Hey, BariatricPal Members!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and happy Spring Break! Even if you don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or you are not planning an official spring vacation, spring is still a joyous time of year. What better way to celebrate than with a BariatricPal newsletter? Here’s what we have for you:

• Are You Ready for Spring Break?
• St. Patrick’s Day – Give Yourself Something to Celebrate!
• March Madness: Are You Ready?

Keep working towards your goals, whether or not you are Irish and whether or not you have a trip planned this spring. You can reach BariatricPal from anywhere in the world, so come on by and celebrate the season with the other members!

Sincerely,

Alex Brecher

Founder, BariatricPal

Are You Ready for Spring Break?

You need to plan extra carefully whenever you travel after weight loss surgery. Your preparation should begin now if you are planning a trip this spring or summer so that you can make sure that your needs are met.

First, consider where you will be in your weight loss journey and what medical needs you are likely to have. If you have not yet had surgery, you probably will not need exceptional medical care, and finding out what to do in emergencies should be sufficiency. If you already had weight loss surgery, find out the location of the nearest surgeon who can help you if you have trouble. Be sure the surgeon is an expert in the type of surgery that you have. Lap-band patients in particular should know where they can go for emergency fills or un-fills. Since WLS is hard on the body, give yourself ample time after surgery to recover before you travel. You can easily need six or more weeks after surgery before you are recovered.

Next, start assembling a packing list. You may need these items addition to your regular belongings.

• Dietary supplements: multivitamins, calcium, Vitamin D, Iron, and any other dietary supplements that you take.
• Prescription medications (make sure you have enough to get through your trip) and prescriptions in case you need a refill
• Protein powder, protein bars, beef Jerky or unsalted nuts just in case you need some protein and are not near a supermarket or trusted restaurant
• Phone numbers and email addresses of bariatric specialists, including your surgeon, a nutritionist, and an emergency contact
• Workout clothes (will this be the first vacation when you worked out?)
• List of high-protein foods as well as foods that you can and cannot eat. This is especially important right after WLS as you progress from a liquid to solid diet.
• Non-prescription medications, such as aspirin or Tylenol, and laxatives to reduce constipation

Finally, do what you can to “scout out” the area. Is there a supermarket near your hotel? Are the restaurants known for being accommodating to guests’ special orders so that you can get the high-protein, low-calorie meals you need? Is there a walking route or a fitness center near your hotel? You will not be able to find the answers to all of these questions before you arrive at your destination, but you can hit the ground running if you do a little background research beforehand.

St. Patrick’s Day – Give Yourself Something to Celebrate!

Monday, March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday can be a day of bar-hopping, green cupcakes, and corned beef, but it can also be an opportunity to enjoy yourself in healthy ways. Make yourself proud by celebrating St. Patrick’s Day using some of these tips.

• Don’t drink. You’ll consume too many calories from alcohol and lose inhibition so you consume too many calories
• Enjoy the greenery by making a special effort to get to a park or nearby nature center.
• Have fun with your children by making a treasure hunt for them to search for a 4-leaf clover.
• Wear green…and if you have lost weight since the last time you wore green, get yourself a new green outfit to celebrate!
• Find naturally green food and skip the artificial dyes and unnecessary calories in decorated cupcakes, shamrock Cookies and green beer. Instead, add spinach to your scrambled eggs, snack on edamame (green soybeans) or kale chips, and make cabbage soup.
• Instead of corned beef stew with potatoes, roast some lean beef and turnips. This healthier dish is less watery, so it is better for WLS patients who should not drink fluids at meals, and it is lower in calories, carbohydrates and fat.
• Participate in local events, such as watching a St. Patrick’s Day parade or completing a Shamrock Run 5k. If you are not yet up to a road race, consider volunteering and cheering on the runners and walkers.

Take these suggestions instead of drinking alcohol and eating high-calorie foods, and, Irish or not, you really will have something to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day!

March Madness – Are You Ready for the Tourney?

You may think you’re all ready for the NCAA basketball tournament to start on March 18. You’ve studied the teams, filled out your brackets, and placed your bets. There’s one more thing to consider before you are truly ready for the tournament, aka March Madness. What will you eat?

Watching sports on TV can lead to serious overeating, and it is worse when the tournament includes dozens of games, as does the NCAA tournament. Chowing down on pizza, fried chicken, chips and dip, and cookies can quickly stall your weight loss and throw off your blood sugar levels, not to mention make you feel extra sick because of your weight loss surgery.

Instead of choosing junk, try these WLS-friendly ideas for your March Madness parties to have fun and stay healthy.

• Line muffin cups with turkey or ham slices and fill them with a mixture of spinach, ricotta, egg whites and garlic powder. Bake.
• Play up the basketball theme by serving spherical food, such as meatballs made with lean ground turkey, mozzarella balls served with tomato sauce, and cantaloupe balls.
• Lettuce cups filled with lean ground turkey and served with salsa.
• Substitute cooked peas, broccoli, zucchini or cauliflower for half of the avocados when you make guacamole. Serve it with cut veggies yourself, and tortilla chips for your guests
• Place slices of non-fat American cheese on turkey breast slices. Cut them into circular shapes using an upside-down glass. With a clean brush or toothpick, draw designs on the cheese so that it looks like a basketball.

Of course, playing basketball can help your waistline, too. Why not start a tradition of shooting hoops or practicing your dribbling skills for a few minutes before each game? If you eat well and exercise, you will be a true winner during the NCAA tourney regardless of whether your team comes out on top.

Spring is a joyous time of growth and renewal. We hope that this spring finds you making progress toward and renewing motivation for your own goals. If you need some inspiration or have some to share, or you just want to hang out, come by BariatricPal! See you on the boards!

Thanks @@Alex Brecher these are some great tips for Spring!