Throughout the month of December (but beginning this week) I will be interviewing a different post-op patient each week. The focus of the interview will be the gifts that he or she has obtained from making the decision to have bariatric surgery. They will also share how they have shared the gifts they have obtained as a result of living a healthier life with others! It IS, after all, the season of giving and receiving gifts!

In addition, I will post, one week at a time, the Four Step process for developing a Personal Protection Plan, which was mentioned in last week’s video. This protection plan will be hugely beneficial to you over the holidays… and every day (IF you create it and use it)!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

A post-op patient recently told me she has started counting the number of self-sabotaging behaviors she recognizes herself engaging in every day. She was shocked and horrified at the many ways she was sabotaging her own weight loss success. Examples of her self-sabotaging behaviors included hiding food in her closet and eating it before she went to bed at night, telling her spouse she was going to the gym but instead going to get fast food and sitting in the parking lot eating by herself, and emotionally beating herself up by calling herself abusive names after engaging in those behaviors. How about you? Do you engage in behaviors that lead you away from your long-term weight and healthy lifestyle goals? Listen in and learn about the reasons people engage in self-sabotage and get some hints on how to extinguish these unhealthy behaviors. Let’s get started!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Video 1: A Deep Dive into Communicating for Weight Loss Success: Assertive Communication Skills

If you want to stand up for yourself, not be taken for granted, and feel more powerful in your life, then you need to learn healthy, direct, respectful communication skills. Learning assertive communication tools is a vital tool in learning to set boundaries for yourself and with others in your process of losing weight and in order to maintain that weight loss.

Video 2: A Deep Dive into Communicating for Weight Loss Success: Assertive Communication Skills in PRACTICE

In order to become an effective assertive communicator, you need to practice! So download the worksheet and let’s do this!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Video 1: “Assertiveness and Your Weight.” If you want to set healthy boundaries, stop neglecting yourself due to unhealthy people-pleasing behaviors, you need to commit to your self-care using assertiveness skills! Not to worry, being assertive is not the same thing as being aggressive, rude or nasty. Being assertive is stating what you want and need in a healthy and direct way. Being your best self means learning to adult, which includes learning to overcome your fears and take care of your needs in a healthy way. If you are unwilling to learn assertiveness skills, you are jeopardizing a healthy lifestyle designed to get you to, and keep you at, a healthy weight.

Video 2: Assertive behavior versus passive behavior, passive-aggressive behavior and aggressive behavior. It’s important to recognize the difference in communication styles. You have, like most people, probably learned unhealthy communication skills over the years because most people do not know how to be assertive, mistaking healthy assertive behavior for aggression. Let’s get this straight so you can utilize assertiveness in your journey to improved health and a great quality of life.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Video 1: “People Pleasing” Discover what the psychological needs underlying people pleasing behavior are about. Also, learn how being a people pleaser affects weight loss.

Video 2: “What people-pleasing says about the relationship you have with yourself!” Self-esteem determines self-care behavior to some extent. Start exploring your relationship with yourself and you’ll learn a lot about your desire to be a people-pleaser and what that says about how you feel about yourself!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Topic: Self-Care: Asking for Help, Parts One and Two

This week I'll continue to discuss the importance of self-care as a part of life and as a critical part of healing from the disease of obesity. Learn why it's so difficult to ask for help along with tips for doing so!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Video 1: “You’ve changed!” The pros and cons of those words.

Video 2: “You’ve changed!” Perception is key.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Book Review Part 2: The Most Powerful Weight Loss Device Ever Made: The Human Brain by Claude Viens

This book is written by a person who has struggled with weight for most of his life, and who has maintained his weight loss for many years. His book is witty and filled with sound wisdom. I’ll cover the highlights for you!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Book Review: The Most Powerful Weight Loss Device Ever Made: The Human Brain by Claude Viens

This book is written by a person who has struggled with weight for most of his life, and who has maintained his weight loss for many years. His book is witty and filled with sound wisdom. I’ll cover the highlights for you!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

How Chronic Diseases like Obesity and Addiction Affect the Family

Having a chronic disease can be painful, both physically and emotionally for the person struggling with the disease. Sadly, the same is true for family members. This week I’ll be talking about how we can help loved ones work through their emotions related to a family member’s disease. Also, you’ll hear a story of what a court reporter told me last week about what she noticed on the job about post-ops!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

TRANSFER ADDICTION… Last week I talked about food addiction. Thought it would be a good idea to talk about what might happen if a person has bariatric surgery and is unaware they have an addiction. (Also, if a person is aware they have an addiction but haven’t done anything to treat it, they may also experience this…) THIS is transfer addiction.

This week I will interview a woman who had bariatric surgery and has struggled with transfer addiction. This is a really important issue and I encourage you to listen in!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

FOOD ADDICTION… What is food addiction, exactly?
How is food addiction different from emotional eating?
How do I know if I am a food addict?
What do I do if I am a food addict?

Tune in… take the quiz and learn what to do if you meet the criteria for emotional eating and/or food addiction! Keep in mind that bariatric surgery does not treat food addiction so if you struggle with both, you need treat both! Start today!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN: THE SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINING

This week I’ll be talking about what I meant to talk about last week! The critical importance of developing and maintaining a system for sustaining weight loss. It truly is creating and maintaining a system that results in sustaining the weight you lose after surgery. What do I mean by a “system?” Listen in as I’ll be sharing what some experts have to say about the reasons systems are critical and how to implement YOUR post-op system that helps you stay healthy, live longer and enjoy life more fully!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week I’ll be talking about the critical importance on focusing on what you do TODAY, following the PROCESS for healthy post-op living and not worrying about the “final outcome.” There is a lot of research about the importance of staying in the day and doing what is needed for today. Then, trust the process! If you are doing the “next wise thing,” and the “next wise thing” all day long, you don’t have to be concerned with six months from now. If a person practices the piano every single day as instructed by the piano teacher, they can trust that in time they will improve. If a kid plays catch every single day, throwing and catching ball after ball after ball, he or she will be a better ball player in time. It’s the whole “practice makes better (not always perfect)” thing. Listen in and keep an open mind!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Continued! This week: Addressing Resistance to Making Lifestyle Change.

This week I’ll be talking about some of the reasons people may resist making the changes necessary for maintaining the behavior changes necessary for weight loss and to prevent regain. One of the reasons people regain is they WANT to eat the foods they want to eat! And they also want to keep losing weight. You know how this ends…

Listen in to both talks this week to learn more about resistance, what that means and reasons why people resist making the lifestyle changes necessary for keeping weight off and avoiding regain.

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Continued! This week: Debbie’s tips for refusing regain!

This week I’ll be talking with Debbie, a post-op of nearly ten years who has REFUSED REGAIN! She’ll share her tips for how she has maintained a weight lower than she had when she graduated from high school (she’s now a grandma – a very cute, active grandma, I might add)!

Later this week, you’ll be hearing from me again and there may be a bonus video for you this week!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

REFUSE REGAIN Series. This week: The 4 ACES.

For the next several weeks, I’ll be talking about specific ways to avoid regain following bariatric surgery. This information also pertains to anyone who has experienced regain to help them get that weight back off!

This week I’ll talk about the 4 ACES (Awareness, Acceptance, Accountability, Attitude, Effert and SELF)! Be sure to listen to this critical series because regain is a reality. REFUSE it by setting yourself up for success!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

Is it Body Dysmorphia or an unhealthy body image?

In the past few years, I’ve been hearing a lot of people talk about their “body dysmorphia.” I’m not sure people have an accurate idea of what body dysmorphia really is. Listen in this week as I explain exactly what body dysmorphia really is and then compare that to what experts say about having an unhealthy body image.

Body Dysmorphia is much less common that an unhealthy body image!

Learn tools for dealing with either body dysmorphic disorder or an unhealthy body image!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

This week: The Heavy Weight of Sleep! I have recently read some very fascinating information about sleep. We underestimate how this extremely important body function is for all of our biological systems. You’ll also be shocked by some of the statistics about sleep and weight.

Do you have an AM and PM routine? Creating one may help you accomplish more, feel more in control of your life, and help you maintain your weight loss. And who doesn’t want to get more sleep? Maybe after hearing the information about sleep and your weight you’ll actually make getting to bed a bit sooner a higher priority!

Have you heard the phrase “sleep hygiene?” I’ll be talking about that and giving you some suggestions about how you might think about developing your own sleep hygiene habits. Better (and enough) sleep not only helps with maintaining your weight, but is a great help in preventing a bunch of illnesses, perhaps most importantly, cancer! Tune in and get tips for maintaining your weight loss, preserving your health, and adding a few more zzzzzzzz’s to your night!

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).

It’s SPRING BREAK week here in my county! I am away trying to finish my next book called Mind Prep! Therefore, I won’t be live this week but will post videos that will be helpful to you in your journey.

Videos will be posted on Tuesday and Thursday so keep your eyes open!

In the meantime, keep in mind your daily PROCESS (processes are what get you the results you want)! Focus only on today! STAY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT and do the following: 1) eat on the time schedule your program advised (set a timer if you need to), 2) eat protein before you eat anything else at those scheduled eating times, 3) eat lots of veggies and lower-sugar fruits, and 4) do something for exercise today!

If you follow this process, you will be successful as a post-op! If you don’t follow the process that you was established by your bariatric program, then no complaining if you’re not losing weight or are regaining! (That’s fair and firm for ya!). (And it’s the truth.)

All BariAftercare talks are videos that are archived for you to watch or listen to any time that is convenient for you. To view, click here (the password is bariaftercare).