Weight Loss Information

Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is often viewed as a quick fix for morbid obesity. One day a person is fat, the next they are not. While it may appear to onlookers that a gastric bypass patient is losing the weight without personal struggle or effort, this really isn’t true. WLS patients must follow four rules for success and they experience four phases of growth following surgery.

The four rules for successful weight loss and long-term weight maintenance are: Eat protein first; No snacking, Drink lots of water and Exercise daily. Adherence to these rules moves the patient smoothly through the four stages of bariatric growth which I define as: Conception, Infancy, Adolescence and Maturity.

Conception begins when patients consider surgery as a treatment for morbid obesity. It could be prompted by a life threatening illness such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol, asthma, heartburn or sleep apnea. Or perhaps lifestyle prompts it – a person may lack the energy to play with their children or pursue the activities they love. Maybe self-esteem is so low because of obesity that a drastic measure – surgery – is needed to restore a sense of self-worth.

Conception is followed by birth, an event left entirely to a carefully selected surgeon and staff of healthcare professionals. The surgeon partitions off most of the stomach creating a pocket or pouch that will hold one ounce of food. In most gastric bypass surgeries the digestive system is re-routed to bypass the intestine and shortcut to the bowel. This prevents too many calories from being absorbed and stored by the body in the form of fat. The patient wakes from the surgery a bariatric infant.

Infancy On the second day of my WLS infancy my surgeon stood at my hospital bedside and showed me a cup, the size in which sacramental communion is offered and he said “This is the size of your stomach now.”

Just like bringing a newborn home from the hospital the bariatric patient brings home a tiny newborn tummy that has all kinds of requirements and restrictions. This new tiny tummy is completely foreign to the behaviors and habits that caused obesity. There is not one single thing an obese person has done in the past that they can continue doing. Patients who strictly follow the four rules quickly become acquainted with their new tiny tummy. This is the time of rapid weight loss. For the first time most morbidly obese patients are consistently losing lots of weight, something they have never experienced before. Infancy for most bariatric patients lasts from nine to 18 months.

Similar to parents of a firstborn child who focus completely on their new baby, during bariatric infancy patients completely focus on their new tiny tummy. Then one day, without fanfare, they wake up and rediscover themselves. They enter adolescence.

Adolescence Adolescence is the stage when patients test the system. Many patients don’t dump, vomit, snack or eat the forbidden foods until they reach adolescence. But once they approach or reach target weight a mental bad boy shows up in a shiny black corvette saying take a ride on the wild side. So a patient jumps in the bad boy’s fast ride and speeds down a dangerous road. They break the rules! Perhaps they eat sugar which results in a blood sugar imbalance called “dumping” or they may stuff themselves with starchy carbs causing vomiting. In the worst case, a patient returns to snacking, a little treat of hard candy here and a handful of popcorn there. Mark my words, nothing stops-short weight loss or maintenance more quickly than a little bit of rule breaking. But like any teenager, we all have to learn it on our own.

The good news: the duration of adolescence is up to the patient! A patient only hurts themselves when they break the rules. Successful WLS patients commit to themselves early to be in control of their own gastric bypass growth cycle. However, some WLS patients get stuck in adolescence. I’ve heard many say, “Oh, I can eat anything I want, just not much of it.” Don’t believe it for a minute. They aren’t saying how often they vomit, or dump or how they never quite achieved their weight loss goal. Weight loss patients who eat anything they want are abusing their tool and stuck in perpetual adolescence.

Maturity At maturity a patient understands the gastric bypass system and is living the life they dreamed. They have achieved desired weight loss and are maintaining a healthy weight. A diligent patient can enjoy this phase for the rest of their life.

I believe WLS maturity is reached when patients understand one word: respect. Respect for the tiny tummy, respect for the science of the body, and respect for oneself. Sure, we all experience an occasional lapse of judgment; that old lover of ours – food – is flaunting temptations every single day. But the gastric bypass patient is a brave and powerful person.

Successful patients build on infant and teenage experiences and become an adult embracing all the good things gastric bypass has facilitated. The battle against obesity isn’t easy; patients will fight old habits for the rest of their life. Gastric bypass is a tool, a weapon in the battle against obesity, but it is the patient who wins the war.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com – Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

If you’re a man who is 100 pounds overweight or a woman who is 80 pounds overweight or you are less than morbidly obese but have heart disease, diabetes or sleep apnea, a bariatric surgeon may consider you eligible for weight loss surgery. But one of the first questions that your surgeon will ask you is, “have you given full attempt at non surgical alternatives?”

Your answer should be a resounding yes. Though there are less invasive weight loss surgeries such as a Lap-Band procedure, which is not an open surgery and has a faster recovery time than many other surgeries, surgery as well as medical operations of every kind, should be treated with the utmost seriousness.

If you haven’t attended to your health as much as you should be attending to it and have not attempted to reduce to a healthier weight but find yourself in the position where losing weight is critical, you can try some alternatives before getting weight loss surgery.

However, keep in mind that success in your efforts require a true commitment and work on your part. There is no easy work-free solution, even when it comes to weight loss surgery, which is pointless without a willingness on your part to keep your end of the bargain and explore all options and stay active to maintain a natural healthy weight once you lose weight from the surgery.

Good non surgical methods that you should fully explore before surgery include, closely monitoring your caloric intake and sticking to a healthy daily count, keeping a daily food journal to fully understand what your eating habits are and where you may be going wrong and seven hours a week of exercise that combines cardio and weight training.

Remember that everyone is different and that you must customize your diet and exercise plan to you, your personal physical weaknesses, body mass index, strengths, schedule, food tastes etc. Making sure that your diet and exercise plan is as well integrated as possible into your schedule and physical capacities, is the best way to keep you motivated and on track throughout your weight loss efforts.

If you are a person who has already given diet and exercise without surgery a serious go, and your weight is putting your health at serious risk, it’s time to consider weight loss surgery. Contact a trustworthy bariatric surgeon to learn whether or not you’re a good candidate for weight loss surgery.

To learn more about weight loss surgery options visit http://www.richardcolliermd.com.

When considering weight loss surgery, one thing that many people question is the gastric bypass diet. Will I be able to eat the foods I like?

And in many cases, the answer is yes – and no.

One of the reasons people choose this option is that in some ways, the surgery itself can force you to stay on the gastric bypass diet. If you eat too much, you’ll get sick. If you eat things that are high in fat or sugar, you can experience “dumping syndrome,” a miserable mix of nausea, sweating, pulse pounding and possibly even headache or cramps.

But not everyone dumps. And not everyone who dumps in the early days after surgery continues to do so in the years that follow. Plus, it is possible to stretch your pouch, or learn other tricks that will allow you to eat more than you should.

So, just like every other weight loss method, the gastric bypass diet eventually does come down to a bit of willpower. The difference here is that the surgery gives you a wonderful tool, and if you learn to use it correctly, you will be successful. A lot of work must go into changing your habits during the early post-op days when you have less choice in the matter, so that by the time your body adjusts itself you can stick to the choices you know are right.

In other words, eventually you may be physically able to eat just about anything. But that doesn’t mean you won’t suffer the consequences of weight regain if you do.

So what is the gastric bypass diet? What are the foods you will be eating if you choose to have gastric bypass surgery?

• In the first few weeks after surgery, you’ll progress slowly from clear liquids to pureed foods to soft things like eggs, cottage cheese and broiled fish.
• It’s important that you get enough protein. Many surgeons set that requirement at 60 grams a day. In the beginning especially, many patients can only get that amount through supplements like protein shakes. So you drink a lot of these.
• As your gastric bypass diet progresses, you’re expected to get more and more of your protein from real food. Which means every snack and meal should be based upon a protein source, and that protein should be eaten first. Lean sources are best as high fat items not only slow weight loss, they can cause you to dump. Seafood items like fish, shrimp, scallops, etc. are often high in protein and very low in fat. Other good options are lowfat cheeses, eggs, chicken, lean cuts of beef or pork.
• Many nutritionists will say that no food is completely off limits. But if you have room after your protein, you’ll want to limit carbs as much as possible. Things like breads and rice are not tolerated well in the early stages anyway. The gastric bypass diet often winds up looking a lot like the Atkins diet for this reason.
• You’ll want to sneak fiber into your gastric bypass diet wherever possible. Beans (pinto, black beans, garbanzos’, etc.) are fantastic sources of the fiber that will keep you “regular” and of additional protein as well.
• You must drink at least 64 oz of water or other liquids every day. Which basically means that you’re constantly sipping something in between meals.

Within a year to 18 months after surgery, the gastric bypass diet should look a lot like that of a normal, healthy person. Lean sources of protein, fiber and healthy vegetables. If you stick to those foods most of the time, the occasional unhealthy item won’t derail your weight loss. It becomes the diet you can truly live with for the rest of your long, healthy life!

What’s life really like after gastric bypass surgery? Lisa Packer had hers on 7/19/07. She shares the honest truth – both good and bad – about this life changing surgery at Gastric Bypass Truth : The Skinny On Life After Weight Loss Surgery. Whether you’re considering surgery, have already gone through it, or have a loved one who has, you’ll find a wealth of information on life after gastric bypass [http://gastricbypasstruth.com/life-after-gastric-bypass/]. Visit today and share your thoughts!

I was born with the disease obesity and by the time I was out of college it had advanced to morbid obesity. At age 33 my disease was treated with gastric bypass surgery which affected a loss of weight that put my disease, morbid obesity, in remission. Three years later I suffered a relapse of my disease with a weight gain of 20 pounds. Through dietary and lifestyle compliance, much like a person with heart disease who suffers a relapse, I was able to put my disease, obesity, back in remission. I will always have the disease of morbid obesity and am fortunate that I was able, at a young age, to be treated with the best medically available option.

The Facts:

• Obesity is a disease.
• Weight loss puts the disease in remission.
• Weight gain puts the disease in relapse.
• Like most diseases, victims of obesity are responsible to make dietary and lifestyle changes that work with medical treatment to keep our disease in remission.
• Like most diseases, relapses occur, obesity manifests relapse in weight gain.
• We are not the disease, we have the disease.

My Four Truths:

1. Regain Is Likely: It is generally believed that 80% of people who undergo weight loss surgery (WLS) will experience weight gain (relapse) of 10-30 pounds depending upon initial weight loss. It is further believed that 20% of those will relapse to their former weight and possibly gain more as the disease of morbid obesity advances. This relapse can be the result of failed gastric surgery (the surgery was improperly performed or medical device failure); a non-compliant patient who does not evolve their eating and exercise habits; the active intestine becoming more efficient at absorbing calories; and potential stomach pouch stretch. Dr. Anita Courcoulas, chief of minimally invasive bariatric and general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said, “Regaining weight down the road is a common phenomenon for weight loss patients. These patients need to be educated and prepared for it if it happens.”
2. 100% Conviction: It is my experience that 100% of patients who take to the operating table for the treatment of their disease say, “I’m not going to be one of those people who gain weight after surgery.” You can bet the farm I said that – and imagine my embarrassment and shame when I did in fact become one of those people. At the time I didn’t understand my disease had relapsed, in part because I had relaxed my newly evolved eating and exercise habits, but also because my body has a disease that wants to store excess fat. I thought I gained weight because I was a failure at surgery.
3. I failed AGAIN! I am not alone in my feelings of failure over weight regain. Dr. Courcoulas said, “These are people who feel that they have failed at everything they tried in their lives. If they feel that they are failing surgery, they’re embarrassed and they don’t want to come back for help.” How sad for us. When a cancer patient suffers a relapse do they take it as a personal failure? I sure hope not. Popular media perpetuates the belief that weight gain equals failure. WLS celebrities are splashed across mainstream media and tabloids alike for weight regain. But the celebrity with cancer who suffers relapse? Charity benefits are hosted bearing their name and their bravery is lauded. With a relapse in obesity the celebrity becomes the brunt of jokes for late night comedians. No wonder we don’t want to become one of those people but statistics are not on our side
4. I Am Not Obese. Since kindergarten the word “fat” defined me and I actually thought that was who I was because “You are fat” and “I am fat” were constant phrases in my world. By about age 40 I finally figured out that I am not fat. I have obesity, a disease. Have you heard a heart attack patient say, “I am heart disease” or a leukemia patient say, “I am cancer”? We are not the disease! We have a disease that is part of the whole person that makes us the wonderfully unique and powerful person we are.

Relapse to Remission: Just like other diseases, obesity relapse can be put into remission. There is hope! As noted above there are (at least) four reasons for relapse including: failed gastric surgery; a non-compliant patient who does not evolve their eating and exercise habits; the active intestine becoming more efficient at absorbing calories; and potential stomach pouch stretch. Keeping in mind that statistically weight regain is likely, that you are not a failure, and that you are not the disease, you can pragmatically go about mapping a plan to fight your relapse.

• Seek medical help and treatment: you are fighting a killer disease
• Assess your eating and exercise evolution and return to the lifestyle prescribed at the time of surgery
• Educate yourself on nutrition, physical and spiritual health so they may work in harmony to heal your body
• Seek support, family, friends, community, and fellow patients to help maintain your personal motivation
• Educate others to stop the ignorance and blame and promote the understanding of this illness we are fighting.

Kaye Bailey 2010 – All Rights Reserved

Kaye Bailey is an internationally recognized writer, speaker and weight loss surgery advocate. She is the author of the highly successful weight loss surgery back to basics plan: 5 Day Pouch Test and the 5 Day Pouch Test Owner’s Manual. Her follow-up book, Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test, was published in December 2009. It provides guidance for long-term weight and health management with all bariatric surgical procedures. Ms. Bailey is known for her powerful “you can do this” manner and her belief in the power of personal responsibility. She is the founder of LivingAfterWLS, LLC parent company to the LivingAfterWLS.com and 5daypouchtest.com websites. Supporting both websites is the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood, an online compassion-driven community for weight loss surgery, gastric bypass and gastric banding patients.

LivingAfterWLS
5 Day Pouch Test

Losing weight via surgery has become quite common these days even before exploring all of the other options out there. If we cut through the hype and salesmanship on the subject, it sure would make things a lot easier. But the truth is there are always alternatives to a weight loss surgery, that will help you lose excess weight fast, without under going painful and costly surgery.

To melt off the unwanted weight without any hard work or surgery, all you need to do is to change your eating habits or routine. Most people stuck in overweight bodies, considering surgeries, don’t realize that the cure lies at the base of the problem i.e. the reason why many of us gain weight is the consumption of undesired food products. We have very little real knowledge about what we put in our bodies. In this area knowledge is truly king!

Getting rid of unhealthy eating habits also cleanses your body system supporting weight loss protocol. Consuming fruits and vegetables along with lean protein does not just provide you with the essential ingredients, but also supports your body functions without adding any undesired weight. But if you don’t know what well marketed processed foods are doing to clog your system, fill you with parasites, yes, parasites, and prevent you from losing and keeping weight off. You will never stop the yo-yo weight gain/lose cycle.

So, if you are someone looking for alternatives to weight loss surgery, begin by doing some research on the truth about your diet. I have found a excellent source of this information in a easy to read (only-39 pages) and understand ebook by Dr. Susan Gudakunst. Before you let anyone do surgery on you, know all of your options. This Dr. is going against the grain with the information she is revealing. I found it very refreshing, I hope this article was helpful in your search for alternatives to weight loss surgery.

http://www.squidoo.com/DrSGBreakthrough
http://superiorselfimprovement.blogspot.com

For those whose weight puts them at a very high health risk, there are surgical options to help. Weight loss surgery is very serious – there are a number of risks, and for this reason it is done only after extensive consultation with your doctor. There are several methods, weight loss surgery, but they all take place in one of two forms: by limiting the amount that you eat, by the absorption of calories, or both. There are many specific proceduresused, and we discuss below a few of them.

Restrictive procedures: Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, or VBG is the procedure which restricts only the amount of food patients can eat. With VBG, which is part of the stomach near the esophagus stapled vertically about 2.5 cm. This creates a small pouch for the stomach. In addition, the outlet from the stomach through the band, the food leave the stomach more slowly, so you are limitedto feel fuller longer.

VBG surgery is effective, and studies show that patients over 50% of its goal to maintain weight loss after ten years. Another advantage is that it allows you to resume normal nutrients. However, the procedure itself does not guarantee results because it is too easy to eat and extend through the stomach pouch, or rupture the staples. In the end, about 40% of VBG patients lose less than half of their desired weight.

Malabsorptive procedures: BiliopancreaticDiversion

This procedure, which is commonly known as BPD is more common in Europe than in the U.S.. It allows food to be poorly digested and absorbed into the body. With this method, a full two thirds of the stomach is removed, creating a stomach of about two to three cups of volume. This remaining stomach is a part connected to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of the gastrointestinal tract. This means that take the enzymes and bile needed for proper digestion of food later inStomach and intestine, making it less time to digest and absorb into the body before it reaches the large intestine.

Combined procedures: gastric bypass Roux-en-Y

The gastric bypass Roux-en-Y is the most popular weight loss surgery procedures in the United States, and it works both limiting the amount of food is included, as well as inhibiting the absorption of calories and nutrients. The procedure is performed by creating a stomach pouch, as in the VBG and then connecting theGastric pouch with a Y-shaped part of the intestine, called the Roux limb. This allows the food to the first two sections of the small intestine bypass. The weight loss surgery procedures can be adjusted from one patient to another, such as the length of either part of the intestine can be increased or reduced in order to show more or less calorie absorption to enable links.

All weight loss surgery procedures described here have their advantages and disadvantages. Some, like the gastric bypass Roux-en-Y, can lead toLoss of 60-80% of excess weight within two years. Others work more slowly and have a higher body weight gain.

And they all have their risks. Each malabsorptive procedures will be accompanied by a strict eating program and nutrients that must be followed religiously to avoid developing serious health problems, so weight loss surgery is a lifelong choice, not a single event. In addition, each of these processes can develop potentially fatal complications, so it is not very important to decideslightly to the weight loss surgery. While it is effective for most people, it is important to sit down and have a long talk with your doctor about your risks and options.