not sure why you're having an issue. It's https://www.facebook.com/groups/BariatricPal/

Click the X

Those are advertisements. You can click the X to ignore them.

Thank you!! BariatricPal has sponsored BariatricFoodie for quite some time! We're the first weeks Bariatric Foodie 2018 Pledge sponsor!! You can still sign up for the BF pledge at https://www.bariatricfoodie.com/takethepledge/ .

We've placed a few of the cast members on My 600-pound life. I'm referring to FaceBook, Insta and YouTube influencers. Thanks!

Please see click here for pricing.