Live Life newsletter issue one

Live Life - The Newsletter of www.weightlosssurgery.com.au
Issue No.1

Edwina’s Story

“I underwent gastric band surgery in January 2007 following a conscious decision to finally lose my excess weight and in doing so, prevent the health problems most commonly associated with morbid obesity. Almost 18 months down the track, I've lost 46kg and am now 2kg from my target weight of 77kg and a healthy BMI (or body mass index) of 25.

It's been an incredible journey - one that hasn’t always been easy in terms of getting used to things - but as the weight steadily began decreasing, my confidence grew, and today I'm so very proud of my achievements. Through a very helpful support group, I've met so many inspiring people who've also experienced their own dreams coming true. These people have not only lost kilos. Some of them have kicked medication for life threatening conditions, started regular exercise programs they never thought possible, they see future possibilities with their loved ones - in short, they've seen the light at the end of the tunnel and they are pursuing it.

My own discoveries since surgery started as small stepping stones. One of my first realisations when I began losing weight was that I actually had bones! Simple gestures such as putting my hands on my hips, crossing my legs when seated, folding my arms, finding that at last I had a waist….my body was giving way to definition. Gradually, my back and knees no longer ached, and lethargy is now history.

I don't enjoy the gym environment, so I walk. I find it's simple, variable, sustainable - and it's free! As a sideline, it also greatly helps to clear my head. I relish each chance I get to get out and walk, however far and long, and I've just completed my second City2Surf (14km). I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge again, once more conquering "heartbreak hill" and even setting a pace for my friends that were brave enough to join me.

Another blissful advantage for a lot of banding patients is the sensation of feeling the cold. Prior to surgery, I was a "sweating mess" year-round, but now I find that with most of the excess weight gone, I'm better able to regulate my temperature, and life is so much more comfortable.

I now also take an active interest in what I wear and the clothes I shop for. I've gained confidence in choosing styles and colours that suit my shape and I'm not afraid to go into shops I previously perceived as being off limits to me.

In terms of the food I now eat, since banding I’ve learned not only how to eat small, but also to eat well. I try selecting the freshest produce available and experiment with different flavours. It's very individual for each person as to what you can and can't eat, and it can also vary from day to day so variety is never a problem.

My journey has seen me achieve some extraordinary highs that I never imagined possible.”

If you have had weight loss surgery and would like to share your story with us please email your story of approximately 500 word length and a before and after photo to bariatricedge@its.jnj.com

Band friendly recipes
Veal with Feta and Mint - Serves 1

100g veal leg steak
100g pureed tomatoes
30g low fat feta cheese
20g onion
½ garlic clove
parsley/mint (handful fresh)

1. Cook chopped onion and garlic gently in non stick fry pan until transparent. Add tomato, chopped mint and feta to frypan and stir well until blended.
2. Place cut veal pieces in baking dish and pour topping over.
3. Bake at 180oC for 30 minutes or until brown on top.
4. Garnish with parsley/mint.

Energy 220cal Protein 31.1g Fat 6.9g Carbohydrate 6.7g

This recipe has been taken from BandFOOD by Helen Toouli, a book of mouth-watering recipes suitable for patients who have undergone a restrictive weight loss surgery procedure.

To purchase a copy for $28 (including postage + handling), please email helentoouli@optusnet.com.au, or contact Adelaide Bariatric Centre by calling (08) 8177 1503 or faxing (08) 8177 1357. Please note that credit card payment is preferred.

Tips For Success – Establishing a support network

A recent clinical study showed that weight loss surgery patients who belonged to a support group lost more weight than those who did not*. Your support network is your very own personal cheering section - family members, friends, website communities/online buddies, practice staff, support groups, and healthcare professionals. Your support network can include anyone with whom you can honestly share thoughts and feelings throughout your weight loss journey.

Among the people in your support network, see if there is at least one person that you can count on all the time to be there for you in times of need and times of celebration. There will be moments when you could use a pep talk, advice, information, and ideas for coping with challenges; there will be other moments when you could use just plain TLC. Some lucky people have a devoted spouse, partner or other loved ones right in their home. Others have a good friend or support person just a phone call or mouse click away. Your practice’s post-op support group may be able to provide the kind of help that can only come from those who have experienced weight loss surgery success themselves.

Here are some suggestions to help you build your own support network. Your list doesn’t need to be long - just get started. If you need some help deciding whom to include, talk to one of the professionals at your surgeon’s practice or your support group.

Support from Family and Friends

Who: Your Spouse/Partner/Significant Other
How he/she can help: A supportive relationship can make all the difference in your day-to-day weight loss journey. A general source of encouragement, he or she may be an exercise buddy, give you pep talks and moral support, help you with grocery shopping and cooking, walk with you through the challenges, and celebrate your successes with you.

Who: Your Extended Family
How they can help: You may come from a family with a history of obesity. You may have other family members who are dieting, who have had weight loss surgery or who are considering having it. With or without a family history of obesity, there are a number of ways your extended family can help. Organizing a walk together, sharing recipes, working together to make family gatherings less food-oriented or providing a quick chat in times of need are all ways your family can contribute to your weight loss success.

Who: Friends
How they can help: Good friends are a priceless source of support for band patients. They listen and provide a sounding board; they can offer advice without being judgmental. Good friends are genuinely happy for you when you succeed! Enlist your friends by communicating what help you would like from them and express your appreciation for the help they give.

Online Support Groups

Your surgeon’s practice may provide an online environment to get help from other patients and the practice staff. There are many weight loss surgery support groups online providing opportunities for people to communicate, including message boards, e-mail, special meetings, and informal group settings. People share tips on many topics, such as coping with stressful situations, avoiding emotional eating, clothing exchange resources, relationship issues, and the development of online friendships--just about any topic that impacts the life of a weight loss surgery patient.

Practice Support Groups

A support group conducted by your surgeon’s practice may be the very best source for accurate information on diet, exercise and good mental health. An essential element for life-long weight loss success, a good support group is often facilitated by a professional and brings in all the members of your healthcare team, as well as other experts. You may hear from a dietician, a psychologist, nurses, an exercise physiologist, the bariatric surgeon or other physicians. These groups often lead to smaller informal groups, building long-lasting friendships between like-minded people who are making important, positive, healthy life changes.

Support from Professionals

You are the centre of your healthcare team but the team at your surgeon’s practice are a very important source of information not only before weight loss surgery but throughout the rest of your weight loss journey.

Your surgeon can give advice and recommendations about the band procedure, your recovery from surgery, adjustments, and any ongoing medical problems associated with your gastric band surgery.

Your practice nurse or nurse practitioner can answer general health questions, give advice about pre- and post-operative care, medications, and answer many of the specific questions you have about adjusting to your new lifestyle. They can make referrals and arrange for more care if needed. They can provide education and counselling as you build your healthy lifestyle.

Your practice psychologist or counsellor can provide help on coping with many emotional issues associated with weight loss surgery such as eating triggers, stress, life balance issues, relationship concerns, family challenges, or mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, addiction issues or body image concerns.

Before surgery, a dietician can assess your individual eating behaviours, nutritional needs and food preferences. A dietician will also provide education and counselling, and help you develop an individualised meal plan. After surgery, your dietician can monitor your nutritional status and adjust your eating plan, helping build and reinforce new eating behaviours to ensure a life-long commitment to successful eating.

Supporting Others

Sometimes it helps a great deal to focus on helping others along the way. Who might want your support during their weight loss journey? Is there a family member, co-worker or friend who is considering or having weight loss surgery? Perhaps there is someone you’ve met through your surgeon’s practice. Could you provide encouragement and information for that person, based on your experience? What are some of the things that have been most helpful to you, and is there a way you could extend this same support to others? Looking beyond yourself as you help other people gives your weight loss journey a larger purpose; it reinforces what you have learned and imparts that wisdom to others.

* Whitney S, et al. Support group meeting attendance is associated with better weight loss, Obes Surg 2008: 18:391-394

Weight Loss Surgery Q&A

Question: Am I Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?

Answer: Only a qualified healthcare professional can determine if you may be suitable for weight loss surgery. The general requirements are:

Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or above; or
Your BMI is 35 or above and you have one or more obesity-related health conditions; and
You have previously attempted to lose weight under medical supervision, for example with diet, exercise or medication; and
You are willing to make a lifelong commitment to follow-up care and extensive diet, exercise and medical guidelines.

Question: I am interested in finding out if weight loss surgery is right for me. What should I do next?

Answer: The decision to have weight loss surgery will probably be one of the most important decisions of your life and it is important to be well informed. Here is a suggested guide to finding out whether you are suitable:

Step 1 Visit www.weightlosssurgery.com.au for more information, to calculate your BMI, to read patient testimonials and to locate surgeons in your area.
Step 2 Request a free information kit and read through all the information provided.
Step 3 Contact a qualified surgeon to understand what they need before you can make an appointment and if they are holding an information session that you could attend
Step 4 Make an appointment with your General Practitioner (GP) to discuss whether you may be suitable for weight loss surgery.
Step 5 Take your information kit to your GP and surgeon appointments so that you can discuss the material together and decide whether weight loss surgery might be suitable for you.
Step 6 If you and your GP decide that you may be suitable for weight loss surgery, ask your GP for a referral to a Bariatric (weight loss) Surgeon. There is a list of surgeons in your state listed on our website.