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.

Hello Everyone:
It’s that time of year when you hear that door bell ring; you open the door and scream!!! Ahhhh!!! It’s a girl scout tempting you with Thin Mints and Samoas. And those girl scouts are so cute and so sweet and you hate to say no. It is such a good organization and you want to be supportive.  Plus how can you say no, when the little scout’s mother has bought so many things that your children have sold?

If you have trouble staying away from girl scout cookies, just remember that girl scouts will be happy to take a donation and not give you cookies in return. Hand over a few dollars and pass on the Do-Si-Do’s!

In This Issue

* Are You Where You Want to Be?
* Timing of Plastic Surgery
* Research Article: Is Weight Loss Surgery For You?
*Calories, Calories
* Recipe: Chicken Soup with Greens and Black Beans
* Success Story: The Arnett Family

If you’re not happy with your weight, then join the Back on Track with Barbara Program.

Would you like results like this?
“I am loving this Back on Track With Barbara Program. It really does keep me on track.  I like having a new lesson each week, and practicing each of the new steps in the lessons. I know I need constant encouragement to keep the grazing under control. The low glycemic foods are a wonderful help. Let's hear it for Barbara! I'm so glad she is doing this work for us. This is a real need she is filling.”

Carole
New Jersey

For more information or to join the Program,
go to http://www.BackOnTrackWithBarbara.com

Questions about plastic surgery seem to start about 1 year post-op. Here are two questions that I’m sure many of you share.

Dear Barbara,
I receive your newsletters and I enjoy them very much. I'm 13 months out from my surgery and down 160 pounds. I have around 40-70 more pounds to lose depending on which doctor I talk to. I would like to have something addressed about when to have plastic surgery. How do you know? I heard that when you have most of the weight off that you start checking into it.

I also heard that it's almost impossible to get insurance to pay for it. We have Select Blue. They denied my surgery the first time and then after some work on my part about which diets I'd tried and how long on each they approved it. Thanks for your help on this.

Carol McKenzie
mooselover@zoominternet.net

Hi Carol,

You will need to lose all of your weight first and then stabilize for about 6 months to make sure that you are not just on a plateau. This will also allow your skin to retract slightly. Remember that you won’t necessarily lose the 40 to 70 pounds left, but hopefully you will. You don’t want to have plastic surgery and have your skin nice and tight, lose additional weight and end up with sagging skin again. So be patient until you are sure your weight is as low as it will go.

Insurance companies look at paying for plastic surgery the same way they look at paying for weight loss surgery. The question they ask is, “Is it medically necessary?” If you can prove that the plastic surgery is for medical reasons and not for cosmetic reasons, then you have a chance. Don’t go by what other people say about insurance companies not covering plastic surgery, because all insurance companies and all plans are different. It just depends upon your own plan and if you can convince them that you are medically effected. If your excess skin has caused a rash and an infection that must be medically treated, if you have difficulty walking or if the sagging skin is causing you back problems and pain, then those are issues they will consider.  It is very important to start getting your problems treated so they will be documented in your medical records.

For those of you still considering weight loss surgery, WebMD featured a terrific interview of my surgeon, Dr. Phil Schauer who is now leading the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric Center in Cleveland, OH. 

Click Here to check out Dr. Schauer's website

In the article Dr. Schauer covered:

·        Gastric bypass, Lap Band and Duodenal Switch surgeries

·        How surgery effects appetite

·        Pouch size and overeating

·        Are you a candidate

·        Insurance

·        Diabetes

·        Plateaus and weight regain

·        Risks of surgery and recovery

·        Future of weight loss surgery
 

2 tsp. canola oil
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 small red or green pepper, diced
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
6 cups mustard greens, lightly packed, diced*
4 cups fat free chicken broth
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup (3 ounces) cooked chicken, shredded
4 tsp grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oil in a Dutch oven and add the peppers and onion. Sauté about 4 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Stir in tomatoes and greens and cook stirring and folding about 3 minutes or until the greens collapse and turn bright green.

Pour in the broth.  Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until the greens are tender, about 15 or 20 minutes. Mix in beans and chicken. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Divide into 4 bowls. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over each serving.

*If you don’t like mustard greens, you can substitute escarole

Makes 4 servings. Each serving:
149 Calories, 18 grams of Carbs, 13 grams of Protein

If you have a recipe that you would like to share in future issues of this newsletter, please send it to me at Barbara@WLScenter.com

I want to offer a special thanks to Debbie Arnett and her 2 daughters, Michelle and Brandi. Here are their stories:

Hi Barbara,
The three of us girls have lost over 350 pounds.

My surgery was 11/17/03
My 21 year old daughter had hers 12/17/04
My 19 year old daughter had hers 06/01/05

We are doing great.

I remember being the fattest girl in every class at school. I was always the last one picked on the dreaded team in physical education class. I can remember being so mad at being picked last. And yes I can remember the dreaded weighing in at the once a year report card time. I still do not know why it was so important to put our weight on the report card back then.

I reached my highest weight of 286 pounds when I was pregnant. I never lost the weight after the first child and gained more with the second child. I weighed 277 pounds and wore a size 30-32 when I had my date with Dr. Babineau. Let me say that Dr. Babineau is the greatest.

I had some complications with my surgery and had to receive a blood transfusion and stay in the hospital for 5 days, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Needless to say I trust Dr. Babineau with my life and my two daughters’ lives also.

My girls have my genes and large genes they are. We are a success at this point even if we lose no more weight.

I have lost 152 pounds and my daughters have lost over 125 and 88 pounds respectively. Michelle started at 282 pounds and now is in a size 8-10. Brandi started at size 20-22 and now is in a size 8.

We are doing great. I tell everyone to make their own decision based on what they need in their lives, not by our success. You must make your own decision and research all you can and know the risks involved.

It is not the easy way out. It is a life-changing event.

Thanks

Debbie Arnett
ARN4ABG@aol.com

Congratulations Debbie
Congratulations Brandi
Congratulations Michelle

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.