Ahhh…Thanksgiving – A fat kid’s dream! A whole holiday focused on a feast. It could also be a bariatric’s nightmare. The family you haven’t seen in awhile asking you questions, commenting on your appearance and maybe even watching what you eat. You may start to feel self-conscious, which may prompt...

I hated my life for so long. The longer I hated my life, the more I loved Halloween. I think it’s because my life wasn’t what I wanted it to be, and Halloween allowed me to become whoever I wanted to be. Most of my Halloween costumes have been kind...

Bariatric surgery wasn’t real until I had my pre-op consult for bariatric surgery. I mean, I knew I was working towards surgery, but until this appointment, it didn’t feel real. I was nearing the peak of my journey but still had a few things to do. At this visit, you’ll...

One of the many stops on your bariatric surgery journey is a pulmonary clearance. The point of this clearance is to assess your lung function and identify any issues that may lead to complications with your bariatric surgery. You’ll start the exam like any other appointment and discuss topics like...

At your first visit with the bariatric surgeon, be prepared to talk about the demons that caused your obesity. Your surgeon wants to know this information so he or she can get you the proper pre-op clearances you’ll need. You’ll also discuss surgical options, as well as have the opportunity...

Life before bariatric surgery filled me with stress and unhappiness. I was unfulfilled, unmotivated and ate away my emotions almost daily. The benefits of bariatric surgery are numerous. My vertical sleeve gastrectomy allowed me to end the repetitive dieting and lose weight for good. Small changes led to significant results....

Today marks two years since I went under the knife to have my insides rearranged. It’s been two years since my gastric sleeve changed everything. In the six months before my surgery, I lost 80 pounds. Since my surgery, I lost another 155 pounds. I’ve made permanent lifestyle changes necessary...

Imagine sitting at home, snuggled up in your pajamas in your favorite chair on a Sunday night. It’s cool, as fall is starting to arrive, and you’re sipping hot chocolate. You’re mindlessly scrolling through Facebook before bed, and a thousand thoughts are swirling through your head. Suddenly, you see something...

Emotional eating is a problem many of us have. We eat when we’re bored, sad, tired, happy, angry or anytime we’re feeling anything. Since bariatric surgery requires us to change so many habits, we also need to change our emotional response to situations. Food can no longer be a crutch....