Neighborhood Refurbishing Scheduled Dec. 27-30

The LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood will be off-line beginning December 27 through December 30 while we refurbish our community in anticipation of exciting new changes coming in 2012. Beginning in 2012 you will enjoy enhanced features in our safe haven community including:

• Member created Social Groups
• Member created awards & titles celebrating one another
• Increased privacy and security protecting your rights as a community member
• Downloads manager to organize your WLS articles and recipes with integrated sharing options
• Faster navigation and load times
• User-managed social network integration (Link your Neighborhood account to Facebook, Twitter and others with settings you control.)

The following Neighborhood features will be retired:

• Seldom used forums including: the Alumni Forums, The Global Neighborhood Forums will be retired. In addition, forums that generate excessively long threads will be retired including the Accountability forum. In addition we will retire the ambassador titles, Fun Friday, Neighborhood Swaps, Weekend Wanderings and all threads exceeding 80 posts each. The new Social Groups and Awards system will replace and improve the community in a membership-driven inclusive manner; in other words the membership will build the content in a manner that is useful and meaningful to them. Fewer forums will keep the conversation focused on the weight loss surgery experience and empowering one another to do our best in the pursuit of healthy weight management.

Please watch your inbox for updates and tutorials. We look forward to seeing you in the Neighborhood in 2012.

LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood

Online Peer-to-Peer Connections Key in Weight Loss Surgery Success

By Kaye Bailey

About 250,000 morbidly obese adult Americans will undergo Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) this year to have their intestines cut and rearranged in a drastic attempt to lose weight and put their obesity in remission. In addition to surgical intervention they will agree to follow a high protein, low carbohydrate diet, engage in daily physical activity, avoid snacking on empty calorie foods, and drink lots of water. Most will lose significant weight; enough weight so they will no longer be classified obese. Many will sustain that weight loss but sadly, others will regain some or most of the weight they lose. A lack of support network is often cited by those who regain weight as one reason they struggled to lose weight and keep it off, even with the drastic measure of weight loss surgery.

Support groups are old business for people pursuing weight loss. Many conventional mainstream weight loss programs are built around solid support systems. Most bariatric centers, as part of their surgical weight loss program, offer support groups to patients. In most cases support group attendance and participation is voluntary.

Join the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood - Your safe haven circle of friends who are living after weight loss surgery.

The Internet now provides a vast network of support groups that studies indicate are providing a viable method of peer-to-peer support, particularly in the life long battle of weight management. A 2002 study reported in the Journal of Medical Internet Research suggests that in a support group, members provide each other with various types of help, usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually burdensome, characteristic. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. The real time nature of online support groups is preferred by community members who may be forced to wait weeks before the next live group meeting is conducted at which they can share their concerns.

As the owner of an established weight loss surgery online support group I have observed members come and go. It is interesting to note that pre-operative WLS patients are highly active in the community asking questions and seeking knowledge about the WLS post-operative experience. They continue to actively participate in the community in the weeks and months following surgery. Almost like clockwork as patients achieve healthy weight goals, or perhaps struggle to reach goals, they drift away from the community and the support they valued during the phase of weight loss. Perhaps they leave because their improved health has given way to new lifestyle activities making less time for Internet connecting. Some admit leaving because they feel their weight loss does not compare favorably to others. Others have told me the WLS chapter of their life is closed once goal weight is reached and they chose to move along.

More important to note is that many former community members return after an extended absence only to admit that giving up their online support network was the first step in getting off track in weight loss and weight maintenance with gastric surgery. The accountability and shared empowerment that comes in a peer-to-peer support network clearly plays a key role in the success or failure of bariatric patients. Members who join the group to receive support and then stay with the group to return support report the highest level of personal success with weight loss surgery.

"In good online support groups, members stick around long after they have received the support they were seeking." John M. Grohol reports in his article, What to look for in Quality Online Support Groups. He adds "Members stay because they want to give others what they themselves found in the group. Psychologists call this high group cohesion, and it is the pinnacle of group achievement."

Kaye Bailey (c) All Rights Reserved

Join the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood - Your safe haven circle of friends who are living after weight loss surgery.

Article Source: Online Peer-to-Peer Connections Key in Weight Loss Surgery Success

Happy Anniversary Neighborhood!

My how time does fly! This month (March 10th to be exact) marks the 4th Anniversary of the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood! Many of our Neighborhoods had not yet "Arrived" back in 2006 when the Neighborhood was born! And here we are today celebrating together in the common quest for health, wellness, friendship, knowledge and stewardship all sharing the common connection of weight loss surgery. The Neighborhood is billed a "Safe Haven Circle of Friends" and from behind the scenes we actively work to protect our community from invasion by hackers, spammers and those with malicious intent to harm or destroy our borders. More importantly, from the front side of the Neighborhood our steadfast citizens protect one another in a self-ordained Neighborhood Watch where Neighbor protects Neighbor and compassion is served-up kindly and regularly. It is often expressed that there is no other place like The Neighborhood on the Internet. And that, my dear friends, is because of the Neighbors, each and every one of you. I am so humbled an honored that many of you have made this your destination and your home in your weight loss surgery journey. When we first opened the community gates to the Neighborhood in 2006 I was skeptical at best and told my advisers I would try it for a year but doubted it would take hold. Now, four years later, I cannot imagine my weight loss surgery experience without the Neighborhood and without each and every one of you. Thank you for being here.

Please join me in a big cyber round of party0002.gif applause party0002.gif for the NEIGHBORS! Anyone can put-up an online community, but the community is only as good as the members it serves. And that is what makes the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood a true safe haven circle of friends.

Cheers to you my good Neighbors!!

Come join us - Be Our Neighbor

Connections: Support Matters with Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss is never easy - with or without weight loss surgery - and it is more difficult when we try to go it alone. The Internet has provided us numerous opportunities to connect with others who are traveling this journey of weight loss surgery. Here are a few of my favorite destinations for support, encouragement, understanding and empowerment! I'll see you there!



LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood
Now over 8,000 members strong the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood -- Our Safe Haven Circle of Friends -- is your premier online destination for support, friendship, encouragement, understanding and empowerment with weight loss surgery. We address all surgeries including gastric bypass, gastric banding and gastric sleeve. Our members include post-ops of 20+ years and pre-ops looking into surgery and newbies in the wonderful first year of discovery. You belong here - we have room for you. Be sure and check out these hot spots in the Neighborhood:

You Have Arrived Alumni Club: Connect with other weight loss surgery patients who are at the same stage as you. Simply look for the year of your surgery and join the conversation in the "Class of" sub-forum. All surgical procedures can participate in each "Class of" sub-forum. Let's share our collective experience and support one another who are near the same stage in the journey.

Accountability Challenges: Do you do better when held accountable? We all do! This is a great place to step-up to the plate and take accountability into your own hands. Seasonal accountability challenges - a place where we account to one another for the goals we set for ourselves. Also, check out the Day 6 Accountability conversation and stay on track for better health and a better you!

Community Kitchen: Share recipes, cooking techniques and ask questions. We are all in the kitchen together and this is a great place to learn, socialize and find out what's for dinner tonight!

Fun Friday: Just for FUN! LivingAfterWLS's Favorite weekly game where you have a chance to share something about yourself, not necessarily weight loss surgery related, and win fabulous prizes! Real life prizes sent in the mail taking the mundane out of the mailbox. DarlingGwenda is our Hostesses and each week she entices us to share a little tidbit in this get-to-know-you game! Join us!

Facebook offers us a chance to quickly check in with one another while enjoying a broader environment of social networking. We have three groups there to support our LivingAfterWLS way of life -- Join us! And "Friend Me" Kaye Bailey Facebook Page

LivingAfterWLS Neighbors: An outreach social network for Kaye Bailey's LivingAfterWLS community and Neighborhood. Please join us to share your surgical weight loss surgery experience, celebrate your health, support others and rejoice in living. This group was created by Kaye Bailey and officially sanctioned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.

5 Day Pouch Test: An outreach social network for Kaye Bailey's widely successful 5 Day Pouch Test (copyrighted and owned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.) Please join us to share your 5 Day Pouch Test experience, celebrate your health, support others and rejoice in living. This group was created by Kaye Bailey and officially sanctioned by LivingAfterWLS, LLC.

Day 6: Beyond the 5 Day Pouch Test - The official group! Pursuing health, wellness, & weight control beyond Kaye Bailey's 5 Day Pouch Test. Helpful hints, recipes, connections, living. Stay on track with your weight loss surgery tool. You Can Do This!

Neighborhood News: August 11, 2009

Greetings Neighbors! Are you looking for interesting conversation and great information from others who are just like you, LivingAfterWLS? Here are a few links over to the Neighborhood so you can follow and join in the conversation. Remember, the Neighborhood is YOUR safe haven community of friends who are LivingAfterWLS! Join us!


Day 6 - Looking for Buddies
"I am starting Day 6 today, and hopefully for the rest of my life! I have written out a meal plan that incorporates dinners both my family and I can eat (My husband is not so keen on planned meals, but oh well! I am the one who does the cooking!)
Anyone want to buddy up?" Go here


Hungry for some salmon? Try Daniel's Blackened salmon. Mouthwatering picture. Click here.

Probiotics Help Gastric-Bypass Patients Lose Weight More Quickly
"In a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, John Morton, MD, associate professor of surgery at the medical school, showed that patients who take probiotics after the gastric-bypass procedure tend to shed more pounds than those who don't take the supplements. Probiotics are the so-called "good" bacteria found in yogurt as well as in over-the-counter dietary supplements that help in the digestion of food."
Read the full article and follow the conversation here

There is still time to get in on Fun Friday August 7th! This is our favorite Neighborhood quiz game with fabulous prizes! And this week's quiz is a real head scratcher. Go here to play


That's just a quick look -- remember it is always a beautiful day in the Neighborhood!

Fun Friday has Me Scratching my Head

HAPPY FRIDAY NEIGHBORS!!!!

What a long week it has been for me and I am certainly looking forward to a great weekend with a full To-Do list around home. What have you got planned?

Fun Friday August 7, 2009

While you are waiting for quitting time how 'bout jumping over to the Neighborhood and play our favorite quiz game: Fun Friday. Today's question, brought to us by the always charming and clever songbirddiane, has me scratching my head. I'm working up my answers now and looking forward to reading many other clever responses. So join us. Remember there are fabulous prizes for two lucky winners each week!

Have Fun!

Join us in the Neighborhood!

Long Time, No See! I'm here -- Really I am!

Hey Blogging Neighbors! Long time no see - I have missed you guys! I never realized just how busy we are, as a family, between middle April through the end of May. We had four local birthdays, Jim and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary, one high school graduation, one high school graduation party, Memorial Day and Puppy Charvie's 1-year birthday! All within six weeks. And to make things even more thrilling LivingAfterWLS introduced two new products that were wonderfully received and we scrambled to keep up with orders! Talk about a wonderful crazy life!! And I wouldn't change a thing except for maybe adding a few more hours in the day so I could keep better in touch with everyone here!

So how are you doing?

Over in the Neighborhood we've welcomed quite a few new Neighbors -- Drop in and say Hello on the Introductions board. And many many more have joined us for support and friendship in the 5 Day Pouch Test. Have you taken control of your pouch lately? Let us know! Others, our true and steady veterans, have done a brilliant (Hi Kim) job of answering questions, lending support and comfort, and taking care of one another. Thanks everyone.

Today is Fun Friday in the Neighborhood -- this week we are answering quick and fun survey questions from Jane. Get on over and play -- there are fabulous prizes to be won!!

So I hope on this Friday afternoon my little post finds you happy and well. I think we have finally cleared the hurdle of hectic living and can languish in all the wonderment of summer (Yeah! Right). But whatever the coming days bring I hope to see you more often here. I have lots of fresh and helpful information to share and I know you all have lots to teach me.

Have a great weekend my friends!

Have you played Question of the Day?

Our Neighborhood crazy girl ~Jane~ has introduced us to a fun new daily diversion: Question of the Day! In her usual "Hokey Fright" manner she tosses out a random question for discussion: sometimes weight loss related, sometimes simply random. There are no rules, no prizes, and the conversations can last for days. How fun is that?

The Neighbors have picked up on this bit 'o fun and there is always something new to learn about our friends and Neighbors. Take a look:

QOTD - February 18, 2009: When you were very first beginning to lose weight soon after your WLS, what was the first thing that you bought out of sheer joy that you wouldn't have fit into before wls? Go Here

QOTD - February 17, 2009: What are you good at doing? I mean really, really good?


QOTD - February 16, 2009: When you were a kid did you want to grow up to be the president? In all of your years, childhood up to today, have you ever been president of anything? If so, what? Find out more here


QOTD - February 15: When you've got company (yeah like your folk's and neice or somethin') and everyone agrees to go to a restaurant that really hasn't got much that's good for you... we're talking sauces, gravies, fried stuff, bready greasy things, all admittedly very delicious but major no-nos in probably everybody's diet, but especially yours... and you don't have any "emergency rations" with you, (because you used them at lunchtime when they ate subs) you're not going to see food again for about 4 hours and you're really honestly hungry. What do you do? What do you order? Get ideas here

Thanks ~Jane~ for a great fun time and for making the Neighborhood a well rounded community about so much more than just weight loss surgery.

Shout-Out for Mel's Recovering Fatty Website

Hello Neighbors!

One of our good Neighbors here, Melinda, has put together a beautiful website and she is enjoying a growing community over at Recovering Fatty. Like the Neighborhood, her site is a licensed IPB board (so it works just like the Neighborhood), it is secure from spammers and flamers, and it is advertising free. Melinda is a special person with a kind heart and giving spirit. She writes beautifully and you will enjoy her many articles and her blogs. Mel is doing good work for the weight loss surgery community. And as far as I'm concerned we can never get too much support in this way of life.


Best to you Mel & your community.

It's all happening in the Neighborhood

Autumn has arrived in the Northern Hemi and for me that means cool morning walks, beautiful colors as the leaves change and late-night tea in front of the fireplace. How are things in your neck of the woods? Our little calico, KeepHerKitty, is quite interested in the big round pumpkins just waiting to be carved.

In the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood the weather is always just right for over-the-fence chats and Neighborly friendship and support. Take a look at what is happening with your safe haven circle of friends:

Autumn Awareness Challenge

25-Year Post-Op does the 5DPT

A Pre-Op asks about Anger After WLS

Nutritionally Challenged? Check out the Six Must-Haves for Bariatric Patients

Ready to dig-deep on obesity? Read Of Monsters and Other Mind Games

Join us in the Neighborhood! There is always room at the fireplace and in the conversation for one more.

Coddler Fever & Fun Friday

Greetings Neighbors!

Coddler Fever? Have you caught it yet? Link Here

Has Spring Sprung in your part of the world or perhaps a nip of fall is in the air for our Down'Under friends. Either way, the weather is always perfect at the LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood!

Today is the final Fun Friday of March 2008 and it puts a song in my heart to invite you to participate in our weekly get-to-know-one-another contest. All you need to do is click that link above and you'll see our Fun Friday Hostess Marla's smiling face. Answer the question and watch the drama unfold! In last week's contest Neighbors shared pictures of their fabulous kitchens: take a look - Fun Friday March 21

Speaking of kitchens - have you entered the Neighborhood Community Kitchen Recipe Contest yet? Our Food Editor, Barbara Gibbons, is conducting this contest and offering three fabulous prizes to the winners! Jump over and check out the "Pot of Yum" recipes!

Be sure and keep an eye on your email inbox this coming week for the Recipe of the Week: Healthy Grains, the April 5 Day Pouch Test Bulletin (Day 6 & Beyond the 5DPT) and our April issue of You Have Arrived! To learn more about our newsletters, link here: Email Newsletters

Have a great day and remember, It's always a beautiful day in the Neighborhood!

Cheers!

Kaye

Introducing Celadon, Food Editor

It is my pleasure to introduce Celadon aka Barbara Gibbons as our LivingAfterWLS Food Editor. This fabulous female is burning the midnight oil editing our new cookbook and contributing recipes to our online recipe collection. She is smart about recipe makeovers and a gifted foodie who arrived in the weight loss surgery community July 31, 2007. Since that day she has worked her tool magnificently! I am proud to call her a friend, a mentor and now our LAWLS Food Editor.

Today's Recipe of the Week features her culinary brilliance. You can look for more online in the Neighborhood Community Kitchen

Word of Thanks

Dear LivingAfterWLS Friends:

Just a word of thanks for all your support, prayers and kindness over the last few weeks. As many of you know my father has been critically ill and on Monday underwent open heart surgery to replace an artificial aortic heart valve which has given him life since 1969. Yes, 1969. Remarkable. He now has a new artificial valve and is responding well. Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated.

To read more: Kaye's Prayer Request to the Neighborhood

My best to each of you in this season of giving thanks,
Kaye Bailey

Winner's Edge and Weight Loss Surgery

Hello Everyone!

First let me say that I'm not a sports enthusiast and have only a vague understanding of professional sport strategy and politics. Even so, I enjoy the World Series of Baseball: have enjoyed it since I was a kid when we attended the LA Dodgers games in the early hay-day of record making manager Tommy Lasorda.

So it has been with enthusiasm and wonderment that I've watched the first three games of the 2007 World Series as the Boston Red Sox have literally kicked the wind out of Colorado's Rocky Mountain High. Pre-series it seemed Colorado, who had won 21 of their 22 previous games, appeared unstoppable.

What went wrong in this young team's first run for the world championship? An Associated Press report said, "One reason the Rockies have gone from winning to their tough position now might well be the eight-day wait they had between the National League playoffs and the start of the World Series. They simply haven't rediscovered the ingredients that got them here."

An eight-day delay between winning the National League pennant and stepping up to bat for Game 1 stalled the Rockies, even put them in slump. The Associated Press reports a World Series comeback is unlikely.

Observing the psychology of "winner's edge" I cannot help but link it to long-term management of a healthy weight by way of weight loss surgery. (You knew this was coming, right?) At LivingAfterWLS and in the Neighborhood we speak often of grit determination, the storm of enthusiasm and being hell-bent to work our weight loss surgery tool. We want to keep the winner's edge because when we lose control of the tool we feel like losers (not weight losers, life losers) and feelings of failure perpetuate a hopeless slump.

Here are some quotes from the Neighbors in a thread titled Storm of Enthusiasm:

"For me (although far from perfect) what creates that feeling of enthusiasm is "BEING IN CONTROL" and watching the pounds come off! . . . But all in all....I know that losing and doing what we KNOW is right for us....leads to the weight going down and feeling better!"
-- Julie S aka Sunshine

"I am still in the weight loss phase and am seeing all the benefits that come with it! The rapidly changing body, the new clothing sizes, shopping! Reeling over the health benefits, the attention, the high of it all! It will be good to look back at the responses here once the high wears off!"
--Buffy CT

"I MAKE my storm of enthusiasm. Turning the weaknesses that caused self-destructive behavior into strengths that encourage self-empowering behavior creates a storm of enthusiasm. If I sense the winds starting to drop, I am moved to fan them! I just don't want the adventure to end. I'm not perfect by any means! But I've looked at life from both sides now, as the song says. This side is better. I shall not be moved!"
--Judy Petite

"You know, just coming to the Neighborhood storms up my enthusiasm. Reading what the Newbies have to say always takes me back to that initial "thrill". It is why I am here so much!"
--Kim

The Rockies only have one more chance to recapture their winner’s edge. But a person with weight loss surgery receives the gift of a new chance every day. It is highly possible to rediscover the ingredients that made your weight loss surgery storm of enthusiasm in the first place. If you are in a slump muster all the enthusiasm and brew a storm of enthusiasm, the same storm you enjoyed in the early stages of your weight loss surgery experience.

Seek support. Pursue knowledge. Make a plan. Grow desire. Empower yourself.

Cheers!
Kaye

Live Chat is Back

The Neighborhood Live Chat is back and better than ever!

More secure.
More user friendly.
More fun!

The live chat is open to three Neighborhood registered user groups: Foundation Members, Premier Citizens and Members. It is closed to guests and search engines: this is part of our "safe haven" policy.

To become a registered member in the Neighborhood and connect with others who understand you please link here: Neighborhood Registration

Beginning next week we will resume our weekly scheduled Live Chat (Thursday's 8-10 pm Eastern time). In the meantime jump in and chat it up with people just like you, doing the best they can to live life and make the most of their surgical weight loss options.

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