Susan Maria Leach - Before & After, Revised Edition: Living & Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery

Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery

Revised Edition

This book is dedicated to my husband, Ty, who loves me for my heart no matter what size I am; and to my mother, Beatrice, who I wish were here to share my happiness. I can now look in the mirror and find her smile in my face.

Thank you to Dr. Carlos Carrasquilla for caring enough to perfect this amazing surgery.

Special thanks to:

John, who, I will admit, is as good a cook as I am (except for Key lime pie). I would not have taken a picture of a speedometer while driving at a ridiculously high rate of speed on the Autobahn for anyone but you.

Daddy and Diane, for taste testing all of my sugar-free desserts on Sundays. I love you both.

Dolly, my navigator, cat sitter, inspiration, and true-blue friend.

Jo, for having the guts to make a change. I am so happy for your new life and that you allow me to be a part of it.

Harriet, for recognizing how many people this project will help and for allowing me to keep my own voice. I am lucky to have worked with you.

The entire staff at HarperCollins who have helped me turn a folder full of notes and recipes into my new life and passion.

Ty, Teresa, Tania, Matt, Rebecca, Reid, Regge, Claudia, Gladys, Rocco, Ian, Helen, Dana, Megan, Jay, and Debbie; our incredible BariatricEating.com team.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, and is rampant in the United States. It is newly recognized as a major disease. Obesity not only affects the individuals physical appearance, but also increases health risks and the incidence of death. To know that in the United States alone, there are more than 300,000 preventable deaths yearly, about 34 each hour, is very serious and frightening.

There is a considerable list of diseases called comorbidities associated with obesity, which aggravate an already serious situation. The comorbid complications could be psychological, social, economic, and, of greater concern, medical. The list includes illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, respiratory problems, reflux, and an extended sublist of illnesses with different degrees of seriousness. The gravity of the health status varies with the increase of weight in the individual.

To the patients with a status of morbid obesity100 pounds or more above their ideal weightthe treatment of choice becomes surgery, since nonsurgical methods are projected to have an almost total failure rate. Several procedures have been used for weight control. The most common procedure today is the gastric bypass, considered the gold standard of bariatric surgery.

Historically, we have used different types of surgery to obtain and maintain weight loss. We have created malabsorption, physical restriction of the intake of food, and a combination of these two procedures, with variations developed by individual surgeons.

The results after gastric bypass surgery have been extraordinary, not only with the appearance of the patient, but also with improvement or correction of the health risks. In our center, together with my partners, I have been very happy with the results during the last few years. We have operated on more than 1,800 patients and find that theyve lost an average of 71 percent of their excess weight in the first twelve months. Among the patients with Type II diabetes, 99 percent of them have stopped taking medication and enjoy normal blood sugar levels. Of the hypertensive, 90 percent of patients have returned to normal blood pressure levels, allowing them to discontinue their medications. Other problems such as sleep apnea have also been corrected or improved.

Lately, an international study of the obese population from Sweden, Italy, Australia, and the United States have reported a more than 50 percent decrease in deaths of those obese patients who had bariatric surgery.

Patients such as Susan, who are interested in improving their quality of life both physically and emotionally, come to us for information to help them achieve their goals. Those who meet the criteria for bariatric surgery and make the decision to proceed on this journey are given a road map to guide them through. Should they choose to continue to move forward, they will have a surgical consultation and psychological and medical clearance. Once this has been accomplished they proceed with surgery and are on the road to a healthier, happier, and slimmer life. As they approach each crossroad, the decision as to which road to take ultimately becomes theirs.

In the practice of bariatric surgery, with the establishment of dedicated and specialized centers, the great majority of the patients have an ongoing patient-physician relationship. The patients relationships to each other are also fascinating; they bond together in a fraternity, exchanging information and assistance. It gives us great pleasure and becomes a source of pride to see the changes in these patients, not only in their obvious physical development but also in their health status and new, self-confident personalities.

With Susan, we have seen her radiance and beauty reflected in the eyes of her admiring husband. Her energetic personality exudes assurance, confidence, and the enthusiasm of someone who wants to share her positive experience with others in her situation. Susan relates the story of her life, and at the same time organizes this book to help other patients in that fraternity to facilitate their further success and happiness. Since Susan has personally made that journey, it was her desire to assist her fellow travelers on their way. Realizing that adaptation to certain dietary requirements may be more difficult for some than others, Susan has written this excellent and much-needed book.

In her diary, Susan tells readers how she handled her range of emotions from her decision to undergo surgery to the panic she felt when taking her first drink of water, to later, when she could enjoy only small portions of decadent meals while traveling. Through her encouragement and her recipes, Susan shows how others can discover the pleasures of cooking and eating while maintaining their dietary limitations.

Susans book shows people who are used to big, rich, and indulgent meals how to adapt their cooking to include healthier choices without losing flavor or feeling deprived. In Before & After Susan teaches the reader how to make the necessary dietary changes from day one post-op. Starting with protein shakes, and moving on to Soups, Purees, and Other Soft Foods, she progresses to more elaborate meals while at the same time maintaining the crucial nutritional requirements. Other patients can discover and enjoy the pleasure of cooking while maintaining the limitations of the rules of the game.

At one of our regular support group meetings, Susan delighted the members with samples of her low-carbohydrate desserts. As the desserts disappeared before my eyes, I couldnt help noticing the reactions of the group members, who expressed pleasure and surprise in knowing they can enjoy good food without hindering their progress or compromising their health.

If you are considering obesity surgery, my advice is to find an established, dedicated, specialized center with experienced surgeons who provide adequate follow-up with dietary and psychological support. Insist that the surgeon and the team educate you on all aspects of this disease and treatment. Then, prepare yourself for the lifetime adjustments necessary for successful completion of your goal. Books like this one are an excellent guide and assistance for any prospective patient. There are several factors that contribute to the success following this type of surgery. The expertise and dedication of the surgeon and his/her team, a good pre-operative education and the willingness of the patient to follow the advice are things to keep in mind. By arming yourself with Susans book, you will find the journey a lot more pleasurable.