The BIG Book On The Gastric Bypass
Everything You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
About — The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass
Are you sick and tired of struggling with obesity? If you've been obese for years and have tried every weight loss diet without lasting success, weight loss surgery may be the right choice for you. "The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass: Everything You Need to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass" is your complete guide to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Like so many other patients who have struggled with obesity for many years, you may find that the gastric bypass is the tool you need to eat well and finally lose weight for good. The Big Book guides you through each step of the journey, from deciding to get RYGB, finding a surgeon and paying for surgery, to recovering from surgery, following the bypass diet and losing weight and keeping it off for life.
"The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass: Everything You Need to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass" treats you with the respect you deserve and provides facts and analysis in simple language. It discusses everything related to obesity, weight loss, the gastric bypass and the weight loss surgery diet so that you can make the best decisions for yourself. The book further helps you by being a source of advice and motivation. It contains stories from real-life bypass patients, told in their words. When you're ready to learn all about losing weight and living well with the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, grab your copy of the book and get reading!
About the book's authors:
With every page of "The BIG Book on the Gastric Bypass" you will learn important details such as:
- The options for surgical weight loss and what is involved with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.
- How to make your decision and what questions to ask before surgery
- What your diet and exercise will look like following the procedure
- How to adjust to your incredible new body
- And so much more
Lifelong weight loss and better health can be yours with the help of this book!
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Title
Content
This chapter talks about the obesity epidemic and provides a reminder of the dangers of obesity. It contributes to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. It can make you depressed, and you might already be familiar with social stigma, such as people looking down on you, that comes with obesity. Still, one-third of Americans are obese and another third are overweight. Our lifestyles and surroundings make losing weight hard. Each day, we face fast food, junk food, not enough opportunities for exercise and too much time sitting around. How much is obesity affecting you?
Why is weight loss so difficult when it sounds so simple? Eat less and exercise more, and you should lose weight, right? It's not so easy, though. This chapter takes a look at your options for losing weight and why they don't work for most people. not have worked for you before.
- Diets don't usually work in the long term if you don't make them true lifestyle changes; you'll gain the weight right back if you try extreme diets such as low-carb diets or diets that only let you eat boxed meals or shakes.
- Exercise programs are healthy, but they don't usually burn off enough calories to motivate you to continue them.
- Weight loss drugs can be dangerous and are not necessarily effective.
- vertical sleeve gastrectomy
- roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- sleeve plication (or curvature plication)
- laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (brand name: Lap-Band)
You may be considered the gastric bypass as an obesity treatment, but do you know exactly what it is and how it works? This chapter describes the gastric bypass procedure and how it can help you lose weight if you follow the bypass diet. During surgery, the surgeon forms a small pouch out of your stomach and closes off the rest of your stomach so that it can’t be used. The bottom of the small stomach pouch gets attached to a spot toward the middle or bottom of the small intestine so that food bypasses the upper part of the small intestine where nutrient absorption usually takes place. As explained in the chapter, the surgery is usually laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, but it can be open. After surgery, when you swallow, food travels down your throat, into the small stomach pouch and to the middle or lower end of your small intestine. The small stomach pouch helps you feel full faster so you’re less likely to eat as much. The bypass portion of the gastric bypass helps reduce nutrient absorption so that you don’t get as many calories. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is intended to be permanent, and you need to follow the bypass diet for life.
The stomach pouch that you have after RYGB is much smaller than your original stomach. It can hold only about ‘15 percent of the amount of food that your original stomach could hold. You’re likely to eat less and lose weight when you have the gastric bypass because of the smaller amount of food that you can eat. Also, you can lose some weight because won’t be absorbing as many calories from your food. Finally, the RYGB changes some of your hormones so that you don’t feel as hungry. This chapter talks about how much weight you can expect to lose with the RYGB if you follow the bypass lifestyle. It also explains some of the other benefits of losing weight with the bypass, such as feeling better and getting off of some of your medications.
Any surgical procedure has risks, and this chapter presents them to you so that you can make an informed decision about whether you think the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is worthwhile for you. Infections and bleeding can occur. Other serious complications include a staple line leak and an obstruction. Rarely, some complications can require a second surgery. Pain is usually severe as you recover from surgery. Nausea, vomiting and gastrointestional discomfort are possible, but are often preventable if you follow your surgeon’s diet and other instructions carefully. You will also likely experience dumping syndrome after RYGB. Chapter 5 makes sure that you’re going into the procedure with all the information you need.
Now that you know how the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, how it can help you lose weight and what the risks are, it’s time to start thinking about whether you’re a good candidate to get RYGB. Chapter 6 introduces the eligibility criteria for obese patients who want the gastric bypass, as well as exclusion criteria – or contraindications (medical conditions) that may prevent you from getting it. The chapter also talks about some special conditions, such as pregnancy, revisional weight loss surgery patients and adolescents. By the end of this chapter, you’ll have a much better idea about whether RYGB is for you.
After deciding to get the bypass, it’s time to plan your surgery. This chapter suggests sources for expanding your knowledge about the surgery. Selecting a surgeon is an important step in your journey, and we give you tips on finding a surgeon who’s qualified and a good fit for your personality. We also introduce the other members of the healthcare team, such as a mental health professional and dietitian. These health professionals will be working with you for years. Finally, the chapter discusses some characteristics to look for when you’re deciding where to get your surgery done. While it’s not as cozy as a smaller clinic, a bariatric center in a large hospital has many advantages.
Financing your surgery can be challenging, but you have multiple options. This chapter walks you through finding out whether your insurance coverage includes RYGB and the steps of getting your pre-approval letter. Finance plans can help you cover the surgery if you don’t have health insurance coverage and you can’t afford to pay the entire cost in cash. Since some other nations often offer Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at lower overall costs than in the U.S., each year thousands of patients go to Mexico for their procedures. This chapter provides advice and tips for medical tourism.
Surgery day is approaching. You’ve chosen a surgeon and figured out financing, and you’re getting excited! What’s next? Relax, take a deep breath and dig into Chapter 9! As you prepare for surgery, you’ll meet with your surgeon for medical tests and to discuss your concerns. You’ll get a psychological evaluation, and a dietitian may work with you on a pre-surgery diet as well as some plans for your post-surgery gastric bypass diet.
Chapter 10 goes over some of the pre-surgery details, such as getting time off work and making sure your kitchen is well-stocked. The chapter provides lists of what to take to the hospital and what to leave at home. If you’re going abroad for your Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, don’t miss the checklist of important things to take care of as surgery approaches! This chapter has you covered through checking into the hospital and going in for your procedure.
Congratulations! You’re now RYGB patient! Taking precautions during this important period in your gastric bypass journey can make your weight loss easier and faster down the road. Chapter 11 talks about what to expect during the rest of your time in the hospital. We also give some advice for speeding your recovery when you get home. During this period, you’ll gradually return to your normal activities and to work.
Since the gastric bypass is a lifelong procedure, your post-op care goes from the end of surgery through the rest of your life. The more seriously you take your post-surgery care, the more likely you are to avoid complications and have weight loss success with the bypass. Your post-op, or aftercare, program usually includes:
- Your post-surgery surgeon appointments
- Medical tests that you may have
- Other healthcare appointments in your post-surgery care program
- Support group meetings and other sources of support
- Staying positive and persistent during this time
Food is central to weight loss and health, but you can’t jump right into your long-term RYGB right after surgery. The first four to six weeks after surgery are for focusing on recovery, not on weight loss. Eating the right foods now can help you prevent complications later. Chapter 13 goes through your diet during the first several weeks after surgery. During this time, stick carefully to the allowed foods and get in the habit of measuring portions. Drink plenty of water throughout the day but not at meals. This chapter has food lists for each phase plus suggested meal plans and other tips to get you through these first several weeks. Chapter 13 covers the first three out of these four phases of your post-surgery diet progression.
- Liquid diet
- Pureed diet
- Soft foods diet
- Regular RYGB diet
You get to start the solid foods diet after you successfully complete the semi-solid phase. The solid foods phase is designed to be your long-term diet; it’ll help you lose weight and maintain your weight for as long as you choose to follow it. This chapter will let you stick to your RYGB diet with confidence. You’ll see lists of foods and their serving sizes for each food group plus suggested meal plans and tips for following the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass diet. We’ll teach you how to make your own meal plans so you can eat the foods you prefer and change up your diet to prevent boredom.
You can eat most foods on the gastric bypass diet, but you’ll do best if you focus on high-protein and nutrient-dense foods. We’ll show you how! This chapter tells you about water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals – all the nutrients you need to stay healthy! High-protein and nutrient-dense choices are critical for preventing deficiencies, so we’ll tell you what you need to know. You’ll also get to learn about nutrition labels so you choose healthy foods. It’ll become natural if you practice it constantly!
Physical activity, or exercise, helps you burn calories and control your weight, and this chapter has a list of common activities and the calories you can burn doing them. Regular exercise has other benefits, too. It reduces your risk for the obesity-related chronic diseases discussed in Chapter 1, “Introduction,” and improves your mood. You can start, after getting your surgeon’s approval, with light exercise, such as slow walking or water aerobics. Then progress as you are comfortable. In the chapter, you can find recommendations for amount and types of exercise and ways to fit it in when you’re short on time. Of course, sticking to an exercise program is even harder than starting one – and there are tons of tips in the chapter so that you are able to stick to your program – and enjoy it! Chapter 16 talks about:
- Why exercise is good for your weight and health
- Recommended amounts of exercise
- How a complete beginner can safely and gradually start a physical activity program when you still have a lot of weight to lose
- How to make your program more advanced as you progress
- How to stick to your exercise program for the long term
The changes during the first year can be overwhelming – unless you’re prepared for them! Chapter 16 gives you a nice overview of the changes to expect – keeping in mind, of course, that each individual’s gastric bypass experience is slightly different. During the first year on the RYGB diet, you can expect significant weight loss and changes in your body. You’ll probably feel better about yourself and notice that others treat you differently as you lose weight. This chapter helps you recognize symptoms of complications so you know whether to call your surgeon. Chapter 16 also provides tips on staying motivated. Cosmetic surgery to remove extra skin is something that you may want to consider as you lose weight, and the chapter outlines the most common options.
The previous chapter discussed some of the changes to expect after your Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. With so many changes, you’ll need a lot of support. Chapter 18 helps you build a fail-proof support system. This chapter will talk about the sources of support that may be available to you. These include:
- Yourself
- Your family and friends
- Members of your medical team
- Other bariatric surgery patients from your support group meetings and online communities.
There’s always more to learn. You can read “The Big Book on the Gastric Bypass: Everything You Need to Lose Weight and Live Well with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass” call your surgeon and talk to all of the members of your support groups, and you’ll never know every detail about the gastric bypass that you’ll be wondering about eventually. That’s where online resources come in; there’s a nearly infinite array of sites that can answer your questions. BariatricPal.com is an online community with more than 100,000 members, many of whom have been in your shoes and can provide advice from personal experience. Members are encouraging, too, so you can feel comfortable there. Membership is free and features include regular newsletters, a profile page with space for your photos and a blog, a surgeon directory with member ratings and reviews and a live chat room.
The BIG Book on the Gastric Bypass
Is the definitive guide for your gastric bypass journey for weight loss. Likeso many other patients who have struggled with obesity for many years, you may find that the gastric bypass is the tool you need to eat well and finally lose weight for good.
Table of Contents:
- 01 - Obesity – A Widespread Disease
- 02 - Options for Losing Weight: Diets, Exercise, Weight Loss Drugs, and Weight Loss Surgery
- 03 - All About the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
- 04 - RYGB and Its Potential Benefits
- 05 - Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Risks and Considerations
- 06 - Considering Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: What You Need to Know
- 07 - Planning for the Gastric Bypass
- 08 - Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Costs, Insurance and More
- 09 - Pre-Surgery Tips
- 10 - Final Preparation for RYGB
- 11 - Your Time at the Hospital After Surgery
- 12 - Aftercare: Your Post-Surgery Care Program
- 13 - Post-Surgery Diet: From Liquid Diet to Solid Foods
- 14 - RYGB Diet 101
- 15 - The RYGB Diet and Nutrition
- 16 - Physical Activity to Control Weight Loss
- 17 - The First Year After RYGB is Filled With Changes
- 18 - The Benefits of a Strong Support System
- 19 - Online Support and BariatricPal.com