[...]... of the past, and acid reflux is a distant memory Nick and Stacey both enjoy life now, instead of hiding from it One of the best things to come out of the surgery is the people they have met through their support group Being able to keep each other motivated and abreast of the latest news in nutrition and health has been pivotal in their success as weight- loss surgery patients Surgeons can perform the. .. ignored me Then they began to talk among themselves, three feet in front of me, as if I couldn’t hear them (Did they think that obesity affects the hearing?) One clerk commented to the other, “That one needs to go across the way to Lane Bryant We don’t have anything for someone like her.” The other customers in the store heard this, and two actually began to laugh It was worse than a slap in the face... discover how you, too, can make a change for the better You’ll learn how to tell if the surgery is right for you, how to make the most out of the surgery, how to track your progress, and how to enjoy every weight- loss milestone of your exciting journey I’ll share what I’ve learned from working with thousands of weight- loss surgery patients and give you the information you need to reclaim your life... perform the surgery on almost anyone, but the real success is keeping the weight off and remaining motivated Surgery is only one part of the equation—motivation and careful attention to food and diet is another Nick and Stacey work hard to get in enough protein and water each day, and they feel like a million bucks because of it The only negative thing is the impact all the new clothing has had on their... possible You are the most genuine and loving support family anywhere ᭿ ᭿ ᭿ ᭿ ᭿ I N T R O D U C T I O N Taking a Peek at Your Bright Future Something amazing happened after my husband, Dan, and I had weight- loss surgery The amazing thing wasn’t that we had this procedure together, on the same day, in the same hospital, with the same surgeon It wasn’t just losing weight, even though in the following eight... clothing has had on their checkbook They have lost 287 pounds between the two of them and are not shy about clothes shopping With both of them having the surgery, buying two complete new wardrobes 12 T H E W E I G H T- L O S S S U R G E R Y C O N N E C T I O N MAKING THE CONNECTION Betsy’s Story: I was 57 years old when I had my surgery Before that time, I was out of breath all the time, and my physician was... was ahead After all the years of yo-yo dieting, we both knew this was finally the answer for us Happy stories and life changes like this occur almost daily This surgery, this incredible tool, was the key to unlocking our prison that we called obesity, and it has been the key for millions of others as well In Chapter 2, you’ll discover the facts about weight- loss surgery especially whether your current... for the procedure—as well as address any fears you (or your family) might have about it That information will help you decide whether weight- loss surgery might be the key to your new life, too! This page intentionally left blank C H A P T E R 2 Researching Weight- Loss Surgery and Making Your Decision H ᭿ ᭿ ᭿ ave any of these thoughts crossed your mind? Am I crazy (or am I giving up) by considering surgery. .. gastric bypass surgeon, who took the time to explain the procedure in great detail The doctor even sat with Stacey, hugging her when she related the story of her mother His humanity and his success rate sealed the deal for both Nick and Stacey They were going to have surgery Many medical tests, consults, and support group meetings later, the nurses wheeled Stacey away for her surgery An hour later, she was... everything Triggered by the surgery, our health began improving from the very first day The weight loss reversed medical conditions such as high blood pressure, hypertension, joint and back pain, and even diabetes We never realized we would start seeing benefits so quickly If you are reading this book, you or someone you know is considering weight- loss surgery It’s always scary when you start the contemplation . y0 w0 h0" alt="" Weight Surgery the -Loss MELISSA DEBIN-PARISH FOUNDER OF THEWLSCONNECTION.COM FOREWORD BY ALFREDO FERNANDEZ, M.D. Connection New York. You! 1 Our Story: Why We Chose Weight- Loss Surgery 2 The Surgery Has Worked for Us—and for Millions of Others, Too 8 The Little Things That Make Life