Alex Brecher

We hope to have this changed within the next 30-60 days.

We do not delete entire topics once members have taken their time to respond to them. If you feel a post doesn't follow our rules, you can use the REPORT function and we will be happy to delete it. I looked at the topic you're referring to and all the inflammatory posts were removed. Not really sure what your issue is. You can ignore ALL posts from a specific member by adding them to your ignored user list.

Reminder about the rules everyone agreed to abide by when they signed up for membership: http://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrules

Dear BariatricPal Members, Happy Easter! If you Celebrate Passover, Happy Passover! And, if you do not celebrate either of these holidays, our warmest spring greetings. We hope you are enjoying the beginning of spring. We suggest letting the fresh air inspire you to get outside and get moving on Easter and every other day…but first, take a look at the BariatricPal newsletter. It has plenty of tips to help you stick to your weight loss surgery diet whether or not the Easter bunny visits your house. Here’s what you will find in this newsletter. eggs – Get More of Nature’s Perfect Protein Be a Kid again with This Year’s Easter Egg Hunt Tips for the Easter Table Read through the newsletter, go outside for a walk, and then enjoy a happy and healthy holiday meal with friends and family. Don’t forget to log in to BariatricPal to tell us about it and anything else on your mind! Happy Easter! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Be a Kid again with This Year’s Easter Egg Hunt If you are lucky enough to be celebrating Easter with children this year, an Easter egg hunt is sure to be one of the day’s highlights. The event can be disastrous for your diet if you simply stash candy all over your backyard as you might have done in previous years. The result is that within minutes, you and the children end up with piles of jelly Beans, chocolate Easter eggs, and all sorts of sugary treats that will make you sick and add hundreds or more calories to your day. Instead of filling the eggs with candy, make a healthy Easter egg hunt. Cut construction paper or light posterboard into small rectangles. Write instructions for physical activity on each one, and place each slip of paper into an egg. When children find the eggs, they get to come to you and do the exercises with you. These are some ideas for activities to write on the papers. Bunnies love to play with their friends…grab a buddy and do 10 jumping jacks together. Act like a bunny…hop to the end of the driveway and back. Carrots grow in the ground…crawl around the room three times pretending that you are a bunny looking for carrots. Pretend you’re the grown-up rabbit and the grown-ups are bunnies…go find a grown-up and teach him or her a new dance move. Then do the move together 10 times. If the children are permitted to eat candy, you can include some Easter eggs with candy inside. Or, make the children “earn” their candy by performing the exercises with you. When all of you have completed the activities on a particular card, you can pass out a piece of candy to each child. Feel free to add your own twists to the game! Let the children swap eggs – and activities – to make the game more fun for them. Don’t you get lazy, though! As much as you can, do all of the different activities. It’ll burn calories and distract you from wanting to eat candy. The Easter egg hunt only comes around once a year, so enjoy it and let it help your weight loss as you strengthen relationships with the children in your life. Eggs – Get More of Nature’s Perfect Protein You already know the importance of Protein in your weight loss surgery diet. It helps keep you full so you can stick to your diet, and it is an essential nutrient for a healthy immune system, beautiful hair and skin, and maintaining your muscle mass as you lose fat. Nature’s Perfect Protein Since we’re talking about protein, what better food to focus on near Easter – and during Passover, since it is on the Seder plate – than eggs? Each egg provides 6 grams of protein, which is a big chunk of the recommended 60 or more grams of protein you should get after weight loss surgery. The protein in eggs is the highest-quality protein known to humans. Stick to egg whites for a fat-free, cholesterol-free source of protein, or include the occasional yolk for essential nutrients such as Vitamin A, vitamin B-12, and potassium. How to Eat More Eggs Hard-boiled eggs are convenient and versatile. You can boil a dozen eggs at a time and keep them in the fridge for days so that you can eat or use them whenever you want. Eat them on their own for a quick snack, or consider the following ideas. Egg salad with egg whites, fat-free yogurt, deli mustard, and onion powder. Sliced egg whites in salads with lettuce or spinach, grape tomatoes or raspberries, and grilled chicken breast or tuna. Egg whites stuffed with a mixture of chopped turkey breast and pureed cooked zucchini. Eggs are so easy to cook that you don’t have to limit yourself to hard-boiled eggs. Scramble egg whites with any mixture of vegetables for Breakfast. Add fat-free cheese or lean ham for extra protein. Make breakfast muffins by placing slices of ham in muffin tins and adding an egg to each cup. Bake until the eggs are cooked. Make a Greek omelet with spinach, oregano, and feta cheese. Serve eggs with Canadian bacon and cut cantaloupe for a high-protein start to your day. When you keep eggs in the house, you never have to worry about not having enough protein around. There’s no excuse not to meet your needs! Tips for the Easter Table Holidays can be tough for weight loss surgery patients. The celebration is bound to involve a big meal, and you might be faced with relatives that you haven’t seen in a while. You can get through this day without going off your diet or letting your relatives get you down about your weight loss surgery if you plan ahead. At the table, look for the foods you can eat. Just like you do at all of your meals, focus on Proteins, vegetables and fruits. Ham, turkey, or another lean protein Roasted vegetables, such as asparagus, carrots, or green beans Fresh fruit salad sugar-free Gelatin Skip the fatty, sugary, and starchy offerings. Mashed potatoes dinner rolls with butter Mayonnaise-based salads Candy, cupcakes, and other Desserts Here are a few more tips to get you through the day. In the morning, remind yourself about how far you have come and how proud you are of yourself. Nobody can take away your accomplishments. Be ready to smile and change the topic if your friends or relatives seem negative about weight loss surgery. Only eat at the table. If there is candy or other food away from the table, just carry around a glass of ice Water. After weight loss surgery, you can’t eat solid foods when you’re drinking. If you’re not sure if the host will be serving food that you can eat, bring a diet-friendly dish to share. Something like roasted green beans with ham pieces is a seasonal dish that has the protein you need. Chew slowly and take small portions. Focus on the company and the special meaning of the day, not on the food. Go for a walk in the morning. It will remind you to eat healthier later in the day. Above all, enjoy yourself! Go into the day with confidence and determination, and you will come out on top. Just like you do every day of your weight loss journey, you will do your best and strive to make improvements. We hope this newsletter helps you through a healthy, happy Easter, or gives you tips that you can use in the future. If you have any other ideas, share them at BariatricPal! Thanks, as always, for your support.

Other than BLIS, I'm not aware of any other insurance company that offers the coverage you're looking for. Maybe it might be a better idea to switch to a surgeon that's already part of the BLIS network.

She has Gastric Sleeve surgery July 2013.

@@Alex Brecher @@Idlewood4 same thing happens to me i figure its because that person is in a private group only certain people are allowed to see and respond to question??? if i am right raise your left hand wrong, raise right hand if you can't see this message raise both hands Waiting for response with baited breath kathy Mind forwarding one of these emails ? Send to alex@BariatricPal.com so I can take a looksy.

Please forward one of these emails to me. I'm going to PM you shortly.

LMAO! Guess I'm not the only OCD one around here Thank you for noticing! It's been making me nuts since we launched but I never had time to generate one. It's still not perfect since it has a white background but it'll do for the time being.

Guidelines/guidance for leaders and templates for basic meeting structure/agenda will be forthcoming shortly.

BariatricPal is establishing a new program called BariatricPal Local Chapters. This program is part of BariatricPal’s mission to support weight loss surgery patients in their pursuit of achieving weight loss and following a healthy lifestyle. The purpose, structure, values, and guidelines for this program are described below. I. Purpose The leaders of BariatricPal Local Chapter have established the following objectives. Promote weight loss and healthy lifestyles among potential and post-op weight loss surgery patients. Provide a structured program for weight loss surgery patients to meet each other face-to-face in safe environments. Promote the ability of weight loss surgery patients to make healthy lifestyle choices through increased knowledge. Increase self-confidence and a sense of community through positive social interactions. II. Organizational Structure Management BariatricPal Local Chapters is under the direction of Alex Brecher, founder of BariatricPal. Alex has the final say in all decisions regarding BariatricPal Local Chapters. Others involved in the governance of BariatricPal Local Chapters include the advising and managerial team at BariatricPal. Local Leaders Local leaders are essential to the success of BariatricPal Local Chapters. Duties include: Communicating remotely with local members to inform them of upcoming meeting schedules and agendas. Leading each local meeting or event. Making all meeting attendees feel comfortable and welcome Encouraging local members to attend meetings. Communicating with BariatricPal Local Chapters management to provide updates on local meetings and to gather information on upcoming events. Recruiting local experts to share their knowledge at meetings. To carry out these duties, leaders must: Be committed to the success of their local chapters as well as the overall program. Be able to prevent personal conflicts and address them when they arise. Be available for scheduled meetings. Be able to interact with diverse groups of people. Stakeholders All BariatricPal members in good standing are invited to participate in BariatricPal Local Chapters. Local Experts Local experts, such as bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, mental health professionals, cosmetic surgeons, and others who work with weight loss surgery patients, can be invited to BariatricPal Local Chapters meetings. They can provide their expertise in the form of lectures, demonstrations, and question-and-answer sessions. III. Core Values These are the core values of BariatricPal Local Chapters. Acceptance: The program is based on the understanding the individual differences exist and are to be celebrated. Encouragement: Participants can expect a positive environment in which their efforts to lead healthier lives are supported through peer encouragement and increased knowledge of how to make healthier choices. Respect: All participants in BariatricPal Local Chapters deserve, and are entitled to, respect. No participant may deride another for their choices. Consideration: Participants are expected to show common courtesy, such as allowing other members to speak in turn, attending meetings when they have committed to doing so, and lending a hand, when appropriate, in setting up and cleaning up meeting facilities. Health: BariatricPal Local Chapters supports all aspects of health from the physical to the emotional and psychosocial. IV. Protocols Meetings BariatricPal Local Chapters meetings will take place on a monthly or quarterly basis. Meetings can fit into any of the following categories. Standard meetings (described below) Group walks or other physical activity sessions at a level that can include participants of all capabilities Group outings, such as to restaurants or grocery stores Standard meetings follow this general structure, which will be further detailed in other program documents. Greetings: introductions and greetings led by the leader. Follow-up: discussion of any necessary follow-up items from the previous meeting, and discussion of progress toward goals stated at the previous meeting. Main event: this can be a lecture led by the leader with guidance from a BariatricPal lesson plan (to be provided), a cooking or other demonstration, or a lecture or discussion led by a weight loss surgery expert. Question and answer session. Goals to work on before the next meeting Closing comments, such as the planned time and activity for the next meeting and any necessary reminders, such as special materials or locations. Other Events The overall BariatricPal Local Chapters program may periodically sponsor regional or national activities. These may include workshops, casual meet-ups, or group excursions. Details will be provided as developments occur. V. Resources Needed and Potential Obstacles BariatricPal Local Chapters will require sites where meetings can be held. Leaders are encouraged to seek sites, such as local schools, public parks, church and other religious organization buildings, and other sites where meetings are commonly held. Facilities should have tables and chairs for all participants, as well as necessary resources such as a large screen. Items such as paper, pens, and other supplies may also be needed for certain meetings. There are several expected obstacles for BariatricPal Local Chapters, but they can be overcome. Personal commitments interfering with the ability to lead or attend meetings. Transportation barriers. Slow growth in overall participation or leadership. VI. Changes to the Charter Changes to the Charter can be made by BariatricPal Local Chapters’ founder, Alex Brecher. Requests for changes can be submitted to Alex Brecher for consideration and approval.

Click!

Loved your video! Great choice of music. Congrats on your success and journey.

All people meet it at some point in their weight loss journey. It might come after you experience complications from surgery, or when you travel for vacation, or when you are unusually stressed at work. It might even come when you least expect it, when your diet and weight loss have been going smoothly for months. “It” is the dreaded plateau. How Do You Know When You Hit a Plateau? Simply enough, a plateau is when you stop losing weight even though you want to. It’s not just a day or two without weight loss. It’s a period of a few weeks or more when you keep trying to lose weight, but the scale does not budge. You think you are doing everything you can and should be doing to lose weight, but still you do not see results. That is a plateau. It can be frustrating and discouraging and seem to be unfair. Stay Positive Plateaus can be maddening, but the absolute worst thing you can do during a plateau is to give up. If you decide that your diet is not worth the effort, you are almost certainly going to gain weight. Going back to your old, pre-surgery diet habits, taking oversized portions, and eating high-fat, high-sugary foods will not just make you gain weight. These bad habits can erase your health gains. Worse, they could cause some of the weight loss surgery complications that you already know about, such as the following: Stretching of the sleeve in vertical sleeve gastrectomy Dumping syndrome in gastric bypass Esophagitis with the adjustable gastric band (lap-band) Feeling nauseous or having diarrhea Another reason to stay positive is to keep up your motivation to continue all of the other healthy behaviors in your lifestyle. Don’t fall into the trap of “all-or-nothing,” in which you decide to give up all of your healthy efforts just because your weight loss isn’t quite what you want it to be. These include: Taking your daily vitamin and mineral supplements Getting enough protein and fluids each day Following your regularly exercise routine It Could Be Worse And it will be worse if you give up. It may sound strange, but you can stay positive by thinking about how much better your weight is now than where it could be if you gave up trying. If your careful diet is not leading to the weight loss you had hoped for, it is still preventing weight gain. If you give up, you will gain weight, and probably be pretty disappointed in yourself. Measure Success in Other Ways Another way to stay positive is to stop focusing on the scale. Find other ways to measure your progress. Tracking your body measurements, for example, can let you know that you are shrinking and building muscle even if your total weight is not decreasing right now. Tracking behaviors instead of measurements is another strategy. For example, you assess your success according to whether you eat well, such as hitting your protein goals or sticking to your planned menu. Other successful behaviors to be proud of yourself for are planning and preparing meals ahead of time and making sure you drink enough fluids at times other than meal times. Be Honest and Go Back to the Basics “Why me?” That’s a natural question when you hit a plateau, but most people don’t ask it seriously. However, if you think seriously about what is causing the plateau and how you can fix it, this question can actually help you break through the barrier and get back to losing weight. In many cases, you can figure out “why me” by asking yourself these questions. “Am I logging every single bite that goes into my mouth?” “Am I following the meal plan my nutritionist or surgeon gave me?” “Am I measuring – not eyeballing – all of the foods I eat?” “Am I exercising as much as I am supposed to be?” “Am I getting in my protein each day?” “Have I been too busy or preoccupied to plan my meals and snacks in advance?” If you answer these questions honestly, you might discover that you have slipped up and are not keeping up your good habits quite as well as you thought you had. Go back to the basics of meal planning and nutritious eating, and you are almost sure to see the scale move again within weeks. You’re in Charge! Plateaus are frustrating and nobody wants to experience them at some point, but almost everyone does. These steps can help you when you notice that you are in a plateau. Stay positive and keep up your healthy behaviors. Focus on other measures of success besides the scale. Assess your diet honestly. Make any necessary changes. You can get over your plateau, and you will be stronger for it! Just be patient and do what you know is right for your health.

The POSE (Primary Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal) procedure is done Endoscopically so there are no scars or incisions. It's an interesting procedure and USGI was recently approved by the FDA to run a one year study on 350 patients in the US. Please keep us updated if you go ahead with this procedure!

Please use the REPORT post feature if you come across any post or topic that doesn't abide by our rules.

Our recipe forum is located here. We have a separate recipe forum for Lap-Band members here. We plan on releasing a more comprehensive and useful recipe section on BariatricPal later this year.

We've added the following to our posted forum rules: Disrespectful and Hurtful Posts are Forbidden All posts must fit within BariatricPal’s guidelines for acceptable posts. Posts must be consistent with BariatricPal’s core beliefs. Weight loss surgery can be an effective tool to fight obesity. Our common goal is to fight obesity through a unified voice. No weight loss surgery is inherently better or worse than any other. Each has advantages, and each has disadvantages. Some individuals are good candidates for one kind of surgery, and other individuals are better candidates for another kind of surgery. No individual is more or less deserving of weight loss and health because of a decision to get or not get weight loss surgery, or because of which type of weight loss surgery he or she chooses. BariatricPal serves as a place where anyone can ask questions about weight loss surgery without fear of ridicule. BariatricPal serves as a forum for open discussion and polite disagreement so that everyone can benefit. Weight loss surgery “bashing” is absolutely prohibited. This include, but is not limited to, statements that a specific type of weight loss surgery is: Bad or wrong Easier than another type of weight loss surgery or “cheating” when someone is trying to lose weight Out of date or obsolete Doomed to failure In addition, “bashing” of individuals is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, statements that a person is: Lazy for choosing one type of weight loss surgery over another Unprepared for or undeserving of weight loss surgery because of Deserving of complications or disappointing weight loss because of their choice of weight loss surgery Violations of these rules and consequences will be determined at the sole discretion of BariatricPal and based on individual situations. They may include, but are not limited to, the following: Editing or removal of the offensive post(s) Warning from BariatricPal staff or Forum Hosts to avoid such posts in the future Temporary suspension of membership Permanent removal of the member’s account These guidelines do NOT forbid disagreement and candid discussions on BariatricPal. Members may discuss and defend their points of view in respectful manners. Please feel free to contact BariatricPal with any questions about these guidelines. Remember that written communication is different from face-to-face communication. When you post a message on the discussion forum, send someone a text message, email, or private message, or meet in a chat room, a lot of the message is lost. When you are face-to-face with someone, you can use tone of voice, gestures, and expressions to help get your point across. These aids are lost when you communicate online. Your message can accidentally come across as harsh or rude. A good way to reduce accidental misunderstandings is to read your own message before posting it to see if there is any way that a reader could mistake its meaning in a negative way.

We're looking at possibly offering Support group leader courses to all BariatricPal Local chapter leaders. You can view more info about these online and live classes at http://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/scat-content.php?sid=110 . They're worth 23 CE's.

I'm showing we did send you this email at exactly Apr 2, 2014 9:02 pm. Please check your spam folder. It's titled "BariatricPal Local Chapters…local leaders needed!"

Absolutely! We're in the organizational stage at this point. Once we have confirmed groups up and running, we most definitely will have them all listed with details online.

I understand your passionate love for the DS We're taking a wait and see approach to see how the DS forums turn out here on BariatricPal. They'll be moved to the main index in a few months if things continue in a positive fashion and they gain some decent traction.

Dear BariatricPal Members, We are pleased to announce a new program called BariatricPal Local Chapters! This program will be an addition to the support that BariatricPal already provides to members. BariatricPal started as an online resource for hundreds of thousands of potential and post-op weight loss surgery patients. Many of you visit the site regularly to receive and provide tips and encouragement, and just to hang out. BariatricPal Local Chapters extends our online community into the real world. BariatricPal Local Chapters includes live, in-person meetings with local BariatricPal members. We know the significance of support group meetings before and after weight loss surgery, but not all patients are able to attend live meetings in their areas. BariatricPal Local Chapters can help fulfill this need by providing the support for regular in-person meetings in neighborhoods around the country. BariatricPal Local Chapter Meetings Most meetings will follow a standard format that includes introductions followed by the day’s main activity, and finally a discussion or question-and-answer session. The main activity of the day can be a lecture on essentials before and after weight loss surgery, such as nutrition, exercise, overcoming obstacles, and building a support system. Other activities might include group walks, cooking demonstrations, presentations by visiting bariatric surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, or nutritionists, and clothing exchanges. Do You Want to Be a Group Leader? If you are friendly, enthusiastic, and committed to fighting obesity with weight loss surgery, we want you to consider becoming a BariatricPal Local Chapter Group Leader! Energetic group leaders are key to success. Your roles as a group leader will include: Scheduling times and places for Local Chapter meetings. Planning group meeting agendas including scheduling guest speakers, reserving facilities, and arranging for supplies when necessary. “Hosting” group meetings by leading the introductions and leading or facilitating the main activity and question-and-answer sessions. Leading group discussions or lectures when they are the main activity of the meeting. Reaching out to members to help you in regular tasks and fill in for you when you cannot plan or attend a meeting. Making all participants feel welcome. Does this sound like something you can do? BariatricPal will provide support to Local Chapter leaders, including developing guidelines for running meetings and materials for group discussions. Here’s What to Do! If you are interested in being a BariatricPal Local Chapter leader, please use the BariatricPal Local Chapter forum. Click START NEW TOPIC to create a new topic. In the subject line, include the State Abbreviation, region, city or community(ies) that you will serve (e.g., MI - Wayne County, CA - Fresno and Selma, NY - Brooklyn). Include your country if you're outside the US please. In your post, describe your interest, why you think you will make a good leader, and your availability for leading meetings. Please feel free to post questions on this thread. I am excited to begin BariatricPal Local Chapter meetings, and I hope you are, too!

Dear BariatricPal Members, We are pleased to announce a new program called BariatricPal Local Chapters! This program will be an addition to the support that BariatricPal already provides to members. BariatricPal started as an online resource for hundreds of thousands of potential and post-op weight loss surgery patients. Many of you visit the site regularly to receive and provide tips and encouragement, and just to hang out. BariatricPal Local Chapters extends our online community into the real world. BariatricPal Local Chapters includes live, in-person meetings with local BariatricPal members. We know the significance of support group meetings before and after weight loss surgery, but not all patients are able to attend live meetings in their areas. BariatricPal Local Chapters can help fulfill this need by providing the support for regular in-person meetings in neighborhoods around the country. BariatricPal Local Chapter Meetings Most meetings will follow a standard format that includes introductions followed by the day’s main activity, and finally a discussion or question-and-answer session. The main activity of the day can be a lecture on essentials before and after weight loss surgery, such as nutrition, exercise, overcoming obstacles, and building a support system. Other activities might include group walks, cooking demonstrations, presentations by visiting bariatric surgeons, cosmetic surgeons, or nutritionists, and clothing exchanges. Do You Want to Be a Group Leader? If you are friendly, enthusiastic, and committed to fighting obesity with weight loss surgery, we want you to consider becoming a BariatricPal Local Chapter Group Leader! Energetic group leaders are key to success. Your roles as a group leader will include: Scheduling times and places for Local Chapter meetings. Planning group meeting agendas including scheduling guest speakers, reserving facilities, and arranging for supplies when necessary. “Hosting” group meetings by leading the introductions and leading or facilitating the main activity and question-and-answer sessions. Leading group discussions or lectures when they are the main activity of the meeting. Reaching out to members to help you in regular tasks and fill in for you when you cannot plan or attend a meeting. Making all participants feel welcome. Does this sound like something you can do? BariatricPal will provide support to Local Chapter leaders, including developing guidelines for running meetings and materials for group discussions. Here’s What to Do! If you are interested in being a BariatricPal Local Chapter leader, please use the BariatricPal Local Chapter directory. Click NEW LOCAL CHAPTER to create a new chapter and follow the simple instructions on how to get started. Please feel free to post questions on this thread. I am excited to begin BariatricPal Local Chapter meetings, and I hope you are, too!

I see it advertised in the Bariatric journals and have seen them at trade shows. Supposed to be very effective for treating local pain after surgery. Please let us now if and how it worked for you!