MotivateMe! Quote 10/22/19

“There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others.” ~George Shinn.

Connie says, "None of us is 'self-made.' I learned many decades ago that 'No one can do your work for you, but you can't do it alone.' Whether we're talking about weight loss, getting an educational degree, performing at our job, or parenting, we all need guidance, assistance and encouragement from others. And yet, no one can do our homework assignments for us, exercise for us, or complete our job duties for us. Get over your issue of thinking you shouldn't ask for help! We all need help to be able to follow through with what we need to do for ourselves." What will you ask someone to help you do today?

MotivateMe! Quote 10/10/19

“Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” ~Carrie Latet

Connie says, "You can engage in any sort of exercise that you enjoy, but walking definitely counts as exercise. And it's great exercise! Not to mention it's free… AND if you can walk, then count that as a glorious blessing and get out there and DO the walking that will move you in the direction of your goals for staying at a healthy weight and enjoying an improved quality of life." Are you willing to walk an extra few minutes today - or maybe lots of extra minutes?

MotivateMe! Quote 10/1/19

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” ~Johann von Goethe.

Connie says, "Thank you for sharing this brilliance! It is not at all true to say "when we know better, we do better.' You know all too well how to eat healthy. You know the importance of regular exercise to our bodies and our minds. Has knowing these things automatically translated into doing them regularly? Not likely! DO-ing is what makes the difference. Not knowing what to do. Get out there and DO what it takes today to move you in the direction of what matters most to you." What one thing will you DO today that will move you closer to where you want to be?

Alcohol use after Bariatric Surgery (Part 2)

CAUTION REGARDING ALCOHOL AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY (part 2)

In my last note to you, I was talking about the potential dangers of alcohol consumption following bariatric surgery: one drink hits a person as though it were three drinks after surgery and within 90 seconds to five minutes a person is over the legal limit for intoxication.

To make things worse, alcohol results in disinhibition… meaning people do things “under the influence” they wouldn’t normally do. In the past fifteen years, travelling to many a WLS conferences, I’ve seen people engage in behaviors after drinking that I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t otherwise. I’ve seen people stumbling, heard them slurring, and watched them flaunt themselves in unflattering ways after having one drink. And when they’ve had several… don’t ask. Those lowered inhibitions following alcohol consumption also result in an “I don’t care” attitude when it comes to eating whatever a person wants and healthy new living habits go right out the window.

If you consider yourself a food addict, if you have addiction of any sort in your family or if you have struggled with any sorts of addictive behaviors in the past, do NOT drink after WLS. You’re a sitting duck for problems. GET HELP if you need it. Alcohol and other addiction problems won’t fix themselves. If you are struggling with any addiction, you are most assuredly not alone. Even if you have never dealt with addictive behaviors yourself or with anyone in your family, steer clear of alcohol after WLS. It is contrary to healthy living, adds empty calories to your life and potentially leads to unhealthy behaviors (including eating too much of the wrong foods).

Live healthy. Life fully! That is, after all, why you chose to have WLS in the first place!

Alcohol use after Bariatric Surgery (Part 1)

CAUTION REGARDING ALCOHOL AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY (part 1)

When food is no longer an option in the way it was prior to weight loss surgery, people sometimes seek an alternate way of dealing with issues. Alcohol provides a “high” that takes people away from the stress, frustration and emotions of day-to-day life. And for many WLS patients, alcohol does so within minutes. It is said that one drink is equal to three for a post-op patient. So the buzz, the euphoria, the escape from one’s present reality is nearly instantaneous. In fact, a person who has had bariatric surgery (other than LapBand) will be legally intoxicated in as little as 90 seconds in some cases.

Some WLS patients “only” consume this poison we refer to as alcohol when they are at “special events.” There is danger in occasional drinking, as well as drinking several times a week or daily. Alcohol is 100% empty calories, calories that irritate the stomach lining and damage internal organs, including the brain. It would be absurd for a WLS patient to sit down and eat three pieces of cake or five or six cookies or a couple of bagels. What then, makes it sensible, reasonable or otherwise “okay” to consume hundreds and hundreds of empty calories from alcohol?

It doesn’t make sense. I realize some people are going to drink alcohol now and then. If you are going to drink, I urge you to limit yourself to only one drink. Trust me, in 15 years of working in the bariatric field, I have seen truly heartbreaking scenarios as a result of alcohol misuse after surgery.

By the way, one drink equals one 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or one shot of liquor.

Keep in mind: It’s YOUR health. Your health is your responsibility. This day. Every day.