Alex Brecher

Great article, Yvonne!

Search for Jensen in the top right search bar. I noticed a few results. Here's an example: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/91561-lonely-yuma-bandster/?view=findpost&p=3343285&hl=%2Bjensen

It's going to be released quarterly. I'll hit you up for the next edition .

28.1%

Texas almost made it to the top 10 list. It has a 29.8% obesity rate. There definitely is a correlation between income and obesity rates. I noticed subsidized healthy produce carts popping up in low income neighborhoods around NYC. It's these small innovative steps that will most definitely make a big difference.

The 2013 rankings of obesity rates among states were released by Gallup Well-Being. The report shows that Mississippi took over the top position as most obese state from West Virginia. Mississippi had an obesity rate of 35.4 percent for 2013. West Virginia had held the title of most obese state from 2010 through 2012. Mississippi has ranked among the top 10 obese states since 2008. The 10 Most Obese States were: Mississippi: 35.4% West Virginia: 34.4% Delaware: 34.3% Louisiana: 32.7% Arkansas: 32.3% South Carolina: 31.4% Tennessee: 31.3% Ohio: 30.9% Kentucky: 30.6% Oklahoma: 30.5% On the other end of the spectrum, Montana took the position of least obese state from Colorado. Montana was 19.6 percent, the only state to have an rate of less than 20. The 10 Least Obese states were: Montana: 19.6% Colorado: 20.4% Nevada: 21.1% Minnesota: 22.0% Massachusetts: 22.2% Connecticut: 23.2% New Mexico: 23.5% California: 23.6% Hawaii: 23.7% New York: 24.0% The national obesity rate increased slightly, from 26.2 percent in 2012 to 27.1 percent in 2013. On June 18, 2013 the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted policy that recognizes obesity as a disease requiring a range of medical interventions to advance obesity treatment and prevention. Source: Gallop Well-Being, 2014. Mississippians Most Obese, Montanans Least Obese. Available at: http://www.gallup.com/poll/167642/mississippians-obese-montanans-least-obese.aspx [Accessed 11 March 2014].

Thanks!

You Choose: How Easy Do You Want Losing Weight to Be? Weight loss surgery is a substantial step in the battle to control your weight. It is proof of your long-term commitment to eating better and becoming healthier. Research clearly shows that weight loss surgery can be far more effective for significant long-term weight loss than diet and exercise, so why don’t all weight loss surgery patients achieve their goal weights after weight loss surgery? Why do some people find the journey easier than others, even though both sets of individuals are motivated to follow the weight loss surgery diet? The big losers do not necessarily have more willpower or desire. The important difference between the big losers and the re-gainers may be how easy they find the journey to be. Surprisingly, you can control a large part of how easy or hard it is to lose weight. The weight loss journey is not just about changing your digestive system through surgery. It is also about changing your entire lifestyle to facilitate weight loss. Weight Loss Surgery is a Weight Loss Tool, Not a Cure Weight loss surgery is a tool. It can make you less hungry by reducing the size of your stomach by inserting a band around your stomach (Lap-band), removing the majority of your stomach pouch (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) or folding or stapling away the majority of your stomach pouch (gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and sleeve plication). The vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces hunger by reducing the amount of ghrelin, a hunger hormone, that your stomach produces. The gastric bypass and duodenal switch reduce nutrient absorption. All of these surgeries can help you eat less and lose weight, but none of these surgeries are fail-proof. You can “cheat” by eating high-calorie foods, drinking high-calorie beverages, drinking beverages while you eat solid foods, and eating without measuring your portions. Successful weight loss requires good choices on your part, and making good choices is easier if you focus on your entire lifestyle, not just the part of your digestive system that was changed with surgery. The Influence of Your Surroundings on Your Weight Think about this scenario. You leave home without breakfast and order a muffin and ice coffee at the drive-through on your way to work. You grab a doughnut at your morning meeting, and go out for lunch with your friends. You order the lunch special with a salad, breadstick, fettuccine alfredo and cheesecake. You nibble on some chocolates from your secretary’s desk as you make your way to the vending machine for a soda in the afternoon. You pick up a pizza on your way home because you know that there is nothing else for dinner. Now compare it to this second scenario. You wake up early to meet your friend for a walk before you get home for a breakfast of scrambled egg whites and spinach. You drive to work and have yogurt and some fruit at your morning meeting. Lunch with your coworkers consists of a green salad with canned tuna, and you have a hard-boiled egg for your afternoon snack. You are able to get dinner on the table quickly when you get home because you only need to defrost the meals that you prepared earlier in the week. Which scenario do you think you can help you lose weight? The second one, of course. So why not make it a reality? Do Your Surroundings Encourage Weight Loss or Weight Gain? You have battled your weight for years, if not for your entire life before weight loss surgery. In all likelihood, your environment was set up for you to eat. Take a good, hard look at your environment. Is it more like the first scenario or the second one described above? You have the ability to make it more like the second one. Notice the following items from the two scenarios. Exercise was automatic in the second one because you planned to meet a friend – so you couldn’t back out. Preparing your dinners ahead of time meant that you could eat quickly without going to a fast food restaurant. Packing your own snacks meant that you did not have to eat a doughnut in your morning meeting or chocolates in the afternoon. Make the “Right” Choice Automatic The fewer tough choices you have, the less likely you are to make poor decisions. Set up your environment so that the healthier actions are easier. To make healthy eating easier: Prepare plenty of meals ahead of time so that you always have a ready-to-eat, healthy option to prevent you from opting for take-out. Throw away the take-out menus that you used to store in the kitchen. The extra time it takes you to look up the phone numbers and menus online may be enough to let you come to your sense and realize that you don’t want fast food. Keep your kitchen stocked with all kinds of healthy foods, so that no matter your craving, you have a healthy answer. Do not keep unhealthy foods at home. If they are not there, you cannot eat them. Make sure that the healthy option is the default option. For example, measure your cheese and cut and wash fruits and vegetables ahead of time so that it is easier to snack on them than on cookies. Also consider these ideas: Meet your friends for walks or shopping trips instead of for meals at restaurants. Park your car a few blocks away from work so that you have no choice but to walk those few blocks again at the end of the day as you leave work. Do not drive past drive-thrus if they are too tempting. Also, do not keep money in the car, and consider removing your car’s cup holders so that eating in the car is no longer an option. All weight loss surgery patients have their own struggles. Far from being wimpy, removing these obstacles rather than fighting them is the best way to overcome them. The weight loss journey path will always have speed bumps and potholes, but it will be a lot smoother if you set up your lifestyle to promote better choices all day.

You can edit your profile here.

You can edit your BariatricPal notification settings here.

At your surgeons office or possibly online as well.

Thanks to everyone for their submissions and assistance! CarolinaGirl and PDXMan will be featured in the first edition of this quarterly brochure.

I'd LOVE to add that info. There are many forums with names that are pretty lengthy. It wouldn't look very pretty. We need to come up with a solution though, agreed.

We've partnered with an organization that's planning to distribute 100,000+ weight loss surgery Journey brochures. They're about 25-30 pages and look more like a booklet or magazine. Here's a description of the Journey brochure: "Over the years we have observed that the number one thing that patients want before having weight loss surgery is information. The Journey Brochure is designed to help each patient begin the process with the basic information they need as they enter into the bariatric community. The Journey Brochure helps patients: Define surgery types. Help prepare questions for the surgery seminar. Know what to expect during the surgery process. Help with legal and insurance resources Provide financing options. Motivate through before and after photos. Motivate through real-life stories. Provide resources to get involved in the community through advocacy. Provide social community information. Provide special events dates throughout the industry. Provide Vitamin and Protein vendor information." We're looking for one Gastric Sleeve patient and one Lap-band patient. All we require from you is a good before and after pic as well as a short BIO which summarizes your WLS story. Please PM or email me if you're interested.

Good suggestion! I'm going to see if this is technically possible. I don't think it should be an issue.

While this is technically doable, I'm not sure this makes sense. We don't have enough topics in the Cosmetic & Reconstructive surgery forum to split off a seperate Mexico plastics forum. I'd start off a new Topic within that forum about plastics in Mexico. If the topic becomes very active, I'll create a new forum.

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! Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $4199 Gastric Plication Surgery in Mexico $4199 Gastric Sleeve Revision in Mexico $5199 Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5199 Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5499 Gastric Bypass Revision in Mexico $5499 Dr. Juan Francisco Zavalza Trusted bariatric surgeon & backed up by thousands of successfully performed weight loss surgeries. Dr. Zavalza has 5 years of surgical experience, is bilingual and was proctored by Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon. Dr. Francisco Zavalza has performed and assisted more than 3000 bariatric surgeries. Dr. Zavalza continues communicating with his patients years after surgery, providing extensive follow-up care, to insure long term and successful outcomes. 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). Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $5999 Don’t forget that you must complete the form on this page to qualify for the great BariatricPal Deals prices. You will receive additional information about the program, including a 24-hour phone number and contact information for your patient liason, after you complete the form. Completing the form does not commit you to anything. How Can BariatricPal Deals Really Be Possible? How can we offer such good deals on weight loss surgery in Mexico while being so confident in the quality of the care you receive? This is one of the most commonly asked questions when interested members like yourself come across these fantastic deals. The truth is, it's quite simple! With such a large number of potential weight loss surgery patients, we were able to negotiate the best deals possible on your behalf. 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

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! Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $4199 Gastric Plication Surgery in Mexico $4199 Gastric Sleeve Revision in Mexico $5199 Mini-Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5199 Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico $5499 Gastric Bypass Revision in Mexico $5499 Dr. Juan Francisco Zavalza Trusted bariatric surgeon & backed up by thousands of successfully performed weight loss surgeries. Dr. Zavalza has 5 years of surgical experience, is bilingual and was proctored by Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon. Dr. Francisco Zavalza has performed and assisted more than 3000 bariatric surgeries. Dr. Zavalza continues communicating with his patients years after surgery, providing extensive follow-up care, to insure long term and successful outcomes. 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). Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Mexico $5999 Don’t forget that you must complete the form on this page to qualify for the great BariatricPal Deals prices. You will receive additional information about the program, including a 24-hour phone number and contact information for your patient liason, after you complete the form. Completing the form does not commit you to anything. How Can BariatricPal Deals Really Be Possible? How can we offer such good deals on weight loss surgery in Mexico while being so confident in the quality of the care you receive? This is one of the most commonly asked questions when interested members like yourself come across these fantastic deals. The truth is, it's quite simple! With such a large number of potential weight loss surgery patients, we were able to negotiate the best deals possible on your behalf. 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

This is terrible advice. Please refrain from such suggestions.

Hi everyone, Thanks so much for your responses and helpful suggestions! I really appreciate your enthusiasm and feedback. Your positive reactions have made me confident that BariatricPal Local Chapters can become reality in the near future. Below, I’ll try to answer a few questions that were raised in this conversation. Can BariatricPal provide help finding local venues where meetings can be held? Yes! We can provide a general list of suggested places to try, such as local church buildings, schools, parks and hospitals. We can also provide a letter or email that you can send to local contacts to ask if you can hold Local Chapter meetings at these places. We can work with you more if you need it. How long is each meeting? It depends on the meeting’s agenda and on the group dynamics set by the group leader and the meeting’s participants. A meeting with a simple lesson and discussion might be as short as an hour, while a meeting that includes a group walk and a cooking lesson might take two or more hours. Are “+1’s” allowed? Spouses and other close supporters are absolutely welcome at special events, such as any national meeting or cruise that BariatricPal might sponsor. Some weight loss surgery patients are uncomfortable having non- weight loss surgery patients or candidates present at meetings, so we are still deciding whether they are welcome at regular Local Chapter meetings. What are your thoughts? How will we know if meeting locations are accessible? Since many weight loss surgery patients may be dealing with mobility issues, accessible Local Chapter locations will be marked with a special icon to indicate that they are wheelchair-friendly. You have suggested a lot of great ideas for BP Local Chapter meetings! These are some of the activities that it looks like you may be interested in. Grocery store visit Lessons led by your group leader. Topics may include: Reading nutrition and ingredients labels How to start and keep a food journal Getting back on track and how to battle plateaus and weight gain. Replacement and transfer addictions How to beat mental/emotional hunger (“head hunger”) What to do when your friends or family are not as supportive as they could be Food choices: what to eat, what not to eat, and healthy meal ideas Workout support: how to start exercising and stay motivated for the long-term. Meet at restaurant so that everyone can work together to figure out healthy food choices Lectures from a visiting expert, such as a bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, skin removal surgeon, or psychologist. Periodic clothing exchanges Outside activities, such as walking for fun or training for charity runs/walks which your entire Local Chapter can participate in together. The consensus so far seems to be that most of you would like some guidance on agendas for Local Chapter meetings, but some flexibility would be helpful, too. That way, BariatricPal Local Chapters everywhere can feel more unified and group leaders are supported in their efforts, but Local Chapters can have the freedom to customize their meetings to their members’ needs. Again, thank you for the discussion and your enthusiasm. Please keep the ideas coming!

Agreed. They published the survey and realized this error after receiving results.

Market research. PM me in two weeks and I'll get you a copy of the results. Thanks!

A good friend is doing market research on bariatric patients. If you are a weight loss surgery patient, please take this quick survey!

Hey, BariatricPal Members!We’re turning the corner from winter into spring, and it’s about time! How did the winter go for you? Did you make progress toward becoming the healthy person you want to be? Just before you look ahead to spring, take a look at this month’s BariatricPal newsletter, and spend some time on the boards for further motivation and ideas. Here is what you’ll find in the newsletter. Member Poll: Governor Chris Christie and the Lap-Band Member Spotlight: Meet cindymg! New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: Bariatric Success or Disappointment? Come Chat on BariatricPal We hope you enjoy the newsletter and then you log into BariatricPal to talk about it and everything else related to weight loss surgery. Get tips, share stories, and find inspiration on the boards, and don’t forget to tell your surgeon and support group members about BariatricPal. Thanks for your membership! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Member Poll: Governor Chris Christie and the Lap-Band New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quietly had lap-band surgery in February of 2013. As you can read in this month’s BariatricPal newsletter, recent political events have made the topic resurface, highlighting his 100-pound loss and his current weight of 320 pounds. What do you think about the issue? He failed because his BMI of 45 keeps him in the morbidly obese category. He is doing great because of his 100-pound weight loss in a year. It’s too soon to tell. He’ll fail if he doesn’t lose any more weight or gains it back, but the surgery will be a success if he keeps losing weight. I really can’t give an opinion – I do not know anything about him or his diet, and I would not want people to judge me if they didn’t know me. Other – Read my answer in the discussion! Click here so you can mark your answer and let us know what you think in the discussion on BariatricPal! Our Latest Newsletter Sponsor: 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. Member Spotlight: Meet Cindymg! This month’s spotlight is on cindymg from Chicago. She is a 59-year-old computer consultant who says she has been dieting since high school. In those 40 years, she tried every diet program and calculates that she has probably gained and lost 2,000 pounds in yo-yo dieting. The diets seriously harmed her health as she developed diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. When she started to lose the feeling in her feet, she knew that she would lose her feet soon if she didn’t do something drastic. After some serious investigation, cindymg chose the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) because she felt it would be effective without having the side effects of gastric bypass. Cindymg’s surgery was in May of 2013. Her starting weight was 258 pounds, and she is just under the 200-pound barrier en route to her goal weight of 175 pounds. She had no complications from surgery, and her family has been largely supportive. Her main challenges now are her excess skin and her hesitation getting rid of her oversized clothes! Since getting surgery, cindymg says that she has been able to cut her medications to one-quarter of what they were. She exercises now and feels much better “without lugging around that extra weight.” She does not get hungry, so she is saving money on food in addition to losing weight! She also notices a change in attitude. Cindymg says she now “eats to live, rather than lives to eat,” and does not feel guilty over food. The gastric sleeve feels like a permanent solution, not a temporary fix. Cindymg says BariatricPal keeps her mindful, and she enjoys reading members’ stories. She hope to provide them with advice and humor. Her advice for members struggling with weight loss is to avoid beating yourself up. Just get up and try again, and “keep coming back to the forum!” Thank you, cindymg, for being in our member spotlight! We are excited to be a part of your journey to mental and physical health, and are proud to be part of that journey. Do you have any members whom you want to see in the BariatricPal newsletter? Do you want to be featured? Let us know in the Member Spotlight Forum or by sending Alex Brecher a private message. Thank you! New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: Bariatric Success or Disappointment? A year ago, New Jersey governor Chris Christie got the lap-band. At the time of his surgery in February of 2013, Governor Christie, who stands at 5’11,” weighed over 400 pounds. Since then, NBC News reports that he has lost 90 to 100 pounds and now weighs in at 320 pounds. The speculation surrounding Governor Christie’s weight loss journey has led to opinions as divided as the political views of those who follow New Jersey politics. Critics maintain that he has failed in this weight loss effort. They point to his current BMI of 45, which places him in the morbidly obese category, and claim that he will be unable to run for president in 2016 because of his weight. Supporters point out that he appears to have lost 40 to 45 percent of his excess body weight, which is right on target for most lap-band patients in the first year after surgery. Governor Christie himself has kept relatively quiet about the issue from the beginning. He did not reveal his surgery until months had passed, and provided few details. In September, he said that he is more than halfway toward his goal, although he did not specify his current or goal weight. What do you think? Is Governor Christie’s surgery a failure? Will his weight prevent him from making a serious run for the presidency in 2016? Is he on the right track? Or, maybe it is too tough to judge because it is too soon to tell or because we, as outsiders, do not know the whole story. Let us know what you think on this thread! Come Chat on BariatricPal Where do you go when you need a pep talk, information about your weight loss surgery diet, or a celebratory high-five? The BariatricPal chatrooms, of course! In-person support groups might only be once a week or month, you need an appointment to see a doctor, and nurses are only available by phone. Family and friends are encouraging, but they might not understand what you are going through. The BariatricPal chatrooms are open 24/7, so there’s always a chance that you can find people to talk to. When you chat with BariatricPal members, there’s a good chance you can find someone who is sympathetic to productive burping, or who can suggest a WLS-compatible snack to satisfy your munchies. The chatrooms have been updated to better serve members’ needs, so come check them out! That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it brightened your day after these long months of winter and gave you some inspiration to look forward to a healthy spring. Thanks for reading it, and we’ll see you on the boards!

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