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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.
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Barbara
Thompson
The Voice of Obesity |
Hello Everyone,
I hope you are enjoying the beginning of summer as much as
I am. It is great to get out in nature and walk around. This is
truly my favorite time of the year.
There are some exciting things that are
happening. The Yahoo group for the Back on Track Internet
Mentoring Program is a huge success. It is giving everyone on the
program so much support. It really helps to know that there are
people who understand your struggles because they are going
through them also. There is more about the program below.
Plus I am planning a series of retreats.
Doesn’t it sound wonderful to get away for a weekend and
concentrate just on you? Stay tuned for more information!
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In This Issue |
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* Research Article: Follow-up of Nutritional
and Metabolic Problems After Bariatric Surgery
* Thin-Life Crisis
* Weekend of Enrichment
* Recipe: Crab Bisque
* Success Story: Kimberley Hanson
* Are You Where You Want to Be?
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Attention Nurses
* Walk From Obesity |
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Follow-up of Nutritional and
Metabolic |
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Problems After Bariatric
Surgery |
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“Over the next several years, the number of
patients who will have had bariatric surgery…will reach close to a
million. Several well-described nutritional problems such as B12
and iron deficiencies will be noted in these patients. Many of
these patients will be lost to the original surgeon and will now
be in the care of the “other physician.”
So begins an article which appeared in a 2005
issue of Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes
Association. The article goes on to describe all of the
nutritional and metabolic problems that we need to look out for.
We need to be proactive in our own healthcare and be sure that our
primary care physician knows what to look for. This is an article
that is good for you to read and then pass on to your primary care
physician.
For the entire article, go to
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/2/481?eaf. |
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Thin-life Crisis |
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Dear Barbara,
My best friend, Vickie, and my husband,
Ray, both had RNY over a year ago. Vickie has dropped 140
pounds and my husband has dropped over 180 pounds. They both
are feeling great and looking great and I am very proud of both
of them. What I would like to know about is what I call
"Thin-Life Crisis" -- do others who have had the surgery find
themselves acting entirely different, like they were teens?
Vickie is not as bad as my husband, but both seem to have lost
their common sense and maturity along with the weight. I knew
my relationship with them would change, but others have also
commented on how they are acting too.
I would like to have the surgery, but I
don't want to lose my mind with the weight! :) Actually, I had
a stroke with my last surgery and I am really skittish about
surgery now. I am 38 and would love to have the energy and
health that my spouse and friend have!
What is your experience with the Thin-life
Crisis????
Kathy
New Castle, IN
Dear Kathy,
What you are describing is not at all
uncommon. But I must admit that I have never heard it referred
to as the thin-life crisis! That is a great name for it! Let me
see if I can lend some perspective.
Those of us who have had a weight problem
all of our lives, may never have had an opportunity to let loose
and be ourselves. We have lived under and been inhibited by our
size. Most of us don’t want to attract any attention, because
we don’t want people to stare at us anymore than they already
are. We suffer from low self esteem and many of us have not
fully developed our social skills because we have never been
“out there.”
After losing a tremendous amount of weight
in a very short period of time, we feel suddenly freed of what
has held us back. We have dreamed about what it would be like
to be of normal weight. Well, it’s here. What we have
fantasized about is now a reality. And that makes some go a
little crazy.
In addition to those psychological issues,
we feel so much better physically. We can move, we can dance, we
can “kick up our heals.” We have new interests because we can
have new interests.
Often people don’t realize what they are
doing. Many have commented to me that I am much more open and
assertive since my surgery. I don’t see it. I thought I was
always like this. But I have heard it often enough that I
suspect it is true. Likewise, your husband and your friend may
have no idea that they are different.
Generally people calm down as they become
accustomed to their new body, but there are some that don’t.
Just be sure to keep the lines of communication open. Talk to
them about how you feel. Try to continue to be understanding
and rejoice with them. They have waged a real battle and won. |
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A Weekend of
Enrichment |
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Imagine a weekend to reflect, learn, move,
plan and generally hang out with me and others who have had
weight loss surgery. A weekend to get away from work, cooking,
and responsibilities to take time out for just you! That is what
you will be able to do at a series of retreats that I am
planning. I am excited to announce the “Barbara
Thompson Enrichment Retreats.”
As these are planned, I will pass details
along to you. In the meantime, I will be sending out a
questionnaire to each of you asking for your input in planning
these events. Please take a few moments of your time
to let me know how you feel about these retreats so I can put
together an event that will be truly valuable for you to attend. |
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This is a recipe that you can enjoy no
matter how long you are post-op. It is terrific and is from David
Fouts’ Culinary Classics book which unfortunately is no
longer in print.
Crab Bisque
1 Tbl onion, minced
1 Tbl butter
2 Tbl flour
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1 pound crab meat
Salt and pepper to taste
Sauté onion in butter. Add flour; cook and
stir for 1 minute. Gradually stir in chicken broth and half and
half; cook and stir 5 minutes.
Break crab into chunks; add to broth. Add
salt and pepper to taste. Heat thoroughly. Yield 1 cup.
Per serving:
227 calories; 17 grams of protein; 6 grams carbohydrates
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 |
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I want to offer a special thanks to
Kimberley Hanson. Here is her story:
Dear Barbara,
I had been overweight since the age of 17. I weighed 214 pounds, was
5 feet tall and wore sizes 20 and 22. My self esteem was near zero.
At the age of 34, my father died of congestive heart failure. At the
age of 38, my mom also died of congestive heart failure. I have 4
brothers and 3 of them have already suffered heart attacks, and
strokes. Two of them had triple bypasses. I knew I had to do
something or I would follow in their footsteps and could possibly
die like my parents. I was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, tachycardia and acid reflux.
I went to see my doctor and was told that I was
a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery. Knowing that I could
die if I didn't have the surgery outweighed any fears of having the
surgery. I was put on the list and on Feb. 9, 2005 I began a new
life. The surgery went well and I was out of the hospital in 3 days.
It is now May 2006 and I am wearing a size 0, 2 and even some girls
14/ 16 from the kids department. I am no longer a diabetic, I have
no acid reflux, no tachycardia and my cholesterol and blood pressure
are great. I feel wonderful and have great self esteem. I just
finished my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and am now
pursuing my Bachelors Degree in the same field. I recommend this
surgery to everyone who needs it.
Kimberley Hanson
dtidesfan@cox.net
Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Congratulations
Kimberley |
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You achieved your
goal, be proud and tell the world.
I am running low on success stories. If
you have a story to share, are at least 1 year post-op and
have before and after pictures, please send them to me at
Barbara@wlscenter.com so that I can include
them in a future
issue. |
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Are You Where You Want to Be? |
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If
you’re not happy with your weight loss,
then join the
Back on Track with Barbara Internet Mentoring
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 |
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Attention Nurses |
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If you are a nurse and would like for me to
speak on positive patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, or
obesity sensitivity for your State Nurses Association, please
have the conference planner for your State Association contact
me. I have a corporate sponsor who will pay my fee and expenses
so it is free for your Association. I also speak for many
hospitals on the same topics.
Contact me at
Barbara@WLScenter.com or 412-851-4195. |
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Walk from Obesity |
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The Walk from Obesity which will be held this year on September
30th. This is a wonderful non-competitive fund
raising event that is held each year to raise awareness and end
the disability, death and discrimination of those who are obese.
Click here
for more information about participating in a Walk near you
or donating to the cause.
http://www.walkfromobesity.com/ |
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Permission to
Reprint
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You may reprint any items from this newsletter in your own print or
electronic newsletter. But please include the following paragraph:
“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.barbarathompsonnewsletter.com/ ” |
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