ObesityHelp Conference Speakers: OH2016 Friday Sessions

April 28, 2016

Meet the Friday ObesityHelp Conference Speakers!

We are excited to announce Friday’s agenda and speakers! Make sure you join us in Anaheim, CA, September 30th & October 1st for two jam-packed days of education, support and celebration!

Check out the #OH2016 agenda and make sure to buy your Early Bird tickets, this is the last weekend for the Early Bird sale price! Stay tuned for exciting Keynote, Fireside Chat, and Saturday Speaker announcements.

	Tina Rambarran Tina Rambarran weighed 502 pounds, her BMI was 79 and her doctor candidly told her that if she continued to gain weight at the pace she currently was, she may not live to see her 40th birthday. Tina opted to save her life by having bariatric surgery on May 10, 2010. With Roux-en-Y (RNY) as a tool, along with extreme dedication and hard work, Tina has lost 350 pounds! As a result of the excess pounds she carried on her body, she’s had multiple medically necessary skin removal surgeries. Tina openly shares her insights, victories and real-life struggles to help educate people that are considering weight loss surgery that it is absolutely not “the easy way out“. Learn more at Tina’s talk, What I Gained By Losing 350 Pounds
	Jessica Stockton At 29 years old, with health problems arising and the threat of being put on blood pressure medication coming from her doctor, the choice seemed very clear. Within weeks, Jessica began taking the steps to start her WLS journey. She got referrals in place, went to orientation, lost the required 10% of her weight, met with a psychologist and had life changing laparoscopic RNY gastric bypass surgery on February 12, 2008. Eight years later, Jessica is down 115 pounds! She is now able to be active with her kids and family. She has been able to be the active mother she wanted to be, participating in family activities instead of watching from the sidelines. Learn more at Jessica’s talk, Support – Key to Your WLS Success
	Lyss Remaly Lyss Remaly was the “funny fat girl” from birth through adolescence and into adulthood. It stopped being funny when Lyss found herself at 350 pounds and unable to fit into an airplane seat. In June 2010, Lyss had Duodenal Switch surgery with hopes of losing the weight for good. She had already failed a Lap-Band, which had been done at age 16 and managed to eat her way through the band and into serious trouble. After bariatric surgery, Lyss still needed a “click” moment to realize that bariatric surgery can only do so much to assist with weight loss and it was going to be up to HER to change her lifestyle to make the surgery as successful as possible. Learn more at Lyss' talk, From Bariatrics to Bodybuilding, NOTHING is Impossible
	Lauren Sanchez In a little over a year, Lauren lost over 150 lbs with the Lap-Band. She kept the weight off for three years and then slowly started gaining weight back. With the onset of weight gain, Lauren pulled away from her bariatric team. After an 80 pound gain, Lauren made herself stop and evaluate all aspects of her regain. It was at this point that Lauren recognized something was wrong, she needed help. In 2014, Lauren made a follow-up appointment and discovered that she had an irreversible dilation of the upper pouch of her stomach and required a revision. Lauren revised to Roux-en-Y and took a new path including a commitment to follow-up appointments, counseling, attending local support groups and participating in online bariatric communities. Lauren has lost 200 pounds and is paving her path forward. Learn more at Lauren's talk, Revision is a Fork in the Road, Not a Dead End
	Stephanie Wagner, MS, RDN Steph Wagner MS, RD, LD is a registered dietitian with over eight years of experience working for seven bariatric surgeons in three different bariatric clinics. She loves working with weight loss surgery patients and provides meal plans, videos, recipes, eating out guides and other resources to them. Her most popular video series include Stress Eating, How to Control Post-Op Hunger and the Top 10 Reasons for Weight Re-Gain. Steph published her first bariatric cookbook “Best Fork Forward: Everyday Dinners After Weight-Loss Surgery” in 2015. Steph lives a weight-loss journey of her own and while she is not a surgery patient, she has maintained a forty-five pound weight loss as a result of working with weight-loss surgery programs. Learn more at Stephanie's talk, Am I Really Hungry? Eating with Awareness
	Shannon Burns Shannon Burns earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from Woodbury University, worked over 12 years in retail management and is the personal stylist and founder of Layered By CAKE, a Women’s Traveling and Styling Boutique. She is a self made “mom”preneur who simply wants to help women out of their style ruts! Shannon knows first-hand all about style ruts as she had her first major rut after the birth of her first child. She had gained 60 pounds, didn’t recognize her body and had no idea how to dress it! Even with a fashion degree under her belt, she felt helpless and depressed. Her struggle made her wonder how others that were going through similar body issues were feeling! This inspired Shannon to leave her retail management job and create a Boutique tailored to helping women just like her. Learn more at Shannon's talk, Tips and Tricks for Dressing Your Changing Body
	Q&A Panelist: Lori Newlon, RN, NTP Lori lost 160 pounds but also developed many serious complications, some of which she still deals with to this day. After struggling through her own dramatic weight loss and the many directly related health complications that accompanied it, she developed a passion for nutrition and healthful cooking which she uses to help maintain a healthy weight and nutritionally sound lifestyle ten years after surgery. Today Lori is dedicated to educating bariatric patients about the countless benefits of improving their nutritional health. She offers practical methods for success through education, advice and delicious recipes appropriate to individuals exploring the earliest preoperative stages of the weight loss journey through to those many years out from bariatric surgery. Learn more at Lori's session, Healthy Eating After Weight Loss Surgery
	Q&A Panelist: Nikki Massie After having Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in 2008, Nikki found adjustment to post-op life difficult. “In the beginning I was depressed because I thought I’d never eat the foods I love again.” Through her participation in Obesity Help’s forums, however, she learned she could have the tastes she desired if she was willing to be flexible about the ingredients and cooking methods she used. And Bariatric Foodie was born! Now, as a eight-year post-op, Nikki is interested not only in what we eat but how and why we eat. As she works to understand her own food behavior, she challenges her readers to do the same through recipes, interactive challenges and daily discussions. Learn more at Nikki's session, Healthy Eating After Weight Loss Surgery
	Q&A Panelist: Rain Hampton Rain is a board credentialed Health and Wellness coach, certified bariatric support leader and motivational speaker. She considers herself a real food enthusiast and loves to share her knowledge. Rain began in bariatrics with surgeon Dr. Charles Callery at Pomerado Hospital and also as a bariatric coordinator at Fountain Valley Hospital. Rain created Love Yourself Healthy, Food, Feelings and Freedom and Real Food workshops. She developed these programs after her journey of releasing 125 pounds over 11 years ago. Learn more at Rain's session, Healthy Eating After Weight Loss Surgery
	Q&A Plastic Surgeon Panelist: Dr. Carmina Cardenas While bariatric or natural weight loss can improve and even resolve a patient’s medical problems, it often leaves patients unhappy with the new shape of their bodies after working so hard to lose their desired amount of weight. For the majority of weight surgery patients, plastic surgery is a life changing experience. These procedures are dramatic, achieving a more youthful balanced and contoured body, improving self-esteem, creating a greater self-confidence in the new you. During your initial in-person consultation, Dr. Carmina will work with you to evaluate your specific needs and desires. No two patients are alike, and this crucial in-person meeting will help you understand your surgical procedure options and realistic expectations to attain your desired results. Learn more at Dr. Cardenas' session, Uncovering You, Plastic Surgery After WLS
	Q&A Plastic Surgeon Panelist: Dr. Edward Domanskis Dr. Edward Domanskis is a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in Newport Beach, CA. He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of California in Irvine. He offers cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive procedures for the breast, body, face and skin. Dr. Domanskis has been recognized as a Physician of Excellence in Plastic Surgery from the Orange County Medical Association and Orange Coast Magazine. He has also been listed among America’s Top Plastic Surgeons and Best Doctors in America. Learn more at Dr. Domanski's session, Uncovering You, Plastic Surgery After WLS
	Q&A Plastic Surgeon Panelist: Dr. J. Timothy Katzen Dr. Katzen has made plastic surgery after massive weight loss a large focus of his practice. He has independently created novel and innovative reconstructive plastic surgery techniques that minimize scars and maximize skin and fat removal. Dr. Katzen has performed thousands of post weight loss procedures. Approximately 99% of Dr. Katzen’s weight loss patients have lost 100 pounds or more. He has even operated on several patients who weighed over 800 pounds before gastric bypass. Most of Dr. Katzen’s weight loss patients have had gastric bypass or lap banding; however, approximately 30% have lost significant weight through diet and exercise alone. Dr. Katzen has performed plastic surgery after massive weight loss on men and women, from ages 18 to 70. Learn more at Dr. Katzen's session, Uncovering You, Plastic Surgery After WLS
	Q&A Plastic Surgeon Panelist: Dr. Alejandro Quiroz Dr. Quiroz is a Board Certified, Bi-lingual, Bi-cultural International Surgeon, licensed in both the United States and Mexico. Dr. Quiroz received his medical degree in 1977 from the prestigious Universidad La Salle in Mexico City. Earlier he attended the National University of Mexico where he served as Student Body President and graduated with honors. After obtaining his medical degree, Dr. Quiroz completed a program for foreign medical graduates at the University Of Miami School Of Medicine. CosMed Medical Clinic was established in 1987 by Dr. Quiroz. As CosMed’s founder and Chief Surgeon Dr. Quiroz has dedicated the last twenty years to performing thousands of cosmetic surgeries using the most advanced procedures and techniques. Learn more at Dr. Quiroz's session, Uncovering You, Plastic Surgery After WLS