After patients have had gastric bypass surgery comes a very challenging and demanding few months ahead. It isn’t easy, no matter what those success stories on the adverts tell us. It requires a great deal of mental and emotional toughness. Unfortunately these assets aren’t always seen in the morbidly obese, and must be developed to ensure a healthy life and weight loss after the surgery.

Sticking to your dietary guidelines is extremely important to reduce the risk of developing dumping syndrome, which can cause sweating, diarrhoea, bloating and dizziness. Always listen to what your surgeon, physician and nutritionist is telling you. It’s your life and long-term health we’re talking about.

Right after the procedure you will be required to stay in hospital for 4 to 6 days, and generally you can get back to your normal activities within 6 weeks. You should lose generally between 8-10lbs per month in the first 2 months after gastric bypass surgery and achieve a stable weight after 2 years.

The first year is critical and will require you to see your physician regularly were you will be evaluated - this includes your mental health too.

Exercising and eating properly are crucial to your health afterwards and there’s still a long way to go after surgery, it certainly isn’t a quick fix for obesity and carries real risks. Remember what your doctor has told you, stay strong, focused and you’ll do just fine.

Article by Beverley Brooke, visit the section on the gastric bypass at her website for more information on the surgery, the risks and other information relating to the gastric bypass.

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What is a mini tummy tuck? Officially called a partial abdominoplasty, a mini tummy tuck simply removes unwanted skin and fat from the area below the navel. This type of procedure has substantially increased in popularity. A full tummy tuck, by contrast removes skin and fat from the entire abdominal area. A mini tummy tuck is a good option if there is not a lot of excess skin to remove, and the patient is interested in minimizing a bulging lower abdomen.

After pregnancy, the lower abs, or rectus abdominus muscles are stretched and the laxity may remain, emphasizing a lower abdominal bulge. The mini tummy tuck is a popular option for women seeking to return to pre-pregnancy abdominal firmness. A mini tummy tuck is also a good option for men looking to reduce excess tissue after weight loss or even gastric bypass surgery.

The mini tummy tuck generally has a smaller incision than the full tummy tuck, and the patient recovery time is quicker. The procedure for a mini tummy tuck involves a small incision above the pubis, and liposuction or body contouring is usually performed to remove excess fat. The lower abdominal muscles are tightened, and the belly button must be unattached and reattached. Today, there are “signature” belly buttons being advertised, such as “The Rodeo Drive” belly button. This provides a tighter, flatter belly button post surgery. Once the contouring is complete and the muscles tightened, a small flap of skin is lowered to meet the incision point, and the resulting scar can be as small as 2 inches.

Because less work is involved, the price of a mini tummy tuck can be up to 50% cheaper than a full tummy tuck. The average cost for the mini tummy tuck is around $2500. On average a mini tummy tuck procedure takes under 2 hours and the recovery time is also much faster than the full tummy tuck. After a consultation with the surgeon, he or she will be able to determine if a mini tummy tuck is right for you. If there is a substantial amount of loose skin to remove, a full tummy tuck might need to be performed.

All tummy tucks will leave a scar, but the mini tummy tuck generally leaves only a small scar above the pubis, whereas the full tummy tuck can leave significantly larger u-shaped or w-shaped scars as well as scarring above the belly button. With a mini-tummy tuck, the cost of the procedure is much cheaper and recovery time greatly reduced. You might consider a mini tummy tuck if liposuction is not enough and a full tummy tuck is more surgery than you need.

Tummy Tuck Info provides detailed information on standard and mini tummy tucks, surgery and recovery procedures, and other advice, including the cost of surgery. Tummy Tuck Info is the sister site of Liposuction Web.

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Most Bariatric Surgery Patients experience a wide range of Holiday eating anxieties which can actually ruin a perfectly good Holiday around friends and family.

Prior to surgery, Holidays meant family, friends, and lots of food to indulge in and enjoy - often at a glutinous rate simply because Holiday foods are “special” because they are only provided during the season and they are prepared so carefully which adds guilt if you don’t partake of it.

How many times do you hear these phrases said at a Holiday gathering?

“That’s ALL you’re going to have? I worked so hard on that dish”

“You better eat this now, because it won’t be here for another year.”

“It will hurt my feelings if you don’t eat this..”

“These are very special ingredients I ordered specifically for this dish”

“You can’t be NOT HUNGRY it’s a Holiday!”

“Just ONE LITTLE BITE, PLEEEEEZEEEEZ..”

“Have more, there’s plenty”

“Take some of this home with you if you’re not going to eat it now”

“Oh nonsense! You’re allowed to eat a lot today!”

“You should have worn your FAT PANTS to gorge yourself like the rest of us”

OH, how this list could fill a book, right? Such comments add enough stress to non-surgery individuals who carefully watch their weight, let alone those who have had the Bariatric surgery and have to be careful what they eat, how much they eat, and how often they eat. So you are NOT ALONE in feeling some anxiety about being around all of the special food at gatherings this season.

I’d like to offer some suggestions that have worked for me and others during this most stressful time when Holidays equates to special foods and the pressure to partake in them is way too much out of hand at times.

1. Prepare you mind for the event: Reflect on past Holiday experiences and evaluate what lies ahead this year for you. Have it in your mind what you will say and do when those food-pushers taunt you or down-right threaten you to eat during the “special occasion.

2. Anticipate the food: Reflect on past Holiday foods that are always provided to you within your social circle. Predetermine what you WILL eat and what you WON’T eat. Making a decision ahead of time will curb your gut-reaction to “cave in” to the urgings by others to eat what you shouldn’t eat.

3. Never try anything new at the party: Not knowing how you will react to the food carries the high risk of making you ill and calling for you quick retreat to the bathroom or feeling sick for an hour or so. This will draw attention to you, which is something you don’t’ want. The host and guest will feel badly for you, so don’t put them or you in such a situation. Only eat things that you are absolutely certain that you can tolerate.

4. Take baby-bites of the “special” foods: Literally, take a baby-bite if you absolutely must partake of foods strictly for the social expectations. If it’s too much for a baby’s mouth, then you’re putting too much on the spoon or fork.

5. No-Guilt in Tossing it: In a social event where you don’t’ want attention drawn to how little you are eating, take a small plate with small portions of food, then take small bites of each item, then TOSS the rest away when no one is looking. This gives the appearance that you’re “normal” and all will assume you have gotten your fill. This spares hurting the feelings of Great Aunt Gerdie who truly does cry if you refuse her special 60%-sugar/90%-fat/carb-loaded/stroke-on-a-plate pie. Tossing out the unwanted uneaten portions is just a “different” way of consuming so don’t’ feel guilty about it. All that matters is that Great Aunt Gerdie delights in seeing her pie disappearing.

6. Eat healthy before you go and bring your own essentials: Never go to a Holiday party hungry NEVER! This is self-sabotage in the worst way! Enough said? Take along your own treats and drinks that are RNY-Friendly to you. Don’t request an extra effort on your host. You know what you need, so take it with you. While they are eating pies and cakes, you can have the sugar-free fudge sickles you brought along or those sugar-free pudding cups. And if they are serving only sodas or alcohol and you cant’ do them, bring your own herbal teas or no-sugar-added hot chocolate packets. This will make you, the host, and the guests feel comfortable and nobody will feel that you are “suffering” as they eat your NO-NO’s.

7. Talk more than you eat: The Holidays should be about PEOPLE, not food. So be social. Focus on the people; laugh with them, tell stories, listen to their tall tales, play games, etc. If you do these things, you’ll be amazed at how well the gathering will go for you simply because you didn’t focus on food. And when the food-pushers come along, just glance by them off into the distance and make your exit because you “want to talk to so-n-so or your cell phone is vibrating and you’ve got to excuse yourself for the call. Perfectly acceptable to have a pre-planned “way out” when you need one.

8. Change the food-subject: Others may want to cry boo-hoo with you if you keep telling them of all the foods you’re missing out on this year. Don’t do that! Rather than mourn the loss of your favorite Holiday treats, brag on the fact that you’re feeling so much healthier, your clothes are getting baggier, and you’re dreaming again of all the great things that are in store for you now that you are slimming down. Don’t’ allow anyone to pity you for not eating like you used to eat.

9. Wear a “knock-out” outfit: WOW them all this Holiday season by wearing a special outfit that you feel very proud to be seen in. The food isn’t special to you anymore you’ve swapped that for the special outfits you can now wear! Let people whisper to each other how great you look rather than how little you are eating. The stress of not eating so much will be far away to you when you feel good about yourself and look good too.

10. Make your visit brief: if you are getting too much pressure from others or are experiencing too many anxieties, let leave the gathering earlier than you originally planned. Maybe you’re tired, the roads are getting bad, you realized you need to do something remember that “pre-planned” escape should be there for you if you need it.

I can attest that these are tactics that I’ve used and STILL use in social gatherings when it is expected to eat special foods during special times. Granted, I am three years post-op, so my anxieties are not as high as they once were but they certainly threatened my Holiday happiness not too long ago!

Remember this most of all. The more prepared you are ahead of time, the less you’ll feel nervous about those awful Holiday Eating Anxieties. Now go have fun!

Meloney B. Hall underwent the Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass Bariatric Surgery in September 2002 and lost a total of 170 pounds in a 19-month period. She is actively involved in helping others find success in achieving their goals along their weight-loss journey through her online support newsletter website and message board. She sells a variety of merchandise that she designed herself to help others celebrate and announce their achievements, whatever they might be in life. She is also available for Speaking Engagements. Learn more at http://www.rnyachievegoals.com

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