Alex Brecher

I wasn't able to DVR this episode. It's finally online.... Lap Band Surgery, Is It For You? Part 1 "If you've been at war with your weight without any relief, you may want to consider this procedure. Dr. Oz discusses the new regulations regarding Lap Band surgery. Learn how you may be eligible for it if you have been trying to lose over 40 pounds." Click here to view on Dr. Oz

You marked an email as spam a while back. I've reset your account and you should be alright now.

Hey, BariatricPal Members! Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers out there! Your love and dedication are greatly appreciated by your children and by everyone whom you touch. To express our gratitude for all that you do, this newsletter is dedicated to all mothers who are fighting obesity through weight loss surgery. Mother’s Day Brunch: Time to Start a New Tradition Interested in Motherhood? What You Need to Know about Pregnancy and Weight Loss Surgery Mother’s Day Gifts to Celebrate Health As you spend time with your mother or the rest of your family, think about what they mean to you, and how your health affects your relationships. Losing weight can give you more freedom to participate in your family’s activities, and it can make you better able to care for your family. We hope this newsletter gives you some good ideas for losing weight this Mother’s Day! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal.com Mother’s Day Brunch: Time to Start a New Tradition Whether it’s breakfast in bed or brunch with the family, Mother’s Day can mean trouble for your diet. If you have the lap-band, the last thing you need if you have the lap-band is to eat breakfast while lounging in bed because you will risk heartburn. And with any of the weight loss surgeries, you do not need to overeat when you haven’t yet stood up today. Beyond these concerns, of course, there is the problem of the food – too much high-calorie food. The solution? Plan ahead. Talk to your children and let them know that you are not interested in breakfast in bed. To prevent them from being disappointed that they will not be able to serve you, let them know that you will be just as excited if they come for an earlier morning walk with you – and they won’t even have to clean the kitchen or wash the dishes! If you normally go out to eat, take a good look at the menu. Ignore the pancakes, waffles, bacon, muffins, and hash browns. Look for foods that you can eat. An egg white omelet or scrambled egg whites are high-Protein, low-fat choices. If the restaurant has additions such as ham or chicken breast and vegetables such as mushrooms, spinach or tomatoes, you can easily get a healthy Mother’s Day brunch. Something as simple as cottage cheese and fresh fruit is another choice. Portion sizes are always important, too. Do not focus on getting the most food per dollar at an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, focus on getting the most pleasure per dollar. Fill up your plate once – with healthy foods – and savor every bite. As you chew slowly and put your fork down between bites, cherish the priceless moments that you are able to share with your family. Interested in Motherhood? What You Need to Know about Pregnancy and Weight Loss Surgery Mother’s Day can be bittersweet for those of you who want children but have been unable to have them. While it can be a joyous occasion to honor your own parents, it can be a reminder that obesity is interfering with your life dreams. Obesity can make it more difficult for a couple to become pregnant – and that is true whether the man or the woman is obese. However, weight loss surgery may actually be able to help. Losing weight can help you and your partner become more fertile. In addition, losing weight can lower a woman’s risk for complications of pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and premature births. Having weight loss surgery does not mean that you will be unable to have a healthy pregnancy. In fact, the opposite is likely. Successful weight loss after surgery can increase your chances of becoming pregnant, staying healthy during pregnancy, and delivering a healthy baby. These are some of the considerations when you are thinking about weight loss surgery and the potential for pregnancy. The focus right after weight loss surgery needs to be on yourself and your weight loss. Because you will not be consuming enough nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy, you should not plan to get pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after your surgery. If you choose the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (lap-band), your surgeon can deflate the band during your pregnancy to allow you to increase your food intake to provide enough nutrients for yourself and your baby. If you have the gastric sleeve (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) or gastric bypass, you may not be able to eat enough solid foods. You may need to consume supplements, such as protein shakes, to get enough nutrients for yourself and your baby. Not all ob-gyns are familiar with weight loss surgery patients. You may need to encourage your ob-gyn to learn more about weight loss surgery and pregnancy. Parenthood is a gift that may not be as far from reach as you might have feared. Talk to your doctor about the possibility of pregnancy after weight loss surgery, and in the near future, your children might be honoring you on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day Gifts to Celebrate Health You do not need to buy an expensive gift to show your love for your mother or the mother figures in your life. Spending a few hours of quality time together can be far more valuable and lead to many more fond memories than a store bought gift. The following ideas do not push you off of your weight loss surgery diet, and they can help you make this Mother’s Day the best one yet whether you are celebrating with your mother or your children. Put together a scrapbook. Gather a variety of family photos and put them into a small photo album. Write captions underneath so that you will always remember the events shown in the photos. Have a picnic. Walk to the nearest park for your meal, or sit in your own backyard. Being outdoors while you eat lets you and your family focus on each other without the distraction of the television. Don’t forget to bring plenty of protein, such as hard-boiled eggs, pouches of tuna, and low-fat cheese-sticks. Design customized t-shirts to commemorate this Mother’s Day. Plenty of websites let you design a t-shirt with your own photos or designs. When you order your shirt, think about the smaller size that you’ll be fitting in soon if you stick to your weight loss surgery diet. Regardless of whether Mother’s Day is a small event or a large celebration in your household, it can be an opportunity to improve your own health and the health of your relationships. Eat healthily as you thank your mother, and you will continue to make progress in your weight loss journey. Happy Mother’s Day!

You'd be surprised but vanity sizing occurs in mens clothing as well. I frankly find it very annoying but I've come to accept it.

I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our guy members. What do you consider your ideal pants size after a successful weight loss surgery ? Please vote here.

I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our guy members. What do you consider your ideal pants size after a successful weight loss surgery ? Please vote here.

I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our guy members. What do you consider your ideal pants size after a successful weight loss surgery ? Please vote here.

Updated!

Thank you

Ladies only please..... I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our gal members. What do you consider your ideal dress size after a successful weight loss surgery ?

Guys only please..... I'm doing some quick research and would love some assistance from our guy members. What do you consider your ideal pants size after a successful weight loss surgery ?

There are pros and cons to adding height in the postbit. I turned this topic to a poll. Let's vote on this in a democratic fashion. Your vote will remain private and we'll make a decision in 30 days based on the results.

My DVR didn't record this episode either. It's a shame we can't watch it online.

Dr. Erik Wilson, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, will be on Sirius’ Doctor Radio discussing Lap-Band surgery with Dr. Marina Kurian, Medical Director of NYU's Weight Management Program, on Wednesday May 7 at 8 am ET.

We're offering Bariatric Support Group Leader Certification to all BariatricPal Local Chapter leaders. Please let me know if this is something that would interest you. The Bariatric Support Group Leader Certification is an online or in person course. You receive certification once it's completed. Here's a synopsis of the course: Support Group Leader Certification For the morbidly obese, a surgical intervention provides a remarkable tool. However, long-term, optimal outcomes require a comprehensive aftercare program to provide education and support to help each individual reach and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Participants in this course will learn how to organize, coordinate and facilitate quality bariatric support groups and educational classes. This course features agenda planning, facilitation skills, patient engagement and retention, and teaching ideas & techniques. Participants will: 1. Identify key elements necessary to provide a supportive and educational aftercare program for their bariatric patients. 2. Understand the Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients principles, research and resources. 3. Learn important strategies for involving patients in support and educational offerings as well as how to provide volunteer opportunities for patients. 4. Become familiar with lesson materials, teaching aids and techniques and have an opportunity to prepare and present a lesson for evaluation and feedback. 5. Learn how to organize, coordinate and facilitate classes & support groups. It offers 23 CEU's through Taylor College of Nursing in LA. You'll be able to register for a live or web-based course in 2014. Attached is the 2014 course brochure. Additionally, here is a link to the online information. BU Course Brochure 2014.pdf

We'll provide materials and training. PM me if you're interested.

Alex can we change the name of this thread to Alberta, Canada? Done

Please PM me if you'd like to lead or co-lead this support group!

One of them is for Ontario and the other BC. I don't see anything for Alberta though. Slave Lake is pretty small but I might be interested in co-leading if there are others near here. Fantastic! Please start a topic for Alberta and we'll assist you in starting up the group.

Please PM me if you'd like to lead or co-lead this support group!

Please PM me if you'd like to lead or co-lead this support group!

There are two topics for support groups in Canada here. We're looking for volunteer support leaders internationally, not just in the USA.

Great advice! I had severe heartburn whenever I ran or exercised. It was suggested that I run on a completely empty stomach. Totally changed my life

Dr. George Fielding, Associate Professor of Surgery at NYU School of Medicine, LAP-BAND patient and bariatric surgeon who has performed thousands of weight loss surgeries, including LAP-BAND® procedures for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Head Coach for the New York Jets, Rex Ryan, will be appearing on the Dr. Oz show this Friday, May 2 and discussing LAP-BAND! Click here to find out what time and channel The Dr. Oz Show is on in your area.

Nothing was locked or deleted. It was a cross post and the topic was MERGED in to this one.