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We hope this announcement finds you well. As the world’s largest online community dedicated to the gastric sleeve BariatricPal can provide valuable support and information along your weight loss journey. We’d like to take this opportunity to tell you that BariatricPal.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!

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The Big Book on the Gastric Sleeve!
That’s right! BariatricPal.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 BariatricPal.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
  • BariatricPal.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 from BariatricPal.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!

BariatricPal.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 BariatricPal.com members who were kind enough to share their stories with us and now with you! These members are some of BariatricPal.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, please contact us. 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 BariatricPal.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!

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Alex, did you get a revision surgery?

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Alex, did you get a revision surgery?

Nope! (knock on wood!)

I have a third book coming out shortly as well.....The BIG Book on the Gastric Bypass :)

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Alex what surgery do you have anyway?

Nope! (knock on wood!)

I have a third book coming out shortly as well.....The BIG Book on the Gastric Bypass :)

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Sweet! I will definitely get a hard copy of this book!

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Wow, Alex, good for you, I'm impressed! I'll be getting this.

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Alex what surgery do you have anyway?

I had the Gastric Band placed a decade ago. My only option at that point was Band or Bypass.

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Just ordered it on Kindle :) Great info! Thanks!

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Got it... VERY informative and objective!

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The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!

Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.

1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:

Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.

Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.

GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy

I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.

2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).

This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!

Art Spencer

(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

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The Big Book on the gastric Sleeve!

Read it all and it's better than good. It's a must read and I'd recommend it for everyone from the Very Start of the process. While I need to go back and Dive Deep into the book, I have two first suggestions based on a lot of questions that I've seen on our VST board.

1. Please consider expanding the Pre-op medical preps. Here's what I mean... go into more detail about what exams and tests "might" be required for insurance or the surgeon. Descibe them from the patients perspective. Might need to be a page for each test.. Consider including:

Pulmonologist examination and clearance: Exam, Pulmonary Function Test, Methacholine Challenge, sleep study (and what if you are positive for OSD (sleep apnea) and require CPAP.

Cardiologist examination and clearance: Exam, Resting ECG, Stress Test, Pharmacological Stress Test, BNP.

GI evaluation and clearance: Colonoscopy, Endoscopy

I am SURE that there is/are more but at least it's a start.

2. There are SO MANY questions about what Protein suppliments are out there. Consider adding a comparison table or nutritional values and costs, (maybe the results of a member poll re taste) etc. of as many of the "acceptable" ones as you can. Shoot, might even allow products to pay for a One Page ad/information sheet. (If they were smart they'd send free samples to folks who bought the book).

This is just a start. Let me know if I can help!

Art Spencer

(Sleeve Date 6-4-13)

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.

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Alex, I really like the book! I did notice there are a few editorial sorts of issues, though - mostly the sorts of things that a good proofreader with knowledge about WLS might have caught (hey, I can't help it; I'm a test engineer by trade and a proofreader by nature :P). Did you want/need any details, or do you have someone going through the book for the next edition?

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Alex' date=' I really like the book! I did notice there are a few editorial sorts of issues, though - mostly the sorts of things that a good proofreader with knowledge about WLS might have caught (hey, I can't help it; I'm a test engineer by trade and a proofreader by nature :P). Did you want/need any details, or do you have someone going through the book for the next edition?[/quote']

Thank you very much for your compliment and feedback. It means a great deal to me.

This is our first edition. We welcome ANY and ALL feedback. It's GREATLY appreciated!

I'm sending you a PM now.

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Did not get a confirmation # on my order. Ordered the e- book- how long does it take to receive?

just can't wait to get it !!

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Did not get a confirmation # on my order. Ordered the e- book- how long does it take to receive?

just can't wait to get it !!

Sending you private message now.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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