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,
Please forgive me for going on a bit in this newsletter, but there is just so much I want to say! First of all, I am very excited to be doing a telephone seminar on emotional eating – a topic that is a problem for so many of us. I will be doing it with a psychologist and author who is an authority in this field, Dr. Denise Lamothe!

And there is some important insurance news to share.  Medicare coverage of weight loss surgery is huge and I have an announcement of a brand new e-book on insurance coverage that will be vital to many of you.

Lastly I am touching on some personal issues about families and sex and bringing you an update of responses about pregnancy.  I hope you enjoy it all.

In This Issue

* Families; You Can’t Live With Them…
* End Emotional Eating!! Telephone Seminar
* Loss of Sex Drive
* Weight Loss Surgery: Insurance Secrets – New e-Book
* Pregnancy Update
* Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
* Success Story: John McElhaney

Hi Barbara-
I have read your book, heard you speak in Lincoln, NE and enjoy your newsletter. I am having some problems with my family and some old friends since my weight loss surgery in May, 2004. I have done very well with my surgery, but my family and some of my friends say I have changed and don’t have time for them now. My opinion is that I have more friends now, I am more willing to go out in public, and I just enjoy life more now. It may be true that I do not have as much time for them as before.  I am also a mother of 4 kids that keep me hopping. They have gotten older and have more activities. I have only a limited amount of time, and I feel like I am very busy trying to keep everyone happy. I am just curious if others go through the same thing.

Deb Schuelke
debschuelke@alltel.net

Hi Deb,
Yes, what you describe is rather common. You have changed.  It is impossible to lose that much weight and not change.  And most people feel very uncomfortable around change. So your family and friends are projecting those negative feelings about change onto you.  You changed; you disturbed their world, so you are at fault.

Additionally, you have lost all that weight. People often feel resentment because you represent what they might not have been able to do. Your success makes them feel very guilty and weak. It makes them feel bad about themselves.

And as you pointed out, you are out doing things you probably have not been able to do in a long time. You are being active. Your weight loss has opened new vistas to you and these vistas have led to new friends. Meanwhile those family members and old friends are thinking, “She’s too good for us now. She doesn’t need us anymore because she has new friends.”

It is too simple to say that it is their problem and you shouldn’t worry about them. You could do that but it would bother you. You care about them, otherwise you wouldn’t have written to me about it. Perhaps try to be honest with them. Tell them that you are enjoying those things that you haven’t been able to do. You could invite them to join you, although I suspect that those activities wouldn’t appeal to them. You are right; you can’t please everyone, but try to be understanding, gentle and loving.  Don’t slow down for them, but perhaps try to find time for a phone call or email. I bet you will feel better if you do. 

Barbara

Don’t know what a telephone seminar is? Then click here to find out http://www.wlscenter.com/Teleseminar/teleseminar_intro.htm

Mark your calendar now for Wednesday March 22nd 8:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM Central, 6:00 PM Mountain, and 5:00 PM Pacific)

Click here for more information and to register.

3 whole chicken breasts, skinned and halved
1 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
1 Tbsp dry onion flakes
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (15 ounce) can tomatoes, mashed
1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
2 tsp. tomato paste
1 bay leaf
2 Tbsp. finely chopped pimento

Wash chicken pieces well and pat dry. Combine remaining ingredients in a slow cooker. Add chicken, pushing down in the liquid to thoroughly moisten and coat. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours. Makes 6 servings.

Each serving:
120 calories

I want to offer special thanks to Eileen and John McElhaney for the following. Here is John’s story.

Hi Barbara,
My name is Eileen McElhaney, and I am writing about my handsome son John. 

John is 24 years old and has struggled with his weight all of his life.   Life was not easy for John. His senior year in high school he gained 40 pounds over the summer, and went from starting center on the high school team to standing on the sidelines.  He never let on that it bothered him and he just cheered on his team mates.  One of his coaches even asked him if he had his own zip code yet. I remember going to a picnic and my friends telling me that John had broken a chair and they felt so bad for him, again he never mentioned it. 

He came to his dad and me a little over 2 years ago and told us he wanted to have the surgery.  I had also contemplated having it but decided I wanted to dedicate my time to helping him through. 

John had his surgery on October 26th, 2004. He went from 329 pounds to 189 pounds.  He has turned into a new person. He now enjoys going out. And buying clothes has become one of his favorite things to do. Since the weight loss surgery, there is nothing John can not do.  It has given him a new life.

Last February, I also had the surgery and this time John helped me.  I hope his picture can be an inspiration for some other young person who may be contemplating the surgery.  On Christmas my family presented John with this picture they had made up of him.  Hope you enjoy it. 

Eileen McElhaney
EMcelhaney@publicsafety.rutgers.edu

Congratulations John

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.