Alex Brecher

Rene, Thanks for the guidelines. You bring up some good points! The liquids stage isn’t the right time to focus on weight loss yet – it’s when we get to the solids that we can really start to feel the benefits of surgery and get full fast. Of course, that’s assuming we choose nutritious foods, don’t drink Water with them, and don’t drink our calories!

Thanks for posting this video! It’s a good lesson in being fit no matter what kind of shape you’re in or what your abilities are. I also have to say that these exercises aren’t all that easy – you can benefit from them even if you’re not chair-bound. Thanks!

What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing that incredible experience of “meeting” yourself at the front door. Publishing a book is an accomplishment in itself, but what you went through to get the material for that book…that’s truly remarkable. I’ll be following you on http://pickastrugglecupcake.com/!

Karen, Thank you so much for sharing what you have gone through in such a beautiful way. It is a reminder that we all struggle with so many things. Our struggles can cost us so much, from mental health to self-respect to relationships to even, as you point out, the ability to have our own genetic children. Thank you for also reminding us that the struggle is worth it. Reach out for help, whether from friends or family, or from a higher power. We can overcome the challenges.

Exercise…it’s not the only thing that’ll make you lose weight after weight loss surgery, but it definitely supports your weight loss surgery diet. It’s a lot easier to get your workout in when there’s something you love to do, but not everyone does. What is your relationship with exercise? True love. It makes me feel better, it’s helping my weight loss, and it keeps me sane. Couldn’t go without it! Love-hate. I know it’s great, and I love it when it’s over. It goes in the same category as medicine. Take my daily medicines, do my daily exercise, and try not to think about medicines or exercise the rest of the day. It’s good, in its place. I try to get something in a few times a week, and it’s not bad. What’s exercise? Other. Read my answer below! Mark your answer and explain how you feel about exercise in the conversation below. P.S….if you haven’t yet found an activity you love, keep trying! Exercise can be great fun, and there’s something out there for everyone.

BariatricPal is pleased to announce BariatricPal Deals! This exclusive new program offers unbelievable deals for weight loss surgery with the top weight loss surgeons and best service in Tijuana, Mexico. All-inclusive packages start at only $3899! We cut out the middleman and pass the savings on to you! We guarantee our prices and are willing to beat ANY advertised prices for Dr. jaime Ponce de leon, Dr. Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez, Dr. Juan Francisco Zavalza, Dr. Carlos Altamirano and Dr. Juan A. Lopez Corvala. financing Options are available to help patients pay for the program. All applications and questionnaires are reviewed by our Internal Medicine Doctor on staff. Following the review of your questionnaire you will be entitled to a free surgeon consultation via phone or Skype (Exclusive to BariatricPal Deals Applicants). Want to discuss BariatricPal Deals or find out more detailed information about the surgeons and services we offer? Head on over to the BariatricPal Deals Forum. We now offer FREE Skype Consultations with our weight loss surgeons! Please complete this form and mention in the comments that you'd like to schedule your free Skype consultation. These are the weight loss surgeries and surgeons that are offered: You will receive additional information about the program, including a 24-hour phone number and direct contact information for your patient liaison after you complete the short form. Completing the form does not commit you to anything! You can also call us toll-free at (844) WLS-DEAL Dr. Jaime Ponce de Leon Chief Bariatric Surgeon at INT Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico Dr. Jaime Ponce de Leon has the official endorsement of the Baja California Board of Tourism. The board recommended his services after a thorough review of his credentials and reputation. Dr. de Leon has 19 years of experience as a surgeon, including extensive experience as a laparoscopic surgeon, and is recognized as a top bariatric surgeon in Mexico. He received his M.D. as a general surgeon from Saint Nicholas University in Hidalgo, Mexico, and completed his residency in Tijuana’s. Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $4999 Gastric Plication Surgery in Mexico $4999 Gastric Sleeve Revision in Mexico $5799 Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5799 Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5799 Gastric Bypass Revision in Mexico $6799 Dr. Jesus Martin Lopez Dominguez A Certified Bariatric Surgeon with over a decade of experience. Dr. Lopez has 10 years of surgical experience and is bilingual. Dr. Jesus Martin Lopez is one of the leading medical practitioners in Tijuana dedicated to change lives for people with weight-related problems. Special: Dr. Lopez will offer FREE Hernia repair with all procedures! 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Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $4250 Gastric Sleeve Revision in Mexico $5299 Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5299 Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5599 Gastric Bypass Revision in Mexico $5599 Dr. Carlos Altamirano Is an expert in General Surgery and Advanced Laparoscopic Weight Loss Surgery. Special: Dr. Altamirano will offer FREE Hernia repair with all procedures! Dr. Altamirano completed his formation as a surgeon in Dr. Valentín Gómez Farías Hospital (one of the most renowned hospitals in Mexico). He trained in basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures like cholecystectomy, inguinal and post incisional hernia repair, Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication and bariatric procedures like Gastric Sleeve and bypass. He also has experience in the management of emergency and critically ill patients, is certified in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS certification of the American College of Surgeons) and Advanced Cardiovascular life Support (ACLS certification of the American Heart Association). He was a Red Cross volunteer for a year and has worked for multiple Non-Profit organizations. Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $4199 Gastric Sleeve Revision in Mexico $5199 Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5199 Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5499 Dr. Juan A. Lopez Corvala Certified Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Juan Antonio Lopez Corvala MD FACS has over 30 years of experience, more than 10,000 laparoscopic surgeries, and more than 6,000 bariatric surgeries. Dr. Juan A. Lopez Corvala is one of the 10 most renowned bariatric surgeons worldwide, a true expert, member of C.A.B. (Council of Advance Bariatrics). 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Take a look at some of the steps we took to make this happen. 1) We cut out the middle-man BariatricPal works directly with each participating surgeon instead of paying a third party to act as a go-between. Without paying a middle man, each surgery instantly costs $1,000 to $3,000 less, and we pass the savings to BP Deal members. 2) We receive the wholesale rate BariatricPal has so many potential weight loss surgery patients that surgeons are able to provide deep discounts in the BP Deals program compared to the prices they need to charge for individuals who walk in off the street. 3) We only invite selected surgeons to participate We approach only those surgeons whom we are confident provide a safe and positive experience in a caring environment. Some of the ways to do this include knowing the surgeons personally, inspecting their facilities, looking at their patient outcomes, or checking their bariatric surgery credentials and licensure. Top Bariatric Hospital in Tijuana, Mexico You will have your weight loss surgery performed at the only hospital with an official Medical Tourism certificate issued by the state of Baja California, Mexico. The hospital is among the top weight loss surgery centers in the world, having performed over 20,000 procedures. The hospital's credentials and experience can give you peace of mind as you get ready for weight loss surgery in Mexico. The price you get through BariatricPal Deals is all-inclusive. It covers the following: Ground transportation · Blood work, EKG, and x-rays Cardiologist, anesthesiologist, and nurses Weight loss surgery and hospital stay 24-hour care · Recovery stay with 24-hour care · Medications Nutritional plan When you arrive, the hospital staff provides the best service and is the friendliest you'll ever meet. They will put you at ease during your entire stay. The hospital also provides the following services for your convenience and comfort: Bilingual staff Transportation to and from the U.S. Direct phone calls to and from the U.S. Wireless internet Cable television in English and Spanish Personal nursing staff 24-hour security and video surveillance Fill out this form to get more information or reserve your weight loss surgery date Call us Toll-free at (844) WLS-DEAL

Researching issue.

We resolved the Yahoo issue. You should start receiving email shortly.

We have a Slow Losers Unite forum located at http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/426-slow-losers-unite/ .

Are you still having this issue ? Mind restarting your phone and let me know what happens please ?

Cheryl Ann Borne AKA MyBariatricLife interviewed me recently for HealthCentral. Here's a link to the interview titled "Alex Brecher: 10-years after Lap-Band Success!" Part 1 and Part 2.

I currently have MONO! (Shhhhhhh ) but that's not why I might not to be able to attend. I'm divorced and I have my kiddos on those dates. My ex (initially) agreed to swap dates with me but at the moment it doesn't look like it's possible. I'll update topic if anything changes. @@Debbie3sons I hope you'll be repping BP

Sadly, it looks like I might not be able to attend this year's event I won't know for another week or so 100%. One of these days we're going to have our own BariatricPal meet and greet!

We just received a response from Rasha Pecoraro on our on our FaceBook page. She's a former contestant on The Biggest Loser and former patient of Dr. Huizenga "As a former contestant on The Biggest Loser and former patient of Dr. Huizenga, I applaud you for your beautifully written letter. I lost 70 pounds in my 5 months on the show, and gained back all of it and then some post Biggest Loser. As much as I love Dr. H, and my time on the show, I was never given the tools to make a permanent healthy lifestyle change. I did extensive research on weight loss surgery, and I mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for it. Since having Gastric Sleeve Surgery at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery in April 2013, I have lost (and kept off) 135 pounds, and I am the healthiest and happiest I have ever been! - and I have NEVER worked harder. Gastric Sleeve Surgery has been the best tool to use to fuel my healthy lifestyle. This time I did it on my terms, and my rules. I will not bad mouth Dr. H, as I believe his heart is in the right place, but I will say that he believes in what he says. I, on the other hand, believe in all of the work I've put in to get to this amazing place in my life, Bariatric surgery included. Many former contestants on The Biggest Loser have turned to bariatric surgery, but I am one of the few who is open about it. I believe in telling your truth, whatever that may be. Thank you for telling your truth. Be Brave. Be Authentic. Be You. Aloha, Rasha"

Thanks!

We plan on launching mid-summer. Really appreciate all the feedback we've received thus far. Please keep them coming. My goal is to offer a wide variety of Bariatric products at rock bottom prices.

If you have FaceBook, please post or comment at https://www.facebook.com/biggestloser/posts/10153116060971948 You can tweet to The Biggest Loser Show at: https://twitter.com/biggestlosernbc

We tweeted! Our members are invited to join in at https://twitter.com/biggestlosernbc

We sent it digitally as well as via FedEx to Dr. H as well as the shows producers. I know they're all going to receive the letters. The only question is if we'll receive an actual response or better yet, halt Dr. H from bad mouthing WLS.

That would have been a wonderful idea! The letter was sent out today via FedEx so it's a little too late now. Next time I'm going to keep your suggestion in mind, thanks.

I just posted an Open Letter to Dr. H from the “The Biggest Loser” .

I recently posted an article titled “The Biggest Loser:” Irresponsible Weight Loss Surgery Comments? . We received many fantastic comments from our concerned members. I've decided to follow up our article with an Open Letter to Dr. Robert Huizenga or Dr. H as he's known on the show. The letter will also be sent to the shows producers and staff members. Dear Dr. Huizenga, I am the founder of BariatricPal, the world’s largest online community for weight loss surgery patients and potential patients. I am writing to you today regarding your role as an expert on “The Biggest Loser.” I am asking you to please stop publicly portraying weight loss surgery in a negative light without any explanation. Most recently, during the Season 16 Finale, you stated that losing weight using methods used on the show were far healthier than turning to weight loss surgery. The implication was that bariatric surgery is under no circumstances the best choice for individuals struggling with obesity. I am asking you to stop making comments like this. You and “The Biggest Loser” have a significant amount of influence on America. The season finale attracted 5.4 million live viewers, with untold millions watching the show at a later time. Given that one-third of American adults are obese, it is almost certain that many viewers have obesity. “The Biggest Loser” reaches out to this audience throughout the show. Contestants, trainers, and health experts like yourself directly address viewers who need to lose weight, offering encouragement and tips. As you know, positive gestures like this can motivate people to change their lives. Unfortunately, the derogatory comments about bariatric surgery can have just as much impact, but in a negative way. Your statement at the Season 16 finale of “The Biggest Loser” and similar ones make weight loss surgery sound like a shameful, dangerous, and ineffective choice in all cases, with no further explanation. According to the Weight-Control Information Network (WIN), 4% of men and 8% of women in the U.S. have extreme obesity (BMI over 40). That translates to about 20 million American adults who are potentially eligible for weight loss surgery. This figure does not include the approximately 60 million Americans whose BMIs are between 30 and 40, and who might be eligible for surgery due to the existence of a co-morbidity. Not all of these individuals are eligible for and interested in weight loss surgery, but many are. BariatricPal alone, for example, has a quarter-million members who are weight loss surgery patients or who are considering surgery. For weight loss surgery patients, your comments can be hurtful. Weight loss surgery is not the “easy way out.” It is a tool to help control food intake. Eligibility criteria include a requirement that patients be committed to the strict dietary changes necessary to lose weight after bariatric surgery. I and millions of other weight loss surgery patients who have successfully used weight loss surgery as a tool against obesity worked hard to get where we are today. We do not deserve for you and your colleagues to suggest that we have cheated to lose weight. Comments that groundlessly condemn weight loss surgery can harm potential patients just as much if not more. Eligible candidates might decide not to get the surgery in part because of your position. First, your comments can lead to a feeling of shame for even considering bariatric surgery to fight obesity. This is unjust, since the post-surgery diet is strict and requires a lifetime of attention, just as “The Biggest Loser” contestants must modify their own diets for the rest of their lives to maintain weight loss. Secondly, your comments on the show seem to imply weight loss surgery does not work. While there are patients who do not respond to surgery, and complications are always a threat, the scientific literature overwhelmingly agrees that weight loss surgery is a viable option for the treatment of morbid obesity. Furthermore, the scientific community largely agrees that weight loss surgery can improve health and metabolic parameters. To varying degrees, methods such as gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band, and gastric sleeve have been linked to improvements in diabetes and other obesity-related conditions, such as hypertension, sleep apnea, and dyslipidemia. The UK’s healthcare system, known as the National Health System or NHS, is so convinced of bariatric surgery’s effectiveness, safety, and cost savings potential it covers bariatric surgery procedures. Unconditionally stating that weight loss surgery is the wrong choice is particularly unfair given that “The Biggest Loser” contestants do not always achieve or maintain their goal weights. An article on Today.com, which is owned by NBC, looked at initial, finale, and current weights of selected contestants from the first 11 seasons of the show. Of the 56 contestants they highlighted, 20 were within 10 pounds of their finale weights, and 8 had gained back at least 40 pounds since the finale. These results are impressive but not perfect. And, “The Biggest Loser” is not for everyone. So far, only hundreds of individuals have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to lose weight on the show. For a few others, losing weight at one of the Biggest Loser resorts is an option – but not a practical one for most people. At $3,000 per week, it could take $50,000 or $100,000 or more to reach goal weight, not including time out from work and life. Weight loss surgery may be the only practical choice for people who have work and family obligations, and who live within a budget. People struggling with obesity do not choose weight loss surgery because they think it will be easy. They choose it because they have no other choice. Nothing else has worked for them. For me and hundreds of thousands of other weight loss surgery patients, it worked. Because of this, I ask you again to please stop publicly attacking weight loss surgery without explanation. You and I and everyone else who is connected to obesity knows what a terrible disease it is. We should join forces in fighting it. Let’s work together to get the greatest possible number of people healthy, and not work against each other with derogatory and divisive comments. Thank you for all of your hard work and commitment to fighting obesity. You have established yourself as one of the most influential health experts in obesity, and I hope you will use your voice in a positive way. Thank you for considering this. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal

At the moment, all of these devices can only stay inside a person up to 6 and possibly even 12 months. After the device is removed, I'm sure most people regain their weight. Hopefully, they'll figure out how to create devices that will be more permanent and won't need to be replaced every few months. Until that point, I think these are all great concepts and it's exciting that there will be more tools to combat Obesity.

We already asked what gets you off track on your weight loss surgery journey. In this poll, we want to know what gets you back on track! How and when do you get up once you’ve fallen? I make myself get back on track immediately, as soon as I realize I’ve eaten something I shouldn’t have, or I’ve been slipping on my exercise. I give myself a deadline, such as “tomorrow” or “the end of vacation,” to get back on track. I call/text a friend or family member to figure out a strategy to get myself back into the groove. I come to BariatricPal to see how other people handle their mistakes, and try to get ideas for what I should do. Other. Read my answer in the conversation below! Let us know by marking your answer above and giving the details in the conversation below. We all need a little help getting back on track!

Hey BariatricPal Members! Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to shake off the cobwebs and plan a little spring cleaning. If your diet and exercise routine need a little cleaning up, too, you’re in luck. This newsletter can get you motivated to get back on your feet so you’ll be all set for spring break. Here’s what you’ll find this month. Polls ‘n’ More: Your Opinion Matters Member Spotlight: Meet TheRealMeIsHere! Something to Celebrate in March So, take a few minutes to read the newsletter. Then log on to BariatricPal so you can give your opinions about it and talk about whatever else is on your mind. An army of BariatricPal members is waiting to help you out on your weight loss surgery journey, so don’t be a stranger. Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Polls ‘n’ More: Your Opinion Matters BariatricPal is a pretty busy place, between the polls, other conversations, and member blogs and photo galleries. Not sure where to start? Here are a couple of places where your opinion is especially valuable! Something to Help You Decide About Weight Loss Surgery We asked members about their complications after weight loss surgery, and it turned into a hot topic! This poll may help you make your decision if you’re still up in the air about getting weight loss surgery or if you’re not sure which type is for you. Hint: the answers are pretty encouraging! Interested in answering and reading other members’ answers to more polls? Go to the BariatricPal Polls Forum and chime in! Should BariatricPal Launch an Online Store? BariatricPal is here to help you through your weight loss surgery journey. The social part is a big deal, and that’s what the forums and other parts of the community are for. But the diet is also important, and BariatricPal may be able to help out with that, too. We are thinking about opening an online store to sell bariatric nutritional products at competitive prices. Before we do, we need to know whether you like that idea. Please let us know what you think and give us your suggestions! You can either post on this thread or PM Alex Brecher. Thanks! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Exciting News – We're welcoming Unjury and Opurity to BariatricPal! BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each Multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable Calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Member Spotlight: Meet The RealMeIsHere! This month’s member spotlight is on TheRealMeIsHere from Ferndale, New York. She spent most of her life bouncing between 115 and 275 pounds. Life was great when she was closer to 115 pounds – she had energy and confidence. At her higher weight, she sat on the couch a lot, drank, ate, and talked on the phone. TheRealMeIsHere was not able to lose weight on healthy diets, and she developed eating disorders. She was anorexic and bulimic at times. When she gained weight, she developed high blood pressure and severe sleep apnea. She stopped breathing nearly 50 times an hour! Her orthopedic conditions kept her in pain and prevented her from moving much, turning it into a vicious cycle. When TheRealMeIsHere got health insurance, she researched weight loss surgery. She chose the gastric sleeve because of its permanence – unlike the lap-band. She also liked the fact that it did not cause malabsorption since she has ulcerative colitis. She got the surgery in 2012, as soon as her insurance covered it. TheRealMeIsHere just had her two-year surgiversary – and what a difference two years makes! She has maintained her weight at 115 pounds. Her sleep apnea and hypertension have diminished, and her energy has exploded. Other great moments have been realizing that she had the ability to get back to the weight she wanted, and getting a panniculectomy/abdominoplasty after reaching goal weight. food does not control her, but she still loves it and is able to enjoy in healthy ways. Instead of acting on every craving, she might make sleeve-friendly versions of her favorites. She loves salads and lean meats, and thinks of cauliflower as the “chameleon” vegetable that “can masquerade as Pasta, pizza crust, bread, or potatoes.” She delights in tricking guests with her healthy dishes. TheRealMeIsHere has figured out how to enjoy restaurant outing within her gastric sleeve diet restrictions. From the beginning, getting enough liquids and protein was difficult. She could not drink much without cramping, and she did not start hitting her 80 daily grams of protein until 18 months post-surgery. Her stomach was so small it was difficult to eat enough, so she had to stick to nothing but high-protein foods. TheRealMeIsHere was definitely grateful to be able to eat salads again! She mostly eats meats and vegetables now, and her sleeve holds about ¾ to 1 cup of food. She found out recently – the hard way – that eating too much still gives her severe diarrhea and cramps. Not worth it! TheRealMeIsHere came to BariatricPal before surgery to see success stories, learn about concerns, and look at pictures. Later, the site helped keep her focused on the goal and get feedback when needed. She also finds it helpful to answer others’ questions. TheRealMeIsHere has some tips for other weight loss surgery patients. Follow your surgeon’s and nutritionist’s guidelines. Keep your carbohydrate intake low. Stay hydrated. Stick with an exercise routine by being specific about your goals. Acknowledge and fix your mistakes. Use the surgery as a tool. Make one small change at a time. Enjoy the journey and the new you! Those are all great pieces of advice, and they are clearly working for TheRealMeIsHere. Congratulations on your weight loss surgery success, and thanks for sharing your story with us! Please let us know in the Member Spotlight Forum if you or someone you know would like to be in the member spotlight. We want to hear from you! You can also send Alex Brecher a PM to nominate yourself or someone else. Something to Celebrate in March In like a lion, out like a lamb. That usually does hold true, but it’s hard to believe that winter will soon be over when it’s been around for so long. Waiting for the sun to come back and the last bits of snow to melt can make March seem dreary, so we wanted to find something to celebrate. What’s special about March? Lots of things, it turns out! Here are just a couple of national food days in March, and some ideas for celebrating them. March 1: National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day Peanut butter…packed with antioxidants, Fiber, healthy fats, and 7 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons. And, of course, with a taste to die for. If you haven’t jumped onto the peanut butter bandwagon yet, this may be a good opportunity for you to do so! Of course, it’s high in calories, with 180, so don’t overindulge! Here are some peanut butter ideas. Make a shake with Protein powder, almond milk, and ice - and you can enjoy this when you’re still on your liquid post-op diet! Eat it with celery sticks or carrot sticks – lap-banders, be careful of the stringy celery and sticky PB. Spread it on a half of a whole-grain, high-fiber English muffin or some whole-wheat crackers. March 19: Poultry Day If you’re a weight loss surgery patient who struggles to get enough protein, you already know that chicken and turkey can bail you out. A 2-ounce serving of white meat has about 13 grams of protein and 60 calories. Vegetarian? Try soy bacon and low-fat vegetarian chicken! Add a serving of poultry morning, noon, and night, and you’ve already got 39 grams compared to the 65 to 80 you need for the day. Try: Turkey bacon with your egg whites for Breakfast. Low-fat white chicken chili with Beans and broccoli for lunch. Turkey roll-ups with low-fat cheese or fat free cream cheese and tomatoes for a snack. Ground chicken burgers in lettuce for dinner. March 28: National Something on a Stick Day You could celebrate this day with traditional fair food…fried Twinkies on a stick, corn dog on a stick, or cheese on a stick. Or, you could celebrate this day with something healthy and fun. The following can keep you on your weight loss surgery diet while you feel like you’re celebrating. Ham and eggs on a stick: Alternate slices of ham or any lean meat with quartered egg whites and cubes of melon. Grilled eggplant on a stick: Slice and salt eggplant, dip in a mixture of low-fat grated parmesan cheese and ground Fiber One Cereal crumbs, skewer the eggplant slices, alternating with low-fat mozzarella cheese, and grill. salad on a stick: Coarsely cut a head of lettuce. On your stick, put pieces of lettuce, grape tomatoes, cucumber slices, grilled chicken or shrimp, and whatever else you like in your salads. To enjoy, dip it in dressing. Of course, you can also celebrate non-food celebrations. For example, mark your calendar for Good Samaritan Day on March 13, and everyone deserves to celebrate National Everything You Do Is Right Day on March 16! And, to be honest, every day is a cause for celebration when you’re getting healthy, whether you’re dancing on the scale or congratulating yourself for a non-scale victory (NSV). Don’t forget to tell us about it at BariatricPal!