BariatricPal Newsletter - October 2017

October 1, 20178 yr

BariatricPal Newsletter

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Hey BariatricPal Members!

Time flies, and the summer certainly seemed to slip away for us at BariatricPal! Still, our busyness has been fun and productive, and we hope you feel the same way about your summer. Here is a newsletter that we hope will keep you centered and move you forward as we head into fall. You’ll find:

• Weight Loss Surgery Journey Help Anytime, Anywhere
• Fall Flavors, WLS Style
• Looking Backwards and Forwards During Your WLS Journey

Use this newsletter to get a handle on your weight loss surgery goals and strategies, and then launch into action! Get your meals prepped, lace up your walking shoes, and logon to the BariatricPal Forums on your computer or using the Android or iPhone app! Can’t wait to see you there!

Sincerely,
Alex Brecher
Founder, BariatricPal

Weight Loss Surgery Journey Help Anytime, Anywhere

Going through bariatric surgery, losing weight, and keeping it off is already a tall order; why would you even think about trying to go it alone? Rather than trying to go through the journey alone, you are probably better off figuring out what help you may need, and where you will find it. That way, the challenges you are sure to come across will be nothing more than little blips that you can overcome more quickly than if you were trying to face them on your own.

Your Healthcare Team

Obvious though it may seem, sometimes it is easy to forget, that your healthcare team is there…for your health. Your surgeon, primary care doctor, and specialists that you may have, such as an endocrinologist or cardiologist, can answer your health questions, and put you in touch with bariatric specialists, such as nutritionists and psychologists, when you need them.

The People Around You

People may be more willing and able to help than you realize. Look to family, friends, and even coworkers for help in your WLS journey success. They can help you in a variety of ways, both direct and indirect for your surgery and weight loss.

• Your parents and neighbors can take care of the kids or drive them to their activities, especially right after surgery when you need to rest and/or cannot drive.
• Coworkers who are trying to lose weight or who work hard to lead healthy lifestyles can be supportive as you work to eat healthy, and could walk with you at lunch.
• Friends could agree to socialize while shopping, hiking, or crafting – not eating.

BariatricPal

Really! Talk about 24/7 support, and BariatricPal should come to mind. The forums are where to go for support from BariatricPal members. You can browse or come to ask specific questions. Find helpful WLS success tips in our WLS Magazine when you read articles on nutrition, exercise, head games, and more written by experts including nutritionists, psychologists, surgeons, and successful WLS patients. Get trusted reviews on surgeons in your area in our Surgeon Directory, and check out The BariatricPal Store for protein bars and shakes, bariatric supplements, great-tasting entrees and snacks, and more products that can make your journey easier.

Fall Flavors, WLS Style

The bounty of fall is in, with apples, pumpkin, and mushrooms making their presence known. With these and other nutritious choices in season, why did diet disasters such as apple pie, pumpkin pancakes, and mushroom dip become the culinary face of fall? Classic fall foods can put a damper on weight loss, but fall fare does not need to throw you off your diet, though. Here are a few ideas that can get you your fall fix while letting you hit your fall goals.

Apples

Crisp fall apples are so innocent, until they turn into apple pie a la mode, apple cobbler, and apple butter. You are far better off pairing these fiber-packed fruits with Peanut Butter Powder, which adds some low-fat, reduced-calorie protein. Or, try great-tasting apple-flavored protein punches, without extra sugar in apples or baked goods, in the form of Protein Fruit Drinks, Apple Pie Protein Bars, and Cinnamon Apple Protein Oatmeal. Check out our Apple-Flavored Collection!

Cinnamon

Nothing screams “autumn!” like cinnamon and spice, but the food industry takes the flavors to dangerous places. Cinnamon turns from a blood sugar-lowering agent into a sweetened flavor that brings too many calories and too much sugar and fat: think cinnamon latte, cinnamon French toast, and cinnamon buns, for example. Get your fix instead from our Cinnamon-Flavored Protein Foods, such as Cinnamon Swirl Protein One Meal Replacement, Cinnamon Vanilla and Cinnamon Crunch Protein Cereal, and Cinnamon Crunch and Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Protein Bars. They are low in carbs, and high in protein and flavor.

Pumpkin, Chili, and More

A piece of pumpkin bread or pumpkin muffin has about twice the sugars you need in a day, and hardly any pumpkin. A bowl of beefy chili can have your daily dose of saturated fat and sodium. Those creamed mushrooms may smell appetizing, but what if their rich sauce sends you to the bathroom with dumping syndrome? Don’t do it! You are better off going with Pumpkin Protein Muffins with 20 grams of protein, low-carb, protein-rich instant entrees such as Vegetable or Turkey Chili, and Creamy Mushroom Protein Soup or Meal Replacement. You will get the fall flavor, without the hit to your waistline. Check The BariatricPal Store for more fall flavors you love, with nutritionals you love, too. We have treats for every phase of the WLS diet, including liquid, pureeds, soft, and solid foods.

Looking Backwards and Forwards During Your WLS Journey

Bariatric surgery is a process, not an endpoint. Getting bariatric surgery, losing weight, and keeping it off are a lifelong journey. They require commitment and effort, and you might be best able to keep it up if you balance looking back with looking ahead.

Backwards: Staying True to Yourself and Celebrating Achievements

Your past may be behind you, but it shaped you and still affects you today. Remember who you were and the frustrated or other negative feelings you may have had before surgery or before you started considering surgery, and you may help yourself stay motivated to keep moving forward. You can also honor your past by marking milestones, such as weight loss markers, fitting into smaller clothes or other NSVs, and your surgiversaries.

Forwards: Setting New Goals

There is always something to achieve, and setting new goals will help you move forward. There are weight loss milestones on the way to goal weight and goal weight. Along the way and beyond, you can always set goals to improve fitness, try new activities, and keep growing as the result of your commitment to yourself and your health.

As always, we support whatever commitment you make to yourself and your health, and we are thrilled to be a part of your journey whenever you allow us to be. Good luck this fall in your quest for health, and thanks for being a BariatricPal member!