Alex Brecher

What are P27 products ?

http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/392-insurance-financing/

Settings - Forum Reading Options - Show signature - is that on or off ?

Thanks for the feedback! Please email me at alex@BariatricPal.com with any errors or mistakes you come across. We plan on correcting any errors in future editions.

You already know that social support is critical for your weight loss success. Your support network can include your family and friends, and is stronger when it includes other bariatric patients – or your peers. Bariatric support groups at hospitals and clinics let you interact with other weight loss surgery patients and individuals who are considering or preparing for weight loss surgery. Peer-to-Peer Support Works Patients who attend bariatric support group meetings after surgery are more likely to achieve their goal weights. That is why many surgeons will only agree to perform bariatric surgery after their patients promise to attend support group meetings regularly for months or years after surgery, or for life. Support groups can be motivating when you see that group members, who are just like you, are overcoming the same obstacles as you. Attending meetings can increase your focus on making healthy decisions because each meeting is a reminder that your weight loss success depends on your daily choices. Support groups can make you feel accountable to others, as well, and increase your will to succeed. Another reason why support groups work is that they provide opportunities for you to ask questions and learn from healthcare providers and others’ experiences. Online Support Can Improve Patient Outcomes Online support groups can play important roles in your success after weight loss surgery. They provide some of the social benefits as in-person support groups, and offer many additional advantages. They are convenient – Online support groups are available through your computer or smartphone. Unlike with in-person support groups, you do not have to rearrange your schedule to use online forums. You do not have to drive long distances to attend online meetings, you do not have to attend after work when you are tired, and you do not have to leave your home to drive through rain or snow. You can use online groups whenever you want and from wherever you want as long as you have an internet connection of smartphone. They are always available – With in-person support groups, medical appointments, or even phone calls to your healthcare provider, you can only get answers to your questions at set times, often during business hours or during a weekly meeting. But what happens if you are at a restaurant and you need to know what to order, or if you are feeling down and need a few words of encouragement? One option is to whip out your smartphone and consult your online peers. They can let you be more open – In-person groups can feel overwhelming if you are shy by nature or if you simply have trouble opening up about your weight loss surgery. Some people do not mind talking about dumping syndrome and diarrhea at in-person support groups, but many do feel uncomfortable. However, talking about these issues is important so you can learn how to deal with them or prevent them. Many people are more comfortable talking about sensitive issues online. Your support group can become part of your life – Some online support group sites also offer additional features, such as weight loss, body measurement, and diet tracking. Tracking is an important part of weight loss success, and should be part of your regular routine. Using an online support site that lets you track your progress helps make it easier for you to participate in discussions, since you will already be at the site. You can develop the habit of using your support group and tracking your progress at the same time. You can discover anything and everything – You might not have enough time to ask everything you want when you only have limited time at support groups or in doctor’s appointments. With online communities, you can find out as much as you want either by looking through the old conversations or starting your own. There is no limit! Choose an Online Support System that Works for You The options for online support systems are nearly limitless. How can you choose the best one for yourself? These are some general guidelines to consider as you start to narrow your choices. The community should be friendly, with official policies against rudeness. Nobody should ever be allowed to make you feel attacked or vulnerable. The support system should be large, so that you are almost sure to find the answers you need to all of your questions because members have “been there, done that.” You also want to be able to receive the in-the-moment encouragement you ask for when you are down. There are opportunities to get to know members more personally, through smaller groups, private message, and live chats. This gives you the chance to establish deep friendships and feel more committed to a healthy lifestyle. It lets you customize your experience through features like a personal profile and the ability to track progress, and maintain a photo gallery and/or blog. It is available through mobile apps, so that you can access your support system from anywhere at any time. Let your instincts guide you as you choose your online support system, and go with what makes you feel welcome and comfortable, even if it is just a gut feeling. Also remember that you are not restricted to using just one community. You might end up using two or three communities regularly. And finally, keep in mind that the best system for you might not be the best one for everyone. The important thing is that you like it. The power of online support systems should not be underestimated! They can help you lose weight, eat better, and stay healthy. Using them as part of your overall support system and weight loss surgery plan can improve your outcome and be fun as well!

Must have been delivered to the wrong member. You definitely receive an error message if you attempt to send a PM to a nonexistent member.

Is anyone else experiencing this issue ? I logged in to your account and sent myself a PM. Seems to have been sent successfully and I see it in the list of messages.

Please note, it is against site policy to post links to external FaceBook Groups. We apologize but we can't make any exceptions to this rule. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

We're releasing the Android beta this coming week. It should alleviate these issues.

I eat Jerky often. Watch the sodium and fat levels for any Jerky products, they really vary. The best tasting, moistest, zero nitrates and no preservative Jerky IMHO is Perky Jerky. It's addictive, be carful!

I moved your topic to the correct forum.

That's a really good question! Our FaceBook page isn't private and all your friends and her friends could potentially see your response in their feed.

Do you use FaceBook ? Linda Walsh from Nutley, NJ just posted the following question on the recently launched BariatricPal FaceBook page: Hi. I just returned home from losing my lap band due to severe slippage with a prolapse--the stomach had folded back over he band and twisted inside out. This was all due to a severe bout of the stomach flu twice last month. (I work in 12 Child Care Centers every week and am bombarded wth every virus you could imagine!) I could not hold anything inside me for a week. And of course I waited till I had things in control at home before seeking emergency care--of course it was a saturday. The Doctor said the stomach was very stretched out and battered--I had been vomiting blood and had bruised the top of the stomach badly. He refused to put in another band till it was totally healed. I agree, the pain and sickness it had caused me was not something I wanted to deal with before I got healed. The recovery is 100 times harder this time. My whole belly is covered in dark purple and red bruises. I barely can walk. The swelling is huge. I had nothing like this with the Lap band insertion surgery..Pain inside and out as well--He had to stitch the stomach closed also. Now what do I do? I didn't get a chance to think about what I would do in this instance. I am basically an emotional wreck, mourning the loss of this marvelous tool, and yet can't even think of putting myself through the agonly again. In the 2 1/2 years I had the band I lost 139 lbs. Previously I had lost 54 lbs. pre op. My goal is 150lbs. Ironically the time of the surgery I had weighed in at 192. I had gone below 200 and didn;t know it--well the fact that I lost 10 lbs in a week but puking and not eating or drinking. I was super dehydrated, and this morning the 10 lbs Water was replaced. Back to where I was. I have a goal of 150 (first goal weight) and know I am so close. I do NOT want to go back. But with a 10lb water weight gain in 2 days, how will I lose? I actually am not peeing enough still. I was seriously dehydrated!!!! Had to get potassium bags and 5 Fluid bags, and still very little pee. Dr said its my body absorbing again. I don't know. Im very depressed and very disgusted with myself for going through all the years of watching and measuring and hurting and not being able to get the right balance which destroyed my band and its usefulness. Is it worth putting my body through agony just because I haed the first band fail..IS IT STILL WORTH IT? Sorry for the rant but I.m feeling like a failure! Thanks for listening, Linda Walsh, Nutley NJ (Dr. Strom Montclair surgical associates) Click here to respond to Linda's question on FaceBook.

You can edit your signature via the iOS app by going to: More -> Settings -> Forum Posting Options -> Signature You can't edit your Display Name via the app. You could technically access this feature via your Opera on your iPhone. Go to BariatricPal.com, log in, scroll to bottom of screen, click FULL VERSION. Click here to change your Display Name.

We are already a week into 2014. Holiday decorations are coming down, travelers have returned home from family visits, most people have gone back to work, and children’s vacations from school are over or nearly over. Over at BariatricPal, we were thinking that it might be a good idea to take another look at those New Year’s resolutions before we all get carried away by regular daily life. Did you make the right resolutions? Are you making progress? What can you do to improve your resolutions and progress? Answering these questions can get you on track for 2014 so that by the end of the year, you can feel proud of what you have accomplished. Did You Make the Right Resolutions? A week into the New Year, you may realize that your original resolutions were not practical. It’s okay to change them. Changing your goals does not mean that you failed. It means that you are setting yourself up for success. These are some examples of a resolutions that you may now find unrealistic, why they are unrealistic, and possible ways to change them. Lose 100 pounds by 2015. You cannot always control your weight loss. Plateaus or complications might get in your way. Instead, resolve to stick to your weight loss surgery diet. The weight will come off at its own pace. Convince your spouse that weight loss surgery is the best option for you. This may not be possible because it depends on someone else to change his or her mind. Instead, resolve to be patient with your spouse and to include him or her in your weight loss surgery plans. Get skin removal surgery. This is not under your control because you do not know how much weight you will lose or whether you will be a good candidate for skin removal surgery. Instead, resolve to eat healthily and work out so that you have muscle tone, and to find out your options for cosmetic surgery. Interim Resolutions to Keep Your Progress Up This is toughest when your resolution is to achieve a specific long-term goal, such as getting weight loss surgery or going on a dream vacation. You can track your progress and stay on schedule by making interim goals. For example, one goal might be to jog a half marathon for charity while you are on a family trip in Florida in December. Maybe you set this particular goal because in December of 2013, you were not able to go on the trip because of your weight or health, because you did not plan, and because you knew deep down that you were not in good enough shape to enjoy the trip. December of 2014 seems far off now, but you may need to lose a lot of weight, do a lot of planning, and gain a lot of fitness. These sample interim goals can keep you focused and on track. January: begin a walking program. Resolve to exercise 3 times per week. February: check in with your weight loss surgery diet. Are you following your meal plan well enough to lose weight and stay healthy? March: Look for a buddy! The year is long, and you can use some motivation. Do you have a weight loss buddy to talk about food and exercise with? If you don’t have someone at home, find a BariatricPal member to be your buddy! April: Add some jogging in with your walking. May: Make a list of activities you want to be able to do on your trip, in addition to your half marathon. Resolve to keep eating right so that you will be able to enjoy them without getting tired or being left behind. June: Make sure nutrition is still your top priority. Are you getting the protein, vitamins, and minerals that you need? July: Register for the half-marathon. Look back over the first half of the year to measure your progress. Resolve to make improvements if your diet has slipped. August: Start to make reservations for your trip. Take advantage of any specials for early plane and hotel reservations. Now you are committed to this trip! September: Find and begin a half-marathon training program that will take you up until December. October: Keep training and eating right. Resolve to keep measuring your portions and eat protein first at each meal. Don’t let your good habits slip! November: Research the restaurants that you will be eating at December: Have a great half-marathon, and be proud of your hard work through 2014. Enjoy your new, fit body! In this way, you are staying motivated throughout the year to lose weight, eat healthily, and exercise. Your reward is serious weight loss en route to a dream trip celebrated with a half-marathon – an accomplishment anyone should be proud of! We encourage you to take a few moments while the New Year is still fresh to go over your resolutions and make them work for you. You will be glad you did!

I just removed a rude comment from this thread. In the future, please use the report feature for similar comments.

No worries! I just wanted to clarify so other members don't think they can just call Alex and puff I appear I understand how that would be extremely annoying. Surprised nobody else has complained about this exact issue. I'm going to test and see if I can replicate and resolve. We have a new Android app coming out in the near future which should alleviate this and any other issues our members have reported.

Please say hi to Dr. Fielding from me. Dr. Ren was my Lap-band surgeon in 2003. They're a great team. I send all my friends and fam their way.

Hi Seela, Please post any questions about the site or app to the Assistance & Suggestions forum. I'm notified whenever someone posts to this forum. I don't have a chance to read every thread that's posted to BariatricPal (even if the subject has my name in it.) Luckily, one of the Hosts notified me about this topic. Can you give a few examples of topics where you have this issue please ? I'll try to see if I can replicate on my Android devices.

By upgrading ... Is this going to have glitches on our end? Or upgrading ur end? We've re-built and re-designed the apps from the ground up. It would be a new app install or possibly an upgrade to the current version.

Welcome back, Jack!

Do not use the report function please. We don't get to view these reports. We plan on upgrading our mobile apps shortly.

What was the error message please ? We had about 5-10 minutes of database issues about 2-3 hours ago. You shouldn't have any issues at the moment.

I read articles about the evils of artificial sweeteners often. The media loves talking about their relation to cancer. They really freak me out! The FDA says most are "safe". I wish we had more concrete evidence on what's safe and what's not that safe. I was a huge Splenda fan until approximately one year ago. I quit my 6-8 daily cups of coffee along with the 3-4 packets of Splenda that went along with each. I converted to decaf herbal tea and use Stevia as my sweetener of choice. Supposedly not all Stevia sweeteners are created equal. Many are mixed with other ingredients. My personal favorite so far is NuNaturals Pure liquid vanilla Stevia, Alcohol Free.

That's correct.