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BariatricPal Newsletter - May 2015



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Hey BariatricPal Members!

It’s May, which means the weather’s beautiful and the first fresh greens of the season are starting to appear in farmer’s markets. Maybe it’s even time to start to think about your goals for the summer! Before you do, though, why not take a look through the BariatricPal newsletter. It’s packed with inspiration and tips so you can you’re your weight loss surgery journey going strong – or get it back on track. Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s newsletter.

  • Going on around the BariatricPal Boards
  • Member Spotlight in the Newsletter – Meet Djmohr!
  • Summer Fun, Summer food – Are You Ready?

Enjoy the newsletter, then logon to BariatricPal and talk about it. We can’t wait to see you on the boards!

Sincerely,

Alex Brecher

Founder, BariatricPal

Weigh in on the Board’s Hottest Topics!

Whether it’s to help out a WLS buddy in need of advice or encouragement, or you need to ask your own urgent questions, there’s always something of interest at BariatricPal. Recently, gastric sleeve patient Smye decided to generously share some of his WLS recipes in a thread he called, “Real food, Real Weight Loss, Still Delicious.” Check these ideas out. They can inspire unimaginative WLS patients and gourmet chefs alike. Thank you, Smye, for sharing your ideas and for including the nutritional values, too!

If you’re looking to give a little advice, there are plenty of BariatricPal members who need it! How about a little insight to help out a young lady who is considering WLS but worried about getting saggy skin? Or a few tips to help someone get over a serious stall? Considering skin removal surgery?

Of course, if you’re looking to compare notes on weight loss surgery and related topics, or you just want to chat, there’s plenty of conversations for you, too. How many carbs do you eat per day…or do you only count Protein? Have you developed a replacement addiction for food? Want to become a pen pal who exchanges goodie boxes with another BariatricPal member? There’s something for everyone, so be sure to log in regularly!

Insure Nutrition

We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify.

Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs.

powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury and Opurity

BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality Protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity Vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month.

Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished.

Launched in 2007, opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages:

First, each Multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China.

Choose from chewable orange-berry Multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable Calcium, Vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.”

Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership!

*You still need Calcium and sublingual B-12.

BP Deals: Affordable WLS Plus Support

If you have insurance, you know which surgeon is going to do your weight loss surgery, and you’re sure you’ll have enough post-surgery support, read no further. If you’re still looking for a weight loss surgeon, keep reading.

If you want weight loss surgery and think you’re going to be paying out of pocket, you might be wondering about Medical Tourism – getting your surgery done in another country. Thousands of patients travel across the border each year to get medical procedures done safely and for lower cost than at home. But how do you know which surgeons are trustworthy? How can you find a medical facility where the nurses speak English? How do you reserve accommodations and transportation? Where do you even begin?

May we suggest BariatricPal Deals?

It’s a way to get your bariatric surgery done for a lower price that we’ve negotiated for you. We’re confident the price is as low as possible because we’ve cut the middle man and bargained to get a bulk rate that you wouldn’t be able to get on your own. You don’t have to worry about reservations, appointments, and other details. We do it for you.

We hand-picked the bariatric surgeons that work in our BariatricPal Deals program. Each is a top surgeons in Mexico. Your package includes:

  • Lowest possible, all-inclusive prices.
  • Gastric sleeve, gastric plication, gastric bypass, mini-gastric bypass, gastric sleeve revision, or gastric bypass revision surgery.
  • Ground transportation, medical and surgical fees, hospital stay, and recovery condo stay included.
  • Bilingual medical staff, wi-fi, cable television, and phone calls home included.

You can discuss the program on the BariatricPal Deals Forum and get started with a free Skype consultation today. We would be thrilled to be the ones to guide you through your WLS journey!

Member Spotlight in the Newsletter – Meet Djmohr!

This month, we are pleased to feature Djmohr from Pewaukee, Wisconsin in our Member Spotlight section! Djmohr says she had been struggling with her weight since the birth of her second child…32 years ago! “That is a lot of yo yo dieting!”

Djmohr had watched her mother die at age 66 from diabetes and sleep apnea complications. She herself was struggling with life-threatening health issues, including psoriatic arthritis, degenerative spine disease, Severe GERD, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol, and severe Migraines. The final straw was her diagnosis of stage 3 kidney disease.

She got her roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in September of 2014. Djmohr considers herself lucky, since her family has been supportive. Her highest weight was 310 pounds. Since surgery, she has lost nearly 100 lb., and she has a goal of 165 lb. Things have gone so well she says her biggest challenge has been to occasionally stop talking about her surgery with other people!

Her health has improved dramatically, with diabetes, high cholesterol, and kidney disease all resolved! She’s sleeping better, and is off pain, cholesterol and diabetes medications. She still has arthritis, but pushes through the pain and gets her workouts in. Djmohr says she feels better afterwards when she does get her exercise in, but doesn’t always hit her goals.

She loves being able to keep up with family, and not be the one to hold them back anymore. She’s traveled with them to Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico since her surgery. Shopping is a pleasure now.

Djmohr is grateful to have BariatricPal to visit every day to give and receive support. As she hits the 7-month post-op mark, she’s ready to put more effort into helping others the way she was helped before. She’s still focused on meeting the challenges of maintenance, though.

Djmohr’s advice is to follow your doctor’s plan. It will help avoid complications, which will make the journey easier and will help you lose weight.

Thanks, Djmohr, for being in our member spotlight! It is a pleasure to see the success of people like you who are positive and eager to give back! Good luck as you approach goal weight and maintenance!

Let us know if you want to be in the Member Spotlight in the newsletter. Nominate yourself or someone else in the member spotlight forum or by sending a private message to Alex Brecher. We want to hear from you!

Summer Fun, Summer Food: Are You Ready?

Summer is around the corner, and summer activities are coming up fast. There may be trips to the beach, days at the mall, hikes, and vacations in your future. This could be your most active summer yet if you’ve lost weight recently and gotten into better shape. Are you ready to keep up the healthy habits to match the hard work you’ve already put in?

Pack a Picnic

For a family picnic, include plenty of high-protein, low-calorie options. The whole family can enjoy foods like hard-boiled eggs, celery with Peanut Butter, tuna salad made with Greek yogurt, or coleslaw made with Asian vinaigrette. Include in your picnic basket fruits and vegetables to munch on, whether it’s carrot sticks, grapes, or oranges. For a barbecue, include some turkey burgers or veggie burgers, and skip the bun.

Fend for Yourself

If you’re going on a day-long outing, make sure you think about your food ahead of time. There will be times when the family has lunch somewhere that does not have great options for your weight loss surgery diet. Think about the hot dog vendor on the beach or the snack stand at the fair…nope, fried anything-on-a-stick is not on your WLS diet! That’s when you whip out your beef Jerky, a low-fat cheese stick (string cheese), or your pre-measured serving of trail mix.

Hope you’re getting ready to enjoy your healthiest summer yet! Keep on visiting BariatricPal so you can stay on track and get ideas for making the most of your efforts to lose weight and get healthy.


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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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