Alex Brecher

Great article Jean!

The period of time after making the decision to get the lap-band is very exciting. You get to make decisions that will influence your weight loss journey and lap-band experience for years. The process of planning for your surgery also includes choosing a surgeon and location for your surgery and figuring out how you will pay for it. Some patients are turning to medical tourism for their lap-band procedures, and this might be an option for you. You will continue to learn more about the lap-band as you do more background research. Your primary care physician should be able to refer you to a bariatric surgeon who can help you. You can also find lap-band surgeons by going to the lap-band website and typing in your zip code. Many online resources are valuable sources of information. LapBandTalk.com is an online social community that serves as a primary source of information and support for thousands of lap-band patients and potential patients. The more you know about the surgery, the better prepared you be to make informed decisions. A weight loss surgery seminar about the lap-band is an option for reliable information. Getting Your Team Together Getting your team together is one of the most important steps you will take as you prepare for lap-band surgery. Your healthcare team prepares you for surgery and affects your success after surgery. The team members are your surgeon, dietitian, mental health professional and possibly a physical therapist. Choosing a Surgeon and Clinic Your surgeon is the leader of your team, preparing you for surgery, performing the procedure and directing your aftercare program. You can find lap-band surgeons in your area at lapband.com. Ask potential surgeons about their patients’ average weight loss, as well as how they help patients who are struggling to hit their goals. Also ask about complication rates; often, but not always, experienced surgeons have lower rates of complications. Find out whether the surgeon maintains a complete aftercare program that lasts for at least a year and includes follow-up appointments, medical testing, dietitian counseling and regular group support meetings. A small clinic may feel more welcoming and easier to navigate, but a larger hospital or bariatric center also has advantages. facilities for obese patients, e.g., wider chairs and larger hospital gowns more experience with lap-band patients, making it more likely that each procedure goes smoothly a more developed aftercare program to keep you on track more support staff on site so you can get all of your needs, such as laboratory tests and dietitian appointments, taken care of easily Of course, you might not have many choices of locations or surgeons if your health insurance plan is covering your lap-band procedure. Additional Team Members You can increase your chances of success when you surround yourself with healthcare team members who specialize in treating bariatric surgery patients. Dietitians are experts in meal planning to help you lose weight, get the nutrients you need and keep your menus varied and tasty. They help you find foods that you like and that you can tolerate well with the band. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists or clinical psychologists, give you psychiatric tests before surgery, to make sure you’re a good candidate, and help monitor for depression afterwards. If you’re lucky, you might get to meet with a physical therapist who will guide you in your exercise program and provide appropriate exercises to try. Financing the Lap-Band Yes, it’s expensive! Costs may range from $7,000 to $20,000 or more, depending on where you get the band and whether you need a hospital stay or have complications. Your options are getting it covered with your insurance plan or self-financing the procedure. Insurance HMOs and PPOs are the most common health insurance plans in the U.S. if you pay for your own insurance or get it through your employer. The first step whether you have an HMO or PPO is to get the list of benefits to see if bariatric surgery is covered. This can be tricky, and Chapter 5, “Planning Your Lap-Band Surgery,” in The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND has more details about steps to take when you’re not sure if the band is covered. Then you need to get pre-approval – in writing – from the insurance agent. You may need to send an appeals letter if you are denied coverage when you ask for the first time. Again, more details are in the chapter. Personal Financing The lap-band is expensive, and you need to weigh the cost of surgery versus the potential savings in food, obesity-related medical care and diet programs. Another factor to consider is the potential gain in quality of life when you lose a lot of weight. A credit card or Care Credit, a national medical care financing system, are options if you do not have cash on hand and want to borrow the money to pay for the lap-band. Medical Tourism Increasingly, lap-band patients are going to Mexico for their lap-band surgeries. This can be substantially cheaper, and the main sites are Tijuana, Cancun and Monterrey. Be sure that the surgeon is qualified and that the surgeon and staff speak English. There should be a plan in place for after the surgery; often you can participate in an aftercare program and get your adjustments done with a surgeon who lives near your home. Chapter 5, “Planning Your Lap-Band Surgery,” in The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND has advice on planning for your trip, such as getting your passport in order, what to bring, reducing your risk of foodborne illness and other considerations for medical tourism.

If you’re still considering the lap-band after learning about it in detail, it’s time to think even more deeply about whether the lap-band is right for you. Before you decide, it’s best to consider the amount of weight you can reasonably expect to lose with the lap-band, and balance that with the potential medical risks, or complications, of getting the band. You’ll also need to find out whether you’re eligible for the surgery. Risks with the Lap-Band First, let’s take a look at some of the possible risks or complications that can happen with the band. Nearly all patients get some sort of complications or side effects, but not necessarily severe ones. Excessive bleeding and blood clots are risks that you take with any surgery. Of course you’ll have abdominal pain as you recover from lap-band surgery; after all, your surgeon had to make cuts in your stomach to put the lap-band in place. These are some of the other risks with the lap-band: band slippage leakage band erosion esophageal dilation nausea vomiting trouble swallowing (dysphagia) obstruction constipation Many of the complications are more common in patients whose starting weight (or BMI) is higher. That’s obviously a potential drawback for higher-BMI patients, but it’s also important to look at the alternatives. If your BMI is higher, you’re at higher risk for obesity-related health problems if you don’t lose weight. Also, many of the complications are preventable if you carefully follow your surgeon’s post-operation instructions, especially regarding your diet. Weight Loss to Expect We know; here’s what you’re really interested in! How much weight will the lap-band help you lose? The numbers vary, but within a year of getting the lap-band and following the lap-band diet, you might expect to lose a significant amount of your excess weight. Your excess weight is the number of pounds over your goal weight, and you might be able to lose 40 percent – or more – in a year. Many patients have been able to maintain their weight loss for five or more years. That’s great news if you’re sick of watching your weight cycle as you try diet after diet! The amount of weight you lose and whether you keep it off depends on you. To control your weight, you need to stick to your lap-band diet. These are the basic requirements of the lap-band diet: Choose nutritious foods Avoid high-calorie, low-nutrient foods Avoid beverages with calories Eat small portions Limit snacking Exercise helps burn calories and speeds up weight loss, too! Are You a Candidate for the Lap-Band? Not everyone is eligible to get the lap-band. You have to meet certain criteria before you can get the lap-band. These are some of the normal requirements. Some of them are set by the FDA; others might be required by your insurance company or surgeon: Being at least 30 pounds overweight, with a BMI of at least 40 or a BMI of 30 to 40 along with an obesity-related health condition. Having struggled with your weight for at least five years, and having a history of unsuccessful dieting attempts. Being willing to attend educational seminars about the lap-band to learn about the procedure. Following a special diet program before your surgery to demonstrate that you’re able to do it. Promising to follow your surgeon’s aftercare program, which may include follow-up appointments, dietitian visits and group support meetings with other lap-band patients. A contraindication is a condition that makes you ineligible or a poor candidate for getting the lap-band. These are some of the common contraindications: Heart or lung problems that can make your surgery dangerous Drug or alcohol addiction Low pain tolerance (you will feel pain after getting banded) Unwillingness to commit to the lifestyle changes and lap-band diet necessary for losing weight and preventing complications Pregnancy or planning to become pregnant within a year Since the lap-band has such a long history, there’s been a lot of research done on the risks and benefits of the procedure. Chapter 4, “Is the Lap-Band the Right Choice for You?,” in The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND, goes through this research in more detail than this short summary. You’ll get to see some of the particular numbers, such as average pounds lost or percentages of patients who have specific complications. This information, together with seeing the eligibility criteria, can help you make an informed decision about whether the lap-band is right for you.

Are you feeling pretty sure that weight loss surgery is for you? If so, you’re probably at least considering the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, or lap-band. The lap-band is one of the most popular bariatric surgery choices. Do you really know everything you need to know about the band before you make one of the most important decisions of your life? History of the Lap-Band The band has a pretty long history, dating back to 1983 when a Ukrainian-born surgeon named Dr. Lubomyr Kuzmak used a non-adjustable band on his obese patients. He developed an adjustable band and began to use it in 1986. He and other surgeons continued to use the gastric band on obese patients and carefully record their results. These are some more key events in the development of the current lap-band. By 1991, enough progress had been made so that most gastric banding surgeries were laparoscopic instead of open. The adjustable gastric band became known as the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, or lap-band. In 1994, the First International Workshop on laparoscopic banding occurred in Europe as experienced surgeons demonstrated their new techniques. In 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the lap-band as a treatment for morbid obesity, or a BMI over 40, and for individuals with a BMI over 35 and obesity-related health conditions. In 2004, the lap-band VG replaced the original lap-band system. It had a bigger fill volume and could be filled all the way around instead of just three-quarters of the way. In 2007, the lap-band AP (Advanced Platform) system came out. It’s the current lap-band model and it comes in two sizes. Your surgeon will determine which size is best for you. How the Lap-Band Works Your stomach is pouch with a J-like shape. The gastric band goes around the narrower, upper portion of your stomach to create a small pouch known as a stoma. The remainder of your stomach, the larger pouch, is below the gastric band. The stoma has a volume of only 15 percent of your original stomach size. Food that you eat goes into the stoma and is held there for a while, above the gastric band, because the band slows down the emptying of food from the stoma to the rest of your pouch. Since the stoma is so small compared to your original stomach, you feel more full after you’ve only eaten a small amount of food – enough to fill the stoma – instead of needing a huge meal like you did before getting the band. One of the most important things to remember when you’re considering the lap-band or any other weight loss surgery is that the surgery is only a tool to help you. You will still need to be very careful with your diet if you are going to be successful in losing weight and keeping it off. The lap-band will not cause you to lose weight if you choose high-calorie foods, consistently serve yourself large portions, snack too much or drink liquids with calories. The Surgical Procedure Now, most lap-band operations are laparoscopic. They require smaller incisions and are safer and easier than traditional open surgeries. The following medical personnel are likely to be in the operating room during your procedure. Surgeon who is the leader and who directs the laparoscopic tools in your abdomen Anesthesiologist to administer and monitor anesthetics Circulator who plays a supportive role by handing instruments to the surgeon and double-checking procedures Details of the Lap-Band The lap-band system has three components. adjustable gastric band thin connection tubing access port The band inflates and becomes more restrictive when your surgeon fills it with saline solution (a liquid). To do this, your surgeon inserts a syringe into the access port, which rests below your skin next to your belly button. The solution travels through the connection tubing to band. An unfill, or deflation, is the opposite of a fill. Adjustments in the fill volume of your gastric band are normal parts of life with the lap-band, especially within the first few months. Chapter 3, “All about the Lap-Band,” in The BIG Book on the LAP-BAND® talks about all of this lap-band information. You can see diagrams showing the lap-band and where it sits in your body, and get details on things like the surgical procedure. By the end of the chapter, you’ll have a good understanding of what the lap-band is and how it works.

RNYTalk Newsletter By Hey, RNYTalk members!Summer vacation’s almost over, and for most of us, it flew by! If you have children, they’re probably getting ready to go back to school or even back in school already. As you keep working toward your own weight loss goals, don’t forget to include your children in your healthy lifestyle! Have fun being a great role model as you teach them a few healthy habits like loving their fruits and vegetables and staying active! With the business of the late summer, this newsletter aims to keep you on track. Here’s what’s coming up. Member Spotlight: Meet Panda! Bypass Challenge: It’s Time for a RNYTalk.com Mixer! Are You Ready for Labor Day? Do’s and Don’t’s for the Barbecue Party Reminder – Keeping Track of the Latest Weight Loss Surgery News Let’s get going with the newsletter! Whether you’re reading it on your laptop, desktop, iPhone, kindle or Android, we hope you love this newsletter. Let us know what you think about it or anything else related to RNYTalk.com. I love hearing from our members and value your suggestions! Thanks as always! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder sleep apnea. She’s even been able to treat her depression by exercising daily! Panda says that her biggest problem has been her own self-doubt. She still sometimes wonders whether she can continue to exercise daily, make the right food choices and continue with her self-discipline. She says that RNYTalk.com has been “my happy place as well as my support system.” She comes to RNYTalk.com daily. She gets motivated by others’ successes, and learns lessons from others’ hard lessons. Panda’s advice to others is to believe in yourself. This highly religious woman believes that all things are possible through God. She herself is grateful to her surgeon and her current path. Thanks, Panda, for sharing your story and being in our shake things up a little. We know you each have your own routines when you visit the boards. You go to the same discussion sub-forums daily. Occasionally, you update your profile, blog or photo gallery. Your challenge for this newsletter is to vary your habits just a little. You might try visiting and posting on a section of the board that you don’t usually visit. More experienced members might try going back to the “pre-surgery questions” board, or newer members might check out some of the groups. Another idea is to introduce yourself, using the private messaging system, to one or more members whose stories grab your attention or whom you want to get to know better. Now’s your chance! Let us know how it goes in the Proteins, such as fat-free hot dogs, extra lean ground beef or turkey burger patties, shrimp skewers, salmon steaks and skinless chicken breast. Be a good guest. If you’re not sure that the host will be offering foods that are on your diet, bring your own. You can even bring enough to share – you’ll be surprised at how many people will be grateful for your healthy option. Eat your veggies. Enjoy corn on the cob (without butter, of course), green salad and other cut vegetables. Just go easy on the dip and choose low-calorie salad dressing. Watch your portions. As a weight loss surgery patient, you need to limit your portions even when you’re eating healthy foods. If you’re not careful, it’s all too easy to eat at a barbecue without realizing quite how much you’re eating. Have fun! Play volleyball, go swimming and run relay races with the kids. The more you move, the more you’ll lose and the better you’ll feel. Be sociable. You’re hanging out with your friends and family to enjoy their company…so enjoy their company instead of focusing so much on food. Don’t: Go for high-fat meats, such as T-bone steak or prime rib, full-fat ground beef patties, pork or beef sausages and turkey legs with the skin. Let the sauces, dressings and dips sabotage your diet. Choose low-calorie options, and avoid coleslaw, potato salad, egg salad and other dishes with mayonnaise. Use onions and ketchup instead of cheese for toppings. Munch on chips, nuts and other high-calorie appetizers without even realizing it. They will barely fill you up and you can eat way too much. They can even make you feel sick later because of their fat. Drink your calories. Soda and beer are empty calories. Beer is worse because it reduces your ability to make good judgments. You might end up eating more than you intended if you drink beer at the barbecue. Endulge in ice cream sundaes. For dessert, have a spoonful or two of ice cream if you really want it. Otherwise, assess whether you are truly still hungry. If you are, have some watermelon. Hang out at the food table. Eat the leftovers while you watch television later. These dos and don’ts are pretty easy to follow. With these tips, you can start planning your own end-of-summer parties without worrying that you won’t be able to stick to your diet. Have fun! Reminder – Keeping Track of the Latest Weight Loss Surgery News We know that many of our members like to know the most recent news and information on the gastric bypass procedure and weight loss surgery and obesity in general. That’s why we have the news forum. It gets updated daily with the latest news on weight loss, bariatric surgery and health. Check it out and discuss your own opinions in the News Forum! That piece of information brings us to the end of this week’s newsletter. Thanks so much for reading it and for all of your participation on the forums! The Newsletter Forum has all of the old newsletters in case you missed one or want to talk about them. Until the next time, take care of yourself and each other, 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}

Hey, Banders!Summer vacation’s almost over, and for most of us, it flew by! If you have children, they’re probably getting ready to go back to school or even back in school already. As you keep working toward your own weight loss goals, don’t forget to include your children in your healthy lifestyle! Have fun being a great role model as you teach them a few healthy habits like loving their fruits and vegetables and staying active! With the business of the late summer, this newsletter aims to keep you on track. Here’s what’s coming up. Member Spotlight: Meet Runnyf! Bander Challenge: It’s Time for a LapBandTalk.com Mixer! Are You Ready for Labor Day? Do’s and Don’t’s for the Barbecue Party Reminder – Keeping Track of the Latest Weight Loss Surgery News Let’s get going with the newsletter! Whether you’re reading it on your laptop, desktop, iPhone, kindle or Android, we hope you love this newsletter. Let us know what you think about it or anything else related to LapBandTalk.com. I love hearing from our members and value your suggestions! Thanks as always! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder LapBandTalk.com Member Spotlight – Runnyf This newsletter, we’re pleased to feature runnyf, aka Renee. She was recently banded this April and has lost 33 pounds from her pre-surgery weight of 323 pounds on her way to her goal weight. The trip hasn’t been so easy for Renee. It took a year to complete the requirements to get her insurance company to pay for the lap-band. She had to lose 10 percent of her initial body weight – which, she points out, wasn’t so easy because it if were, she’d have done it herself long ago and wouldn’t need the lap-band! She took an eight-week educational class. food has remained one of her biggest struggles after the lap-band surgery. Her husband is supportive, but Renee admits that it’s challenging sometimes to live with someone who’s still eating foods that she can’t have any more. A major hurdle to her weight loss progress was when Renee spent some time with a dear friend who had lost her husband. Renee found herself putting her own needs last; she wasn’t drinking enough Water and she was having trouble resisting the pizza and other fast food that showed up every night for dinner. Another challenge has been learning to eat the lap-band diet, including having portion control and choosing the right foods. She’s learning a lot, though, and says that she realizes that it is just “part of the process.” She knows now that the lap-band isn’t the easy way out, and that she’ll just keep having to learn. She’s persevered through the challenges so far and is back on track. She remains committed to her new lifestyle. Since the beginning of her lap-band journey, Renee has used LapBandTalk.com to get information and support. The boards gave her the confidence she needed to make the decision to get the lap-band and also to be able to share her decision with her family and friends. She plans to continue on the boards as a source of support for new lap-band patients who have the same questions that she had. We’re grateful to have Renee here, and are looking forward to watching her continued weight loss! Thanks for being in our Member Spotlight, Renee! We have the pleasure of featuring a different LapBandTalk.com member in the Member Spotlight section for each newsletter. Let us know in the Member Spotlight Forum if there’s someone you want to learn more about or if you want to be our spotlighted member! We want to hear about your nominations for yourself or another member. We’re all eager to hear more about you, so let us know who you are! If you’re shy and don’t want to post publicly, just PM Alex with the message that you want to be in the spotlight. This is our favorite part of the newsletter! Thanks for making it happen! Bander Challenge – It’s Time for a LapBandTalk.com Mixer! In the Newsletter Challenge, we suggest something for you to try that you wouldn’t normally do. It’s a way to think outside the box. Challenging yourself and trying new things helps you gain confidence, learn new skills and stay involved and interested in your weight loss journey. What’s the current Bander Challenge? Join the LapBandTalk.com Mixer! We’re not talking about an in-person party here, but it’s time for a virtual mixer! What does that mean? It’s time to shake things up a little. We know you each have your own routines when you visit the boards. You go to the same discussion sub-forums daily. Occasionally, you update your profile, blog or photo gallery. Your challenge for this newsletter is to vary your habits just a little. You might try visiting and posting on a section of the board that you don’t usually visit. More experienced members might try going back to the “pre-surgery questions” board, or newer members might check out some of the groups. Another idea is to introduce yourself, using the private messaging system, to one or more members whose stories grab your attention or whom you want to get to know better. Now’s your chance! Let us know how it goes in the Bander Challenge forum. Tell us what you did and how you liked it. And, feel free to check out any of the previous Newsletter Challenges and give us updates on those. You can always see the old challenges in the archived newsletter. It’s never too late to try something new and exciting! Are You Ready for Labor Day? Do’s and Don’ts for the Barbecue Party Labor Day is coming up fast, and you’ve probably already had one or two barbecue parties this summer. How well were you able to stick to your diet? Are you confident that you’re going to stay on track on Labor Day? These do’s and don’ts can help you make good decisions at your next outdoor grill so that you can be confident and enjoy the fun. Do: Choose lean Proteins, such as fat-free hot dogs, extra lean ground beef or turkey burger patties, shrimp skewers, salmon steaks and skinless chicken breast. Be a good guest. If you’re not sure that the host will be offering foods that are on your diet, bring your own. You can even bring enough to share – you’ll be surprised at how many people will be grateful for your healthy option. Eat your veggies. Enjoy corn on the cob (without butter, of course), green salad and other cut vegetables. Just go easy on the dip and choose low-calorie salad dressing. Watch your portions. As a weight loss surgery patient, you need to limit your portions even when you’re eating healthy foods. If you’re not careful, it’s all too easy to eat at a barbecue without realizing quite how much you’re eating. Have fun! Play volleyball, go swimming and run relay races with the kids. The more you move, the more you’ll lose and the better you’ll feel. Be sociable. You’re hanging out with your friends and family to enjoy their company…so enjoy their company instead of focusing so much on food. Don’t: Go for high-fat meats, such as T-bone steak or prime rib, full-fat ground beef patties, pork or beef sausages and turkey legs with the skin. Let the sauces, dressings and dips sabotage your diet. Choose low-calorie options, and avoid coleslaw, potato salad, egg salad and other dishes with mayonnaise. Use onions and ketchup instead of cheese for toppings. Munch on chips, nuts and other high-calorie appetizers without even realizing it. They will barely fill you up and you can eat way too much. They can even make you feel sick later because of their fat. Drink your calories. Soda and beer are empty calories. Beer is worse because it reduces your ability to make good judgments. You might end up eating more than you intended if you drink beer at the barbecue. Endulge in ice cream sundaes. For dessert, have a spoonful or two of ice cream if you really want it. Otherwise, assess whether you are truly still hungry. If you are, have some watermelon. Hang out at the food table. Eat the leftovers while you watch television later. These dos and don’ts are pretty easy to follow. With these tips, you can start planning your own end-of-summer parties without worrying that you won’t be able to stick to your diet. Have fun! Reminder – Keeping Track of the Latest Weight Loss Surgery News We know that many of our members like to know the most recent news and information on the lap-band procedure and weight loss surgery and obesity in general. That’s why we have the news forum. It gets updated daily with the latest news on weight loss, bariatric surgery and health. Check it out and discuss your own opinions in the News Forum! That piece of information brings us to the end of this week’s newsletter. Thanks so much for reading it and for all of your participation on the forums! The Newsletter Forum has all of the old newsletters in case you missed one or want to talk about them. Until the next time, take care of yourself and each other, 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}

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RNYTalk.com was launched just a few months ago. With the help of our amazing members we're the #1 Gastric Bypass support community online today! Most of our members have found our Gastric Bypass community or mobile apps via search engines, by chance or through one of the other WLS communities we operate. We're asking all members to reach out to their surgeon and staff as well as any friends or family members that have Gastric Bypass surgery and let them know about our awesome community. Are you a member of other weight loss surgery communities ? Message your online friends and ask them to join us on RNYTalk.com and let them know about our mobile apps! Let's spread the word!

RNYTalk.com was launched just a few months ago. With the help of our amazing members we're the #1 Gastric Bypass support community online today! Most of our members have found our Gastric Bypass community or mobile apps via search engines, by chance or through one of the other WLS communities we operate. We're asking all members to reach out to their surgeon and staff as well as any friends or family members that have Gastric Bypass surgery and let them know about our awesome community. Are you a member of other weight loss surgery communities ? Message your online friends and ask them to join us on RNYTalk.com and let them know about our mobile apps! Let's spread the word!

We were having issues over the last few days with our Android app. These issues should now be resolved and your app should be loading fine. You might need to restart the app if it's already loaded. Let me know if you're still having any issues.

We were having issues over the last few days with our Android app. These issues should now be resolved and your app should be loading fine. You might need to restart the app if it's already loaded. Let me know if you're still having any issues.

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RNYTalk Newsletter By Hey, RNYTalk.com members!The weather’s warm, zucchini and watermelons are abundant and the Summer Games are providing inspirational moments for all of us. We hope life is good for you and you’ve been achieving your own goals this summer. To help you stay focused, here’s another newsletter from RNYTalk.com. This is what we’ve got for you: Burning question: What are the Best Sources of Protein? Member Spotlight: Meet KevinsBabyGirl85! Bypass Challenge: Record Your Diet! Life after Bypass: What’s Your Emergency Plan? We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and you get inspiration and a few great ideas from it. Of course, when you’re done reading, come on over to the RNYTalk.com board and talk about the newsletter or anything else that’s on your mind. Also remember to drop me a line any time if you have comments or suggestions for the boards. Thanks! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder liquid diet after weight loss surgery, Protein shakes and Protein powder can help you meet your needs. Fat-free milk is another good source, and it also has Calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones. In the pureed foods stage, you can add in things like canned flake chicken, extra-lean ground beef and light tuna. Tuna has an extra benefit because of its heart-healthy omega-three fatty acids. Fat-free yogurt is another great option. You always want to look for lean meats and fat-free or low-fat dairy products instead of full-fat ones. That’ll help you limit your calories and reduce saturated fat, which is unhealthy for your heart because it raises your cholesterol levels. By the time you get to the soft (semi-solid) foods and solid foods stages, you have a lot more options. Fish, crab, white-meat, skinless chicken and turkey, and egg whites are almost pure protein – plus some essential nutrients. Be very careful to avoid any bones or gristle in your fish or meat. Some vegetarian options are tofu, Beans and low-fat cheese. Melted cheddar cheese makes a delicious topping for almost anything. Always eat slowly, savor the flavors and chew your food well before swallowing. Choosing Proteins that are lowest in calories and saturated fat will help you lose weight and stay healthy. Did you miss the previous Burning Question? You can always see the earlier Burning Questions in our sleep apnea and back pain, and couldn’t even go outside in the heat without losing her breath. KevinsBabyGirl85’s story is a little different than some we’ve seen. Many gastric bypass patients choose to get the surgery because they’re worried that they’ll have a health crisis in the future. For KevinsBabyGirl85, it was a reality. She spent 47 days in the hospital, including 21 on life support, when she needed two lung surgeries after catching bilateral pneumonia. Something had to change, and for KevinsBabyGirl85, gastric bypass was the answer. Since the surgery in January of 2012, KevinsBabyGirl85’s down to 164 pounds en route to her goal of 120 pounds. Some of her toughest moments have some as she’s figured out who her true friends are based on their support during her weight loss journey. A rewarding moment? Being able to stand with both legs in one pant leg of her old jeans! We bet she has a lot more energy now to keep up with her 7-year-old twins and their 5-year-old brother. KevinsBabyGirl85 is active on the boards and well-known for her generous and helpful advice. She uses RNYTalk.com to get support and provide it for others. Two pieces of advice for others? Take it one day at a time, and don’t ever give up! Thanks, KevinsBabyGirl85, for sharing your advice and story. You’re a great example of how well your advice really works! Don’t forget to check out KevinsBabyGirl85’s before and after photos in her member profile – she’s looking pretty awesome! Each newsletter features a different RNYTalk.com member in the dinner in the future. How will you let out your inner Olympian? Let us all know in the member Challenge Forum! Tell us what you did and whether you think it worked for you! The challenge is completely non-competitive, but we’d love for you to share your experiences. You’ll help inspire others to chase their own dreams. Miss a challenge? No problem! Just go back to the old newsletters to see what the challenges were. It’s never to late to try something new and tell us about it on the forums. Life after Bypass: What’s Your Emergency Plan? It’s Sunday morning and you haven’t been able to eat or drink all night because of nausea and vomiting. Your surgeon’s office hours are from Monday through Friday. You wait miserably until first thing Monday morning, when you call your surgeon. The receptionist is horrified to hear about your ordeal and says, “Why didn’t you call yesterday? We have someone here 24/7 for emergencies!” This scenario comes up all the time on the boards, and it’s truly heartbreaking because in most cases, the suffering you feel is entirely unnecessary. You should know what number to call when you have trouble. If your surgeon didn’t give you an after-hours number, ask for one. You should never have to wait a whole day just because your emergency happens on a weekend. And with that advice, we’re done with this newsletter. You can always read it again and look through old newsletters in the Newsletter Forum. We’re always happy to hear from you and to see increased participation on the boards, so log in and get talking! Thanks for your support. Take care of yourself and each other, 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: http://www.rnytalk.c...&tab=newsletter

Hey, Banders!The weather’s warm, zucchini and watermelons are abundant and the Summer Games are providing inspirational moments for all of us. We hope life is good for you and you’ve been achieving your own goals this summer. To help you stay focused, here’s another newsletter from LapBandTalk.com. This is what we’ve got for you: Burning question: What are the Best Sources of Protein? Member Spotlight: Meet kll724! Bander Challenge: Record Your Diet! Life with the Lap-Band: What’s Your Emergency Plan? We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and you get inspiration and a few great ideas from it. Of course, when you’re done reading, come on over to the LapBandTalk.com board and talk about the newsletter or anything else that’s on your mind. Also remember to drop me a line any time if you have comments or suggestions for the boards. Thanks! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder LapBandTalk.com Burning Question: What are the Best Sources of Protein? Last week we talked about why you need protein when you’re losing weight after surgery. But where should you get your protein from? There are a bunch of good sources. When you’re on a liquid diet after weight loss surgery, Protein shakes and Protein powder can help you meet your needs. Fat-free milk is another good source, and it also has Calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones. In the pureed foods stage, you can add in things like canned flake chicken, extra-lean ground beef and light tuna. Tuna has an extra benefit because of its heart-healthy omega-three fatty acids. Fat-free yogurt is another great option. You always want to look for lean meats and fat-free or low-fat dairy products instead of full-fat ones. That’ll help you limit your calories and reduce saturated fat, which is unhealthy for your heart because it raises your cholesterol levels. By the time you get to the soft (semi-solid) foods and solid foods stages, you have a lot more options. Fish, crab, white-meat, skinless chicken and turkey, and egg whites are almost pure protein – plus some essential nutrients. Be very careful to avoid any bones or gristle in your fish or meat. Some vegetarian options are tofu, Beans and low-fat cheese. Melted cheddar cheese makes a delicious topping for almost anything. Always eat slowly, savor the flavors and chew your food well before swallowing. Choosing Proteins that are lowest in calories and saturated fat will help you lose weight and stay healthy. Did you miss the previous Burning Question? You can always see the earlier Burning Questions in our Newsletter Archives. You don’t have to miss any important information! Member Spotlight – Meet kll724! This week we have the honor of featuring kll724 – or Karen – from Lakeland, Florida. This 64-year-old woman had gained weight over the years, ending up at a size 24 from her young adult size 7. She decided to get banded when she saw the success that her friend’s daughter had with the surgery in Mexico. Her surgeon in Florida had her follow a six-month pre-surgery diet, along with taking phentermine, so she could “learn to eat like a skinny person.” Not everything was smooth sailing. She had to get a complete unfill and revision due to slippage. She got dehydrated because she waited until Monday to call her surgeon before finding out that she could have called on Sunday! Karen is now down 100 pounds from her high weight of 244 pounds. Her arthritic knee is no longer troublesome, and she walks every day “without breaking a sweat.” Her husband calls this beautiful lady his trophy wife! Success with the lap-band seems to run in the family – both of her children have also been banded. Karen truly appreciates the warmth of LapBandTalk.com, where, as she says, “no one cares if you are 20 or 70.” Having maintained her goal weight for a while now, she offers wise advice for other banders. First, follow your surgeon’s advice. Second, be patient with yourself and don’t compare your weight loss to others. And finally, “remember that the band is a tool, and you do need to work at the weight loss.” We know that her advice works – if you need proof, just head on over to kll724’s profile and take a look at her photo gallery. She’s looking awesome! Thanks, Karen, for being such a supportive member of the community and for being in our spotlight! Each newsletter features a different LapBandTalk.com member in the Member Spotlight section. Let us know in the member spotlight forum if there’s someone you want to learn more about or if you want to be our spotlighted member! We’re all eager to hear more about you, so let us know who you are! If you’re shy and don’t want to post publicly, just PM Alex with the message that you want to be in the spotlight. This is our favorite part of the newsletter! Thanks for making it happen! Bander Challenge – Let out your inner Olympian! The Bander Challenge is the section of the newsletter when we suggest a challenge for you to try. The goal is to motivate you to push yourself to the next level – and that’s definitely the focus of this newsletter’s challenge! The Olympics are in full swing, and the whole world is watching these phenomenal athletes chasing and achieving their dreams. You may not have the grace, power and strength of the world’s best athletes, but you do have goals, hopes and dreams – just like Olympic athletes – and the chance to make them happen. So this newsletter’s challenge? Go for the gold and act like an Olympian! Olympic athletes put 100 percent of their effort toward achieving their dreams, and you can put 100 percent of your effort toward losing (or maintaining) weight and living a healthy lifestyle. Your challenge is to figure out what specific actions you might take to ensure your success. These are some ideas. Eat for success. Olympians choose nutritious foods over junk food because they’ll perform better. A meal with vegetables, fruit and lean meat will go a lot further than a hamburger and fries. The same is true for you – you’ll feel better, think more clearly and have more energy when you eat nutritious foods. Plan your meals and exercise. Success is no accident. Olympians plan every aspect of their training programs from training and recovery to diet and sleep. You should plan your own diet and exercise so that you always know what to do. Keep a log. An Olympic athlete keeps a training log to record each day’s workout and be able to look back and see what worked and what didn’t. Keeping your own diet and exercise log keeps you on track and lets you look back to see what patterns led to success and where you could have improved your choices. Visualize success. Most successful athletes take time each day to visualize their victory. They think about running that last lap in record time and accepting their medal on the victory podium. You can think about the bikini that you’re planning to wear next summer and the proud look on your spouse’s face when you two go out to dinner in the future. How will you let out your inner Olympian? Let us all know in the member Challenge Forum! Tell us what you did and whether you think it worked for you! The challenge is completely non-competitive, but we’d love for you to share your experiences. You’ll help inspire others to chase their own dreams. Miss a challenge? No problem! Just go back to the old newsletters to see what the challenges were. It’s never to late to try something new and tell us about it on the forums. Life with the Lap-Band: What’s Your Emergency Plan? It’s Sunday morning and you haven’t been able to eat or drink all night because of nausea and vomiting. Your surgeon’s office hours are from Monday through Friday. You wait miserably until first thing Monday morning, when you call your surgeon. The receptionist is horrified to hear about your ordeal and says, “Why didn’t you call yesterday? We have someone here 24/7 for emergencies!” This scenario comes up all the time on the boards, and it’s truly heartbreaking because in most cases, the suffering you feel is entirely unnecessary. You should know what number to call when you have trouble. If your surgeon didn’t give you an after-hours number, ask for one. You should never have to wait a whole day just because your emergency happens on a weekend. And with that advice, we’re done with this newsletter. You can always read it again and look through old newsletters in the Newsletter Forum. We’re always happy to hear from you and to see increased participation on the boards, so log in and get talking! Thanks for your support. Take care of yourself and each other, 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: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

VerticalSleeveTalk Newsletter By Hey, Sleevers!The weather’s warm, zucchini and watermelons are abundant and the Summer Games are providing inspirational moments for all of us. We hope life is good for you and you’ve been achieving your own goals this summer. To help you stay focused, here’s another newsletter from VerticalSleeveTalk.com. This is what we’ve got for you: Burning Question: What are the Best Sources of Protein? Member Spotlight: Kyllfalcon! Sleever Challenge: Record Your Diet! Life with the Sleeve: What’s Your Emergency Plan? We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and you get inspiration and a few great ideas from it. Of course, when you’re done reading, come on over to the VerticalSleeveTalk.com board and talk about the newsletter or anything else that’s on your mind. Also remember to drop me a line any time if you have comments or suggestions for the boards. Thanks! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder liquid diet after weight loss surgery, Protein shakes and Protein powder can help you meet your needs. Fat-free milk is another good source, and it also has Calcium and Vitamin D for strong bones. In the pureed foods stage, you can add in things like canned flake chicken, extra-lean ground beef and light tuna. Tuna has an extra benefit because of its heart-healthy omega-three fatty acids. Fat-free yogurt is another great option. You always want to look for lean meats and fat-free or low-fat dairy products instead of full-fat ones. That’ll help you limit your calories and reduce saturated fat, which is unhealthy for your heart because it raises your cholesterol levels. By the time you get to the soft (semi-solid) foods and solid foods stages, you have a lot more options. Fish, crab, white-meat, skinless chicken and turkey, and egg whites are almost pure protein – plus some essential nutrients. Be very careful to avoid any bones or gristle in your fish or meat. Some vegetarian options are tofu, Beans and low-fat cheese. Melted cheddar cheese makes a delicious topping for almost anything. Always eat slowly, savor the flavors and chew your food well before swallowing. Choosing Proteins that are lowest in calories and saturated fat will help you lose weight and stay healthy. Did you miss the previous Burning Question? You can always see the earlier Burning Questions in our scale victories has been while clothes shopping. Her old size was a 3x. After surgery, she mail-ordered a 1x pair of pants, and it was too big. She exchanged it for an XL, but that didn’t work, either. She finally settled on a size large – and we bet it’ll be too big for her soon! Kyllfalcon’s also proud and relieved to say that she can still enjoy family parties while losing weight! She can share in the pizza and birthday cake, but now she’s in control and knows when enough is enough – and when the party’s over, it’s time to get back to business. Kyllfalcon’s arthritis has improved a lot, and her blood pressure is under control. Water has been a little tough, but she fixes it up with Crystal Light. She reports a pretty smooth weight loss journey so far, and we think her success is due to her positive attitude. Kyllfalcon counts VerticalSleeveTalk.com as part of her official support group, along with friends, family and coworkers. She visits each day to get and give support. Some of her tips? Keep fighting – if you fall down, “get right back up to fight another day.” She also encourages you to “see yourself thin and healthy.” Thanks, Kyllfalcon, for being such a great role model and sharing your story in our member spotlight! Each newsletter features a different VerticalSleeveTalk.com member in the sleep. You should plan your own diet and exercise so that you always know what to do. Keep a log. An Olympic athlete keeps a training log to record each day’s workout and be able to look back and see what worked and what didn’t. Keeping your own diet and exercise log keeps you on track and lets you look back to see what patterns led to success and where you could have improved your choices. Visualize success. Most successful athletes take time each day to visualize their victory. They think about running that last lap in record time and accepting their medal on the victory podium. You can think about the bikini that you’re planning to wear next summer and the proud look on your spouse’s face when you two go out to dinner in the future. How will you let out your inner Olympian? Let us all know in the member Challenge Forum! Tell us what you did and whether you think it worked for you! The challenge is completely non-competitive, but we’d love for you to share your experiences. You’ll help inspire others to chase their own dreams. Miss a challenge? No problem! Just go back to the old newsletters to see what the challenges were. It’s never to late to try something new and tell us about it on the forums. Life with the Sleeve: What’s Your Emergency Plan? It’s Sunday morning and you haven’t been able to eat or drink all night because of nausea and vomiting. Your surgeon’s office hours are from Monday through Friday. You wait miserably until first thing Monday morning, when you call your surgeon. The receptionist is horrified to hear about your ordeal and says, “Why didn’t you call yesterday? We have someone here 24/7 for emergencies!” This scenario comes up all the time on the boards, and it’s truly heartbreaking because in most cases, the suffering you feel is entirely unnecessary. You should know what number to call when you have trouble. If your surgeon didn’t give you an after-hours number, ask for one. You should never have to wait a whole day just because your emergency happens on a weekend. And with that advice, we’re done with this newsletter. You can always read it again and look through old newsletters in the Newsletter Forum. We’re always happy to hear from you and to see increased participation on the boards, so log in and get talking! Thanks for your support. Take care of yourself and each other, 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: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=usercp&tab=newsletter

I just logged in to the chat room and there were 5 members online.

Should be back online some time tomorrow.

It should be back online some time tomorrow.

Are you still having issues ?

Great article. I'm a Chonani purist myself.