What do the holidays mean to you? Cathy Wilson gives support group holiday tips for those struggling with food this holiday season in the latest issue of OH Magazine. The issue with the avocado on the cover offers nutrition answers from Melania Behrens; Taking Financial Complications out of Cash Pay Surgery by Nikki Johnson; Healthy Hair and Skin Throughout weight loss by Christine Gerbstadt, MD; and an article on Extreme Makeover's Heidi Ecker's plastic surgery makeover after weight loss. The magazine would not be complete without Jeremy Gentles' Fitness Q and A and recipes for success. If you are already a subscriber to this bi-monthly publication for the low cost of $25 for six issues, your magazine is on its way. If you have not yet subscribed, call toll free 1-866-297-4966 or click on the purple word Magazine above. If you have any questions regarding your subscription, please email Annie at [email protected]. OH Magazine is a great holiday gift for someone on their weight loss journey!

Congrats Katie!! I am never gonna get my paperwork sent in I hate Iowa City they take forever to get medical records sent out, then when they do they screw it up and dont send the right stuff.... gotta make phone call number 15 tomorrow... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I'm not as familiar with it but my concern with any type of malnutrition / mal absorbtion is how it affects medicine absorbtion.  For me, I'll only do the lapband becus of that. Thanks for the info though jack

Hi there Im from the Decorah Iowa area...and I had the Ds/bpd done on 2/20/03 in Mpls MN. I was 505 and am 280.  I have severe thyroid disease and lymphoedema and my doc didnt think Id even see 300 but I did. I have a huge hernia that needs repaired and a lot of excess skin to remove and after all of that, I know I would be at my goal I made almost 5 yrs ago...250#!! I LOVE the DS and the life it gave me back.  There is a DS message board on here...check it ouf if interested. I would love to answer any questions or talk to you about it and my experiences if you would like too. Just let me know! Lisa

Dr Hardy has said nothing about a liquid diet.  I think i'll find out Monday when my pre-op physical and testing is. How long will you be hospitalized?

this is what I told my husband, "this is going to be a LEARNING experience, so every time I whine or whatever, remind me what I said, that I'm LEARNING."