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WLS Center E-Newsletter
A FREE publication by
http://www.wlscenter.com
Issue # 27, July 1, 2003
Circulation: 8,282
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From the Desk of Barbara Thompson
Author of "Weight Loss Surgery, Finding the Thin Person Hiding
Inside You"
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** In this Issue **
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* Survey: Newsletter Frequency
* FAQ: Watching our Children Grow
* Eating While Traveling: Readers Responses
* Live Broadcast of a Lap RNY Procedure
* Announcing the Third Edition
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** Survey: Newsletter Frequency **
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The results are in and the overwhelming vote was to have the
newsletter appear twice a month in a shorter version. Now I just
hope that I don’t get too long winded and end up with 2 very long
newsletters!
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** FAQ:
Watching Our Children Grow **
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I received this question recently and it touches on what many of
us face in regards to our children, so I wanted to share it with all
of you.
Dear Barbara,
I recently heard you speak at Latrobe Hospital in March. You were
wonderful! I got good advice and information.
I have lost 140 pounds in 9 months and am thrilled with my
progress, as is my family. But I am concerned about my 15 year old
daughter who has genetic tendencies for obesity from both sides of
the family. We now wear the same size and she is very upset about
that. She refuses to take my advice about eating and in the last 2
days she has eaten nothing but junk food. I was upset because there
is a lot of much healthier food in the house to eat. I don’t know
what to do. I want to help her to not get any heavier. She has
gained about 30 pounds since Christmas. I have tried to explain how
unhappy I was all through school and college because of my weight.
She just doesn’t want to hear it. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Susan
Answer:
I know it is heartbreaking to see your child headed for the same
problems that you faced. But most of us were lectured and
yelled at by our parents, some were even made fun of. Yet it
made no difference. If anything, it probably made the situation
worse.
I am a great believer in positive reinforcement and setting an
example. Let your daughter know when you are exercising and let her
see you eat healthy food. And when she does anything positive,
like eat a salad or exercise, then praise her. Don't say,
"It's about time that you are doing that." Just help her to
feel good about herself. She knows what she is doing. She is
(like we were) unable to control it at this time. At least you
know that should she become morbidly obese, there is a solution for
her. In the meantime, show her as much love as you can for the
person that she is inside.
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** Eating While on Vacation **
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I received some excellent responses on the subject of eating
while on vacation that I posed in last month’s issue. There were
many suggestions that I will use on my next trip! Here they are:
When eating out, order a protein-based appetizer and a side salad
and you have more than enough for a meal. I find it difficult not to
gorge myself on a dinner, so this built-in portion control works
nicely for me.
--Betty
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I travel a lot on business, often for a week at a time and here's
I do:
Upon arriving at my destination I find the closest grocery store
and buy the following items:
** Rye crisp and peanut butter (great for breakfast or a snack)
** A couple of apples, bananas or small pop-top cans of fruit in
juice (which I drain or rinse out)
** Small cans of chicken, turkey, or tuna
** Knife, fork and spoon (disposable if I don't have checked
baggage)
** Splenda or Sweet & Low
** Herbal tea
** Baby carrots and a green pepper that I slice into strips
** Bottled water
** Raw, unsalted nuts
None of these items require refrigeration and they hold up well
in the ice bucket.
Dinner is usually the only meal I eat out when I'm on the road
and then my favorites are the appetizers, fish, shrimp, crab, or
anything with ground meat and no pasta, and hearty soups.
If I have a refrigerator available I take the leftovers back to
the hotel for a meal another night. Most hotels have microwaves in
the lobby area if not in the room. I've even reheated soups
(non-cream-based only) by putting them in the coffee pot and on a
pre-heated warmer. Do not pour through the machine!!!
Hope this helps!
Edie Payleitner
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In response to your travel tips, recently I drove from Atlanta to
Philadelphia. In the past I would stop at fast food places along the
way for meals just to keep driving. This time I packed a
cooler with fat free cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, and applesauce
- all the staples I use to on my diet and in keeping on the plan. I
continued to lose weight. I made sure I had taken enough so I had
some while visiting my sister and did not have to worry her with my
food needs. I did the same for the return trip home.
Patricia Wills
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Hi Barbara,
I had lap RNY surgery on March 11th of this year, and I am
already 72 pounds lighter. My tip for vacation travel is, if you are
taking a cooler for your water bottles,
freeze the bottles first (you might want to empty just a little of
the water before you freeze them so they don't break). The water
will have ice in it most of the day, and the ice in your cooler will
last a lot longer and it will help to keep your other stuff cold.
The water will stay nice and cold for a long time.
Lori Durbin
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
You can purchase a heater/cooler for about $80 at Wal-Mart or
Target. They will hold enough food if you need to keep it warm
till a certain time or cold in the hotel. It uses the
power from your car so it isn't that inconvenient. I am
going to get one for me.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In your newsletter you advised in a hotel room with a mini bar,
emptying it out and using it for your
food...I would advise AGAINST that. Many hotel mini
bars use a security system that uses sensors to see if
anything is removed from them and the room
is then charged for these items. This was a VERY costly lesson
I learned while staying in a hotel recently. I removed the
items from the mini bar and used it to
hold my food during my stay. Imagine my shock when I
received a bill for these items...almost $75.00 worth.
You might want to warn people if they are
going to use that method to have the hotel come in and
clear out the mini bar them selves instead of the guest doing
it. It can be quite costly!!!
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** Live Broadcast of a Lap RNY
Procedure **
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Here is an announcement for an event that has already happened.
Although the live broadcast is over, you can access the tape of the
broadcast for the next month by going to the indicated web address.
June 23, 2003 - New York City Surgeon to Perform Weight Loss
Surgery Live on the Internet
Popular NBC weatherman Al Roker continues to shed pounds since he
underwent a popular weight loss surgical procedure last year known
as gastric bypass surgery. His ongoing success with weight loss is
easy for millions of American television watchers to see. But now,
the American public can view the actual surgery, performed via a
live Webcast from Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, on
June 23 from 5pm to 6pm EDT.
James (Butch) Rosser, MD, director of minimally invasive surgery
at Beth Israel, who himself underwent bariatric surgery in August
2001 (and has since lost 150 pounds), will perform the surgery,
which is designed for the more than five million Americans who
suffer from clinically severe, or morbid, obesity. Dr. Rosser will
perform the surgery via a minimally invasive procedure known as
laparoscopy, where several, small surgical incisions are made
instead of one long incision, as in conventional “open” surgery. The
result is significantly less post-operative pain, risk of infection
and recovery time.
Gastric bypass surgery has been endorsed by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization, The
American Obesity Association, the Heart Association, and Shape Up
America.
To Access the Broadcast:
http://www.or-live.com/bethisrael/1111
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** Announcing the Third Edition **
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I am very excited to announce that we are now shipping the 3rd
edition of my book!! I know that many of you have waited eagerly for
this update of my popular weight loss surgery guidebook and it is
now available!!!
The 3rd Edition features an extensive revision of the vitamin
section, an expanded section on the lap band so that both sides of
the surgery option issue are represented, and new information on how
occupational therapy can help a patient..
I am happy to be able to keep this book updated with the most
current information available.
If you do not have your copy of my book “Weight Loss Surgery;
Finding the Thin Person Hiding Inside You,” what are you waiting
for? Many surgeons all across the country will not allow their
patients to have the surgery unless they have read my book.
Click
Here to order your copy.
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** Success Stories Wanted **
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I am getting desperately low on Success Stories. I know there are
thousands of you who have stories to share that will inspire others.
Click Here to see past success stories.
Click on any of the names to see examples of success stories, write
yours and send it to me with your before and after picture in an
attached file or send the pictures to me at 488 Diablo Drive,
Pittsburgh, PA 15241.
Email your story to me at
Barbara@wlscenter.com so that I can include it in future issues. |