Where in NY??

Hello!
I am from Wilton and wanted to know if anyone in this area has had WLS and if they had it at Ellis Bariatrics.
I was scheduled for my info session on 8/7 but they changed the date to 8/28. I am anxious for the appointments to start!
I have been a member of this site and am reading tons of info and comments.

Do any of you locals go to support groups?? I wanted to sit in on one before surgery.
Also looking for feedback on OH magazine and if anyone wants to share issues. I have not ordered yet. Looking for free bees!

I am thinking after I have surgery I will develope a site specifically for us "Upstate New Yorkers".
What do you think??? Do I have any interested parties??

Please share,

Lisa

The OH magazine is great
Well worth having

As for the Support Group, our surgeons require that you attend 2 support groups before surgery. They are vital and well worth going to. Please find one and hook up with those that know how to help you.

Hi Lisa,
My primary doc is a bariatric physician and she feels the most comfortable with the Albany Med program. I am almost 4 weeks out (had surgery 7/17) and I loved it.
Look into both programs in my opinion.
Sunshine

Jamie,

You are AWESOME! I am new to this site,and am having surgery at Ellis on September 22. I just read your post,thank you for all of the great information.

Lisa,

Best of luck with your surgery!

Lorie

These are the online/in-person groups I know of...updated 8/13/08
I have facilitated a Bariatric Support Group in Saratoga Springs since mid-2003
(at the time Dr.'s Yeaton/Anderson were performing RNY at that hospital).
1st Monday of the Month at Saratoga Hospital in the Board Room 6-8pm
211 Church Street Saratoga Springs NY 12866 http://www.saratogacare.org/index.cfm?contentID=25&facilityID=3&itemType=3
this is Saratoga's website the board room is downstairs floor, if you are in front of hospital look to right of main entrance, says same day surgery go in first door on left!
My contact info [email protected] or (office) 518 583-3035 x 212 *can call and by 3pm if I cancel due to weather it will reflect that on my VM message, or hospital operator 587-3222 would know or on our website:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaratogaSprings-NY-WLS-support/
I usually present a topic (realistic expectations, WLS lifestyle, protein
sampling, trimming the psychological fat, regain issues, body image/self
esteem...are some) and from time to time we also have some guest speakers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glens Falls (please call to confirm as it has tendency to change w/o my
awareness/dates time place etc.!) Karen Hogan @ (518) 926-2615 or email her @ [email protected] Meets every other month (EVEN NUMBERED MONTHS 2/13/08, 4/9/08, 6/11/08, SKIPPING AUGUST,10/8/08, 12/10/08) on the second WEDNESDAY of EVEN NUMBERED months, at 6:00-7:30 p.m. GF Hospital Learning Center side B- in Glens Falls, NY. It doesn't matter which hospital, surgeon, type of surgery, or nutritionist you are using. It is open to anyone who would like more information. http://www.glensfallshospital.org/ http://www.glensfallshospital.org/nutrition_support_groups.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Albany Med has 4 support groups all meeting in same room:
1) A general preop/postop support groups EVERY OTHER Thursday 5:30-7:30pm(open to anyone) but mainly Dr. Singh/Dr. Rosati patients attend. CALL FOR THE LOCATION!!! 262-2195 facilitated by Janet Folkman Social Worker and seasoned Veteran RNY postop [email protected]
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/upstatenywlssupport/ next group 6/26/08

2) A general preop/postop support groups EVERY OTHER Monday 2-4pm call for location (518) 262-2195....run by dietician.

2) Lap Band Support group at Albany Med SECOND Monday of the Month 5pm-6:30pm ?Check Tape for location! 262-2195 facilitated by Janet Folkman Social Worker and seasoned Veteran RNY postop [email protected]

3) LONGTERM WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SUPPORT (those over 1 year out) SECOND MONDAY AT AMC 6:30pm-8pm ?Check Tape for location!
I runs Lap Band & 1 yr out groups.
I believe they have an answering machine system to call in case of
cancellations/inclimate weather (518) 262-2195 or it may be on the site
(although not too active lately) facilitated by Janet Folkman Social Worker and seasoned Veteran RNY postop [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***NOTE AS OF MAY 2008 ACN's are on HOLD!!!!!******call for more info
Albany Clinical Nutrition 1240 New Scotland Road Slingerlands, NY 12159
(518) 475-7000 X4 WAS Run by:
Kathleen Callahan RD [email protected] (she has recently taken position at AMC )EVERY TUESDAY 5-7pm in their waiting room. She usually does a topic w/ handouts. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ACN_Bariatric_Surgery_EducationGroup/
THIRD Tuesday of the month is dedicated to 1 year plus issues!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A newer group, I have little info on and have never attended is in Gloversville NY
(run by a patient OH chapter leader trained)
http://upstatenybariatricsupportlbravehost.com/
Meeting every Second and Forth Sunday of the Month Place: Nathan Littauer Hospital 99 E. State St Gloversville, NY in the Auditorium Time: 6pm to 8pm Please Email Staci White with any Questions at:
[email protected]
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=W1144872146 is her OH profile
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is all the info on Ellis I have
http://www.ellishospital.org/bariatrics.cfm
http://www.ellishospital.org/bariatricsseminars.cfm
Bariatric Support Groups give weight loss patients and potential patients an
intimate forum to discuss personal and medical issues. The group meets the first
Monday and the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Ellis Hospital's
George Wm. Graham Auditorium. Support groups are supervised by a medical
professional and feature a guest speaker such as a nutritionist, a psychologist,
an endocrinologist, or a surgeon.
Parking for both the seminar and support group is available, free of charge, in
the Ellis Hospital parking garage, which is accessible from Nott Street. Please
note that attendees may be dropped off directly outside the auditorium door,
which is accessible from Parking Lot # 1 off of Rosa Road.
Ellis Hospital Bariatric Care Center
1405 Fulton Avenue
Schenectady, NY 12308
Phone: 518.243.1313
Fax: 518.831.7007
Email: [email protected]

The group meets the first Monday and the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in Ellis Hospital's George Wm. Graham Auditorium. Support groups are supervised by a medical professional and feature a guest speaker such as a nutritionist, a psychologist, an endocrinologist, or a surgeon.
Posted by: [email protected] Tue Oct 30, 2007 5:10 am (PST)
Please do not forget that all bariatric patients - regardless of surgeon chosen, are welcome to attend the Ellis Bariatric Support Group meetings. We have always been an open meeting and do provide documentation of attendance for compliance with different surgical program pre-requisites. The meetings are run by Pamela Spicer and topics vary (based on the "Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients" and certified by Bariatric Support Centers, International ) and time is provided for small group discussion or networking time at the end of each meeting.



BOOKS:
Ø Weight Loss surgery: Finding the thin person hiding inside of you Third Edition By: Barbra Thompsons: http://www.wlscenter.com/ or at www.amazon.com ISBN: 1932205306
Ø Weight Loss Surgery for dummies http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesTitle/productCd-0764584472.html or http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Surgery-Dummies-Marina-Kurian/dp/0764584472 ISBN-10: 0764584472
Ø The doctor's guide to weight loss surgery How to make the decision that could save your life By: Dr. Louis Flancbaum ISBN: 0553382462 http://www.wlsguide.com/Foreword.html or www.amazon.com
Ø This is NOT Brain Surgery...But There IS a Magic Pill!
by Teri Kai Holtzclaw *I have in PDF file form email me if you want it.
Ø Become You by Teri Kai Holtzclaw ISBN: 0971260125 available at: http://www.obesityhelpstore.com/books.html
Ø The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients By Colleen Cook $22.95 available at: http://www.bariatricsupportcenter.com/
Ø Exodus from Obesity; The Guide to Long-Term Success After Weight Loss Surgery. is $24.95. http://www.paulapeck.com/
Ø The Emotional First + Aid Kit--A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery http://www.bariatrictimes.com/obesity-medical-books.cfm or amazon may have it cheaper $25 Author: Cynthia L. Alexander, PsyD
Ø Dying to Change: My Really Heavy Life Story, How Weight Loss Surgery Gave Me Hope for Living by Katie Jay & Small Bites: Daily Inspirations for Weight Loss Surgery Patients http://www.nawls.com/products/department4.cfm
Ø Gayle Andres's "Living a Lighter Lifestyle; A guide to successful wt loss and maintenance after WLS" *Not sure if still in print? Try amazon
Ø Dr. Simpson's books starting with WLS a lighter look at a heavy subject, getting to goal and staying there and losing the last 30#. http://theweightlossdr.com/store/index.php?cPath=21


MAGAZINES: try writing each site to see if they will send u a promor free issue to trial!
Beyond Change newspaper is awesome! #1 of the following 3! to me.. http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/ monthly


WLS lifestyles $24.95/year a quarterly magazine http://www.wlslifestyles.com #2 of these 3! all articles avail online!

ObesityHelp Magazine $25/year 6 issues/yr publication http://www.obesityhelpmagazine.com



Sites for books etc. also:
http://www.obesityhelpstore.com/
http://www.bariatrictimes.com/ free articles online and old issues!
http://www.livingafterwls.com/Library.html
This link has tons of good articles
http://www.bariatriceating.com/bafhe.html
http://www.bariatricoperation.com/articles.htm
http://www.asbs.org/ look at links to right!

Some sites to sign up for free newsletters via email:
http://www.livingafterwls.com/Newsletters.html
http://www.bariatricsupportcenter.com
http://www.drsimpson.com/
http://bariatrictimes.com/subscribe/
http://www.believenewsletter.com/
http://www.wlscenter.com/
https://www..barimd.com/newsletter.php?practiceId=7
http://www.aboutmso.com/ep/sg-patientcorner.cfm
http://www.nawls.com/public/department65.cfm

Lastly I have a PDF file of a journal one may want called along the weigh to journal pre to postop!
email me I will gladly send it! [email protected]
I do not thin we ned cookbooks but in case one wanted here isinfo. I think we can adapt any recipe to be wls friendly!
WLS COOKBOOKS

http://www.livingafterwls.com/cookbook_order.html
The Neighborhood Cookbook
by LivingAfterWLS Neighborhood
Editor: Kaye Bailey
This 175 page spiral bound book contains 300 recipes submitted by the members of the LivingAfterWLS online support community. These are authentic recipes weight loss surgery patients are using to support their healthy diet goals and feed their families well. Categories include: Appetizers and Beverages; Protein Breakfasts; On The Go Protein; Healthy Snacks; Condiments & Sauces; Soups & Salads; Vegetables & Side Dishes; Main Dishes; Sensible Desserts and Healthy Grains. Now in the second printing this book has made it around the world and consistently receives positive feedback from those who own it.
ON SALE NOW! $18.00 + 3.75 Shipping
Save $2 off Cover price and Receive a FREE GIFT!!***
Select your FREE Gift!!!

Cooking For Weight Loss Surgery Patients By: Dick Stuck
List Price: $16.95
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Weight-Loss-Surgery-Patients/dp/0925838144/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201950860&sr=1-4

Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 140 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery by Patt Levine
Price: $11.53
http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Well-After-Weight-Surgery/dp/1569244537/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201950860&sr=1-3

Recipes for Life After Weight-Loss Surgery: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You by Margaret Furtado (Author), Lynette Schultz (Author)
Price: $13.57
http://www.amazon.com/Recipes-Life-After-Weight-Loss-Surgery/dp/1592332269/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201950860&sr=1-1

Culinary Classics: Essentials of Cooking for the Gastric Bypass Patient
This Cookbook, written by bariatric patient, Chef David Fouts http://www.bariblend.com/catalog/culinary_classics__essentials_of_cooking_for_the_gastric_bypass_patient_by__bari_2373396.htm
http://www.chefdave.org/default he has website with free newsletter! http://www.chefdave.org/default/chef-dave-recipes recipes!

Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (Paperback)by Susan Maria Leach $10.85 http://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Revised-Weight-Loss-Surgery/dp/0061242853/ref=pd_sim_b_njs_title_3
She has website/store and has many free recipes: http://www.bariatriceating.com/ourhomeandre.html

Victoria's CookBook For Gastric Bypass Patients My cookbook is not your ordinary cookbook... It's a roadmap to the dietary protocol of the gastric bypass patient. From hospital, home and beyond. Learn the proper way to substitute and have delicious meals that are sugar free.. Over 100 recipes, Beef, Poultry, Seafood, Casseroles, Desserts, Soups and Salads, Appetizers, tips on breaking a plateau and much more all recipes are low fat/low carb, all sugar free recipes with nutritional values on each recipe. $24.94 (includes S&H).She has a link to paypal for creditcard use or a link for printing out an order form and sending a check/moneyorder. http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/VBowenCookBook/index.html

EATING HEALTHY FOR LIFE: A RECIPE GUIDE TO HEALTHY EATING FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY PATIENTS
All this info is on the website: also he has a table of contents...I like it a few typos, but overall good!To order and pay by Mail: Send a Check or Money
Order for $28.95 (includes S&H) to: Mitch Sivadon-Smith P. O. Box 1144 Lemon Grove, CA 91946-1144 http://www.eatinghealthyforlife.com/WLSCookbookInformation.html

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/recipe/
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/nutrition/

Jamie,
Thank you! Wow! For you immediate reply and wealth of information. I will get in one of those support groups before hand. I am very excited but glad that I have this time to research and obtain info on surgery, eating, support etc. I just wish I was on the downhilll and enjoying weight loss.
I have printed off your info and will use all the info given.

Thnaks again and talk to you soon,

Lisa

Lisa:
You are welcome, here is some more info!
Preparing for Weight Loss Surgery

http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/101/106101.htm?printing=true
By Heather HatfieldWebMD Feature Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
From psychological exams to support groups, weight loss surgery takes thorough mental and physical preparation, but most importantly, it takes commitment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The single BEST piece of advice I can offer being ~6 yrs out is this to anyone:
***Disclaimer some may consider this a no-brainer, others a downer, some a new view, psychobabble, whatever thought it is just my opinion, so take it for what it is worth, and it is meant to be helpful/insightful and thought provoking at a time so many of us are caught up with the right vitamin to take, amount of water to drink, etc.. it is meant to challenge beyond those tasks to see the small stuff matters but that there is a larger and more global view as well to consider!!!***

Establish your mindset to accept that weight loss surgery is not a cure/quick fix for morbid obesity, it's a very effective/powerful/wonderful tool that can be used lifelong to combat the chronic/lifelong disease of morbid obesity that has NO *current* CURE (*So at 1 yr out when many say 100# gone forever I sometimes shudder, it is never gone forever it is gone for now but the work has just started at 1 yr out IMHO). The tool is flawed and can be defeated as well (emotional eating, grazing, drinking calories, eating/drinking together, alcohol use, high calorie dense foods, too many simple carbs, overfilling pouch, carbonation, no consistent exercise routine). Considered WLS as part of a life-long process & commitment to challenge your personal awareness/responsibility/consistency/accountability and that a life-long requirement to follow up with physicians, a regular exercise program, and healthy eating. Accept it will come w/ potential challenges & imperfections (risks, side-effects, complications, challenges such as plateaus, not meeting goal, regain, possible depression, grief over the loss/safety of food/obesity may of offered/invisibility it offered although may of been unwanted at the time/the new attention you get, possible anger or anxiety w/o comfort of food as it used to be/limits it may impose, effort it requires to be healthy etc.) that these frustrations are part of the process to make you healthier see them as challenges not difficulties, positive self talk helps!. Your mindset will be the most important tool for success, as all the challenges of traditional diets/exercise plans for health will be present after WLS as well *Yup so many say I will never diet again, well let me say diets don't work *because people go off them* correct but you will have to be mindful of food and pay attention to intake and exercise for life, so in a sense your dieting for life! Even after WLS.... The surgery won't make a person change, but the beauty is YOU HAVE COMPLETE control over those changes/choices needed after surgery for success, the choices are there and the best use of the mind/psychology will harness those. Surgery is such a drastic choice that so many are successful due to a recommitment to healthy living and choices that is one reason it works and we say it is a 'rebirth'.

Changing habits pre -wls is the mindset that will keep you going, the surgery is a piece, the easiest/smallest IMHO. *It is however the milestone/landmark we set to focuses on. But truly the afterlife is the most challenging, the ever evolving challenges from things like getting in enough liquids to food introduction to vitamin taking, new ways of eating/drinking, introduction of exercise consistently to battling with the scale obsessions & disappointments as well as all the wonderful WOW moments. Have the support system needed to create the healthiest environment as well, willpower fades, the tools robust effects fades as well as the honeymoon closes...Harness your enthusiasm and mind for 6 months doing all you can to influence (not only wt loss) but the healthy lifestyle you want to adopt for maintenance, that elusive animal no one has mastered pre-wls. Exercise can become more routine after 6 months as well. Again the mind is just as/more useful than the pouch...it is the operator of the tool! Stress inevitable, so see each issue/stressful time as an opportunity to use your new tool/mindset! (Like I say use things as excuses or opportunities because holidays come and go each year as do parties, office food/celebrations, hurt feelings, sadness, losses, etc)


I know this isn't one message it is a million crammed into one right! Anyone who knows me knows I am never brief, this is my PASSION (giving back), WLS saved me from myself. It isn't easy or fair, but accepting life is imperfect just as the world we live in, embracing that imperfection and controlling what I can has helped me get thru many issues. There is no perfection, I work on that daily. So what to do about all of this babble?

Get a good journal, start writing today all the reasons you are COMMITTED to this change, what your expectations are (hopefully realistic for wt loss 50-80% of excess not an ideal body wt) and that the goals are not wt related alone, the functional ones how you can integrate into life easier, (clothes fitting, less medical co morbidities or risk of, less meds, less pain (physical/emotional) the benchmarks you are setting, take measurements and photos each month along w/ weights to document the journey. the mind is powerful but may be challenging to change so the photos/measurements help when the HUNKAMETAL doesn't register a loss. We are much more than a number on a scale, free from the numbers and see how much you are more than that as a person, your abilities etc....The journey is full of hills and valleys, some bumps and many more pleasures to see, it can be an awesome ADVENTURE!

The letter you may write/journal entry today may save you from backsliding at your first plateau or at 1 yr out, a recommitment to those thoughts, and how you have grown over time. These are the things I recommend. I think everyone else has you covered w/ the 'physical items you need'. These are the ever-elusive psychological things you need LOL!
OK if you have read this far thanks for hearing me out! I wish you well.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When The Surgeon Quits; consider preop wt loss!
http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/editorsNotes/whenTheSurgeonQuits.html

___________________

WT LOSS BEFORE SURGERY/MOTIVATION/AVOIDING THE LAST SUPPER SYNDROME
In our program we are required to loose 10% of our body wt before surgery....
Loosing weight pre-op is required by many surgeons & for many reasons... and I am so happy I did!
1.. to show motivation,
2.. ability to adhere to a plan (as we will need to for life!), if you can't be mindful and able to follow restrictions pre-op how will you do it post-op?
3.. to increase your health even a modest 5-10% wt. loss is very helpful, the National Institute of health has even researched this...(hence why weigh****chers is so focused on the 10% wt loss)
4.. decreases surgical complications (by exercise and decrease wt your heart and lungs are in better shape for surgery, anesthesia and healing!)...
5.. Also psychologically it is tough going from a super-sized big Mac meal to clear liquids for 2 weeks post-op!
6.. ***MAIN ONE FOR PROTEIN SPARING or MEDIFAST DIETING***It helps shrink the liver and this eases their surgical procedure and decreases chance of nicking it....
7.. exercising before helps you continue after!
8..The more you lose pre-op the less you will have to lose post-op and the closer to an ideal body-wt you will attain!

I lost the weight by doing the food pyramid. That's it, I was eating so bad (fast food daily, large portions, consuming every high-fat/sugar thing imaginable and NOT exercising that just cutting down and walking 2 miles a day helped!

For ME, it was "no one" was going to stop me from having this operation, it was my decision and all that was asked of me was to loose 30 lbs, I figured this is a small price for such a wonderful gift I would be given and the opportunity to have a healthier happier longer life....! I was so motivated/psyched; I dropped 30 pounds in 30 days and went on to drop 15 more before surgery! (Although this took me 2 months, as it got harder and I had a few last meals, we all do but you can't let this ruin your opportunity!) I believe it is what allowed me to get to a normal BMI as well! And it is not unheard of for surgeons to postpone or cancel surgeries if one gains weight!!!

Exercise was another key; I faithfully walked 2 miles everyday..it helped that my mom went with me a lot! (a buddy is so helpful!) I followed the food pyramid given to me by clinical nutritionist Dr. Boham...I also wrote everything down (Many find www.fitday.com helpful for this) that went in my MOUTH!!! Or you can get food pyramid/bullseye version at: http://www.xenical.com/hcp/1400_Am_Beye.pdf


I also had to remind myself how BAD I wanted this! Everyday it was/had to be more important to me to change my bad habits and lose weight to have this surgery than to continue to slowly kill myself with food/keep myself from the only hope I had!. I also told everyone about my plans and they helped support me, my friends/family and coworkers! I really can't give you any more guidance than this, it really had to come from within, it was a mindset with me, and I wanted this BAD real bad and I knew it was my last resort/chance! I felt invigorated and motivated by the end results...the long-term had to outweigh the short-term gratification of eating bad choices or overeating! It was a learning opportunity for me to change my habits and practice chewing well, not drinking with meals and eating smaller portions, giving up sugar/caffeine/carbonation/alcohol (if any of those are your issues, carbonation/caffeine/alcohol weren't issues for me)!

So a few weeks/months of healthy habits to lose pre-op wt is not a lot if you frame it right! IT IS NOT FOREVER and it is about starting this journey!

___________________
I uses positive thinking such as: (to decrease preop jitters)
"I AM COMMITTED TO FACE AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF LIVING" (i.e. no longer be morbidly obese)

"MY SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON MY CHOICES AND MY BEHAVIOR IN THE PRESENT" (i.e. having the surgery, committing to a healthy lifestyle)

"ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OVER WHAT HAPPENS IN MY LIFE, I CAN ALWAYS CONTROL MYSELF AND HOW I RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS" (i.e. complications but how I manage them if they happen is up to me).

THIS EMPOWERS YOU NO MATTER WHAT LIFE BRINGS!!!

YES THIS IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT! It takes extraordinary courage to make the decision and live w/ the choices we make to consciously limit food choices for the rest of our lives (and potentially limit social opportunities built around meals) among all the other potential complications it can bring short or long-term....

There will be plenty of opportunities to grow/change in life as it can be one stressor/problem after another but deciding to keep on keeping on will always help! Hugs!

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! You are a warrior and worthy of this opportunity to change your life...Be well.

Hi Lisa.. Welcome from another Lisa..

My sugeon was Dr. Clarke.. a couple of us friends had Dr. Clarke, 1 had Dr. P and I know one how had Dr. I... All are exceptional... Extremely informative.

Their support groups are the first Monday of each month and the 3rd Wednesday of each month right at Ellis.

I can not say enough good things about their program. Preop they were phenominal. You'll use Medifast to loose your weight. As long as you stick with it (as hard as it may feel) you'll loose the weight you need to loose. If you cheat, you'll only be cheating yourself cause ... trust me, they'll know.. LOL

Post op when I've had issue their just a phone call away. Please feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions you'd like to ask...

All I can say is that as long as you make an informative decision and are 100% committed to the process you will do just fine and couldn't be in better hands.

Good luck,

Hi Lisa,

I went to Dr Clarke at Ellis and am so glad I did.  They helped me with my pre surgery weight loss thru medifast...I could have never done it on my own.  The who program is exceptional, and I highly reccomend them.  I am 4 months out, and if you need to know anything, let me know.  Good Luck and I look forward to seeing you at one of the meetings in Saratoga!

Lisa,
Welcome!! I think you'll be very pleased with Ellis' program. I had Dr Clarke & he & his surgical team were excellent!!! I was very comfortable & confident with all of them & wasn't nervous at all!! I think they were more surprised by my lack of nerves that morning than I was!!!

The Medifast will be a challenge but it's so worth it!!! Once get past that hurdle it is my firm belief that it's all downhill from there!!!! If you need anything just holler!! I'll answer whatever I can to help!!

Good luck & welcome to our humble board!!!!

Cece