RNYTalk Newsletter 06/15/2013

RNYTalk Newsletter

Welcome to summer! We hope you’re looking forward to some well-deserved rest and relaxation, to an exciting vacation or to some extra time with friends and family. RNYTalk.com is the happening place to be this summer, and we’re always delighted with the kindness, insights and chatter that our members bring to create this welcoming community! Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter:

RNY Member Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey?

Member Spotlight: Meet kiwiladydee!

Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused!

Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer

Things are heating up at RNYTalk.com, so don’t miss a moment! Enjoy the newsletter, then head on over to the boards to talk about it – and whatever else is on your mind! Thousands of members are online, so come join the fun.

Sincerely,

Alex Brecher

Founder

RNYTalk.com

RNY Member Poll: Where Are You in Your Weight Loss Journey?

One of the great things about our community is that our members are all in different stages of their weight loss journeys. So, we’re curious – where are you in your journey?

• I’m still exploring my options for weight loss. I don’t know if weight loss surgery is right for me.

• I’m definitely going for bariatric surgery, but am not yet sure which type..

• I’m going for the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and have set my surgery date (or am trying to get one set).

• I got my surgery already and am busy losing weight.

• I am within 15 pounds of goal weight or am already maintaining it!

• I am not a weight loss surgery patient, but am on RNYTalk.com to support someone who is.

• Other.

Choose your answer and tell us more on the discussion boards using this link!

Member Spotlight: Meet kiwiladydee!

This month, we’re happy to put the spotlight on kiwiladydee! She struggled with weight her whole life, and gained even more weight because of her medications for various illnesses. She started thinking about weight loss surgery in 2000 when she weighed 200 pounds, but didn’t have enough family support. She almost got the surgery in 2005, but changed her mind when she feared it was the “easy way out.” Finally, after trying Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig in 2009 and 2010, she took advice and inspiration from her co-worker who was seeing success with gastric bypass, and her hairdresser, who was losing weight with diet and exercise. She finally got the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in 2012 with a lot of help and support from her co-worker. Kiwiladydee has lost about 100 pounds since then!

Although surgery was easy, recovery was challenging for kiwiladydee, and slower than most people because of her other illnesses. It’s been worthwhile so far, those. She no longer “has to worry about will I fit here, am I the biggest one in the room, what’s the weight limit if we decided to do this activity?” The single biggest difference is that kiwiladydee is less anxious. She knows what size she wears and what she’s going to eat. “The shackles of food controlling my everyday life were gone.”

Kiwiladydee’s biggest challenges in the beginning were just trying to eat or drink; in fact, she was hospitalized for dehydration several times and had days where she could only eat one Cheetos. She was unable o drink or eat because of muscle spasms, but a new medication let her improve her diet. Getting her 30 to 40 daily grams of Protein is still a struggle, since she’s never been a big meat eater and it took her a while to figure out that she preferred a soy-based drink without artificial sweeteners. Kiwiladydee also had terrible pain with her tailbone after surgery.

Kiwiladydee has had plenty of great moments! Here’s how she lists them out.

• The first time my family begged me to eat, because I was not eating enough.

• The first time I went inside a store and was able to shop in the front and not the women’s area hidden in the back.

• The first time I tried on my skinny clothes, and they were too big.

  The first time someone ask me how much more weight was I going to lose because I looked small.

Kiwiladydee says the forum was her rock. She has met wonderful friends who can help her because they’ve gone through the same things. Also, the forums let her express what she is feeling. Kiwiladydee is grateful to her support team, including her husband, parents, friend, nurse and in-laws who have been encouraging during the whole process.

Kiwiladydee advises other gastric bypass patients to reach out for help! There is always something new to learn. She also says that personal relationship may change, and talking with people on the site can help. Kiwiladydee reminds patients to take pictures to document every moment! Also, be prepared for the hanging skin.

Kiwiladydee, thanks for being a valuable and positive member of RNYTalk.com! Congratulations on your weight loss so far, and thanks for being in the Member Spotlight!

Do you like learning more about our members? Help us keep the Member Spotlight feature going strong by nominating a member on our Member Spotlight forum. You can also nominate yourself! If you’re shy and don’t want to post on the forum, just send Alex Brecher a private message that you want to be in the spotlight. Thanks!

Summer Weight Loss: Tips to Help You Stay Focused!

You can get off track with your weight loss if you lose focus during the long, hot days of summer. This year’s New Year’s resolutions feel like ancient history; the city streets are emptier because children are out of school and people are out of town on vacation; and in June, the summer ahead seems limitless.

Don’t let the long, hot days of summer interfere with your weight loss. Here are a few tips to keep you on track.

• Set your goals. Make them specific and realistic, and work towards achieving them every day.

• Pick one or more events to “get in shape for,” and think about them as you’re sticking to your diet. An upcoming wedding, family reunion, vacation or summer party can keep you motivated.

• Stay positive. We can all feel a little bit down when it’s just too hot, but keep your eyes on the prize. Remind yourself to just take it a day at a time, and think how proud you’ll be at the end of summer when you’ve stuck to your diet.

• Reward yourself. An ice cream social isn’t the thing after weight loss surgery….but a trip to the beach can keep you cool. Pack a healthy lunch and hang out all day. Walking on the sand is a great workout!

• Go shopping. The air-conditioned mall lets you walk and window shop. It’s a great time to pick out your dream outfits so you can stay motivated to lose enough weight to fit into them!

• Don’t fight the heat – beat it! If it’s too hot, don’t exercise outside at high noon. Instead, keep to the cool hours of the early morning or late evening and drink plenty of Water. You can also avoid the intense heat by going to the air-conditioned gym, working out at home or walking laps at the mall.

• Go swimming. Many public pools open in summer, so use the opportunity to try a new activity if you’re not a regular swimmer the rest of the year. Walk or jog in the pool, swim laps or take a water aerobics class.

• Freeze diet iced tea, lemonade made with a sugar substitute (such as Splenda) or a low-calorie diet juice drink (such as diet Snapple) in ice cube trays. When you get a craving for something cold and sweet, don’t go for the ice cream. Instead, grab an ice cube and save hundreds of calories.

• Prepare your protein ahead of time. It’s too hot to cook or bake frequently. Instead, make enough grilled chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, and lean ground turkey for several servings. Refrigerate or freeze your protein so it’s available whenever you need it without needing to turn on the oven or stove.

If you follow these tips and stick to your bariatric surgery diet, you’ll see results by the end of summer. Let 2013 be a summer to proudly remember because you did everything you could to lose weight and get healthy!

Weight Loss Surgery Safety: Hydration in Summer

Everyone’s at risk for dehydration in the summer, but weight loss surgery can present an extra threat. Drinking can make you feel nauseous or too full. After surgery, you can’t have sugary treats like sweet tea or iced mochas, or carbonated soft drinks. Some patients even find that water doesn’t taste good anymore after surgery. So how can you stay hydrated?

• Try ice water.

• Jazz up your water with lemon, lime, or mint leaves.

• Try chilled diet iced tea.

• Try shaved ice with sugar-free syrup.

• Make low-calorie cold coffee drinks with sugar substitute instead of sugar.

• Drink sugar-free Kool-Aid, Crystal Light or another low-calorie fruit drink.

• Keep a water bottle with you all the time so you automatically sip on it between meals.

• Drink extra before and after workouts, and sip regularly as you’re sweating.

Let your weight loss surgery motivate you to stay healthily hydrated this summer! When you get enough to drink, you have more energy and are less hungry.

That’s what we have for this month’s newsletter! We hope it was motivating and helpful. Don’t forget that we’re always happy to hear member feedback, so feel free to contact us! If you ever want to look through the old newsletters, you can check them out, too.

Thanks as always for your support! Take care of yourself and each other.

Sincerely,

Alex