Success Stories
Mindless Eating: How to Stop it!!
I am totally guilty of eating and not paying attention. Although, to be fair, I don’t pay attention to a lot of things!! That’s what pushed me to write this, and read up on it to understand a little more. This was the best analogy I found: Do you eat popcorn because it tastes awesome? Or is it something else?
Psychology researchers David Neal and Wendy Wood sought to find out.1 In an experiment in 2011, they invited people who loved to eat popcorn at the movies to a movie theater. They gave half the participants water and fresh popcorn. The other half got water and unsalted, week-old, stale popcorn in identical boxes. Then they weighed how much the participants ate of the fresh popcorn versus the stale popcorn.
No matter if it was stale or fresh, the two groups ate the exact same amount of popcorn. ....K WHAT??!
Dr. Brian Wansink, who started the Cornell Food Lab, calls this behavior “mindless eating.” And it makes up a significant portion of why we eat what we eat, and how much of it we end up eating. According to Dr. Wansink’s 30 years of research, we rarely stop eating because we’ve eaten enough. We usually stop eating because of external cues in our environment that tell us to stop. Like a clean plate. Or our friends have stopped eating.
“We overeat because there are signals and cues around us that tell us to eat. It’s simply not in our nature to pause after every bite and contemplate whether we’re full. As we eat, we unknowingly—mindlessly—look for signals or cues that we’ve had enough,” said Wansink.
These forces of mindless eating are so powerful that Dr. Wansink has said, “The best diet is the one you don’t know you’re on.”
Here are some tips to help stop this mindlessness!!
- Smaller plates. This really, really works. It’s portion control of our Sleeve!
- Divide every meal in half. ….the in half again. Then eat, slowly. Then, wait. If you give yourself some digestion time, you will be surprised that you feel full, and don’t need more.
- When you eat, just eat. Sit down at a table. Face way from any distractions. Turn off your phone. And think about eating a bite. This is hard and rarely sustainable, but it’s a great exercise if you want to see what “just eating” feels like.
- When you have a snack, plate it. This makes snacking more inconvenient, which means you’ll do it less. If you must have chips, put them into a small bowl, and when the bowl is empty, you’re DONE.
- Wait 20-30 minutes to drink water before and after meals. This keeps you feeling full longer, and will help slow the feeling of wanting to snack. Drinking water 30 minutes before aids in keeping you hydrated which is good for digestion.2 Waiting 30 minutes after meals helps replenish lost liquids from digestion, and in turn, hydrates.
If you need to, put a Post It on the pantry door, fridge door, or where ever you go when you’re “mindless”. All it needs to say is “Am I REALLY hungry?” Journal when you notice your hunger, and when you go back and review your notes, you may realize why and when you eat, and then you continue to conquer mindless eating! Hope this helped you!! Good luck!!
~Tammy
1 Coach Stevo, Hello Healthy, 6 Tips to Curb Mindless Eating, 2015
2 Joe Martino, Collective Evolution, Is Drinking Water While Eating Good For You, 2013
It's All In Your Head
There are a lot of people out there who still think having surgery is the easy way out. It’s not. It is a challenging journey. But that’s a story for another day. Today, I want to talk about food addiction, and what it looks like.
There are a lot of people that have HAD surgery, and don’t follow post op diet, don’t adhere to the list of vitamins you need to take, and fail to instill healthier eating habits. To those people: YOU are sabotaging yourself, and – get ready for the kicker - the weight loss doesn’t last. Like all those other fad diets, you need to commit for it to work. UNLIKE all those other fad diets, you have a life-long tool to make healthier, smarter choices long term, and it doesn’t mean eating weird or expensive food. The ghrelin is removed (that REALLY helps with hunger, or what you THINK is hunger), but if you have psychological issues, then chances are, you may not even reach your goal weight, or if you do, it will be fleeting.
For so many of us, food is the Go To, whatever the reason. Don’t beat yourself up. This happens a lot. The point of this blog is to help you recognize some of these concerns, and deal with them, head on. I mean, really, who wants to be set up for failure? Not me, baby. So, with that in mind, here are a few things to consider. Do you use food as reward? As a stress reliever? Do you eat when you’re bored? When you’re happy? Do you binge eat? Do you hide food from others, or eat when no one is around? Do you find yourself standing in front of the fridge, wondering, ”What the heck am I looking for? I NEED something but nothing in here is the answer!” These are all signs that you need to deal with some other issues before surgery.
I had the sleeve five years ago. While I was fairly successful early out, I never reached my goal weight. This was due to several reasons: (1) I lost my job, (2) I was in an abusive relationship, and (3) I was still grieving over the death of a family member. Trying to deal with all of this, without seeing a qualified professional, resulted in weight gain; I was stress eating. Sure, I couldn’t eat large portions, but I could still eat. ALL. DAY. LONG. Regain was imminent. And swift. The day I packed away all my skinny clothes made me feel like a failure. I was embarrassed. I knew there were people who judged me for having the surgery, and now that I regained, I felt like an idiot. Now, no one should be this hard on themselves. Who cares what other people think? How was I supposed to know my surgery wasn’t done by the best of the best, and that my sleeve was much larger than I had been told? I had no support. No help to warn me of these pitfalls. I knew liquid calories were bad, but when you’re dealing with being taken to the police station to have photos taken of abuse you’ve just experienced, you don’t think of that. You’re in survival mode. It’s primal, it’s real, and you can’t just say “SNAP OUT OF IT!!” And put down the ice cream scoop. You feel like if you don’t eat, you’ll die. Many of us are overweight because we eat to deal with other issues. I’m here to get in your face, and tell you that if you want to be successful, healthy, and truly happy, you MUST deal with those other issues. Cookies aren’t going to help you deal with an angst-ridden teenager. Binging at midnight in the pantry isn’t going to solve your lack of a father figure growing up. You know what will help? Put on your big girl (or boy) pants and DEAL with your s$%t.
I’m not saying don’t have weight loss surgery, because it’s still one of the best things I did for myself. Just get your ducks in a row, get your head wrapped around the changes, study your behaviour. Start a food journal , and examine your patterns. If eating IS, indeed the issue.
I never said it would be easy, and I never said it would be quick, but I can tell you, it WILL be worth it.
There are a lot of people that have HAD surgery, and don’t follow post op diet, don’t adhere to the list of vitamins you need to take, and fail to instill healthier eating habits. To those people: YOU are sabotaging yourself, and – get ready for the kicker - the weight loss doesn’t last. Like all those other fad diets, you need to commit for it to work. UNLIKE all those other fad diets, you have a life-long tool to make healthier, smarter choices long term, and it doesn’t mean eating weird or expensive food. The ghrelin is removed (that REALLY helps with hunger, or what you THINK is hunger), but if you have psychological issues, then chances are, you may not even reach your goal weight, or if you do, it will be fleeting.
For so many of us, food is the Go To, whatever the reason. Don’t beat yourself up. This happens a lot. The point of this blog is to help you recognize some of these concerns, and deal with them, head on. I mean, really, who wants to be set up for failure? Not me, baby. So, with that in mind, here are a few things to consider. Do you use food as reward? As a stress reliever? Do you eat when you’re bored? When you’re happy? Do you binge eat? Do you hide food from others, or eat when no one is around? Do you find yourself standing in front of the fridge, wondering, ”What the heck am I looking for? I NEED something but nothing in here is the answer!” These are all signs that you need to deal with some other issues before surgery.
I had the sleeve five years ago. While I was fairly successful early out, I never reached my goal weight. This was due to several reasons: (1) I lost my job, (2) I was in an abusive relationship, and (3) I was still grieving over the death of a family member. Trying to deal with all of this, without seeing a qualified professional, resulted in weight gain; I was stress eating. Sure, I couldn’t eat large portions, but I could still eat. ALL. DAY. LONG. Regain was imminent. And swift. The day I packed away all my skinny clothes made me feel like a failure. I was embarrassed. I knew there were people who judged me for having the surgery, and now that I regained, I felt like an idiot. Now, no one should be this hard on themselves. Who cares what other people think? How was I supposed to know my surgery wasn’t done by the best of the best, and that my sleeve was much larger than I had been told? I had no support. No help to warn me of these pitfalls. I knew liquid calories were bad, but when you’re dealing with being taken to the police station to have photos taken of abuse you’ve just experienced, you don’t think of that. You’re in survival mode. It’s primal, it’s real, and you can’t just say “SNAP OUT OF IT!!” And put down the ice cream scoop. You feel like if you don’t eat, you’ll die. Many of us are overweight because we eat to deal with other issues. I’m here to get in your face, and tell you that if you want to be successful, healthy, and truly happy, you MUST deal with those other issues. Cookies aren’t going to help you deal with an angst-ridden teenager. Binging at midnight in the pantry isn’t going to solve your lack of a father figure growing up. You know what will help? Put on your big girl (or boy) pants and DEAL with your s$%t.
I’m not saying don’t have weight loss surgery, because it’s still one of the best things I did for myself. Just get your ducks in a row, get your head wrapped around the changes, study your behaviour. Start a food journal , and examine your patterns. If eating IS, indeed the issue.
I never said it would be easy, and I never said it would be quick, but I can tell you, it WILL be worth it.
You CAN afford it!
After years of diets, and spending LOTS of money on diets I did some serious research, and spoke to my doctor; the VSG was a GREAT option. It’s not covered in Saskatchewan (unless you want to wait years for surgery and jump through many, many hoops). So how was I going to pay for it? If you are like me you don’t have a lot of extra money lying around. I had already figured out how much money I was putting out every year on trying to lose weight and it was sometimes close to $500 a month especially when I was doing a program that required weekly supplements plus I had my gym membership to account for as well. So if I had to make a monthly payment I thought I could do it, as I was already using money for different things that weren’t working for me.
I have a job that pays me by commission so I figured out the fastest way to get the money for the procedure was to go through www.medicard.com, higher interest but I could pay off quickly when I had the extra money to do so (there are no penalties for paying early). I applied and was approved a day later, payments were about $220.00 a month over 5 years, so it was affordable for me. This form of financing might not be for everyone, but for me it worked. This loan was the best decision I have EVER made for myself, as it was the inspiration to follow through, and really appreciate myself and how far I’ve come. Some people have been able to go through their banks and get a line of credit, but for me that wasn’t an option. (Lines of credit at the bank definitely have a lower interest rate so if you can, do it) Remember that the amount you pay for weight loss surgery is tax deductible in Canada (as a health expense), the amount you get back depends on your income but every little bit helps!
What do you do if you don’t have any credit and can’t get a loan? If you are serious about having surgery you will make it work! It may take a little more sweat and determination, but you will succeed! If you can’t get a loan for the whole amount, find out if you can get financing for a portion of it, then work towards saving up the remaining amount you need by opening a savings account, maybe get an extra job, squirrel away any bit you can into a savings account, have a garage sale, heck, even Google “money saving hacks” for tips! If there’s a will, there’s a way! Even family members can be willing to provide a personal loan, they love you and want you to be healthy and happy!! Don’t give up! Make goals, and keep your eye on the (healthy) prize.
Setting goals for surgery is more than just the money. You can start healthy habits TODAY! Take vitamins. Drink water. Have your iron checked. Stop eating junk food, fast food. Get active, and make positive affirmations to have a great mindset throughout your journey. You’re worth it. EVERY penny.
I have a job that pays me by commission so I figured out the fastest way to get the money for the procedure was to go through www.medicard.com, higher interest but I could pay off quickly when I had the extra money to do so (there are no penalties for paying early). I applied and was approved a day later, payments were about $220.00 a month over 5 years, so it was affordable for me. This form of financing might not be for everyone, but for me it worked. This loan was the best decision I have EVER made for myself, as it was the inspiration to follow through, and really appreciate myself and how far I’ve come. Some people have been able to go through their banks and get a line of credit, but for me that wasn’t an option. (Lines of credit at the bank definitely have a lower interest rate so if you can, do it) Remember that the amount you pay for weight loss surgery is tax deductible in Canada (as a health expense), the amount you get back depends on your income but every little bit helps!
What do you do if you don’t have any credit and can’t get a loan? If you are serious about having surgery you will make it work! It may take a little more sweat and determination, but you will succeed! If you can’t get a loan for the whole amount, find out if you can get financing for a portion of it, then work towards saving up the remaining amount you need by opening a savings account, maybe get an extra job, squirrel away any bit you can into a savings account, have a garage sale, heck, even Google “money saving hacks” for tips! If there’s a will, there’s a way! Even family members can be willing to provide a personal loan, they love you and want you to be healthy and happy!! Don’t give up! Make goals, and keep your eye on the (healthy) prize.
Setting goals for surgery is more than just the money. You can start healthy habits TODAY! Take vitamins. Drink water. Have your iron checked. Stop eating junk food, fast food. Get active, and make positive affirmations to have a great mindset throughout your journey. You’re worth it. EVERY penny.
Cheryl's Story
My name is Cheryl Rossin. I am 35 years old and am from Dauphin Manitoba. I have battled my weight for the last 17 years. In June of 2013 I had reached my highest weight ever. I had lost control over the years watching the numbers on the scale climb higher and higher. I was having serious health problems, on 5 different medications to control high blood pressure and cholesterol. I had tried to lose the weight on my own using every diet known to man only to gain any weight I did lose plus more! I was 34 and scared I wouldn’t make it to 40.
I am one of the lucky ones to be married to a very sweet and supportive man. He knew I was at the end of my rope. He was talking to one of his co-workers who told him of this wonderful company, Weight No More Consulting LTD, and the owner Debra Simons. To make a long story short he got the number and encouraged me to call Debra. That phone call saved my life. Here it is, almost 10 months later after my surgery and I am 200lbs down and still losing. I went from a size 30 or 5x to a size 12/14 or XL. Debra and her team are a godsend! She holds your hand from the very first phone call right to now. She is so easy to talk to and makes herself available to answer any and all questions! The whole process was amazing, and as non stressful as surgery can be! I am so thankful for Deb and all of the people who make up Weight No More Consulting; Thanks to them I have my life back! Not only can I shop at any store I want to, I can run, jump, go bicycling, work out at the gym, do all of the things I have wanted to do for the last 17 years but have been too heavy to do. I have also gained the tools and information I need to make the proper decisions to stay healthy. I cannot say thank you enough to Deb and her team for saving my life!
I am one of the lucky ones to be married to a very sweet and supportive man. He knew I was at the end of my rope. He was talking to one of his co-workers who told him of this wonderful company, Weight No More Consulting LTD, and the owner Debra Simons. To make a long story short he got the number and encouraged me to call Debra. That phone call saved my life. Here it is, almost 10 months later after my surgery and I am 200lbs down and still losing. I went from a size 30 or 5x to a size 12/14 or XL. Debra and her team are a godsend! She holds your hand from the very first phone call right to now. She is so easy to talk to and makes herself available to answer any and all questions! The whole process was amazing, and as non stressful as surgery can be! I am so thankful for Deb and all of the people who make up Weight No More Consulting; Thanks to them I have my life back! Not only can I shop at any store I want to, I can run, jump, go bicycling, work out at the gym, do all of the things I have wanted to do for the last 17 years but have been too heavy to do. I have also gained the tools and information I need to make the proper decisions to stay healthy. I cannot say thank you enough to Deb and her team for saving my life!
Getting My Life Back - Audra's Story
My name is Audra. I had been overweight most of my adult life. I was continually on a diet. Always looking for the magic solution that would help me be thin and keep it off. I tried almost every diet out there. I spent thousands and thousands of dollars joining diet centres, buying diet books, plans, pills, packaged food and memberships to fitness centres. Sure, I would lose weight, but I always gained it back and then some. My friends and family never knew what to expect, as I was always changing, weight going up and down. At one time my closet had FIVE sizes of clothing in it. I would starve myself and go to the gym for three hours a day trying to work it off. I couldn't seem to balance what went in my mouth with the amount my body burned in a day. I was embarrassed and ashamed, disgusted, depressed, withdrawn, and just very unhappy. I would beat myself up contiinually knowing I wanted to be different but couldn't find the method to change my life. That all changed when I read an article aboutn Weight No More and the owner, Debra Simons. I calledn her and began to atttend Support Group Meetings, and found there were many others in a similar situation. Some were just beginning their journey, others had already had the surgery and were achieving success. I knew I wanted to be a success as well. Within a few months, I had booked my surgery. September 23, 2011, I had the surgery that changed my life forever. I was home within a few days, and returned to work after five. The weight started dropping off of me everywhere. Within 12 months, I went from wearing a size 3X to size 28 jeans. In total I have lost 137lbs. All the health issues such as headaches, bad knees, backaches, ankle edema, varicose veins, hypertension, threatening diabetes, sleep apnea, snoring, and lack of energy have all been resolved. I feel like I'm 25 yrs old. I have amazing energy now, and feel like I can conquer the world. It has been an amazing journey and I am so glad I had the surgery. It has given me my life back. I am completely happy with my body and my health, and I could have never done it without the amazing care and compassion of the medical team in Mexico, and tremendous support of Debra Simons from Weight No More Consulting. Thank you Debra, you truly saved my life and I wlll be forever grateful. It is true, angels do walk among us. Thank you again.
The Value of a Facilitator
When you first start your journey, you meet the OWNER of the company, or one of her trusted facilitators. You are talking with someone who has been there; who has physically, mentally, and emotionally experienced being obese or overweight. We have had the bariatric surgery. We put our heart into what we do, and we care about helping you. This first step is an investment in YOU.
That is the initial step. Meeting another LIVE person who had the surgery in Mexico, asking them questions, and gathering information. When you understand the full process, we help you move forward with booking flights and surgery dates, payments or financing, and more.
Whenever possible, we travel with you. (Other companies will send you on your own. Sometimes it happens.) Meeting patients at the airport is commonplace at Weight No More. We’re with you for customs, baggage claim, and navigating airports. We contact the driver upon arrival so you don’t have to worry about transportation. (We have safe, reliable vehicles as well.)
We are not nurses. We have A LOT of information that is helpful, but we leave the medical part to Dr. Ponce de Leon and his team. Facilitators are supportive companions who can answer your questions, help with the language barrier, be by your side through the process, and understand how you may feel because we have been sleeved too! We get you ice chips or apple juice, and counsel you through the trip. Our goal is to make sure you feel comfortable, in and out of the hospital!
When you have surgery, there are a variety of tests and procedures that happen. The facilitator keeps you on top of what’s going to happen next and what to expect. We are there for questions and concerns, and again, to help with the language barrier. It’s helpful to have someone to tell you what to do, instead of waiting, stressing, and being unsure! We’re cheering you through recovery – encouraging you to walk, do breathing exercises, and reassuring you.
We get you checked in at the hotel. Your facilitator maske sure you’re settled, that you have broth, tea, or water. We are always available if you need us. You can call our room, or text us on our cell. We may pop by or call for a visit, too. If you’re up for it, we can even arrange a small sight-seeing tour!
We are with you for the trip home (whenever possible, of course). Travelling across the border can be daunting, but It doesn’t have to be, and we’re with you to help make it a little easier! You’re recovering and feeling pretty good, but hey, it’s always nice to have someone taking care of you and watching your back, right? As a facilitator, it is our job to ensure every client has a positive experience. An experience that inspires them, and is a kick off to their amazing weight loss journey!
Tammy’s note: When we quote the price, it can seem like a lot of money. You need to ask more questions, so you understand the value. A lot of people think they can save money and go on their own. While it’s true they can save money, short and long term they can lose out, big time. They don’t have help in the airports. They are tired. They don’t know what kind of pain is normal. There is no one to talk to if they need reassurance. They aren’t sure when to take their medications. They don’t speak Spanish, and are being moved around for tests. Many people think it’s “no big deal, I can go alone” but then they come home, and they ALL SAY THE SAME THING ,”I would NEVER go alone again, I should have taken a facilitator with me.” Please consider that before booking without a facilitator.
That is the initial step. Meeting another LIVE person who had the surgery in Mexico, asking them questions, and gathering information. When you understand the full process, we help you move forward with booking flights and surgery dates, payments or financing, and more.
Whenever possible, we travel with you. (Other companies will send you on your own. Sometimes it happens.) Meeting patients at the airport is commonplace at Weight No More. We’re with you for customs, baggage claim, and navigating airports. We contact the driver upon arrival so you don’t have to worry about transportation. (We have safe, reliable vehicles as well.)
We are not nurses. We have A LOT of information that is helpful, but we leave the medical part to Dr. Ponce de Leon and his team. Facilitators are supportive companions who can answer your questions, help with the language barrier, be by your side through the process, and understand how you may feel because we have been sleeved too! We get you ice chips or apple juice, and counsel you through the trip. Our goal is to make sure you feel comfortable, in and out of the hospital!
When you have surgery, there are a variety of tests and procedures that happen. The facilitator keeps you on top of what’s going to happen next and what to expect. We are there for questions and concerns, and again, to help with the language barrier. It’s helpful to have someone to tell you what to do, instead of waiting, stressing, and being unsure! We’re cheering you through recovery – encouraging you to walk, do breathing exercises, and reassuring you.
We get you checked in at the hotel. Your facilitator maske sure you’re settled, that you have broth, tea, or water. We are always available if you need us. You can call our room, or text us on our cell. We may pop by or call for a visit, too. If you’re up for it, we can even arrange a small sight-seeing tour!
We are with you for the trip home (whenever possible, of course). Travelling across the border can be daunting, but It doesn’t have to be, and we’re with you to help make it a little easier! You’re recovering and feeling pretty good, but hey, it’s always nice to have someone taking care of you and watching your back, right? As a facilitator, it is our job to ensure every client has a positive experience. An experience that inspires them, and is a kick off to their amazing weight loss journey!
Tammy’s note: When we quote the price, it can seem like a lot of money. You need to ask more questions, so you understand the value. A lot of people think they can save money and go on their own. While it’s true they can save money, short and long term they can lose out, big time. They don’t have help in the airports. They are tired. They don’t know what kind of pain is normal. There is no one to talk to if they need reassurance. They aren’t sure when to take their medications. They don’t speak Spanish, and are being moved around for tests. Many people think it’s “no big deal, I can go alone” but then they come home, and they ALL SAY THE SAME THING ,”I would NEVER go alone again, I should have taken a facilitator with me.” Please consider that before booking without a facilitator.
A Thank You Email to Debra
Just had to share this, as this shows what we do:
Hey Debra! Just wanted to let you know everything went great! I had a really good recovery so now I'm excited to start this new challenge! I want to thank you so much Debra for all your help!Couldn't have done it without you!! Take care!!
Hey Debra! Just wanted to let you know everything went great! I had a really good recovery so now I'm excited to start this new challenge! I want to thank you so much Debra for all your help!Couldn't have done it without you!! Take care!!
Another Happy Customer <3
Here is an email we received back in March, we LOVE hearing from you!!
Hi Debra,
Carol* here in Ontario. Had my surgery on October 6, 2014. Just an update on how awesome I feel and look, I now have 100 lbs off (includes pre-op diet) and I could not be happier. You can't wipe the smile from my face! I had bloodwork done and the results last week show everything is perfect including my potassium and I am no longer on the meds they gave me in the hospital. I have also come off my blood pressure medication and my bowels have been the best they have been in years!
I also just want to give you a heads up that you may get an e-mail from a Donna* in Ontario. She is a patient of my doctor as well and is considering the same surgery in Mexico. My doctors office called me to ask if it would be ok if she got in contact with me about the surgery etc. to which I said a resounding "Yes"! She has contacted me by e-mail so I will be providing your information. My doctor was so supportive of me and is also of Donna(we are so lucky to have her as our doctor) and of course you are the route to go! You know, when Dr. R heard I 
was in hospital she told me after she was so afraid that I was regretting my decision. I told her never ever did I regret it and it was the best thing I have ever done for myself. She hugged me on Monday at my appt. and told me I looked fantastic and 10 years younger... gotta love that!
Well better run. Have a great day and thanks for everything Debra. I continue to rave about your services and when i had the opportunity to pass it along to someone who was interested... well I could not be happier to do so.
Carol
(PS Love your new website!)
A Surgeon That Goes Above and Beyond
We had a gentleman that had his surgery through Weight No More Consulting Ltd., and in spite of a pretty big roadblock, he has become a success.In 2014 he began his journey, with the intention of having a Gastric Sleeve. However, when he got into surgery, Dr. Ponce De Leon found a tumour in the lower part of his stomach. Instead of just stitching him up and sending him back to Canada, Dr. Ponce de Leon removed the tumour with the necessary margins around it, sent it to pathology and performed a Mini Gastric Bypass instead. This truly tells what a phenomenal surgeon Dr. Ponce De Leon is, and how fortunate we are to work with him. The client has lost over 100 pounds, is healthy and experiencing a whole new life. He has taken up running and is a true inspiration to us all. You don't need to run marathons after surgery, but you CAN be physically active and ENJOY it!! If YOU are thinking of Weight Loss surgery give us a call at 1-855-343-0907 toll free or Saskatoon and area 306-343-0907. 
This is why I do what I do...
Hi Debra:
Just wanted you to know that I hit -65 this morning. My surgery was October 6th. I feel fantastic. Better than in years.
I am just so happy I did it. I never would have thought it would be this good!!!
Thank you for being a very big part in changing my life.
Jill*
*name changed for privacy
Tips to Stop Late Night Snacking
Snacking late at night has been known to derail even my most motivated and disciplined clients and, believe it or not, we’re all hardwired to do it. According to the landmark work of Roy Baumeister and Dianne M. Tice at Florida State University, humans have a limited supply of willpower, and the ability to resist temptation is limited by available blood glucose. In plain English: Our willpower is weak when we’re hungry, making it tough to resist snacking.
After a full day of making healthy choices, your willpower reserves are low—another reason why it feels nearly impossible to battle late-night munchies. But there’s hope: Baumeister’s and Tice’s research also shows it’s possible to train your willpower just like a muscle. Which means, getting into the habit of resisting night noshing will make you better at resisting those midnight snack attacks overtime.
Here are some “dos” and “don’ts” my clients find helpful for avoiding the ice cream, boosting willpower, and staying focused on good nutrition habits—give ‘em a shot!
DON’T keep pitfall foods at home Yes, it can be that simple! Are you snacking on chips after dinner? Don’t buy chips. People typically hit the grocery store at times of greater discipline and clarity than those sugar- and salt-crazed moments just before midnight, so it’s easier to resist temptations and fill your cart with nutritious options. With that said, you don’t want to shop on an empty stomach—after all, willpower science shows us we’re less likely to make healthy choices with a growling stomach. If you can’t shop right after a meal, have a snack before going to the market. One smart snack now is better than seven nights of mindless potato chip munching.
DO have a fallback plan At some point you’re going to get hungry after dinner. Having a contingency plan to prevent you from suffering all night is smart. Try keeping an emergency bar (that’s one bar) of incredibly dark chocolate (80% cacao or more) in the house. Two pieces of dark chocolate with a little peanut butter can satisfy most cravings, and it’s actually pretty hard to gorge yourself on chocolate that dark.
DON’T skimp on supper Consistently leaving the dinner table hungry puts you at a disadvantage, and creates a caloric deficit that will be impossible to maintain in the long term. Be reasonable. If an extra helping of chicken or vegetables keeps you from devouring a sleeve of Girl Scout cookies later, that second serving was worth it.
DO notice your triggers I once had a client who would eat a pint of ice cream on the nights she had a self-imposed midnight deadline to finish an accounting report for her business. When I suggested she move the deadline to noon, her dark-hour dairy binges stopped. Are you overlooking any subliminal cues that might be causing you to snack? Keep track of when you’re logging those late-night snacks in your food diary to see if you can link it to a specific activity, event, or feeling.
DO have a ritual Using a set or series of activities to declare, “I’m done with that; now I’m onto this,” can be very powerful. A simple ritual that works for one of my clients: When she has finished eating for the evening, she cleans her teeth—dinner, floss, brush, done. That clean-mouth feeling reminds her that her teeth are off duty for the night, and it’s time to do something other than eat.
Stopping a late-night snacking habit can be very simple, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. There’s a lot of strategy involved, and these suggestions might only be the beginning for you.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Have you recently quit snacking late at night? What helped you break that bad habit?
Stress and food
Mindfulness is often referred to as a consciousness discipline. It is a way of training the mind, heart, and body to be fully present with life. Although often associated with meditation, mindfulness is much more than that. It is a way of being, a way of living. Mindfulness is about presence—being here, now, completely.
The practice of mindfulness has great implications for our happiness, resilience to stress, and our health. Regardless of how hard we are working at the gym, or how planned out our food is for the week, we all know that one hard day at the office, one difficult conversation, one traffic jam, or a lack of a good night’s sleep can alter our healthy behaviors for a moment or even for the day.
Stress is a fact of life. If we can learn how to be mindful of when we feel stressed and what thoughts, feelings, and therefore behaviors occur as a result of stress, we can choose health and happiness over maladaptive ways of coping. At the end of a long day most people want some kind of reward. The choice I most hear about is the reward of late night snacking. A few pieces of chocolate gives a feeling of pleasure in the moment, but in the long run if this choice gets in the way of a desire to lose a few pounds or eat less at night, then it isn’t rewarding after all.
How we perceive and then cope with stressors can trigger the consumption of high fat and sweet foods and have a direct effect on the storing of abdominal fat, , leading to overall weight gain(1). Other psychological causes of stress and emotional eating include poor awareness of internal physiological states and the inability to differentiate between hunger cues and emotional arousal.
For example, I have a client who tends to reach for cookies when she feels stressed. This habit is pretty automatic and there are many reasons why this behavior is reinforcing, but its not supporting her in her intentions for health and happiness. With the presence of mindfulness, she can pause to assess how she is feeling and what she is actually needing, which most of the time isn’t the cookie. From a place of awareness, she has choice and can act differently.
In my next few blogs, I will be sharing tips on how to use mindfulness throughout the day for health and well-being. In the meantime, you can start with these simple instructions to start a daily mindfulness practice.
Daily Mindfulness Instructions
- Find a space in your home, work, or even in nature where you can go most days of the week to be quiet, to connect with yourself, your thoughts, your feelings, and your body. You can think of it as a time to come home to yourself.
- Aim to practice 5-10 minutes most days, gradually working your way up to 15-20 minutes.
- During this time, allow yourself to be present to either the rhythm of your breath, your body sensations, or sound.
- Mindful meditation is not about clearing the mind. It is about gaining greater control over your thoughts and bringing your awareness to the present moment. If your mind wanders, you are normal. Just simply notice when the mind gets distracted and then bring it back to the present. This is mindfulness.
- There are many versions of meditations and apps that are helpful in getting started, but there is no “right way”. Explore and find the one that works for you or just start with the simple tips above.
Surgery is your best option when......
If 
your appendix fails, surgery is your best option. Blocked arteries? Surgery. Obesity and diabetes? Until recently, the most obvious solutions were diet, exercise, and drugs as needed; however a growing body of research suggests the optimal way to manage these conditions is with—that's right—surgery.
"Why isn't every type 2 diabetic referred for an operation?" says Mitchell Roslin, MD, chief of bariatric and metabolic surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "I ask myself this every day." His puzzlement stems from a raft of recent reports about the stunning long-term effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes, as well as weight loss. The Cleveland Clinic's groundbreaking STAMPEDE (a charming acronym for the clunkily named Surgical Therapy And Medications Potentially Eradicate Diabetes Efficiently) study, published in 2012, was the first to show that bariatric surgery is more effective than medicine in controlling diabetes in obese people. The Cleveland Clinic has since published a follow-up study showing that gastric bypass surgery significantly improves and, in fully 50% of the cases they looked at, even reverses diabetes.
There are several types of bariatric surgery, but the most common reduce the size of the stomach with a gastric band or through removal of a portion of the stomach (called sleeve gastrectomy), or resect and re-route the small intestine to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery).
"It's amazing, honestly," says lead investigator Philip Schauer, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute of the results his team compiled. "We hesitate to use the word 'cure' because that means no more diabetes for the rest of one's life. Remission is more accurate; it means blood sugar is normal without medication. But it is still an almost unbelievable result."
MORE: Life After Gastric Bypass: The Surprising Real Story
Despite the risks and complications of bariatric surgery, it seems to extend life, according to results from the Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS), published in the Journal of the American Medical Association three years ago. The SOS followed 4047 obese people, half of whom had bariatric surgery, for a median of 14 years. Nearly twice as many people in the nonsurgical group had died by the study's end.
Bariatric surgery enables the body to become much more efficient at processing blood sugar, explains Roslin, and patients are able to greatly reduce their dependence on insulin. In some cases, they're able to go off the pricey drug altogether. Because diabetes is still one of the top 10 killers in America, this is big news. "A diabetes diagnosis means that your risk of developing heart disease and stroke rises to the same level as that of someone who has already had a heart attack," says Schauer. "You don't normally think of surgery as prevention, but in the case of someone with uncontrolled diabetes, it clearly is. It's heart disease prevention, death prevention."
Of course, like any operation, bariatric surgery carries risks of complications and even death. And post-surgery life is no picnic: Patients must eat much smaller meals several times a day and take vitamins to make up for deficiencies; they may also experience gastric pains and diarrhea. However, Schauer believes the risks of not intervening are just as serious: "If you stay morbidly obese—or even if you are simply mildly obese but have poorly controlled diabetes—you have a significantly higher risk of dying."
Then there's the expense. Schauer believes insurance carriers, bowing to pressure from all the large diabetes organizations, will begin to cover bariatric surgery for diabetes remission within the next year or two. In the meantime, however, he says the surgery runs about $25,000. "That's big," he says. "But bariatric surgery's benefits are beyond big. If it were me, I'd forgo the expensive car, and send my diabetes into remission. You can quote me on that—it's my absolute best advice."
Caitlin
Hi, my name is Caitlin. I am currently 28 years old, and as of August 31, 2013 I weighed 465 lbs.
Although my birth weight was low, only 5 lbs 6 oz, I have since childhood been large. I was always the biggest girl in my class, always a little bit chubby but nothing too far out of the norm. But when I hit puberty my weight gain accelerated significantly.
By the time I was in the eighth grade I weighed 205 lbs. At 5’8 I was already in obese territory. I carried it well but there was no denying that I was fat. My weight simply increased from there. I yoyo’ed over the next couple years, sometimes as small as a size 18, usually around a 24 or so, and except for finding cute clothes, my life was pretty good. I had boyfriends and lovers, friends and fun, but my health was starting to deteriorate. I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, also known as pre-diabetes, as well as poly cystic ovarian syndrome. I was told that if I wanted to have children I would have to lose a significant amount of weight. Rather than encouraging my to drop those pounds, I got depressed and gained even more.
Then when I was 20 a bomb dropped. My parents separated and then divorced. I was living away from home and didn’t have to deal with the realities of that divorce for several months, but when I returned home, I had to come face to face with the shattered remnants of my family. The only way I could deal with the pain of that situation was to eat myself into oblivion. I was 21 and gaining upwards of 5 pounds a month.
Eventually I started to get myself under control, tried going to the gym again and stabilized. But I’d developed a fully fledged addiction to food and soon that control started to crumble. Shortly there after, just before my 23rd birthday I met the man that I would marry. Travis is wonderful and the most non judgmental man I’d ever met. We fell in love, and he loved me with such a ferocity that I’d never felt more comfortable in who I was, he loved me for me, it didn’t matter what my physical body looked like. I stopped caring about watching what I ate, stopped caring about exercising, and part of that was because deep down I knew that I had found someone who wouldn’t judge me based of my exterior appearance.
In 2011 we got married. I had to special order my wedding dress because I couldn’t find anything that would fit me in any of the stores in Saskatoon. I had to have a friend make my wedding shoes because my feet had become more and more swollen with every pound I gained. I could barely stay on my feet long enough to get through our ceremony, and barely danced at my own wedding because being on my feet for that long was too hard for me physically. But it only got worse. From 2011-2013 I gained another 30 lbs, and was so disabled that I could barely function in the real world anymore. I would do anything to avoid any kind of physical activity, it was affecting my ability to work, my ability to socialize, my ability to live. In July of 2013 I cut the backs of both my legs getting out of the car and by August the wounds had spread and grown. I was terrified, they just wouldn’t heal. I went to a walk in clinic because I was in agony, the pain was excruciating, I needed to find out what was going on. The doctor took one look at me and told me that most likely the wounds weren’t healing because I now had full blown diabetes and that wounds often will not heal properly for diabetics. Sure enough I’d finally eaten myself into type II diabetes. I was 28 years old, with type II diabetes, and the physical ability and stamina of an 80 year old. Enough was enough.
At the end of August, sitting in my doctors office facing a potentially deadly disease that I had brought onto myself, I made a decision. My doctor had mentioned that I was a good candidate for a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. (For those who don’t know, this is a laparoscopic procedure where up to 85% of the stomach is removed, leaving a small stomach pouch, meaning that the individual can eat very little at a time). We had tried to weigh me on the scale in the office, but it only went to 450 lbs. Knowing that I weighed more than that was terrifying. I knew that I had gained a lot of weight, that I was over 400 lbs, but I had no idea that it had gotten that bad. I finally decided to swallow my pride and ask my vet if I could use her animal scale that went up to 500 lbs. I looked down at the read out, 465, and almost fainted.
That night I made contact with Debra at Weight No More. She advised me to start the pre-op low carbohydrate diet immediately. Over the next six weeks I ate less than 20 grms of carbs per day and lost 37 lbs. I started the pre-op two week protein shake diet and lost another 17 lbs before my surgery. I didn’t cheat. I know it’d hard to believe that someone who was so addicted to food would be able to just turn that switch off, but for this first time in my life I was truly committed to getting healthy.
My husband and I travelled to Mexico together and met my facilitator down there. Being so large I was scare that the journey would be a nightmare. Debra had arranged for a wheelchair for me at all of our stops so I didn’t have to worry about walking through the airport. It made the journey so much easier. When we got to San Diego our transportation was waiting for us. She got us checked into the hospital and that was that, they started prepping me for surgery. I honestly wasn’t scared. I had so much support, from Debra and my facilitator, and so much love from my friends and my family that I knew nothing would go wrong. The surgery was a piece of cake. The doctors told me that I was a poster child for good surgery preparation. The doctors were so kind and encouraging, and the nursing staff were fantastic. After the surgery I was a little nauseous, and I felt like I’d done about 8 million sit ups. But I felt good, glad that the surgery was done and I could start my journey to recovery.
The next day both Debra and my facilitator came to checked on me. My facilitator stayed with me for the whole time I was awake. She was so kind, answering all my questions, making suggestions about what would be best to eat over the weeks of recovery, and sharing her story with me. She had also had an enormous amount of success and it was so nice to hear that her journey had been so successful. I knew, and still know that plastic surgery was something I would need to have, and she was so open with telling me about the plastic surgery she had planned. It was incredibly helpful to have someone there who had been through the process already, to see success and to know what to expect.
The next six weeks saw me eating a lot of yogurt, soup, popsicles and pudding. The weeks after the surgery aren’t easy, it can be very hard to adjust your thinking from eating large meals and snacking to eating tiny meals of mostly liquid and pureed food. But there are still some amazingly tasty and good for you things you can eat during this period. And the bottom line is I felt amazing! I weighed in on Christmas day and got the best Christmas present I’d ever gotten. I’d lost 101 lbs. I was under 400 and already having to get rid of some of my biggest clothes. And it has only gotten better since then.
I’ve now lost 137 lbs and dropped several sizes. Most of my clothes are starting to get to be too big, even the smaller sizes in my closet. My blood sugar is now normal, the threat of a life time of diabetes has passed. My hormone levels are pretty much normal, and I’m now able to work out several days a week. This has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m happier, healthier, and loving life. My husband and I are making plans for travel and children, and, as I’ve now finished my Masters degree, I’m busily planning my future career.
Never be afraid to make a decision that will change your life for the better. Never be afraid that you’re taking the easy way out. We all need tools to help us overcome the problems we face, don’t be afraid to use those tools. You won’t regret it.
Although my birth weight was low, only 5 lbs 6 oz, I have since childhood been large. I was always the biggest girl in my class, always a little bit chubby but nothing too far out of the norm. But when I hit puberty my weight gain accelerated significantly.
By the time I was in the eighth grade I weighed 205 lbs. At 5’8 I was already in obese territory. I carried it well but there was no denying that I was fat. My weight simply increased from there. I yoyo’ed over the next couple years, sometimes as small as a size 18, usually around a 24 or so, and except for finding cute clothes, my life was pretty good. I had boyfriends and lovers, friends and fun, but my health was starting to deteriorate. I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, also known as pre-diabetes, as well as poly cystic ovarian syndrome. I was told that if I wanted to have children I would have to lose a significant amount of weight. Rather than encouraging my to drop those pounds, I got depressed and gained even more.
Then when I was 20 a bomb dropped. My parents separated and then divorced. I was living away from home and didn’t have to deal with the realities of that divorce for several months, but when I returned home, I had to come face to face with the shattered remnants of my family. The only way I could deal with the pain of that situation was to eat myself into oblivion. I was 21 and gaining upwards of 5 pounds a month.
Eventually I started to get myself under control, tried going to the gym again and stabilized. But I’d developed a fully fledged addiction to food and soon that control started to crumble. Shortly there after, just before my 23rd birthday I met the man that I would marry. Travis is wonderful and the most non judgmental man I’d ever met. We fell in love, and he loved me with such a ferocity that I’d never felt more comfortable in who I was, he loved me for me, it didn’t matter what my physical body looked like. I stopped caring about watching what I ate, stopped caring about exercising, and part of that was because deep down I knew that I had found someone who wouldn’t judge me based of my exterior appearance.
In 2011 we got married. I had to special order my wedding dress because I couldn’t find anything that would fit me in any of the stores in Saskatoon. I had to have a friend make my wedding shoes because my feet had become more and more swollen with every pound I gained. I could barely stay on my feet long enough to get through our ceremony, and barely danced at my own wedding because being on my feet for that long was too hard for me physically. But it only got worse. From 2011-2013 I gained another 30 lbs, and was so disabled that I could barely function in the real world anymore. I would do anything to avoid any kind of physical activity, it was affecting my ability to work, my ability to socialize, my ability to live. In July of 2013 I cut the backs of both my legs getting out of the car and by August the wounds had spread and grown. I was terrified, they just wouldn’t heal. I went to a walk in clinic because I was in agony, the pain was excruciating, I needed to find out what was going on. The doctor took one look at me and told me that most likely the wounds weren’t healing because I now had full blown diabetes and that wounds often will not heal properly for diabetics. Sure enough I’d finally eaten myself into type II diabetes. I was 28 years old, with type II diabetes, and the physical ability and stamina of an 80 year old. Enough was enough.
At the end of August, sitting in my doctors office facing a potentially deadly disease that I had brought onto myself, I made a decision. My doctor had mentioned that I was a good candidate for a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. (For those who don’t know, this is a laparoscopic procedure where up to 85% of the stomach is removed, leaving a small stomach pouch, meaning that the individual can eat very little at a time). We had tried to weigh me on the scale in the office, but it only went to 450 lbs. Knowing that I weighed more than that was terrifying. I knew that I had gained a lot of weight, that I was over 400 lbs, but I had no idea that it had gotten that bad. I finally decided to swallow my pride and ask my vet if I could use her animal scale that went up to 500 lbs. I looked down at the read out, 465, and almost fainted.
That night I made contact with Debra at Weight No More. She advised me to start the pre-op low carbohydrate diet immediately. Over the next six weeks I ate less than 20 grms of carbs per day and lost 37 lbs. I started the pre-op two week protein shake diet and lost another 17 lbs before my surgery. I didn’t cheat. I know it’d hard to believe that someone who was so addicted to food would be able to just turn that switch off, but for this first time in my life I was truly committed to getting healthy.
My husband and I travelled to Mexico together and met my facilitator down there. Being so large I was scare that the journey would be a nightmare. Debra had arranged for a wheelchair for me at all of our stops so I didn’t have to worry about walking through the airport. It made the journey so much easier. When we got to San Diego our transportation was waiting for us. She got us checked into the hospital and that was that, they started prepping me for surgery. I honestly wasn’t scared. I had so much support, from Debra and my facilitator, and so much love from my friends and my family that I knew nothing would go wrong. The surgery was a piece of cake. The doctors told me that I was a poster child for good surgery preparation. The doctors were so kind and encouraging, and the nursing staff were fantastic. After the surgery I was a little nauseous, and I felt like I’d done about 8 million sit ups. But I felt good, glad that the surgery was done and I could start my journey to recovery.
The next day both Debra and my facilitator came to checked on me. My facilitator stayed with me for the whole time I was awake. She was so kind, answering all my questions, making suggestions about what would be best to eat over the weeks of recovery, and sharing her story with me. She had also had an enormous amount of success and it was so nice to hear that her journey had been so successful. I knew, and still know that plastic surgery was something I would need to have, and she was so open with telling me about the plastic surgery she had planned. It was incredibly helpful to have someone there who had been through the process already, to see success and to know what to expect.
The next six weeks saw me eating a lot of yogurt, soup, popsicles and pudding. The weeks after the surgery aren’t easy, it can be very hard to adjust your thinking from eating large meals and snacking to eating tiny meals of mostly liquid and pureed food. But there are still some amazingly tasty and good for you things you can eat during this period. And the bottom line is I felt amazing! I weighed in on Christmas day and got the best Christmas present I’d ever gotten. I’d lost 101 lbs. I was under 400 and already having to get rid of some of my biggest clothes. And it has only gotten better since then.
I’ve now lost 137 lbs and dropped several sizes. Most of my clothes are starting to get to be too big, even the smaller sizes in my closet. My blood sugar is now normal, the threat of a life time of diabetes has passed. My hormone levels are pretty much normal, and I’m now able to work out several days a week. This has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m happier, healthier, and loving life. My husband and I are making plans for travel and children, and, as I’ve now finished my Masters degree, I’m busily planning my future career.
Never be afraid to make a decision that will change your life for the better. Never be afraid that you’re taking the easy way out. We all need tools to help us overcome the problems we face, don’t be afraid to use those tools. You won’t regret it.
Ron
Hi, my name is Ron and I have been obese since childhood. I was the child that the kids at school bullied, teased and ridiculed. I was called fatso, tubby, chubby, and many other names. If there were teams being picked for sport activities I would be the last to be picked because I was the fat kid. I tried to avoid pictures as much as I could but as we all know school pictures are a must. I really tried to hide in the back and thankfully because of my height as well that sometimes was quite possible. That was always a relief. I couldn’t see my toes and I couldn’t run or bend over. Life was tough.
I can remember many times walking into a restaurant and having to walk out as all they had were booths to sit in and I wouldn’t fit. I got so I spent the majority of my time at home with no social life. I hid from family functions whenever I could, I would turn my back when I would hear the snickers because I was so obese. People are cruel and very hurtful and you learn to grow a very thick skin not to let the comments, snickers and the rudeness effect you.
My weight peaked at 588 pounds and I thought I should just eat until I reach 600 pounds just so I can say I was there. Then I thought now that is just stupid thinking and went on a diet. I did lose 100 pounds however gained the majority of it back.
I saw Debra the Director/CEO of Weight No More Consulting Ltd.’s ad in Coffee Perks and decided to give her a call. I decided I wanted to have a life back and so I needed assistance and Debra and Weight No More Consulting Ltd. was the person I turned to for assistance.
I went to an informational session at Grainfield’s in Saskatoon and met with Debra and several others. There were 4 of us that decided to go as a group and Debra met with us all to fill out paperwork and made all the arrangements. All I had to do was get on the plane. That was another issue as because of my weight I had to book 2 seats going to San Diego and 2 seats coming home which was an added expense but I put myself in this position and I was the only one that could fix it and I chose weight loss surgery. I did not want to lose and regain the weight I wanted it gone forever.
Debra carefully went over the procedure with me and got me started on a pre-op diet. I lost 30 pounds on pre-op and I was off to Mexico with 4 others for surgery on September 12, 2011. I had no problems with the surgery and was up and walking in 3 hours. I had very little pain and was starting my new journey.
What was great with Debra is she started me on the pre-op and coached me all the way through answering any questions I had any time of the day or night. She made all the travel arrangements, the pick-up at the San Diego airport, the pre-op testing, the surgery, my medications, and even travelled with us. It was a one stop shop so the price she gave us from the beginning was the price we paid. There were no additional fees or any hidden costs. She spent all the time at the hospital with us going from room to room checking to see how things were going making sure we were up and walking and that everyone was comfortable. She was like a little mother hen with her chicks. We were happy to have her there. She was great support. She was there for us every step of the way.
I can’t say enough of how clean the hospital was and how professional the doctors and nursing staff are. They are there for whatever you need and complete their tasks with a smile on their face. They are very caring and compassionate about their jobs.
Debra has support group meetings once a month where we meet and go over any issues anyone is having and talk through to help one another. She searches out vitamin lines for us and answers any questions we may have. She is always ready to assist us on our journey in any way she can. She is truly caring and compassionate about each and every one of us.
If you would like to meet Ron we would be happy to have you attend one of our support group meetings. It is all about friendships and helping others to become healthy and happy. If you want to attend a support group meeting give Debra a call at 343-0907 and ask her about attending a support group meeting soon.
I am now down 210 pounds in 8 months and I am actually getting to like what I see. I am still on a journey and have a lot to lose yet but I have come a long way. I can see my toes again and sit in booths at restaurants. I can now sit on a plane in 1 seat rather than 2.
The only thing I regret about the surgery is not having it many years sooner.
If you are contemplating weight loss surgery and you want the best I recommend calling Debra at Weight No More Consulting Ltd. as this is Real Results for Real People as you can see by my pictures.
All pictures are authentic no photo shopping has been done.
I can remember many times walking into a restaurant and having to walk out as all they had were booths to sit in and I wouldn’t fit. I got so I spent the majority of my time at home with no social life. I hid from family functions whenever I could, I would turn my back when I would hear the snickers because I was so obese. People are cruel and very hurtful and you learn to grow a very thick skin not to let the comments, snickers and the rudeness effect you.
My weight peaked at 588 pounds and I thought I should just eat until I reach 600 pounds just so I can say I was there. Then I thought now that is just stupid thinking and went on a diet. I did lose 100 pounds however gained the majority of it back.
I saw Debra the Director/CEO of Weight No More Consulting Ltd.’s ad in Coffee Perks and decided to give her a call. I decided I wanted to have a life back and so I needed assistance and Debra and Weight No More Consulting Ltd. was the person I turned to for assistance.
I went to an informational session at Grainfield’s in Saskatoon and met with Debra and several others. There were 4 of us that decided to go as a group and Debra met with us all to fill out paperwork and made all the arrangements. All I had to do was get on the plane. That was another issue as because of my weight I had to book 2 seats going to San Diego and 2 seats coming home which was an added expense but I put myself in this position and I was the only one that could fix it and I chose weight loss surgery. I did not want to lose and regain the weight I wanted it gone forever.
Debra carefully went over the procedure with me and got me started on a pre-op diet. I lost 30 pounds on pre-op and I was off to Mexico with 4 others for surgery on September 12, 2011. I had no problems with the surgery and was up and walking in 3 hours. I had very little pain and was starting my new journey.
What was great with Debra is she started me on the pre-op and coached me all the way through answering any questions I had any time of the day or night. She made all the travel arrangements, the pick-up at the San Diego airport, the pre-op testing, the surgery, my medications, and even travelled with us. It was a one stop shop so the price she gave us from the beginning was the price we paid. There were no additional fees or any hidden costs. She spent all the time at the hospital with us going from room to room checking to see how things were going making sure we were up and walking and that everyone was comfortable. She was like a little mother hen with her chicks. We were happy to have her there. She was great support. She was there for us every step of the way.
I can’t say enough of how clean the hospital was and how professional the doctors and nursing staff are. They are there for whatever you need and complete their tasks with a smile on their face. They are very caring and compassionate about their jobs.
Debra has support group meetings once a month where we meet and go over any issues anyone is having and talk through to help one another. She searches out vitamin lines for us and answers any questions we may have. She is always ready to assist us on our journey in any way she can. She is truly caring and compassionate about each and every one of us.
If you would like to meet Ron we would be happy to have you attend one of our support group meetings. It is all about friendships and helping others to become healthy and happy. If you want to attend a support group meeting give Debra a call at 343-0907 and ask her about attending a support group meeting soon.
I am now down 210 pounds in 8 months and I am actually getting to like what I see. I am still on a journey and have a lot to lose yet but I have come a long way. I can see my toes again and sit in booths at restaurants. I can now sit on a plane in 1 seat rather than 2.
The only thing I regret about the surgery is not having it many years sooner.
If you are contemplating weight loss surgery and you want the best I recommend calling Debra at Weight No More Consulting Ltd. as this is Real Results for Real People as you can see by my pictures.
All pictures are authentic no photo shopping has been done.
Pauline
Hi my name is Pauline and I had weight loss surgery through Debra and Weight No More Consulting on September 12, 2011 and am now down over 100 pounds.
I flew to San Diego on September 12, 2012, I met up with Debra and 4 others at the Denver airport to continue on the journey with the rest. Debra had made all the arrangements for us and when we arrived in San Diego we were met by Debra’s driver and taken across the border to Tijuana to the INT Hospital. It was very clean and the doctors and staff were very professional. The doctors were waiting for our arrival. Our pre-op testing was completed and they started on our surgeries.
As we all know anesthetic affects us all differently and unfortunate for me I was one of the people that get sick from it. I had a rough couple days with dry heaves and vomiting but even with all the issues I had I am still very happy about my surgery. Debra was at the hospital with us and would check in on all of us to see how things were going. She contacted the doctors when I was heaving so badly to try and find something to relieve the heaving. Debra tells me she has not had anyone as sick from anesthetic as I was perhaps it was due to underlying issues but all in all I am happy I had the surgery and would recommend it to anyone struggling with their weight and not enjoying life to the fullest due to obesity issues. I strive to have my life back and am amazed at how the pounds have fallen off.
As you can see by my pictures I am a mere shadow of my former self. There are very few pictures of me before surgery as I would do everything in my power to avoid pictures at all costs. I would make up excuses so I wouldn’t have to attend functions especially if I knew there were going to be pictures taken. I hated the way I looked and I could lose weight on a diet but then as soon as I would go off the diet I would gain it back plus and my weight continued to escalate. I do not have that problem any longer.
I love to spend time with my family and now I do not have to be embarrassed about my size and do not have to hide from the camera as I look great. Thank you Debra and Weight No More for helping me on my weight loss journey.
I flew to San Diego on September 12, 2012, I met up with Debra and 4 others at the Denver airport to continue on the journey with the rest. Debra had made all the arrangements for us and when we arrived in San Diego we were met by Debra’s driver and taken across the border to Tijuana to the INT Hospital. It was very clean and the doctors and staff were very professional. The doctors were waiting for our arrival. Our pre-op testing was completed and they started on our surgeries.
As we all know anesthetic affects us all differently and unfortunate for me I was one of the people that get sick from it. I had a rough couple days with dry heaves and vomiting but even with all the issues I had I am still very happy about my surgery. Debra was at the hospital with us and would check in on all of us to see how things were going. She contacted the doctors when I was heaving so badly to try and find something to relieve the heaving. Debra tells me she has not had anyone as sick from anesthetic as I was perhaps it was due to underlying issues but all in all I am happy I had the surgery and would recommend it to anyone struggling with their weight and not enjoying life to the fullest due to obesity issues. I strive to have my life back and am amazed at how the pounds have fallen off.
As you can see by my pictures I am a mere shadow of my former self. There are very few pictures of me before surgery as I would do everything in my power to avoid pictures at all costs. I would make up excuses so I wouldn’t have to attend functions especially if I knew there were going to be pictures taken. I hated the way I looked and I could lose weight on a diet but then as soon as I would go off the diet I would gain it back plus and my weight continued to escalate. I do not have that problem any longer.
I love to spend time with my family and now I do not have to be embarrassed about my size and do not have to hide from the camera as I look great. Thank you Debra and Weight No More for helping me on my weight loss journey.
Dale
Hi, my name is Dale; I am 61 years old; 6’tall and 410 lbs. I was raised on a rural Saskatchewan farm where breakfasts consisted of sausage and eggs; lunch was a full course dinner of meat and potatoes and the works; supper was the same. Of course in those days working on the farm took lots of energy thus the need for lots of food. So when I moved to Saskatoon and got a day job and a sedentary lifestyle I still continued the eating habits I had learned and steadily gained weight over the years.
During that time I went through the diet routine, tried exercising, and even tried hypnosis in an attempt to conquer my weight problems. I had some accomplishments in the earlier years of my life losing weight but it would always come back. In my 50’s I was diagnosed with diabetes and steadily gained weight. I was on 3 different diabetic pills and high blood pressure pills which were costing a fortune. I had a cane for walking but walking was getting more difficult every day with the weight I was carrying.
I retired when I turned 59 and thought I would address my weight problem by doing the Atkins diet and swim every day. I had some success initially but once again back came the pounds. Although I found swimming was a godsend for me as I could move well in the water, walking on land was getting harder and more painful every day.
I saw Debra Simons Weight No More Consulting advertisement in the paper to come to a presentation to see what bariatric gastric sleeve surgery was all about. I was impressed with her thoroughness, sincerity and knowledge of the procedure especially since she had gone through the surgery herself. I felt hesitant to go to a foreign country to have this procedure but I felt I had to do something drastic as my weight was totally out of control. I had lost hope and felt I was on a downward spiral to my imminent death if I did not bring my weight down.
I went over to Debra’s house and she spent several hours answering questions I had about bariatric gastric sleeve surgery. The one thing Debra said which made me come to a decision to do this was that, in her case, she wished she had done this surgery 10 years ago, that’s how much her life was transformed losing the weight. Debra arranged for everything – the flight there and back, wheelchair service from one plane to the next, the surgeons, the hotel arrangements, everything to make my life stress free in getting to Tijuana. She also came to be with me on the day of surgery to provide reassurance and assist in answering questions I had and just all round make me feel comfortable in my surroundings. She took my wife by the hand and showed her around town until she felt comfortable.
I was also very impressed with Dr Jaime Ponce De Leon, Dr. Eulices Frayre and Dr. Sanchez. They were very professional, very efficient and very kind during the surgery and the two nights I stayed at the hospital. Also impressive were the nurses who took care of me.
As of writing this I have been home for 5 weeks. I am recuperating well with few complaints following the surgery. I have had no problem dealing with the post op diet. I have just started eating some solid foods so it’s nice to be able to chew again. But the amazing thing during these past 5 weeks is that I have not been HUNGRY, an amazing experience as when dieting previously I struggled many days with feeling hungry. So for that alone this has all been so worthwhile. I have also lost 50 lbs. which is such a great feeling. I am also hoping to get off of my diabetic and blood pressure pills in the future.
I have no regrets having done this surgery and I would recommend it to anyone who is suffering like I was. The gastric sleeve bariatric surgery has helped me control my food intake without hunger so, along with my swimming regime, I am hopeful and confident that I can get my life back on track and enjoy being an active retiree for the rest of my life. I am committed to being vigilant in changing my eating lifestyle totally and forever.
Thank you to Debra and the doctors for giving me a new lease on life.
Dale
During that time I went through the diet routine, tried exercising, and even tried hypnosis in an attempt to conquer my weight problems. I had some accomplishments in the earlier years of my life losing weight but it would always come back. In my 50’s I was diagnosed with diabetes and steadily gained weight. I was on 3 different diabetic pills and high blood pressure pills which were costing a fortune. I had a cane for walking but walking was getting more difficult every day with the weight I was carrying.
I retired when I turned 59 and thought I would address my weight problem by doing the Atkins diet and swim every day. I had some success initially but once again back came the pounds. Although I found swimming was a godsend for me as I could move well in the water, walking on land was getting harder and more painful every day.
I saw Debra Simons Weight No More Consulting advertisement in the paper to come to a presentation to see what bariatric gastric sleeve surgery was all about. I was impressed with her thoroughness, sincerity and knowledge of the procedure especially since she had gone through the surgery herself. I felt hesitant to go to a foreign country to have this procedure but I felt I had to do something drastic as my weight was totally out of control. I had lost hope and felt I was on a downward spiral to my imminent death if I did not bring my weight down.
I went over to Debra’s house and she spent several hours answering questions I had about bariatric gastric sleeve surgery. The one thing Debra said which made me come to a decision to do this was that, in her case, she wished she had done this surgery 10 years ago, that’s how much her life was transformed losing the weight. Debra arranged for everything – the flight there and back, wheelchair service from one plane to the next, the surgeons, the hotel arrangements, everything to make my life stress free in getting to Tijuana. She also came to be with me on the day of surgery to provide reassurance and assist in answering questions I had and just all round make me feel comfortable in my surroundings. She took my wife by the hand and showed her around town until she felt comfortable.
I was also very impressed with Dr Jaime Ponce De Leon, Dr. Eulices Frayre and Dr. Sanchez. They were very professional, very efficient and very kind during the surgery and the two nights I stayed at the hospital. Also impressive were the nurses who took care of me.
As of writing this I have been home for 5 weeks. I am recuperating well with few complaints following the surgery. I have had no problem dealing with the post op diet. I have just started eating some solid foods so it’s nice to be able to chew again. But the amazing thing during these past 5 weeks is that I have not been HUNGRY, an amazing experience as when dieting previously I struggled many days with feeling hungry. So for that alone this has all been so worthwhile. I have also lost 50 lbs. which is such a great feeling. I am also hoping to get off of my diabetic and blood pressure pills in the future.
I have no regrets having done this surgery and I would recommend it to anyone who is suffering like I was. The gastric sleeve bariatric surgery has helped me control my food intake without hunger so, along with my swimming regime, I am hopeful and confident that I can get my life back on track and enjoy being an active retiree for the rest of my life. I am committed to being vigilant in changing my eating lifestyle totally and forever.
Thank you to Debra and the doctors for giving me a new lease on life.
Dale
Judy
Hi my name is Judy and I am a Weight No More client. I have struggled with my weight all my adult life. I am 55 and at this point in my life I realize that the 250 pounds that I was carrying around was becoming a health issue, not only for my heart but also for my frame as I am only 5’2”. I have been feeling frustrated for years at the futility of dieting and the anxiety of gaining it back. I needed a solution to my struggle and was tired of being a spectator in my life.
I was watching 16 X 9 on Global television one evening with my husband and saw an article about a woman who was obese and whose health was at risk. Her story led me to connecting with Debra Simons at Weight No More Consulting Ltd. in Saskatoon. At the end of March my husband and I attended an afternoon seminar in Saskatoon to meet the doctors and ask the questions we needed to make an informed decision. I chose to have a gastric sleeve that day and the surgery was booked for May 1st. Debra followed up with me by phone, emails and faxes to attain all the health information the surgeons would need and just to encourage me and answer my questions. I was grateful that Debra handled all the flight and hotel bookings and all the other details that were required. Basically all I had to do was follow the pre-op diet and show up at the airport. Debra met me in Denver as I flew from Regina and she flew from Saskatoon. She had made all the arrangements for a wheel chair etc. at the Denver airport.
On arriving in Tijuana at the INT Hospital our group was met by Dr. Eulices Frayre one of the doctors and we were taken to our private rooms. I was happily surprised at how modern and clean the facility was. Within the hour they took blood for the lab and an ECG for a pre-surgery inspection. Dr. Jaime Ponce De Lone and his surgical team met with me to see if I had any questions before the procedure and I felt reassured that they cared about my concerns. Shortly after I was wheeled into the operating room and my surgery was completed.
My recovery in the hospital was facilitated by wonderful care by the nurses, the visit from one of the surgical team every day and the reassuring presence of Debra. After 2 and ½ days in the hospital I was taken for an overnight stay at the beautiful Lucerna Hotel just a block away. My whole surgery experience was trouble free.
It has been 2 weeks since I arrived home. I have started adding mild based soups and protein shakes and soon will be onto soft foods. I have been in awe that I don’t’ have the hunger pains and as little as 3 to 4 ounces will fill me up. I have been walking on my treadmill every day and the weight is dropping off. My pre-surgery weight was 242 and after 10 days I am down to 232.
Watch Judy’s progress as we continue to update her pictures.
I was watching 16 X 9 on Global television one evening with my husband and saw an article about a woman who was obese and whose health was at risk. Her story led me to connecting with Debra Simons at Weight No More Consulting Ltd. in Saskatoon. At the end of March my husband and I attended an afternoon seminar in Saskatoon to meet the doctors and ask the questions we needed to make an informed decision. I chose to have a gastric sleeve that day and the surgery was booked for May 1st. Debra followed up with me by phone, emails and faxes to attain all the health information the surgeons would need and just to encourage me and answer my questions. I was grateful that Debra handled all the flight and hotel bookings and all the other details that were required. Basically all I had to do was follow the pre-op diet and show up at the airport. Debra met me in Denver as I flew from Regina and she flew from Saskatoon. She had made all the arrangements for a wheel chair etc. at the Denver airport.
On arriving in Tijuana at the INT Hospital our group was met by Dr. Eulices Frayre one of the doctors and we were taken to our private rooms. I was happily surprised at how modern and clean the facility was. Within the hour they took blood for the lab and an ECG for a pre-surgery inspection. Dr. Jaime Ponce De Lone and his surgical team met with me to see if I had any questions before the procedure and I felt reassured that they cared about my concerns. Shortly after I was wheeled into the operating room and my surgery was completed.
My recovery in the hospital was facilitated by wonderful care by the nurses, the visit from one of the surgical team every day and the reassuring presence of Debra. After 2 and ½ days in the hospital I was taken for an overnight stay at the beautiful Lucerna Hotel just a block away. My whole surgery experience was trouble free.
It has been 2 weeks since I arrived home. I have started adding mild based soups and protein shakes and soon will be onto soft foods. I have been in awe that I don’t’ have the hunger pains and as little as 3 to 4 ounces will fill me up. I have been walking on my treadmill every day and the weight is dropping off. My pre-surgery weight was 242 and after 10 days I am down to 232.
Watch Judy’s progress as we continue to update her pictures.
Chris
Hi my name is Chris and I live in Lethbridge Alberta, before I found Deb at Weight No More Consulting, I felt I was destine to be OBESE for the rest of my life and not see my 50th birthday.
The Health care in Alberta is good but they as in all provinces do not recognize that obesity is a disease not a “I just can’t stop eating problem”. I tried all diets and fads plus even those magic pills that are suppose to do wonders for you.
I started my journey on April 1, 2012, I weighed 470LBS I lost 13LBS with my pre-op diet and have lost an additional 48LBS after my surgery on April 10, 2012.
My mother is just ecstatic about how the weight is coming off of me, Every time I walk into the house she says” You are getting smaller every day and is excited for me”.
This is the best I have felt in 20 years, the next day after the surgery I felt the energy and get up and go that I used to have when I was 20. I am more than willing to recommend this procedure to any one that is struggling with their weight and can’t get any help from the health care system.
I would like to say thanks to Debra and Weight No More for making this all possible for me as without Weight No More and their support I would not have been able to move forward with my life. “Thank you Debra.”
As of today June 4,2012 I am 7 LBS from going under the 400LBS. I cannot remember when the last time I weighed under 400LBS
Watch Chris’s progress as we continue to update his pictures.
The Health care in Alberta is good but they as in all provinces do not recognize that obesity is a disease not a “I just can’t stop eating problem”. I tried all diets and fads plus even those magic pills that are suppose to do wonders for you.
I started my journey on April 1, 2012, I weighed 470LBS I lost 13LBS with my pre-op diet and have lost an additional 48LBS after my surgery on April 10, 2012.
My mother is just ecstatic about how the weight is coming off of me, Every time I walk into the house she says” You are getting smaller every day and is excited for me”.
This is the best I have felt in 20 years, the next day after the surgery I felt the energy and get up and go that I used to have when I was 20. I am more than willing to recommend this procedure to any one that is struggling with their weight and can’t get any help from the health care system.
I would like to say thanks to Debra and Weight No More for making this all possible for me as without Weight No More and their support I would not have been able to move forward with my life. “Thank you Debra.”
As of today June 4,2012 I am 7 LBS from going under the 400LBS. I cannot remember when the last time I weighed under 400LBS
Watch Chris’s progress as we continue to update his pictures.
Lillian
Hi my name is Lillian and seven months ago today I took a journey of a lifetime, an amazing gift from the heart from strangers soon to be come life long friends.
As you all know my trip to Mexico was one filled with new beginnings and a fresh new look on life and from there I started my fight for my life. When I first hit my rock bottom I was well over 380 lbs, on surgery day I was 351 lbs today I am 260 lbs and still losing. I feel FANTASTIC. The best part about thus whole journey is the wonderful friends I have made along the way, those people are my daily strength along with my 2 boys who was the main reason I struggled to live a long healthy life as best I could. I no longer take blood pressure medication, no longer have issues with painful knees, ankles, and hips and no more sleep apnea.
From the bottom if my heart I thank you all for sharing my journey witness. Debbie and my amazing talented doctors in Mexico are my life saving angles. I can’t thank them enough for their part in my journey.
I love you all!
As you all know my trip to Mexico was one filled with new beginnings and a fresh new look on life and from there I started my fight for my life. When I first hit my rock bottom I was well over 380 lbs, on surgery day I was 351 lbs today I am 260 lbs and still losing. I feel FANTASTIC. The best part about thus whole journey is the wonderful friends I have made along the way, those people are my daily strength along with my 2 boys who was the main reason I struggled to live a long healthy life as best I could. I no longer take blood pressure medication, no longer have issues with painful knees, ankles, and hips and no more sleep apnea.
From the bottom if my heart I thank you all for sharing my journey witness. Debbie and my amazing talented doctors in Mexico are my life saving angles. I can’t thank them enough for their part in my journey.
I love you all!
Tiena
Tiena – “Out of the mouth of babes” this is what I thought when my 4 year old says to me one afternoon, “Look, mom that lady is almost as fat as you are!” Now my 17 year old son was just mortified that is younger brother could be so callus and reprimanded him for his comment but I quickly reminded him that he was just little and didn’t understand how hurtful his comment was or had been. I explained that he was just being truthful and that it was ok but deep down I realized that it was not ok.
I was not always large but the years working in an office environment, stomach issues, depression and life hurdles in general had caught up with me. I knew I was gaining weight 5 pounds here, 10 pounds there but didn’t realize how much I had gained until I had to buy an outfit for my son’s graduation and the pictures….oh the pictures!!!! I had spent years of dodging cameras, scales and mirrors. I had been on every diet out there at one time or another and the money that I had spent on exercise tapes, diet shakes and colon cleanses, I’m sure I could have bought a new car. Sure I would lose the weight but once I started eating regularly the pounds would come right back on and then some.
Once my 4 year old had brought me back to reality I realized that my family was the most important thing in my life and we could not be happy unless I was happy. In order for me to be happy I had to get healthy. Years of research and a numerous number of referrals to Canadian Bariatric Surgeons I had come up empty handed. I was booked for surgery with another company when my sister had referred me to Debra at Weight No More Consulting. She was insistent that I give her a call. One phone call was all it took. Days later I was on the road to a new & healthier life!!! She was so kind, understanding and considerate. She answered all of my questions as if I was the most important person in the world to her. The reality is….you are!! You are not just a number or a dollar figure when it comes to Debra, you are a friend. Debra and her fantastic surgical team saved my life and I would recommend this company to anyone and everyone who is seriously interested in WLS. She is with you every step of the way before and after surgery for as long as you need/want her. Any hurdles you have she is there for you, good or bad, together you will make it.
On November 15, 2011 (surgery date) I weighed in at 230 pounds at a height of 5 feet my BMI was well over 40 and once I was sleeved I have never looked back. Today I am 9 months post-op, weighing in at 152.2 pounds, my BMI is 30.1 for a total loss of 78 lbs since my surgery. I have no more stomach issues, my GERD/IBS is now manageable with medications, my muscles/joints do not ache and I can finally sleep through the night!! I have about 15 more pounds to go until I hit my goal weight but the real reward is the look on my friends and family’s faces at what I have accomplished and the words out of my now 7 year old son was, “Look mom, when I hug you I can get my arms all the way around you!” What more could a mother really ask for!!!
I was not always large but the years working in an office environment, stomach issues, depression and life hurdles in general had caught up with me. I knew I was gaining weight 5 pounds here, 10 pounds there but didn’t realize how much I had gained until I had to buy an outfit for my son’s graduation and the pictures….oh the pictures!!!! I had spent years of dodging cameras, scales and mirrors. I had been on every diet out there at one time or another and the money that I had spent on exercise tapes, diet shakes and colon cleanses, I’m sure I could have bought a new car. Sure I would lose the weight but once I started eating regularly the pounds would come right back on and then some.
Once my 4 year old had brought me back to reality I realized that my family was the most important thing in my life and we could not be happy unless I was happy. In order for me to be happy I had to get healthy. Years of research and a numerous number of referrals to Canadian Bariatric Surgeons I had come up empty handed. I was booked for surgery with another company when my sister had referred me to Debra at Weight No More Consulting. She was insistent that I give her a call. One phone call was all it took. Days later I was on the road to a new & healthier life!!! She was so kind, understanding and considerate. She answered all of my questions as if I was the most important person in the world to her. The reality is….you are!! You are not just a number or a dollar figure when it comes to Debra, you are a friend. Debra and her fantastic surgical team saved my life and I would recommend this company to anyone and everyone who is seriously interested in WLS. She is with you every step of the way before and after surgery for as long as you need/want her. Any hurdles you have she is there for you, good or bad, together you will make it.
On November 15, 2011 (surgery date) I weighed in at 230 pounds at a height of 5 feet my BMI was well over 40 and once I was sleeved I have never looked back. Today I am 9 months post-op, weighing in at 152.2 pounds, my BMI is 30.1 for a total loss of 78 lbs since my surgery. I have no more stomach issues, my GERD/IBS is now manageable with medications, my muscles/joints do not ache and I can finally sleep through the night!! I have about 15 more pounds to go until I hit my goal weight but the real reward is the look on my friends and family’s faces at what I have accomplished and the words out of my now 7 year old son was, “Look mom, when I hug you I can get my arms all the way around you!” What more could a mother really ask for!!!
Denise
Hi my name is Denise and since my three boys were born I have struggled with my weight.
My grandson was born in 2009 and I wanted to be able to run and play with him. In 2011 I decided I needed to get my weight under control. I started researching what my options were so I could spend quality time with my Grandson.
I saw Weight No More Consulting on Facebook and thought surgery may be an option for me. I decided I would see if I was a candidate and would qualify for Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I called Weight No More Consulting and Deb discussed my options with me. She went over the surgery and invited me to attend some Support Group meetings so I could decide whether this might be something I was interested in. It took me awhile but in March 2012 I had the sleeve surgery.
On March 6th, 2012 I was 223lbs and travelled with Deb to Mexico where I had Gastric Sleeve surgery. Today September 5th, 2013 I weigh in at 140 lbs. I no longer have to take blood pressure medication and can run up and down the yard playing with my Grandson. I83lbs gone forever. What a change in my life in the last 18 months. I am happy and healthy.
Thank you Deb for helping me get my life back on track, I could not have done it without the help and support from Weight No More Consulting Ltd.
My grandson was born in 2009 and I wanted to be able to run and play with him. In 2011 I decided I needed to get my weight under control. I started researching what my options were so I could spend quality time with my Grandson.
I saw Weight No More Consulting on Facebook and thought surgery may be an option for me. I decided I would see if I was a candidate and would qualify for Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I called Weight No More Consulting and Deb discussed my options with me. She went over the surgery and invited me to attend some Support Group meetings so I could decide whether this might be something I was interested in. It took me awhile but in March 2012 I had the sleeve surgery.
On March 6th, 2012 I was 223lbs and travelled with Deb to Mexico where I had Gastric Sleeve surgery. Today September 5th, 2013 I weigh in at 140 lbs. I no longer have to take blood pressure medication and can run up and down the yard playing with my Grandson. I83lbs gone forever. What a change in my life in the last 18 months. I am happy and healthy.
Thank you Deb for helping me get my life back on track, I could not have done it without the help and support from Weight No More Consulting Ltd.
Welcome to Weight No More Consulting
We are here to assist you in your weight loss journey as well as cosmetic journey. I myself had surgery in 2010 and have lost 135 pounds to never look back. I had cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin this year. I am healthy happy and want to help you on your journey to becoming healthy and happy.
This year I am actually going to participate and accomplish something that there is no way I could have completed when I weighed 286 pounds. I am going to participate in a Marathon. I have always admired people who would put themselves out there to assist others and raise money for a cure. I am now going to assist in this accomplishment as well.
I want you all to challenge yourselves and work towards a challenge that you were not able to accomplish due to your obesity. It is time to take command of your life and become healthy and happy as I have. Tell us about your challenges and they will support you with words of encouragement.
This year I am actually going to participate and accomplish something that there is no way I could have completed when I weighed 286 pounds. I am going to participate in a Marathon. I have always admired people who would put themselves out there to assist others and raise money for a cure. I am now going to assist in this accomplishment as well.
I want you all to challenge yourselves and work towards a challenge that you were not able to accomplish due to your obesity. It is time to take command of your life and become healthy and happy as I have. Tell us about your challenges and they will support you with words of encouragement.
Easy way out
There is not a day goes by that I am not greatful for my sleeve…I am so greatful to have this tool to help me in my life. It has been an amazing journey with the ups and downs….many people have said to me so you took the EASY WAY OUT….EASY WAY OUT….let’s just think about that for a minute…there has been nothing easy about this whole journey.
FIRST of all anyone who has suffered from obesity knows the ridicule they have taken, how ashamed they have felt, how low their self esteem was, how they hid behind others in pictures, how they tried to lose themselves in crowds hoping no one would see them, how they avoided family gatherings , how they avoided family photos and how they just didn’t want to participate in the fun things in lives. How they couldn’t walk a block and just wanted to be normal…now was that EASY?
SECOND how they knew their health was out of control and the fear of thinking they would have a heart attack, a stroke, have diabetes and many other obesity related diseases. Was it easy living like this from day to day? The depression it brought on, was this EASY to live with?
THIRD being ashamed that you resorted to weight loss surgery to assist you with your obesity thinking you took the EASY WAY OUT…has it been an easy journey…NO I DON’T THINK SO…it has be a challenge your whole life. I commend you all for taking charge of your LIVES and becoming healthy to SHARE your lives with your family for many years to come, being able to do the things that you enjoy.
We must remember the SLEEVE is just an extra tool in our weight loss journey…a very powerful tool but a tool nonetheless. It can be sabatoged as well…it is harder to sabatoge than a regular diet but it can be sabatoged. If we continue to fill up with non- nutritious foods,eat high fat, high carbs and sugar yes we can even sabatoge the sleeve…so is this the EASY WAY OUT???
FIRST of all anyone who has suffered from obesity knows the ridicule they have taken, how ashamed they have felt, how low their self esteem was, how they hid behind others in pictures, how they tried to lose themselves in crowds hoping no one would see them, how they avoided family gatherings , how they avoided family photos and how they just didn’t want to participate in the fun things in lives. How they couldn’t walk a block and just wanted to be normal…now was that EASY?
SECOND how they knew their health was out of control and the fear of thinking they would have a heart attack, a stroke, have diabetes and many other obesity related diseases. Was it easy living like this from day to day? The depression it brought on, was this EASY to live with?
THIRD being ashamed that you resorted to weight loss surgery to assist you with your obesity thinking you took the EASY WAY OUT…has it been an easy journey…NO I DON’T THINK SO…it has be a challenge your whole life. I commend you all for taking charge of your LIVES and becoming healthy to SHARE your lives with your family for many years to come, being able to do the things that you enjoy.
We must remember the SLEEVE is just an extra tool in our weight loss journey…a very powerful tool but a tool nonetheless. It can be sabatoged as well…it is harder to sabatoge than a regular diet but it can be sabatoged. If we continue to fill up with non- nutritious foods,eat high fat, high carbs and sugar yes we can even sabatoge the sleeve…so is this the EASY WAY OUT???
Is Mexico safe
Good morning all…hope this finds you all well and enjoying some sunshine. Today I am going to address is Tijuana Mexico safe? I get asked this question a lot. What can I expect in Tijuana? You can expect friendly, upbeat happy people. You can expect a spotless hospital, great nursing staff, great doctors, caring, loving and compassionate people. You will meet people that actually care about you and your health. You can expect a beautiful hotel to stay in your last night there, friendly, hospitable hotel staff and great chicken broth.
Will I find I am in danger? You have to use common sense whether you are in Mexico or here at home…are there places you would not go at home and feel safe? Yes I am sure there is…well Mexico is no different. If you mind your own business and don’t draw attention to yourself by being obnoxious, intrusive or vulgar you will have no issues in Tijuana.
We are not out and about much as we are there for surgery. We are in the hospital for 2 days and the 5 Star Hotel for one day and then we are once again on our way home. I walk back and forth to the hospital to the mall and have never felt anything but safe. Would I go out walking alone at night probably not but I wouldn’t do that at home either. It is all common sense and you are perfectly safe. We are only 5 miles across the border and in a very nice area of Tijuana. There is a pool that you can go and sit out beside at the hotel to relax and enjoy the sunshine and weather. If you want to go shopping you can catch a cab and it is usually $5 dollars everywhere you go.
Are there problems crossing the border? There are no issues crossing the border going into Tijuana as the driver will just drive you through. Coming out of Tijuana you must have your valid passport and answer a few questions if they ask? They may ask you why were you in Mexico? I was having surgery? They may ask you if you have any medications? Yes and you will have your prescription from the doctor to show them what you have. They may ask you why you went to Mexico for surgery? It is due to the long wait times and expense here at home. These are simple straight forward questions and when you have nothing to hide you will have no problems crossing the border. Truly it is a very easy procedure.
Now at some point in your life if you have ever had any problems and you have a PARDON or WAIVER to go back and forth across the border from Canada to US does not mean you will not have problems coming back into the states from Mexico…you will probably get pulled into SECONDARY INSPECTION and asked a lot more questions. If you, your spouse, your travelling companion have ever had any issues then I please ask that you be sure I am aware of that as we would drop you off at the building and have you walk through border patrol/customs going back into the US. It would cause problems for our driver with the rest of our clients going back and forth if this was to occur as they would then be pulled into SECONDARY INSPECTION each and every time as they would be watched from that point on. It is not fair to the driver and it is not fair to anyone else travelling after you. Please bear this in mind…if there is something you are not sure about please bring it to my attention.
Hope you all have a great Monday and I will post again tomorrow.
Will I find I am in danger? You have to use common sense whether you are in Mexico or here at home…are there places you would not go at home and feel safe? Yes I am sure there is…well Mexico is no different. If you mind your own business and don’t draw attention to yourself by being obnoxious, intrusive or vulgar you will have no issues in Tijuana.
We are not out and about much as we are there for surgery. We are in the hospital for 2 days and the 5 Star Hotel for one day and then we are once again on our way home. I walk back and forth to the hospital to the mall and have never felt anything but safe. Would I go out walking alone at night probably not but I wouldn’t do that at home either. It is all common sense and you are perfectly safe. We are only 5 miles across the border and in a very nice area of Tijuana. There is a pool that you can go and sit out beside at the hotel to relax and enjoy the sunshine and weather. If you want to go shopping you can catch a cab and it is usually $5 dollars everywhere you go.
Are there problems crossing the border? There are no issues crossing the border going into Tijuana as the driver will just drive you through. Coming out of Tijuana you must have your valid passport and answer a few questions if they ask? They may ask you why were you in Mexico? I was having surgery? They may ask you if you have any medications? Yes and you will have your prescription from the doctor to show them what you have. They may ask you why you went to Mexico for surgery? It is due to the long wait times and expense here at home. These are simple straight forward questions and when you have nothing to hide you will have no problems crossing the border. Truly it is a very easy procedure.
Now at some point in your life if you have ever had any problems and you have a PARDON or WAIVER to go back and forth across the border from Canada to US does not mean you will not have problems coming back into the states from Mexico…you will probably get pulled into SECONDARY INSPECTION and asked a lot more questions. If you, your spouse, your travelling companion have ever had any issues then I please ask that you be sure I am aware of that as we would drop you off at the building and have you walk through border patrol/customs going back into the US. It would cause problems for our driver with the rest of our clients going back and forth if this was to occur as they would then be pulled into SECONDARY INSPECTION each and every time as they would be watched from that point on. It is not fair to the driver and it is not fair to anyone else travelling after you. Please bear this in mind…if there is something you are not sure about please bring it to my attention.
Hope you all have a great Monday and I will post again tomorrow.
What to expect at hospital
Hi everyone, I quite often get asked what should I expect when I get to the hospital? What will happen when you arrive at the INT is you will stop at the reception desk and get checked in. Once you are checked in you will be escorted to your room where they will provide you with a hospital gown, the remote for the air conditioner, remote for your tv and they will then leave you to get your hospital gown on.
You will then be brought some forms that need to be completed. These forms are the consent forms for your surgery, the anesthetic, your stay at the hospital and consent for the hospital to do what ever is necessary if there are any emergency situation comes up.
The lab tech will come and take blood fortesting, the cardiologist will attend and take an EKG and examine you and ask you questions regarding your health and family history.
After all this has taken place, the anesthesiologist will attend and ask you some questions and explain to you about the anesthetic. The medical team will also attend Dr. Ponce de Leon, Dr. Eulices Frayre and answer any questions you may have prior to surgery.
On to the next step, once your blood work is all back and the cardiologist is happy with your results off to surgery you go. The surgery is approximately 45 minutes to one hour in length and then you are in Recovery for approximately an hour and a half and then back to your room. In your room they will let you rest for a few hours and then we want you up and walking to help dissipate the gas in your abdomen that they used during the surgery. In order for the doctors to work on your stomach they extend your stomach with gas to give them room. The more you walk the more gas you will release and the better you will feel. You will have a drain for the 2 days you are in the hospital and that will be removed after they perform the third leakage test which is performed the morning you are leaving the hospital to go to the hotel. You will be given the DVD of your surgery as well as your Leakage Test to bring home with you.
During the 2 days you are in the hospital the nutritionist will also come and speak to you and go over a food plan that she would like you to follow. I also provide you with a food plan you can follow and they are a bit different so you can follow either one or take some things from each if you wish.
Dr. Ponce De Leon and his medical team are very caring and compassionate and will assist you every step. They care about you and are happy to assist you on your journey. I am here for you every step of the way and happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your journey if I don’t have the answers I will be sure to get them from the doctors for you.
You are entering a whole new lifestyle and we want you to succeed. This is just a little information for you on your journey.
Remember your Gastric Sleeve is not a magic cure…it is an extra tool in your weight loss journey. I will elaborate more on this tomorrow.
Debra
You will then be brought some forms that need to be completed. These forms are the consent forms for your surgery, the anesthetic, your stay at the hospital and consent for the hospital to do what ever is necessary if there are any emergency situation comes up.
The lab tech will come and take blood fortesting, the cardiologist will attend and take an EKG and examine you and ask you questions regarding your health and family history.
After all this has taken place, the anesthesiologist will attend and ask you some questions and explain to you about the anesthetic. The medical team will also attend Dr. Ponce de Leon, Dr. Eulices Frayre and answer any questions you may have prior to surgery.
On to the next step, once your blood work is all back and the cardiologist is happy with your results off to surgery you go. The surgery is approximately 45 minutes to one hour in length and then you are in Recovery for approximately an hour and a half and then back to your room. In your room they will let you rest for a few hours and then we want you up and walking to help dissipate the gas in your abdomen that they used during the surgery. In order for the doctors to work on your stomach they extend your stomach with gas to give them room. The more you walk the more gas you will release and the better you will feel. You will have a drain for the 2 days you are in the hospital and that will be removed after they perform the third leakage test which is performed the morning you are leaving the hospital to go to the hotel. You will be given the DVD of your surgery as well as your Leakage Test to bring home with you.
During the 2 days you are in the hospital the nutritionist will also come and speak to you and go over a food plan that she would like you to follow. I also provide you with a food plan you can follow and they are a bit different so you can follow either one or take some things from each if you wish.
Dr. Ponce De Leon and his medical team are very caring and compassionate and will assist you every step. They care about you and are happy to assist you on your journey. I am here for you every step of the way and happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your journey if I don’t have the answers I will be sure to get them from the doctors for you.
You are entering a whole new lifestyle and we want you to succeed. This is just a little information for you on your journey.
Remember your Gastric Sleeve is not a magic cure…it is an extra tool in your weight loss journey. I will elaborate more on this tomorrow.
Debra
Arriving Home
What To Expect Upon Arriving Home: when you arrive home after having your Gastric Sleeve you will be on clear fluids for a time. You will graduate to full fluids, then soft foods and then to eating regularly. Rule of thumb when you first come home is 2 ounces every 2 hours slowly sipping water all day long. Sipping on water is CRUCIAL as we DO NOT want you becoming dehydrated. That is very easy to do during your first stages. So lots of WATER is very important.
The next thing we want to remember is our diet is now going to consist of HIGH PROTEIN for the rest of our lives….we need to have minimum of 70 GRAMS of PROTEIN a day. We will also be taking VITAMIN B12 sublingual for the rest of our lives. Vitamin B12 is the vitamin that builds our red blood cells and as we are limited on the amount of red meat we can eat we need to supplement with B12 And a good multi vitamin. If you are having a hard time getting in your protein you may supplement it with protein powders etc. but remember you goal is to be able to get your nutrients from whole food not supplements eventually. We do not want you living on protein supplements.
We do need to a change our lives and our eating regimes. We want to eat healthy and work at putting bad habits behind us. IT CAN BE DONE. You have a very powerful tool to assist you with your Gastric Sleeve and lots of support a long the way.
We are here to assist you and your SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS. We want you to be HEALTHY and HAPPY.
Have a great day everyone.
The next thing we want to remember is our diet is now going to consist of HIGH PROTEIN for the rest of our lives….we need to have minimum of 70 GRAMS of PROTEIN a day. We will also be taking VITAMIN B12 sublingual for the rest of our lives. Vitamin B12 is the vitamin that builds our red blood cells and as we are limited on the amount of red meat we can eat we need to supplement with B12 And a good multi vitamin. If you are having a hard time getting in your protein you may supplement it with protein powders etc. but remember you goal is to be able to get your nutrients from whole food not supplements eventually. We do not want you living on protein supplements.
We do need to a change our lives and our eating regimes. We want to eat healthy and work at putting bad habits behind us. IT CAN BE DONE. You have a very powerful tool to assist you with your Gastric Sleeve and lots of support a long the way.
We are here to assist you and your SUCCESS IS OUR SUCCESS. We want you to be HEALTHY and HAPPY.
Have a great day everyone.
Diet after the Gastric Sleeve
Good morning everyone, sorry I have been away busy moving and so have been unable to blog but here I am back to blog again.
I want to talk today about how important protein is to our bodies after the gastric sleeve. Why is Protein important? It is important for a variety of reasons…
1. We need protein to build our bodies muscle mass index.
2. Protein helps to curb hunger.
3. It gives us energy and sustains us much longer than carbohydrates.
4. We need 70 to 100 grams of protein a day for our body to burn the fat and give us enough nourishment with our Gastric Sleeves to keep us healthy and our protein levels where they need to be.
There are many n sources of protein other than meat and so variety in our diets is very important. All kinds of beans are high in protein so if you are tired of meat try refried beans, kidney beans, black beans, Lima bean etc. and look for and try out new receipts and liven up your diet.
That is it for today all but I love your comments so look forward to reading and catching up with you all.
Have a great day and REMEMBER – LIVE FREE – BE HAPPY – DIET NO MORE
I want to talk today about how important protein is to our bodies after the gastric sleeve. Why is Protein important? It is important for a variety of reasons…
1. We need protein to build our bodies muscle mass index.
2. Protein helps to curb hunger.
3. It gives us energy and sustains us much longer than carbohydrates.
4. We need 70 to 100 grams of protein a day for our body to burn the fat and give us enough nourishment with our Gastric Sleeves to keep us healthy and our protein levels where they need to be.
There are many n sources of protein other than meat and so variety in our diets is very important. All kinds of beans are high in protein so if you are tired of meat try refried beans, kidney beans, black beans, Lima bean etc. and look for and try out new receipts and liven up your diet.
That is it for today all but I love your comments so look forward to reading and catching up with you all.
Have a great day and REMEMBER – LIVE FREE – BE HAPPY – DIET NO MORE
First day after surgery
Hi all, well I was in Mexico with clients this week that underwent surgery and they made a comment about how no one talks about the first day after surgery so I thought what a great topic for my next blog.
The first day after Gastric Sleeve surgery is different for everyone…first of all we all react differently to anesthetic and some of us are in better health and more active prior to surgery than others. So therefore we all feel a bit differently.
For some the first day after surgery is not so great, we have some discomfort from the gas that was used to extend our stomachs for the doctor to be able to perform our surgery laparoscopically and in order for us to get rid of all that gas we need to be up and walking the hallways as much as possible.
Some also may be nauseous from the anesthetic and these are all normal feelings.
You may have a little discomfort from the incisions but not usually. They are very small and so therefore heal quickly and don’t cause us a lot of discomfort.
You may have some pain in the shoulder area or tightness in the chest area and again that is from the gas they use to extend your abdomen however less than 24 hours you will be feeling much better and not hardly realize you have had surgery except that you are not eating and do not feel hungry.
You are in great care at the hospital and the nurses are all very accommodating and do their best to ensure you are not in to much discomfort.
With Weight No More Consulting if you go through their whole program you have a facilitator there (quite often being Debra (the owner of the company) to assist you and explain what the different things are that you are experiencing. Sometimes it is another facilitator but it is always someone whom has had surgery through Weight No More Consulting Ltd., knows the doctors, knows the hotel and is there to assist you in every way they can.
If you have surgery through Weight No More and you have any concerns Debra is always more than happy to answer any and all questions and assist you along the way.
Hope this was helpful for you all to understand how you may be feeling the first day after surgery.
The first day after Gastric Sleeve surgery is different for everyone…first of all we all react differently to anesthetic and some of us are in better health and more active prior to surgery than others. So therefore we all feel a bit differently.
For some the first day after surgery is not so great, we have some discomfort from the gas that was used to extend our stomachs for the doctor to be able to perform our surgery laparoscopically and in order for us to get rid of all that gas we need to be up and walking the hallways as much as possible.
Some also may be nauseous from the anesthetic and these are all normal feelings.
You may have a little discomfort from the incisions but not usually. They are very small and so therefore heal quickly and don’t cause us a lot of discomfort.
You may have some pain in the shoulder area or tightness in the chest area and again that is from the gas they use to extend your abdomen however less than 24 hours you will be feeling much better and not hardly realize you have had surgery except that you are not eating and do not feel hungry.
You are in great care at the hospital and the nurses are all very accommodating and do their best to ensure you are not in to much discomfort.
With Weight No More Consulting if you go through their whole program you have a facilitator there (quite often being Debra (the owner of the company) to assist you and explain what the different things are that you are experiencing. Sometimes it is another facilitator but it is always someone whom has had surgery through Weight No More Consulting Ltd., knows the doctors, knows the hotel and is there to assist you in every way they can.
If you have surgery through Weight No More and you have any concerns Debra is always more than happy to answer any and all questions and assist you along the way.
Hope this was helpful for you all to understand how you may be feeling the first day after surgery.
Losing weight after regain
I came across this article this morning and wanted to share it with you all as I am quite I often asked “Can I Regain My Weight?” The answer is “yes” however if you follow our guidelines you will not but if you do you can lose it again with a little hard work. Hope you all have a great day. Debra
June 21, 2013 by tammy
by Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS
For bariatric patients, the weight loss battle does not end in the operating room. Months or even years after surgery, the weight can slowly creep back on. This setback can be both frustrating and discouraging to people who thought their weight loss issues were a thing of the past.
Truthfully, it happens to most of us. If you are dealing with weight gain, we’ve listed a few steps below which will help you get back on track. But these are only a few ideas ? please hit the comment button below and share your recommendations and tips!
1. Go back to what the doctor ordered
Post-surgery, you were probably given a lot of instructions from your surgeon as to what, when and how to eat and were reminded of the importance of exercise and follow-up medical care. While in the beginning you might have followed the doctor’s advice to the letter, as time passed and you looked and felt healthier, you may deviated from those dietary and exercise guidelines.
Those instructions were not only designed to ensure a safe recovery but were part of a long term strategy to help you reap the benefits of weight loss surgery for the rest of your life.
In fact, closely following your surgeon’s orders may be the secret to post surgery success.
2. Get thy self to the nearest support group ? STAT
Weight loss is a personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Groups such as the “back on track together group” onobesityhelp.com are great ways to share your weight loss challenges and successes with a network of people who can sympathize with what you are going through. These groups can also improve your self-esteem by helping you to recognize that your feelings and behaviors are not unique and nothing to be ashamed of.
Here is a more detailed overview of the value of a support network: Click here.
3. Mind your exercise
Are you using the ‘too tired’ reason for missing a trip to the gym or 30 minute fast walk around the neighborhood? If you need energy, you know how to get it—get up, get out, get moving.
“Too busy,” you say? Remember, only you can prioritize your health and wellness. You matter—make time for your health every single day.
4. Hold yourself accountable
This doesn’t mean blaming yourself for putting the weight back on. It means being forthright about how and why you’ve gained the weight. Both a scale and firing up your food journal again can help you with that.
Weigh in at least once a week you will be forced to face the hard fact that you are gaining weight and you will be more likely to break the bad habits that are causing it. Keeping a food and activity diary, like the one found here, also gives you accountability for your weight gain by helping you to track your daily food intake, count your calories and keep a log of your daily activity.
There’s no need to beat yourself up. You have already done the hard part by recognizing the weight has crept back on. That in itself shows you are going to battle back! If you need a pep talk or have some challenges you help with overcoming—call your bariatric surgeon or nutritionist and schedule an appointment. We are here, armed with the ammunition to get the scale moving downward again.
June 21, 2013 by tammy
by Seun Sowemimo, MD, FACS
For bariatric patients, the weight loss battle does not end in the operating room. Months or even years after surgery, the weight can slowly creep back on. This setback can be both frustrating and discouraging to people who thought their weight loss issues were a thing of the past.
Truthfully, it happens to most of us. If you are dealing with weight gain, we’ve listed a few steps below which will help you get back on track. But these are only a few ideas ? please hit the comment button below and share your recommendations and tips!
1. Go back to what the doctor ordered
Post-surgery, you were probably given a lot of instructions from your surgeon as to what, when and how to eat and were reminded of the importance of exercise and follow-up medical care. While in the beginning you might have followed the doctor’s advice to the letter, as time passed and you looked and felt healthier, you may deviated from those dietary and exercise guidelines.
Those instructions were not only designed to ensure a safe recovery but were part of a long term strategy to help you reap the benefits of weight loss surgery for the rest of your life.
In fact, closely following your surgeon’s orders may be the secret to post surgery success.
2. Get thy self to the nearest support group ? STAT
Weight loss is a personal journey, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Groups such as the “back on track together group” onobesityhelp.com are great ways to share your weight loss challenges and successes with a network of people who can sympathize with what you are going through. These groups can also improve your self-esteem by helping you to recognize that your feelings and behaviors are not unique and nothing to be ashamed of.
Here is a more detailed overview of the value of a support network: Click here.
3. Mind your exercise
Are you using the ‘too tired’ reason for missing a trip to the gym or 30 minute fast walk around the neighborhood? If you need energy, you know how to get it—get up, get out, get moving.
“Too busy,” you say? Remember, only you can prioritize your health and wellness. You matter—make time for your health every single day.
4. Hold yourself accountable
This doesn’t mean blaming yourself for putting the weight back on. It means being forthright about how and why you’ve gained the weight. Both a scale and firing up your food journal again can help you with that.
Weigh in at least once a week you will be forced to face the hard fact that you are gaining weight and you will be more likely to break the bad habits that are causing it. Keeping a food and activity diary, like the one found here, also gives you accountability for your weight gain by helping you to track your daily food intake, count your calories and keep a log of your daily activity.
There’s no need to beat yourself up. You have already done the hard part by recognizing the weight has crept back on. That in itself shows you are going to battle back! If you need a pep talk or have some challenges you help with overcoming—call your bariatric surgeon or nutritionist and schedule an appointment. We are here, armed with the ammunition to get the scale moving downward again.
Roxanne
Hi, my name is Roxanne I've struggled with my weight my whole life and my heaviest was 293lb.on Jan 10th 2014.
I made my life changing journey to Mexico with the help of Debra and her company: Weight No More Consulting. I remember how excited yet nervous I was and how amazing and friendly the doctors and staff were. They made me feel very safe and comfortable.
I flew out Jan 10th, had my gastric sleeve surgery that same eve and was up walking around soon after. The next day I felt great and spent the day up and out of bed walking as much as I could. I was released from the hospital at noon on Sunday to my hotel. Once I was settled into my room, I decided that I felt good enough to go shopping!
I flew home on Monday and Tuesday morn I was up and ready to take on the world! Eight months later, I'm down 120 lbs and feel amazing. I started going to the gym and working out and I spend a lot of my time playing with my children whereas before I would sit on the couch and just watch them play.
I have so much energy now! I have a whole new and positive outlook on life and I'm enjoying every minute of it. My children, family and friends have seen just how amazing my journey has been and I have Debra and her wonderful team to thank! Weight no more consulting you have given me my life back and I will never forget it!!
I made my life changing journey to Mexico with the help of Debra and her company: Weight No More Consulting. I remember how excited yet nervous I was and how amazing and friendly the doctors and staff were. They made me feel very safe and comfortable.
I flew out Jan 10th, had my gastric sleeve surgery that same eve and was up walking around soon after. The next day I felt great and spent the day up and out of bed walking as much as I could. I was released from the hospital at noon on Sunday to my hotel. Once I was settled into my room, I decided that I felt good enough to go shopping!
I flew home on Monday and Tuesday morn I was up and ready to take on the world! Eight months later, I'm down 120 lbs and feel amazing. I started going to the gym and working out and I spend a lot of my time playing with my children whereas before I would sit on the couch and just watch them play.
I have so much energy now! I have a whole new and positive outlook on life and I'm enjoying every minute of it. My children, family and friends have seen just how amazing my journey has been and I have Debra and her wonderful team to thank! Weight no more consulting you have given me my life back and I will never forget it!!
Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon
Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon
Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon is a Chief Bariatric Surgeon in Tijuana Mexico and has been practicing surgery for the past 19 years and performing laparoscopic surgery since 1995. He is currently Chief Surgeon at various Baja Hospitals, and Mexico Extreme Makeover. He has devoted his life to helping fight obesity and is truly caring and compassionate about his work
Dr. Ponce De Leon received his Medical Doctor Degree in 1991 from Saint Nicholas University in the Mexican State of Hidalgo as a General Surgeon. He completed a 4 year residency in Tijuana’s General Hospital where he obtained his speciality as a gastroenterologist surgeon.
In 1997, Dr. Ponce de Leon got his certification from the Mexican Association of Endoscopic Surgery and he started Bariatric Surgery with Laparoscopy in 1998 when he got his Certification from the Mexican Association of General Surgeons.
Dr. Ponce De Leon later learned various techniques from courses he took in the United States and France. He received authorization to perform Obesity Surgery with Gastric Bypass and Lap-Band from the Mexican Society of Obesity Surgeons in 2004 after having received formal training and authorization in 2001 directly from Bio Centrics Corporation. Dr. Ponce De Leon continues to improve his studies in obesity surgeries adding Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Plications over the last several years.
Credentials and Memberships
- Medicine faculty Dr. Ignacio Chavez of “Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo”
- Postgraduate: Hospital General de Tijuana SSA.
- Bariatric course in Leon Guanajuato, México.
- Bariatric diploma in Universidad Autonoma de Baja California.
- Lap Band System workshop Tijuana, Mexico
- Academic tutor of general surgery of Tijuana’s General Hospital
- Current Treasurer of the General Surgeons College of Tijuana
- Professor and Organizer of the XII International General Surgery Congress in Tijuana, México.
- Teacher in the precongress course of bariatric surgery in the XII Annual International Congress of General Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico – Feb and Mar/03
- Minimal Invasive Surgery course taken in CECMI in Guadalajara, Mexico
- Advance course in Esophagus Endoscopic Surgery in Vallarta, México
- Society Affiliations
- Mexican Society of Bariatric Surgery Member (sociedad mexicana de la cirugía de la obesidad, a.c.).
- Medical College of Tijuana Member: (colegio medico de Tijuana).
- General Surgeons College of Tijuana Member (Colegio de Cirujanos Generales de Tijuana A.C.).
- IFSO Member (International Federation Surgery Obesity).
See Dr. Ponce DeLeon's Official Website
Dr. Eulices Frayre
Dr. Eulices Frayre attended medical school a the Center for University Studies, Hochicalco Campus, Tijuana, Mexico from 1999 to 2001. He completed his undergraduate Internship at the Hospital Clinca Issste in Ensenada in 2002 and worked for Social Services Community Center from 2002 to 2003. On April 17, 2001 he received the approval for professional examination for obtaining title as a Surgeon.
Dr. Frayre is the Medical Director of Beletza Medica Spa since 2007 until today and has been Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon’s first surgical assistant for obesity surgeries since July of 2004. Dr. Frayre has assisted in over 4000 bariatric procedures and 3000 general surgeries.
Dr. Frayre is the Medical Director of Beletza Medica Spa since 2007 until today and has been Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon’s first surgical assistant for obesity surgeries since July of 2004. Dr. Frayre has assisted in over 4000 bariatric procedures and 3000 general surgeries.
Dr. Jesus Sanchez
Dr. Jesus Sanchez decided early on in life that he wanted to be an anaesthesiologist. After graduating from Secondary school, Dr. Sanchez entered into prep school at the University Aut. Sinaloa from 1986 to 1989.
After prep school Dr. Sanchez entered into the Professional School of Medicine from 1989 to 1994 where he took his formal training as an anaesthesiologist obtaining his undergraduate in 1995. He moved on to his residency at the Hospital Gral. Edo, Hermosillo, Son from 1997 to 2000. He also worked with Social Services from 1995 to 1996.
Dr. Sanchez continued his path to anaesthesiology by working in various hospitals assisting surgeons from then until present. Dr. Sanchez continues to work out of various hospitals and is Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon’s anaesthesiologist and assists Dr. Ponce De Leon in every surgery. Dr. Sanchez is certified with the Mexican Federation for anaesthesiology.
After prep school Dr. Sanchez entered into the Professional School of Medicine from 1989 to 1994 where he took his formal training as an anaesthesiologist obtaining his undergraduate in 1995. He moved on to his residency at the Hospital Gral. Edo, Hermosillo, Son from 1997 to 2000. He also worked with Social Services from 1995 to 1996.
Dr. Sanchez continued his path to anaesthesiology by working in various hospitals assisting surgeons from then until present. Dr. Sanchez continues to work out of various hospitals and is Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon’s anaesthesiologist and assists Dr. Ponce De Leon in every surgery. Dr. Sanchez is certified with the Mexican Federation for anaesthesiology.
Randy OR Nurse
Randy has worked as Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon’s OR nurse for over 10 years, and is at his side in every surgery. Randy brings humour and experience to the OR and also ensures that Dr. Jaime Ponce De Leon has the appropriate instruments ready and sterilized when he needs them. Randy assists in all surgeries and when you meet him he makes you feel so at ease. He has a relaxing calm about him in the OR and ensures he is there for your needs.
Dr. Juan Francisco Egaña Elizalde
Dr. Elizalde did his medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine at the Autonomous University of Baja California, after which he went to Mexico City to attend the Juarez de Mexico Hospital Surgery and Internal Medicine services including the areas of Intensive Care Unit, Nephrology, Hematology and Transfusions service.
He returned to the state of Baja California to attend the Gynaecology and Obstetrics service at the Tijuana General Hospital, then went to the Ensenada General Hospital to the Paediatrics and E.R. services to obtain his medical degree.
Dr. Elizalde attended the Institute of Superior Medicine Studies to obtain a Master Degree in Cosmetic Surgery which is specialized medical and surgical training focused on body contouring and face procedures.
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Debra Simons
Hi my name is Debra, I have struggled with my weight my whole life, I have tried every diet out there, gone to the gym and yes I would lose weight but as soon as I would go off the program I would gain it back plus extra.
I researched weight loss surgery for over 4 years and finally decided it was time I took my health into my own hands and worked towards getting healthy. On June 29, 2010, I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery and I am so happy that I did.
I was on so many medications that one day I said to my husband I feel like your 90 year old Grandma, look at the medications lined up here on the counter. I was on medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, water retention, acid reflux as well as anti-depressants. I hated myself and thought I was a loser. I couldn’t control what I was putting in my mouth and I didn’t want to go out, see anyone or attend any family functions. I felt I was a failure. I lost my mom to cancer 1 and 1/2 years ago but had made a promise to her that I would get healthy and I would look after myself.
Having weight loss surgery has totally changed my life, in 3 months I am down 64 pounds and feel so much better. The most important factor is I am getting my health back. I am off all my medications and only take vitamins now. I was at the doctor the other day and she was amazed. My blood pressure was 117 over 72 and my heart rate was 60, she says “that heart rate is like a 15 year old. Congratulations you are totally on the road to good health.”
I am so excited about the changes within me that I want to share them with you. I want you to have your health back as I do. I want you to be able to enjoy family functions and the fun things in life. You too can take control of your life and there are tools to help you. Let me share my experience with you and together we can turn your life into a healthy one.
If you are interested in taking a step forward to your health, contact Weight No More Consulting and together we can make a difference in getting your health back.
I researched weight loss surgery for over 4 years and finally decided it was time I took my health into my own hands and worked towards getting healthy. On June 29, 2010, I had Gastric Sleeve Surgery and I am so happy that I did.
I was on so many medications that one day I said to my husband I feel like your 90 year old Grandma, look at the medications lined up here on the counter. I was on medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, water retention, acid reflux as well as anti-depressants. I hated myself and thought I was a loser. I couldn’t control what I was putting in my mouth and I didn’t want to go out, see anyone or attend any family functions. I felt I was a failure. I lost my mom to cancer 1 and 1/2 years ago but had made a promise to her that I would get healthy and I would look after myself.
Having weight loss surgery has totally changed my life, in 3 months I am down 64 pounds and feel so much better. The most important factor is I am getting my health back. I am off all my medications and only take vitamins now. I was at the doctor the other day and she was amazed. My blood pressure was 117 over 72 and my heart rate was 60, she says “that heart rate is like a 15 year old. Congratulations you are totally on the road to good health.”
I am so excited about the changes within me that I want to share them with you. I want you to have your health back as I do. I want you to be able to enjoy family functions and the fun things in life. You too can take control of your life and there are tools to help you. Let me share my experience with you and together we can turn your life into a healthy one.
If you are interested in taking a step forward to your health, contact Weight No More Consulting and together we can make a difference in getting your health back.
Debra Simons
Karen Whalley
Ramona Logan
Tammy Ceaser
Weight No More Consulting
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