Weight loss surgery, be it roux-en-y, gastric bypass, or lap band, can be a great help to your health and well-being. Having the support of your family makes the success even sweeter. In talking with WLS patients we sometimes see that family members become very anxious and can even fight your success.

Staying Strong and Losing Weight Post Gastric Bypass

We have heard of couples who cannot agree with each other and object to their spouse having surgery because they like them just the way they are. People that have WLS are generally unhealthy because of their weight and staying that way is not a good or healthy idea.

Health benefits are associated with weight loss for the obese person. Staying overweight to please your spouse is simply not an option–especially when your health is at stake! Even if surgery is not your choice for how to lose weight, you must be diligent and follow through with losing the extra pounds. Staying strong and on track against adversity will work in your favor in the long run.

Educate Your Family about the Benefits of WLS

Although weight loss surgery is not for everyone the benefits can be significant for most that have the surgery. Your family needs to be educated about bariatric surgery and what those benefits are.

• Diabetics can often reduce or eliminate their diabetes medications. Blood sugar glucose levels often return to normal or nearly normal.
• Hypertension is often a problem with overweight people. Many people lower their blood pressure as they lose weight. Many patients are able to eliminate or reduce their dosage of blood pressure medication within a few months.
• High cholesterol or hyperlipidemia gets better in many bariatric patients.
• Sleep apnea is a common problem with the overweight population. Significant weight loss can cure this.

Include Your Family at Your Physician Visits

Whether you are contemplating weight loss surgery or you have already had it, don’t be shy about having your spouse and family come along on your doctor visit. Let them get their questions answered “straight from the horse’s mouth”. Involving them in the details and benefits is a great way to gain support.

Ask for Your Family’s Help

Sometimes it just takes asking for help to get it. If some of your family is doubtful about what they can do, asking them if they will help might get them more enthusiastic. They can help by encouraging your intake of healthy foods. Having them remind you to take your bariatric vitamins can help.  So can any way to include them in your daily bariatric routine.

Encourage your family to join you on your healthy journey. Everyone can benefit by eating nutritious foods and exercising. It’s more fun too – doing things as a group or with a partner could be just the encouragement you need to meet your goals.

Bariatric Transformations: We want to See!

Who doesn’t love before and after pictures? We love transformations. “After” gastric bypass surgery photos provide great inspiration. Losing a large amount of weight is not an easy task. Seeing the fruits of your labor – before and after – is a great motivation for others trying to lose weight. It’s encouraging to see just what can be done.

The popularity of such TV shows like “Extreme Home Makeover” goes to show how much people love to see drastic renovations. “What not to Wear” is another TV show that people watch to see remarkable makeovers from clothes, to make-up, and hairstyles. Join us at the Vita4Life blog and help us showcase your remarkable transformation.

After Gastric Bypass Surgery: Looking Fabulous

You are surely proud of your new look since you have lost weight after your surgery. Let’s show off some bariatric before and after photos here. We’ll be happy to make a new page here on our blog of your photos. If you would like to tell us your story too we will be glad to post that also.

Show off Your Before and After Pictures

Being proud and wanting to show others the progress you have made is what we are looking for. Give some encouragement to others. Let them know, if you can do it – they can do it. Being an inspiration to others by sharing is an easy way to give back. You can show yourself off by submitting pictures by email to info@vita4life.net.

When you prepare for your gastric bypass post op surgery, the biggest part of your preparation will be having food around that will be easily digested with high nutritional value. While you want to remain positive and think of all the things you can have, there are some things you should watch out for, too.  

Getting ready to start your new life is exciting, but few patients prepare for the possible dairy intolerance that is common in approximately 10% of gastric bypass post op surgery patients.  Luckily, plenty of healthy alternatives exist.  With a little bit of foresight, you should be fine. 

What is Lactose Intolerance? 

Lactose intolerance is a dietary problem resulting in a lack of the enzyme, lactase, which is produced by the cells in the small intestine.  When lactase production is low, lactose cannot be broken down.  Lactose is a common sugar found in many foods, especially dairy products. 

The following symptoms may occur in someone experiencing lactose intolerance, usually within 15-30 minutes: 

• Bloating
• Cramping
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea  

While some lactose intolerance is genetic, bariatric patients have been known to acquire it after their surgeries.  The post op patient passes food such as milk directly through the gastric pouch into the small intestines at a much higher rate compared to the normal stomach.  The lactose simply overwhelms the available enzymes and lactose intolerance occurs. 

Tips for Coping with Lactose Intolerance in Bariatric Patients 

• If you are having a hard time giving up lactose, try to eat thicker products such as yogurt and cheese and avoid milks.   
• If you can’t live without milk, most grocery stores carry Lactaid as well as the generic store brand of lactose-free milk.         
• Make sure you are taking the proper supplements to provide the vitamins and calcium that you need in your diet.  
• Also, look for bariatric vitamin supplements that are lactose free.  Many nutritional supplements contain lactose to act as a preservative.  

Over 70% of the world’s population and 50 million Americans are affected by dairy intolerance.  Fortunately, plenty of solutions are available to make day-to-day living easier to cope.  Our next two posts will cover food to stock up on pre-surgery and common problem foods to avoid.

Whether you have had weight loss surgery or are contemplating it a great way to learn about the experience is to join a forum.  It’s a good place to share your thoughts, ask some questions, and discuss how you are feeling. Following is some information about a few forums that you might find helpful in your weight loss journey.

ObesityHelp

One of the most popular forums is on the ObesityHelp website.

To experience all of the unique features ObesityHelp has to offer, the only thing you need to do is become a member. You can start your own blog, upload your photos, use the weight tracker to monitor your weight loss, interact on our message boards, find a weight loss surgeon, and much more. Just register as an ObesityHelp member.”

This is a great website. Not only does it have a user friendly forum but helpful articles are posted regularly. The home page even showcases members on their day of surgery.

Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery

The Minnesota Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery sponsors a  weight loss surgery discussion forum at www.bariatric-forums.com. It’s easy to register and become a member to join discussions or start your own.

Some of the general topics discussed there include:

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

• Questions and experience, pros and cons, regarding LRNY gastric bypass operation for weight loss

LapBand®

• Questions and experience, pros and cons, regarding the LapBand®

Laparoscopic vs. Open Bariatric Surgery

• General discussion of the pros and cons of open vs. minimally invasive bariatric operations

Pre- and Post-Operative Nutrition and Diet

• What to eat, what not to eat, how to eat, before and after Weight Loss Surgery”

Obesity Discussion

The Obesity Discussion colorful forum touts that it is:

definitely the place to be. With many members, articles, and things happening, you have found a community looking forward to helping you through the journey.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.”

Posts and threads are in the thousands so get ready for some discussions that cover just about every topic about weight loss surgery. It’s a great place to share your thoughts and feelings with people that understand the nuances of bariatric surgery.