My name is Marion Onorad. I am 45 years old and had my surgery when I was 37. When I was overweight, the scale and size of clothes were the main things that indicated to me I was fat. I could not see it. It is beyond me why I couldn't see it even when I looked at my before pictures. I just saw myself as a little chunky. When I was in Walmart getting sizes 24 and 3x, I knew something was wrong. I originally went to a WBI seminar to hear about the gastric bypass. But after hearing my options, I elected to go with the Lap-Band because it was less invasive. With my mother's support, I left and went back to dieting again. I took diet pills, prescription pills from the doctor and bought all the food for Jenny Craig, weight watchers, etc. You name it, I did it. I even got addicted to laxatives thinking that would clean out anything I ate. Then one day I got the phone call about the Lap-Band. My Mother and I attended the seminar. I knew after the seminar that I wanted it. I had never been so excited and knew this was for me. At that time, I weighed close to 236 lbs. I am 5'4 and small boned. I had a hard time walking or doing anything physical.  

I was very patient, did all pre-op requirements and finally my time came on 3-24-2004. I even quit smoking cold turkey as requested. Nothing was going to come between me and this surgery! Read more  

1. Eat 5-6 times per day.

2. Eat only at planned meal times; no grazing.

3. Eat only good quality foods; protein first

4. Eat slowly; chew 20-30 minutes per meal.

5. Keep portion sizes small; 1 cup maximum.

6. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry.

7. No beverages while eating.

8. Drink 64 FO fluids/day (low cal, no cal) in between meals.

9. At least 30 min/day of physical activity.

10. Take chewable multi-vitamin/mineral supplements daily.

 Tip of the Month:

Don't Eat Anything When Sitting on the Couch

This tip is from Carl Kelly, WBI Patient and Fallon Support Group Leader. 

 

Eating food while sitting on the couch is all too often the mindless snacking on snack foods or junk foods- which can add a lot of calories. Make it a rule to never eat while sitting on the couch, and you may notice the difference on the scale, especially since football season is here.  

 

Goal of the Month:   

Choose one or two of the 10 Bariatric Rules You Haven't Followed

The 10 rules are the main guidelines to follow after surgery- if you are following the 10 rules you are on the right track! New habits are hard to keep though, so you may have gotten away from some of the rules, and it may have affected your weight. Choose one or two rules to follow this month and really work on making them habits- it's the good habits you get and keep that make you successful after surgery for the long haul.