Alex Brecher

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey Sleevers! We’ve had floods, heat waves, snowstorms and picture-perfect days. Despite the unpredictable spring weather, we’re sure of one thing: that you’re just as dedicated as ever to your weight loss and health. Like the weather, everyone has up and down days, and SleevePlicationTalk.com is here to help. Take advantage of our monthly newsletter to get back in the swing of things if you need to! Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter. Sleever Poll – What is Most Important when Choosing a Bariatric Surgeon? Memorial Day Grilling – Celebrate the Sleever Way! Check out the Big books on Weight Loss Surgery! Enjoy the newsletter, and then come on over to SleevePlicationTalk.com to talk about it and whatever else is on your mind! Feel free to drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from members! See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Sleever Poll – What is Most Important when Choosing a Surgeon? Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon? Surgeon history: lots of experience, good weight loss results and safe surgeries The surgeon’s credentials and board memberships and a Center of Excellence Recommendations from your friends and good patient reviews It “feels” right – you intuitively trust the surgeon and feel comfortable at the facility The postoperative “aftercare” program is thorough Something else. Let us know in the discussion! Make your choice and then explain it in the discussion using this link! Memorial Day Grilling – Celebrate the Sleever Way! Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the summer grilling season. In your pre-surgery days, a barbecue might have meant ribs, rolls, coleslaw, baked Beans and cupcakes. Wash that down with a few beers or sodas, and hit the sofa to watch TV, and you have a diet disaster on your hands! What can the new, healthy you do? Go lean with Protein. Skip the ribs, hot dogs, beef hamburgers and chicken wings. Instead, opt for grilled chicken breast or fish. Bring your own. If you’re not sure that there’ll be something at the party that’s on your diet, bring your own. You can always bring a dish to share; other people will appreciate the healthy option, too! Stay low-cal. Choose the lower-fat, lower-sugar options, and watch your portion sizes. Skip the slaw and Desserts, and go for watermelon, raw vegetables or corn on the cob – without butter – instead. Watch your fluids. Drink Water or unsweetened iced tea instead of beverages with calories, and of course, don’t drink when you’re eating or within 30 minutes before or after. Enjoy the company. You’re at the party to socialize. Focus on being friendly and enjoying others’ company instead of on your food. You’ll be surprised at how much more you enjoy the get-together! Keep moving. Play volleyball, toss beanbags and go swimming if that’s what everyone else is doing. If you’re too shy to join in a competitive game, such as volleyball, stay involved by refereeing, cheerleading and chasing stray balls. Anything that keeps you moving is better for your weight loss than lying on the couch. These are just a few tips. Don’t forget to get more ideas and share your own on the boards. Happy Memorial Day! Big Books on the Lap-Band and Sleeve Are you looking for more information on weight loss surgery? Check out our very own books! We have The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band! and The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy! These books are packed with information to take you along your weight loss journey. They help you decide on a procedure and guide you as you choose a surgeon, plan for your surgery and recover. If you’re already a weight loss surgery patient, the Big Books will keep you motivated and give you tips to lose weight and stay healthy. You can benefit from these books even though they’re not specifically for the sleeve plication. Don’t miss out! Order your hard copies or ebooks from Amazon! That finishes up this month’s newsletter. We hope you enjoyed it, and we’re always happy to hear you feedback on the newsletter or anything else at SleevePlicationTalk.com! Don’t forget that you can always check out the old newsletters, too. Thanks for reading the newsletter and being a member of our community. Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Please use the REPORT option next to the post and we'll have it deleted.

Art, Great suggestions! (I've added both to our list) Please keep them coming. This is the first version of the book and we most definitely will be updating it based on reader feedback.

Your review was never deleted. If you noticed there was a database error page when you visited your review, not page not found. Looks like there were some orphaned tags that needed to be corrected. You should be good to go now.

We're rolling out a major update to the site within a few weeks. It should address the issues some of our members have with many slow loading ads as well as most of the other issues stated above. Stay tuned.....

We have a system in place that stops most spammers but a few slip threw the cracks every once in a while. Please use the REPORT button and report any PM you receive that looks odd, fishy or like spam. It's the only way we can stop them. Thanks!

No, no and no. There have been absolutely no posts deleted or removed from VST about any surgeon complications. Kat1 had numerous accounts (Kat010, Kat2, Katrob etc etc) on VST. She requested that we merge them and it's possible some of her posts are no longer accessible via searching for her username or via other methods.

Great suggestion! I believe we have this feature available for quite some time now. You need to click the arrow to preview, instead of hovering. Please see these screenshots for an example:

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

After further research we've found that Google never cached any pages you viewed or visited on our site. It looks like your username was within the sidebar content on some pages (Recent Topics, Recent status updates, Topics with No Replies or Recent Blog Entries). This is what you're seeing in your Google results.

I believe we're pretty clear about this topic in our terms or service. We're similar to 99% of web sites online and allow Google to spider or index our community. Most of our members used Google to find us when they first started their WLS journey. It would be counter intuitive to disallow Google from indexing our community as they are the largest driver of traffic. Basically without Google, we'd be 5-10% of what we are today. I suggest you use some common sense if you're trying to hide your identity online, on any website: Use a username that others aren't familiar with Don't post identifiable photos of yourself Don't post personal or contact info If you have privacy concerns, we provide our members with the ability to change or update their display names. Members also have the ability to update or modify any information made available in their public profile. We plan on offering our members an option in the near future to hide their profile from Google. This would only apply to your profile, nothing else. Slightly off topic.... I find it a true shame that most people are embarrassed about having undergone weight loss surgery. It took me a few years to come out of the "WLS closet" myself. I can definitely relate! My goal over the next few years is to help people shake this stigma. I say be proud that you're taking charge of your health and lifestyle!

I agree with you 100%! We're a few weeks away from releasing a beta version of our new Android app. It was rebuilt from the ground up just for our community. We'll be looking for beta testers. Let me know if you'd like to assist us please.

Congratulations Jessica!!!

Hey, Bandsters!Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration? These are the contents of the April LapBandTalk.com newsletter. Bandster Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Member Spotlight – Meet Sojourner! Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! Stay Hydrated and Healthy! Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto Alex Brecher. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder LapBandTalk.com Bandster Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again? Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for. Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option. Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not lap-band. No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals. I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision! Other...read my response below! Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum food and exercise choices. She also believes in understanding the root medical and/or emotional problems that caused obesity, and to confront them. Her other advice includes: Learn everything you can about nutrition. Get moving however you can. Start small and keep your sights set on larger goals. Set realistic goals for diet and exercise. Distract yourself from hunger with other tasks, such as rearranging closets. Follow your surgeon’s instructions, and ask questions. Don’t weigh yourself every day. Be patient! Sojourner has been through a lot, and we congratulate her on her positive attitude, weight loss so far and continued efforts! Thanks so much for sharing your story! You are proof that if you want it badly enough, it can happen. Do you want to be in the Member Spotlight, or do you know someone who does? Water after weight loss surgery, you’re not alone! In fact, meeting your Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why? You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times. You might not like the taste of water You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier. These tips can help you stay hydrated. Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack. Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise. Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint. Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water. Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! In case you haven’t heard by now, our newly published book is The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band! It’s a book dedicated to lap-band patients and anyone thinking about weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information for beginners and veteran Bandsters, going from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey to your lifelong diet. You can get the book in print or as an ebook from meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too. We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking LapBandTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to have your recipe published! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make LapBandTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

SleevePlicationTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers!Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration? These are the contents of the April SleevePlicationTalk.com newsletter. Sleever Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! Stay Hydrated and Healthy! Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto SleevePlicationTalk.com to talk about it and anything else on your mind! As always, we welcome your comments and feedback, so get in touch any time by sending a private message to Alex Brecher. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder SleevePlicationTalk.com Sleever Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again? Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for. Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option. Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not the lap-band. No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals. I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision! Other...read my response below! Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum using this link! Staying Hydrated after Weight Loss Surgery If you’re having trouble getting enough Water after weight loss surgery, you’re not alone! In fact, meeting your Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why? You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times. You might not like the taste of water You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier. These tips can help you stay hydrated. Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack. Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise. Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint. Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water. Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! You know we’re always busy around SleevePlicationTalk.com. We already published The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band and The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. The book has practical advice for anyone thinking about the lap-band or any weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey through your lifelong diet. It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Soon, we’ll have Big books for the Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve! Sleeve plication patients can benefit from them, too. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has convinced us to work on another book! This one’s going to be a lifesaver for life after weight loss surgery. It’s dedicated to all types of WLS. The book will have diet tips, food lists, meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too. We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking SleevePlicationTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to be published! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make SleevePlicationTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

RNYTalk Newsletter Hey, RNYTalk Members!Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration? These are the contents of the April RNYTalk.com newsletter. Member Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Member Spotlight – Meet Cyn! Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! Stay Hydrated and Healthy after Bypass! Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto Alex Brecher. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder RNYTalk.com Member Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again? Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for. Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option. Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not sleeve plication. No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals. I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision! Other...read my response below! Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum Protein is one of Cyn’s daily challenges. She also had trouble preventing herself from eating crackers or ginger ale for her upset stomach when she had a stomach virus. Exercising when her joints are flaring up is also tough. Cyn’s looking forward to getting her JP drain out and having her surgery heal! She’s ready to focus on losing weight! Being released from the hospital was a great moment for Cyn because she was there for more than ten days post op, It was also great to be able to eat without a feeding tube and to have her PICC line removed! She’s already had tons of other great moments, such as trying on smaller clothes. Cyn uses RNYTalk to “connect with people who have just had the surgery or are years out and can share some insight as to what might be happening with something, a complication, a plateau, supplement, ailment, recipes, tips, ideas or stories.” She says that “sometimes you just need a release outlet [when you’re] having a bad day or need reassurance that someone has gone through it or has been there, done that. She knows that you should always go to the healthcare professionals first to double-check the advice from RNYTalk.com, but members who have experienced it can offer sound advice. Cyn really appreciates the people she has met on RNYTalk, and is grateful to all be working together toward the common goals of losing weight and living healthy forever. Cyn, we’re grateful to have you as an RNYTalk member and in our spotlight. Congratulations on your weight loss and better health so far! We’re eager to watch your success continue! Do you want to be in the Member Spotlight, or do you know someone who does? Water after weight loss surgery, you’re not alone! In fact, meeting your Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why? You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times. You might not like the taste of water You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier. These tips can help you stay hydrated. Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack. Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise. Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint. Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water. Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! You know we’re always busy around RNYTalk.com. We already published The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band and The BIG Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. The books have practical advice for anyone thinking about the lap-band or any weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey through your lifelong diet. It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Soon, we’ll have a Big Book for the Gastric Bypass! We’re not stopping there, though! We’re working on another book. This one’s going to be a lifesaver for life after weight loss surgery. It’ll have diet help, food lists, meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too. We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking RNYTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to have your recipe published! The book can be better with your help! This month, we’re asking RNYTalk.com members to send us your recipes to publish in the book. Please submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make RNYTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ==============================================================If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter Hey, Sleevers! Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth. Better weather is here, and summer is just around the corner, so April is a perfect time to fulfill or renew commitments to your weight and health! Let the fresh air and green plants inspire you to try new recipes and get outside for some calorie-burning fun! First, though, why not read through this month’s newsletter for some inspiration? These are the contents of the April VerticalSleeveTalk.com newsletter. Sleever Poll – Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Member Spotlight – Meet Dean! Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! Stay Hydrated and Healthy! Enjoy the newsletter. Then log onto Alex Brecher. See you on the boards! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Sleever Poll: Would You Have Weight Loss Surgery Again? Knowing what you know now about weight loss surgery, would you do it again if you had the chance to make your decision again? Yes, without a doubt! The surgery has been everything I’d hoped for. Yes, probably. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I’m losing weight and feel that this was my best option. Yes, but I would have chosen a different type of weight loss surgery, not the lap-band. No. I’ve had complications and my health has suffered and/or I haven’t been hitting my weight loss goals. I haven’t had the surgery yet, but I’m looking at the results of this poll carefully to help me make my decision! Other...read my response! Choose your option, and then explain it in the discussion forum food. Becoming free from the hold that food had over him lets him enjoy people and events instead of focusing on what and how much he could eat. He also learned that he was an emotional eater before surgery, even though he didn’t realize it before. Dean is learning not to give in to “head hunger,” and to instead drink some Water, exercise or talk to someone instead of eating. Dean has met some of his Australian VerticalSleeveTalk.com friends in person and would one day like to meet his American friends. He tries to answer other members’ questions, both to help them out and to keep himself on track! To help you succeed, Dean suggests planning your food. He also says that he’s getting better at listening to his body to match his foods to his body’s needs. Dean, congratulations on your weight loss so far! Thanks for sharing your story and tips with us in the Member Spotlight! Do you want to be in the Member Spotlight, or do you know someone who does? Fluid recommendations is one of the most common challenges that weight loss surgery patients report. You wouldn’t expect that staying hydrated would be a major concern compared to challenges of eating right and exercising, but it is. Why? You can’t drink fluids during or around meal and snack times. You might not like the taste of water You need more fluid than before because you’re trying to be healthier You can’t drink caloric or carbonated beverages, like juice, soda and sugar-sweetened drinks, such as coffee drinks and sports drinks You need at least 1.5 liters, or 6 8-ounce cups, of fluid each day. If you don’t get enough water, you can become dehydrated. This can delay your recovery from surgery if your procedure is recent. Even if your surgery was long ago, dehydration can give you headaches and make you tired. It can also interfere with weight loss by making you feel hungrier. These tips can help you stay hydrated. Get in the habit so it’s natural! Drink 1 to 2 8-ounce glasses when you wake up in the morning, and 30 minutes after each meal or snack. Drink an extra glass of water before and after you exercise. If you sweat a lot, drink a cup of water each 20 minutes during exercise. Instead of plain water, try ice water, water with lime, lemon or a sprig of mint. Decaffeinated coffee and tea and non-carbonated diet drinks, such as diet Fruit Drinks, are good alternatives to water. Claim Your Fifteen Minutes of Fame! You know we’re always busy around VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We already published The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band. The book has practical advice for anyone thinking about weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information from the earliest stages of your weight loss journey through your lifelong diet. It’s available in print and ebook from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Soon, you’ll be able to find The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve! That’s not all, though! We’re working on yet another book. This one’s going to be a lifesaver for life after weight loss surgery. It’ll have diet help, food lists, meal plans, recipes, exercise and tips for preventing and dealing with complications. It’ll be a motivational book, too. We need your help to make the new book great! We’re asking VerticalSleeveTalk.com members – that’s you! - to share your favorite recipe or recipes to publish in the book. You can submit your recipe by sending a PM (private message) to member Alex Brecher (the board’s founder). Include the name of your recipe, the ingredients and quantities, how many servings it makes, which stage(s) of the weight loss surgery diet you can use it for and how to make it. Also let us know when you use it, how you learned or created the recipe and any other stories you have related to the recipe, such as the first time you tried it. Thanks! We’ve loved reading the recipes that you’ve sent us so far – keep them coming and don’t miss your chance to have your recipe published! That’s all we’ve got for this newsletter, but there’s plenty more to talk about on the boards! Thanks for all of your support and feedback – you, our members are what make VerticalSleeveTalk.com the great community that it is. Don’t forget to send us your recipes and give us any other feedback! Take care of yourself and each other. Sincerely, Alex ============================================================== If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, you may unsubscribe by going to your Control Panel and clicking on the Newsletters tab, or clicking on the following link: {unsubscribe}

Almost 10 years here...

Would someone like to have a look at a post and possibly provide some coments/answers to this nice lady ? Why on earth does she think she will have to have her band removed at age 52? http://www.babycente...14404702_853.bc

"We hope this announcement finds you well. As the world’s largest online community dedicated to the gastric sleeve VerticalSleeveTalk.com can provide valuable support and information along your weight loss journey. We’d like to take this opportunity to tell you that VerticalSleeveTalk.com has another exciting way to help out our members pursue weight loss and health. It’s our very own Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve! The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve! That’s right! VerticalSleeveTalk.com is not only a social network, but now also the source of the complete book called “The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.” Author Alex Brecher is the founder of VerticalSleeveTalk.com. He is a weight loss surgery patient who has successfully lost and kept off over 100 pounds, and he is committed to helping other weight loss surgery patients experience the same success. Co-author Natalie Stein is a nutritionist and weight loss specialist who provides expertise on the sleeve diet. A Complete Guide to Life after the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy This unique book is one of the very few that are dedicated completely to the gastric sleeve. As the title says, it’s a big book that covers everything about the sleeve! It is a guide that you can use from before surgery to after you have reached your goal weight. These are just a few topics that are covered in the book. How obesity can harm you and millions of others Why it’s so tough to lose weight without surgery The vertical sleeve gastrectomy procedure How the gastric sleeve works to help you lose weight Risks and benefits to decide whether the gastric sleeve is for you Choosing a surgeon and preparing for surgery. The postoperative follow-up care program The postoperative diet progression from liquids to solid foods. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy diet: healthy eating and weight control for life Starting and continuing an exercise program. Physical and psychological changes to expect as you lose weight How to build a can’t-fail support system VerticalSleeveTalk.com and other resources for support and information. How Can You Get Your Copy? The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve: Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is available direct fromVerticalSleeveTalk.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks and Kobo. You can get a hard copy or download an electronic version for Kindle, Nook, iOS or Kobo. Check it out and spread the word! VerticalSleeveTalk.com Members Tell Their Stories in the Book! The book doesn’t just have complete, understandable information about the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. It’s also a compilation of real-life member stories told in their own words. The book features VerticalSleeveTalk.com members who were kind enough to share their stories with us and now with you! These members are some of VerticalSleeveTalk.com’s most active ones, and you’ll probably meet them on the boards soon if you haven’t already! Do You Want to Be in the Next Book? If you didn’t get involved this time around but you might like to be featured in another book, contact Alex Brecher via VerticalSleeveTalk.com’s private messaging system. We’d love to hear from you and give you the scoop! We’d love to hear your thoughts about the book! Let us know what you think when you check it out! We’re always delighted to hear from VerticalSleeveTalk.com members and we want to know what we can do to help you along your journey. Thanks for your support up through now, and enjoy The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve! You can discuss this announcement here."

Exactly! My dad is a perfect candidate. He's about 40 Lbs overweight but suffers from Diabetes as well as other comorbidities.