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BariatricPal Newsletter - October 2017



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BariatricPal Newsletter

Bariatric Pal - Your friend in Bariatrics
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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! 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. Cinnamon-Flavored Protein Foods
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!



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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • 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.

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