Alex Brecher

sweettea, Congratulations! You look fantastic, and you sound so happy! I am so glad the sleeve is working out for you. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

It’s really tough. On the one hand, it’s his choice. Getting healthy is clearly something that you have to want for yourself and do for yourself. On the othr hand The first thing is to try to communicate your thoughts openly with him. Do you feel comfortable explaining your thoughts; that you want him to be healthy, especially because you feel how good it feels to be healthy; that you support him; that you don’t ever want to nag him; that you want him to be healthy because you think it will make him happier? Once you communicate with him, there’s not much more you can do besides lead by example. Your own ability to do more things, be happier in life, focus on things other than food, go out with friends, etc., could motivate him to want to follow in your footsteps (surgery or not). You can also try to include him without making him feel threatened. Invite him to work out with you; ask if he’ll help you prepare your healthy food. Good luck – it’s tough to watch someone not choose to be healthy once you’ve decided to!

Congratulations! You’re doing great! Onwards to goal weight, which is within striking distance! Way to go!

hikergirl14, If you feel good about your diet and you feel like you’re comfortable with and able to take in some extra carbs the day before your hike, you could try it and see how you feel. There are three other things that come to mind, too. One is hydration – are you drinking about 8 oz. per 20-40 minutes during the hike? Another is fueling during the hike – after about an hour, are you taking in some carbs every so often? And the third thing is that you might just get tired at 8-9 miles because that’s about what you’re currently trained for. If you do 2 miles regularly, a 13-miler is HUGE. I don’t know how long you’ve been doing that for, but you might not be at the point where you’re yet able to finish strong. Maybe in a few weeks, those last few miles will get easier. Good for you for your awesome accomplishmnents!

wagyu, Congratulations on your surgery! I would say hunger is very possible – it can take a while for the sleeve to kick in, and you’re barely eating now. Your body isn’t used to it. But, like the others, I am also surprised that you are eating tuna on day 4, and I think your body is telling you clearly that it’s not yet time to do so. Many surgeons suggest a few days of a liquid diet with some Protein shakes before moving into pureed foods after 1-2 weeks – but only 1 type of new food at a time! Your body’s reaction to the tuna could be making you feel hungry – the acid, like the others said, can be giving you that hungry feeling. The important thing to do now is listen to your body. It seems to be complaining about the tuna, so you might want to step back a bit. Good luck, and keep us posted!

What an unfortunate incident! I am sorry it happened to you and made you so upset. It sounds like it was an innocent but difficult to forgive mistake on the clinic’s part. It also sounds like it was just coincidence that it happened to you (a successful WLS patient). It is unfortunate, but true, that diagnoses stay with you for pretty much forever on your health record! At least it’s a good reminder of where you’ve been and how far you’ve come. Regarding the hypoglycemia, it is does seem possible that it is reactive hypoglycemia. One thing your doctor might test for – if you haven’t already gotten this done – is your A1C levels, which are a better indicator of blood sugar levels over time. About carbs: is it possible for you to consider eating small amounts of “healthy” carbs if that seems to be what your doctor suggests? Or do you feel that even healthy carbs like oatmeal and whole wheat Pasta would be trigger foods or too hard to keep under control? Anyway, sorry you had to deal with this mistake!

There hasn't been any drastic changes which would require us to create a new edition. We will, once that time arrives. I d suggest you get the book on the Sleeve as well. PM me and I can send it to you at cost.

WINNING ENTRIES TO PREMIERE AT OBESITYWEEK 2015 IN LOS Angeles IN NOVEMBER GAINESVILLE, FL – Aug. 12, 2015 – Time is running out for members of the public to submit short films or videos about obesity, the nation’s number one public health threat. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) is sponsoring “It Starts Now,” a national contest that will award winners up to $5,000 and a trip to Los Angeles, where winning entries will premiere during ObesityWeek 2015. Entries must be received by October 23, 2015. Visit itstartsnow.asmbs.org for instructions on how to enter. “Anyone 18 and older with a video camera or smartphone can submit their stories in any genre,” said John M. Morton, MD, MPH, president of the ASMBS. “We’re looking for videos or films that are inspirational or make people think differently about obesity.” Videos or films of five minutes or less are being sought that creatively inspire, motivate and educate the country about issues related to obesity. Submissions will be judged on originality, creativity, direction, content and thoughtfulness. A grand prize of $5,000 will be presented in Los Angeles, CA during ObesityWeek 2015 (Nov. 2 to Nov. 7, 2015), the largest international event focused on the basic science, clinical application and prevention and treatment of obesity. The second place winner will receive $3,500 and two third place winners will get $1,500 each. It Starts Now judges include Emmy Award-winning writer and producer, Perry Rein; journalist Dan Childs, managing editor, medical coverage, ABC News; screenplay writer of Remember the Titans, Gregory Allen Howard; Jamie Dukes, NFL Network commentator and former NFL player; and Dr. Morton. Videos or films should address the topic of obesity and can be of any genre including drama, documentary, animation, journalism, public service announcements, experimental or music videos. There is no fee for submission. Some ideas for video and filmmakers to consider include: What makes obesity a disease like cancer or heart disease Treating Obesity as a Disease with counseling, medications, surgery Obesity in America The Health and Economic Consequences of Obesity Obesity Affects Everyone Obesity: Balancing Prevention and Treatment Strategies Combatting weight stigma and discrimination Life transformations and personal struggles and triumphs Solutions to the obesity epidemic The ASMBS seeks to build upon its previous motivational video, It Starts Today. This motivational video tells three stories from the perspectives of a nurse, military veteran and former NFL player. Watch it at http://asmbs.org/video-it-starts-today-obesity-surgery-helps-people-reclaim-their-lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 72 million Americans have obesity and, according to the ASMBS, about 24 million have severe obesity. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death compared to healthy weight individuals, as well as an increased risk of developing more than 30 obesity-related diseases and conditions including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers. In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) declared obesity a disease. About the ASMBS The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of morbid obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in obesity, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved outcomes for morbidly obese patients. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.

Team 10: Mom of 5 latest to die after weight loss surgery - 4th person we know of that died at the hands of Dr. Almanza.

Alex i normally get mine from syntrax directly, or in a pinch from The Vitamin shoppe. They have been quite gracious in supporting my journey, and sending me a lot of product, i should have the Naturals line soon, they are sending me some samples. ( they dont lsel them in packets yet, but they made some up especially for me. lol, i guess being thier inaugural transformations model had a few perks to it. But that being said you can bet i will purchase through the BP store going forward. P.S> if you have a chance to get the gugabolic, product, ( supplement) please do, ill order it through you, it comes highly recommended to me. We're going to have every flavor of their Grab N Go as well as every flavor of the 2LB containers. I have samples of the naturals on the way as well I was trying to stay away from questionable supplements like Garcinia Cambogia. What exactly does Guggulbolic do? Does anyone on here take Guggulbolic as well?

When you think about weight loss surgery and choosing a surgeon, you tend to think about things like safety, how much you like the surgeon, price (if you’re self-pay), and availability for appointments. Still, weight loss surgery success isn’t just about the procedure. It’s got a lot to do with the follow-up care and other services, like pre-op prep. Did your surgery package include all the “extras” you would have wanted? If not, what do you wish had been included?

Okay, we’re all here because we struggled with (or struggle with) food. Most of us have probably spent a good portion of our lives thinking about food. But how much did you know about nutrition before considering weight loss surgery? Did you know which foods are low-calorie, and which are likely to make you hungrier? Or were you clueless? Now that you’ve started thinking about WLS or you’ve had it, how much would you say you know about nutrition? Do you feel like it is enough? I don’t know a whole lot. I think it is “enough,” but I wouldn’t mind knowing a little more. I know how to recognize a lean Protein, and I know that vegetables and fruit are good, and I know that portion control is necessary. Beyond that, I’m not an expert on nutrients, so I just hope I’m getting a well-rounded diet.

Survey on Bariatric Surgery and Body Contouring Surgery – Yale School of Medicine Help science by completing ANONYMOUS online questionnaires. We are interested in the opinions of adults who have had bariatric surgery and body contouring surgery within the past five years. http://yale.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2blFHEywu0OsYDP 1 in 20 participants will win a $50 electronic Amazon.com gift card Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health HIC: 1501015172

Moved this topic to rants and raves.

I visited AllStarHealth and they only have 6 flavors, offer $5.95 Flat Rate Shipping (2-7 days) + they're a $1 or so higher than a lot of places per box. We're going to attempt to be the most competitive once we launch , price and shipping wise. Appreciate the feedback and info!

I use Prime a few times per week and have totally gotten spoiled by them! We're planning to offer similar prices and services. We'll most likely offer free 2-3 day shipping.

We will have every Quest flavor plus the three new flavors they're working on releasing. We're also going to have a selection of our own (100+ ) items BariatriPal Protein bars and foods. We're going to offer Atkins Protein Bars and some other popular brands a month or two after launch.

Where does everyone purchase their Syntrax products from? We're going to be offering their entire line of products (as well as 300-500 other Bariatric products) in a few weeks when we launch the BariatricPal store.

We're going to start selling all Quest products (along with 300-400 other Bariatric products) within the next few weeks.

Let's tone down the language a little as well, please.

Tiffyxox, many WLS patients may share your experiences and opinions, but there may be additional considerations. One is that not everyone can afford a personal trainer, whereas some sort of nutritional counseling might be included as part of your WLS package. The other is that not every WLS patient will take the time to find, read, and pay attention to nutrition magazines. Just like some people use personal trainers to hold them accountable (and not necessarily teach them intricate exercises), you can use a nutritionist to make sure you learn the WLS diet properly, even if you “could” learn it on your own. Not everyone will. Alexis Brown, Having a surgeon give detailed diet info can be very expensive for the clinic, and drive up your costs. That’s because surgeons make way more than nutritionists. Having a surgeon spend say an hour talking about nutrition would be way more expensive than having a nutritionist talk to you for an hour. That’s assuming the surgeon is qualified to teach nutrition (may not have had a single nutrition course ever) and interested in doing it (may not love nutrition…may love surgery and be interested in obesity)

Staggerlee33, Yes, I have seen this, too. I think there is probably some truth to this, but I also think any research on the sleeve is either sparse or too short-term to know, since the sleeve is still so new. At the least, hopefully the decrease in ghrelin lasts long enough for the patient to lose a good amount of weight and develop healthy eating habits.

Dub, thanks for bringing this up. It’s really good that you’re facing your doubts before surgery so you can make an informed decision and be confident in the direction you choose. Hopefully you’ve gotten the answers you need about the results people have had with WLS and why they may or may not choose to post before and after pictures. And to those who have posted...wow! You are looking good!

Oh, these are all great ones! Elode, you are right…nothing like a good hard look in the mirror to convince yourself that something needs to be done…now! Lexie, those are both great. Developing a plan, tracking, and setting a goal like a 5k helps give you something to do and focus on NOW instead of thinking about the weight loss or body you’re hoping to have in a few months from now…and that you can’t possibly have now. Bandista…yep, a little reboot can help, whether it’s a mental recharge or a physical detox.

Good points here! I, too, worry about the short-term nature of the balloon. When you look at the manufacturer’s website, the emphasis is on intensive nutritional counseling as part of the program. If doctors follow through with this as they provide patients with balloons, I think the intragastric balloon can be successful…but I think that’s a big “if!” Unfortunately, a lot of doctors may skimp on the nutrition counseling, leaving the balloon as a short-term weight loss aid without long-term behavior change and prevention of regain. P1Sz, that’s a great point about using the balloon as a means to an end, like hip surgery, that’s not focused on goal weight. I wonder if doctors and surgeons will pick up on that and suggest it for their potential patients. It could be a great idea from a health perspective and from a business perspective! It’ll be interesting to see if it takes off, who gets it, and how well it works…