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.

Hi everyone,
Today is April Fool’s Day. When I was growing up, that was my least favorite day.  I would try to fake being sick so I wouldn’t have to go to school.  It was always a day when it was OK to play tricks on the “Fat Girl.” Aren’t those memories painful?

Obesity is truly the last acceptable prejudice. We are still fair game.  Please remember as you lose weight following your surgery, to never tolerate that insensitivity from anyone. You will find that people will be open with you about their prejudice against the obese. They will have no idea that a few short months or years before, they would have been making fun of you. Stick up for those who haven’t yet found their answer to this disease.  And never forget.

If you will be in the Minnesota area April 15th to 16th, I will be the key note speaker for the Weight Loss Surgery Educational Conference and I hope you can attend. Following me on the program are the actor Ron Lester, David Fouts, and Colleen Cook among others. There are great activities and break out sessions planned. There will be a pajama party, a fashion show, cooking demonstrations, info on plastic surgery, nutrition, and lots of other topics to chose from. 

Click here for more information: http://www.wlsec.org/index.html

Yogurt May Help Burn Fat, Promote Weight Loss

http://my.webmd.com/content/article/102/106625.htm

I found this article from Web MD particularly interesting. A study has shown that those eating fat free yogurt lost 22% more weight than those who didn’t.  Additionally, those that ate the yogurt lost more body fat.  Losing body fat is so important because that is an indication that you are not losing muscle mass. Keeping muscle mass ensures that you will burn more calories, so it is all linked.

Be careful with yogurt.  Make sure that it is fat free.  You can find fat free plain yogurt easily, but most people do not like the taste of plain yogurt. You can modify plain yogurt by adding artificial sweetener to it and a little vanilla flavoring.  It then tastes exactly like vanilla yogurt. And yogurt is an excellent source of calcium.

	Just after my surgery, I was supposed to be getting in 3 protein shakes a day. I could break my plateaus by increasing my shakes by 1-2 more per day.  Use only water to mix your protein shakes, and avoid Ensure and Carnation Instant Breakfast type shakes. They have way too much sugar!!!
	I drink 2 protein drinks per day.  I have breakfast, a snack of protein, lunch, a snack of protein, supper and then a snack.  I do not eat bread and try not to eat tortilla chips either.  I do have lean meat, fish or poultry about 3 oz and veggies or salad and try to get in some no sugar added fruit.
	I love the Morning Star Veggie Grillers. One patty has 16 grams of protein and they are very easy to digest.  I eat one, topped with my favorite cheese, for breakfast and many days for lunch.
	I noticed that the foods Matty named are higher in sodium. Sodium and the water retention it causes always stalls my weight loss. It could be a factor here.
	Peanut butter was my life saver during my first few months, when nothing else sounded good. I also enjoyed the cheese that is in the can.
	Matty could try the following:
		Light string cheese - (80 calories, 8 gms protein, 3 gms fat)
		Light Cow Mini rounds (soft Swiss cheese) - 70 calories, 5 protein, 6 fat
		Add protein powder into soups, puddings, yogurts, chili and beverages to beef up the protein
		Beef Jerky - (70 calories, 10 gms. protein, 1 gm/fat per ounce)

Matty was kind enough to email a follow up after her appointment with her Dietician:.

Thank You for responding to my email.  I didn't get cottage cheese added to my diet until two days ago.  I did hang in there and my dietician explained, as you did, that my body went into a hibernation mode.  That when it doesn't get enough calories right after surgery it becomes shocked and tries to hold onto what it can.  I also was sleeping much more than usual.  Now I am back to losing, I lost another 6 pounds since I emailed you. YippEee.  Thank you again for your concern and recognition, I really appreciate it.

                                                                                              Matty 

Thanks to all who responded.  We can all learn from these suggestions.  You just can’t underestimate the importance of eating protein.

I receive email almost daily from those who have had surgery and just can’t get off those last 20 or so pounds or are starting to regain weight.  If this is you, then read on…

I am excited to announce that we now carry a new line of weight management products that includes specialized supplements, protein shakes, protein bars, entrée meals, and support items. The meals are unique in that they do not require refrigeration or freezing for storage.  The shakes and bars make a great alternative snack that keeps you away from junk food. The support items include 30-minite DVDs that cover different weight management issues.  Another support item is a journal that keeps you on track with a low glycemic index eating program, supplementation, and motivation.

Please note that the supplements are in a pill form and are recommended only for people who are more than 1 year post-op.  Taking the supplements along with a program of low glycemic index eating may help with the “weight regain after goal” problem.

As an introductory offer, there will be no shipping and handling added to orders placed between now through April 15^th.  Click the banner below to go to my new website and learn about a whole new way of managing your weight.

There is a new program on Showtime called “Fat Actress” starring Kirstie Alley. My curiosity got the better of me and I watched it.  While I found it definitely cable viewing with the language and sexual references, I had to admit that there is so much that I found so familiar in the shows that I watched.

For instance, there is an episode in which everyone thinks that Kirstie Alley is pregnant because of her size.  How many times have we had people ask us if we are pregnant?

Then there is the way men talk about how huge she is behind her back. We knew that was happening, didn’t we?

And her desperate attempts at dieting are so familiar.  She tries every diet with glee and never questions how unhealthy it might be, from overdosing on laxatives, to drinking parasites, to living in a small environment and cavorting with little people to trick her mind and make her body shrink (It was referred to as the “Koi Effect.”)

I don’t want to recommend the show because the language is awful and the sexual references are over the top.  But I definitely identified with so many of the circumstances depicted in the plots.

I would love to hear from those of you who have seen the show. Let me know what you think. Email me at Barbara@WLScenter.com

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