WLS Center E-Newsletter

A FREE publication from
http://www.wlscenter.com

Hosted by Barbara Thompson
Author of:
Weight Loss Surgery:
Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside You.

I remember as a child checking the calendar to see if I would be lucky enough that year for April Fool’s Day to fall on a weekend, so I wouldn’t have to endure being the “butt” of one of my classmate’s jokes. Most of us were overweight as children so it always seemed like we were an especially easy target on the one day of the year when any restraint about teasing was totally abandoned. Even now that I am of normal weight, I still dislike the day.  I suppose the memory of it still stings.

Dear Barbara,
Thank you so much for everything you do for weight loss surgery promotion and the weight loss surgery community. 

I had my original open RNY on Jan. 30, 2002, and a revision on Jan. 17, 2003 due to a staple line disruption.  On Dec. 30, 2003 I had a pannictulectomy (15 pounds of skin was removed) and a hernia repair.

My starting weight in 2002 was 365 pounds, and I now weigh 240 pounds.  I also just
turned 40 years old this year.

My question, or dilemma, is that I want to lose more weight!!!  I am feeling very hungry a lot of the time, and feel like I pick lot.  I still have difficulty with eating some foods, and regurgitate at least once a week.

What can I do to get back to losing again?  I've increased my protein (actually my surgeon turned me on to an absolutely awesome protein powder) and I'm trying to cut back on the carbs. 

Please help me.  Is there some sort of eating style or types of foods that I should defiantly incorporate or avoid totally?

I still want to lose about another 60 lbs.

Thanks for being there,

Candy Wallace
Bath, PA
candywallace@juno.com

Dear Candy,

I have received many questions that are just like yours, so don’t feel like you are alone. 

You didn’t mention that you have regained any weight so that is excellent.  It sounds like your weight has stabilized at a level that you are not happy with.  In order to get your weight loss moving, you have to make some changes.

The first is to examine what you are eating.  If you are hungry a lot of the time, you are probably grazing on carbs. I believe that most of us who are morbidly obese are very carbohydrate sensitive.  Try to severely limit your carbohydrates for a few days to see if you can break the carb cycle that I would suspect that you are on.  If you are grazing a lot, then you are probably grazing on carbohydrates. 

Also, many people confuse feelings of hunger with feels of thirst.  When you feel hungry, drink a glass or two of water and wait 15 minutes and see if that takes care of the sensation.  If it doesn’t, then eat some protein. 

Be sure to have some protein sources readily available.  Buy some ricotta cheese and mix it with artificial sweetener, some vanilla extract and some cinnamon and have that ready.  Boil some eggs and keep them refrigerated.  Buy some cheese cubes or slices of turkey pepperoni. Raw vegetables are also good choices because they provide that chewing sensation. You mentioned that you like the protein powder that your surgeon suggested.  Identify when you tend to get hungry and plan a protein drink around that time.

You need to start an exercise program and I don’t mean walking.  You need to do a cardio exercise for at least 30 minutes a minimum of 3 to 4 times per week.  I cannot stress how important this is. 

Your task is not easy.  You are beyond the “Window of Opportunity” so it will be more of a struggle to lose weight.  Take your time and do not get discouraged. Be happy with losing a pound or two in a week.

Good luck!

Candy would like to hear from anyone else that has a similar problem.  She can be emailed at candywallace@juno.com

If you would like to ask me a question and agree to my sharing it in a future e-newsletter, send it to me at Barbara@wlscenter.com and indicate “E-newsletter Advice” in the subject line and mention that I can use the question in the e-newsletter somewhere in the email.

You asked for it and we got it!!!

Since the telephone seminar “It’s All About Food” in January with Chef David Fouts, many of you have called and emailed asking for his cookbook, “Culinary Classics.” We are now carrying David’s cookbook on our shopping cart.  It is a cookbook just for us! It is full of wonderful recipes that have been formulated with weight loss surgery patients in mind.  Get your copy by clicking here http://www.wlscenter.com/1shopmain.htm .  (If you haven’t purchased the telephone seminar CD titled “It’s All About Food,” look for the package deals that will save you $9.)

      Mashed Sweet Potatoes

With Easter right around the corner, if you are looking for a recipe for sweet potatoes for your Easter dinner, take a look at the recipe below.  If you are watching carbohydrates and following an “Atkins” or “South Beach” approach to eating then you know that when it comes to potatoes, sweet potatoes are much better for you than white potatoes.

This recipe is from David Fouts’ cookbook, “Culinary Classics.” 

Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Mashed sweet potatoes with a hint of spice and walnuts

Servings: 4

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon allspice
2/3 cup Splenda
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 

Directions:
Boil potatoes until soft
Remove potatoes from pan, place in bowl.
Mash potatoes with a potato masher or mixer.
Add butter and cream; stir.
Add Splenda and allspice; stir.

Sprinkle with chopped nuts

           Annette Wappes

I want to offer a special thanks to Annette Wappes for sharing her story with us.  Here is her story:

Hi Barbara,
I wanted to write to you and give you my story. I hope that it inspires others.

My name is Annette Wappes and I have a new lease on life. Seriously, I'm soon to be 56 years old and I had my RNY surgery on May 19, 2003 at the Methodist Hospital in Merrillville, IN. My surgeon was Paul Stanish, MD. He's quite a guy! I can't say enough good things about the hospital staff and the surgeon and his staff. They were all wonderful!

I weighed 296 pounds and was as wide as I am tall. I wore a size 4x, which was getting too tight!!! I'm 5'3" on a good day and before surgery there just weren't any good days. I was diagnosed with diabetes 12 years ago and was on 14 different medications before my surgery. I was on diabetic pills plus insulin, two kinds of high blood pressure medicine, several kinds of pain medications, plus medication for diabetic neuropathy.

I couldn't walk far or stand for any length of time. My feet and legs were not only swollen but they were numb from the neuropathy. My knees were bad with arthritis, my hands were swollen and I suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome. Both hands were operated on twice. I also had arthritis. I used a cane to walk and rode in a electric cart whenever I went to Wal-mart or the grocery store, which wasn't often. I was too tired, sore and embarrassed to go anywhere.

For the rest of Annette's story along with before and after photos, Click Here

I love good news.  If you have good news, a success story to share, or inspiration, please send it to me at Barbara@wlscenter.com so that I can include it in future issues.

Are you 2 or more years post-op? If so, I need to know what your secret is for maintaining your weight. I will be using your story to include in a mini e-book on the secrets of success of weight loss surgery patients. You must write at least 1 full page. Anything less than 1 page will not be useable. I also need your before and after pictures sent via email. I need to know how you eat, what you do for exercise, and any tips that you have to offer. This will be a tremendous help to people who are having the common problem of weight gain following surgery, or are struggling to maintain their weight loss.

Send your stories to Barbara@wlscenter.com

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“Reprinted from Barbara Thompson’s free e-newsletter featuring helpful information and research material to help patients succeed following weight loss surgery. Subscribe at http://www.wlscenter.com ”

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