3 New Weight Loss Surgery Videos

We have three new informational weight loss surgery videos for you!

Click to our Video Index to watch these new informational programs - they are at the top of the page under "NEW"

Obesity and Diabetes: A Strong Connection
Four Fast Facts to Determine if You're a Candidate for WLS
Weight-Loss Surgery with Fewer Scars and Less Pain

Also, check out the Gastric Banding videos - they are up and running again.

The Neighborhood:Community Upgrades & Membership

Our LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood - the online community we call a safe haven circle of friends - is now a little over 16-months old. During this time weight loss surgery patients from around the world have connected and shared their living after weight loss surgery experiences. Pre-ops have come aboard, asked questions and shared their excitement. And old timers have shared the wisdom that comes with experience. The Neighborhood has not been without struggles and the growing pains have been at times frustrating. But I wouldn't change a thing in my day, it is the Neighbors who empower me to keep doing my best with weight loss surgery.

We have adjusted our registration process to make it easier to successfully join the community, to keep spammers out and our borders safe. We now offer two levels of membership (described below). If you previously had problems registering please drop by again. I think you will like what you find.

Welcome to the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood forum - our safe haven circle of friends. We pride ourselves in being the premier online destination for those seeking empowering weight loss surgery support in a safe online environment.

I'm ready to be empowered!
Take me the registration page

We have two levels of registration so that we can provide for the specific needs of all those seeking long-term positive support in their weight loss surgery journey.

MEMBERS: Non-expiring free membership is open to anyone with a valid email address. Once registered you will be placed in the "Members" group and have access to the following forums: Welcome Neighbors, Introductions, Bulletin Board. The Town Square - LivingAfterWLS Knowledge Center including the forums WLS Chat; Power Tools for LivingAfterWLS; Diet, Nutrition & Supplements; Exercise & Fitness; Pre-Ops & Newbies; Men & Weight Loss surgery; Obesity, Health and Wellness. And access to The Picket Fence: LivingAfterWLS Social Center including the forums: Picket Fence, Celebration Page and Community Kitchen.

In addition, Members may participate in Live Chat, read the hosted Neighborhood Blogs and view the Gallery of photos. Members will not be able to create a blog or create a picture gallery due to the expense of bandwidth and hosting.

Registration Page


PREMIER CITIZENSHIP: For those who wish to take advantage of all Neighborhood amenities we offer a paid subscription. Once subscribed you will be placed in the "Citizens" group to enjoy the full benefits of the Neighborhood including creating a hosted blog and hosted gallery album. The cost of registration is minimal: $10/1 month; $24/3 months or $60/12 months. The small fee is literally pennies a day to enjoy the advertising-free supportive and empowering environment in the Neighborhood.

Premier Citizenship includes access to the following forums in addition to the ones listed in the free membership:

In The Town Square: Emotions & Mind Games; Embarrassing Questions; Maintainers; OOOps! Regaining; Hi Mamma! Post-WLS Pregnancy; The Family Table and (permission required) the Mental Health and Nurturing Neighbors protected forums.

In the Picket Fence Premier Citizens will enjoy Good Feelings...Oh Yea!!; The Venting Rock; Talents, Hobbies, Crafts and Entertainment and the permission required "Brass Button Singles Lounge, a protected forum.

Registration Page

If you are enjoying a free membership package and wish to upgrade to the Premier Citizenship simply go to "My Controls" and under options select "Purchase Paid Subscriptions". We accept PayPal or payment by check in the postal mail system.

Thank you for taking time to register and become a valued member of our community.

Sincerely,
Kaye Bailey and the LivingAfterWLS team

Product Recommendation: Emergen-C

It's not very often that post here to recommend a product, but today I'm giving a shout-out for Emergen-C - The vitamin and mineral drink mixes that dissolve in water. A nutritionist recommended the "Energy Booster" formula to me. She explained that the Emergen-C products work well with our bodies because the vitamins and minerals are easily absorbed. Now, I tend to be a bit skeptical when it comes to things like this, but I tried the product and I do believe it makes a difference in my energy levels. In fact, I've replaced one of my two morning cups of coffee with one cup of the energy booster formula.

Emergen-C makes several different formulas including the Immune Defense Formula, the ElectroMIX Packets Electrolyte Booster and the "Super Energy Booster" that I'm taking. The energy booster is rich in B-vitamins, and minerals including potassium, magnesium, zinc and several others. Now, a caution, there are 6 grams of sugar in each single-size serving. If you are sugar sensitive use caution.

I'd love to know if some of you are using this product? Has it made a difference in how you feel? What other vitamin drink mixes are you using?

Declare Your Independence

Presented with permission from our Living After Weight Loss Surgery Neighbor Judy Petite:

"Happy Birthday, USA! This month, this nation celebrates a time when we declared we would no longer be governed by another entitity that did not have our best interests at heart. No, our forefathers declared that our nation would freely and independently be in charge of its own affairs.

Have you read the Declaration of Independence lately? Have a look: Declaration of Independence

In this document, Thomas Jefferson listed the reasons for breaking with Great Britain. What a writer that man was! The bottom line was that the Colonials were being treated as second-class citizens while being taxed at first-class rates. He outlined the steps they had taken to correct the situation, but to no avail. The King retained his iron grip on the Colonies. The drastic step of revolution was the only chance to break that grip.

I can liken the feelings I had when I chose to undergo weight loss surgery! I was sometimes treated as second-class by others, but more importantly I actually considered myself to be second-class -- not as good or worthy as others. Yet I still had to live in the world, and my unhealthy body had more and more difficulty accomplishing the everyday tasks of getting around in life. I was ruled over -- governed -- by a tyrant called Morbid Obesity! I had tried to correct it -- diets, organizations of all kinds. Obesity retained its iron grip on me. The drastic step of WLS was my only chance to break that grip.

In choosing weight loss surgery, I declared to myself that "I am and of right ought to be free and independent from the bond of obesity" and that "Obesity's grip on my life is and of right ought to be totally dissolved". My declaration of independence!

The choice of our founding fathers for Revolution was a serious one. They pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. They followed through on that pledge and they succeeded.

The choice for WLS requires our pledge to ourselves as well! Life will never be the same. We commit ourselves to follow the rules, to be honest with ourselves, to change our habits to healthy ones. If we follow through, we can succeed!

Exercise is one of our most effective tools in our WLS revolution. It will rebuild the body that obesity injured; it will help us banish the pounds and it will help us keep them off. My commitment to regular exercise is my daily declaration to myself -- "Morbid Obesity ain't the boss of me!!!"

If you are not from the USA, I hope you'll forgive my patriotic post, but understand the spirit in which I share it. Whatever nationality you are, you too can break free from the tyrant of obesity!

Please feel free to post here regarding your fitness routine for July. Are you enjoying the outdoors? Are you building up your muscles, working on flexibility, building up your cardiovascular system? What do you love about your fitness routine?

Is exercise a challenge? Why? Tell us -- let us help you. In order to get the best result from your Revolution, exercise MUST become a part of your daily life. Don't hide from it! Bring it out, and let's work together.

Happy birthday, USA! And happy independence day to WLS'ers everywhere!

Judy"


Well said, Judy! Thank you!

Portion Control Plates

A Canadian study recently found that diabetics were able to lose 5% of their body weight over six months when using a plates and bowls that clearly mark appropriate portion size. The plates are decorated to indicate portion size for carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables, cheese and sauce. They are just large enough to hold an 800-calorie meal for men and a 650-calorie meal for women. The bowls hold a 200-calorie serving of cereal and milk.

The plate is manufactured in the UK and includes a diet program; The Diet Plate.


What I found interesting about this concept is that many of us adjust our dishware after weight loss surgery as a means to help with portions. Kim uses a salad plate for her meals. I use custard cups for soft foods like cottage cheese or jello. And I believe Sweet Meliss is still using her tiny dishes that she bought prior to her gastric bypass. Read this terrific entry from her Big Grandma No More blog on November 11, 2005:

From Sweet Meliss on Big Grandma No More blog (November 11, 2005)

"Walked into an oriental store and spent time looking at these really cute Japanese dishes. Bought myself a tiny plate, a matching 3 ounce tea cup with a cover that when flipped over can also be used as a tiny plate. Pretty bamboo design. Wallah I have my first WLS dining set. I have this clear blue glass dessert dish that I can use as a tray and set these dishes on and have my meals. I think I have just started my collection of minature dishes."

Smaller dishes, it seems are another useful item in our Power Tools resource box. Are you using smaller plates to help with portion control? What about smaller spoons and forks - I have heard some people do that. Do you believe the smaller dishes would have enabled your weight loss pre-WLS? I know I tried that method but it was so much work refilling my plate 2-3 times that I gave it up!

Please share you thoughts - comments are moderated but checked and approved frequently.

Happy Dining!