2008-01-22T15:10:35Z urn:uuid:60a76c80-d399-11d9-b93C-0003939e0af6 CoalEngine CoalSpeak urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2008-01-22T15:10:35Z

Avoiding Self-Sabotage (Making the Right Choices) By: Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW, New York Bariatrics Printer Friendly As bariatric patients, we are all familiar with the idea of self-sabotage as a behavior we struggle with consistently. In order to avoid undermining ourselves and create new positive lifestyle habits, we can be the architects of both physical and mental success as a long term post operative bariatric patient. Make a trip to the supermarket a fun and challenging activity instead of a boring and unsatisfying one. In the last 2 issues of WLS Lifestyles Magazine (Fall 2007 and Winter 2007/2008), you will find articles on the Bariatric Kitchen and how to create one in your own home. We encourage the use of food as a pleasant experience for the senses as well as the palate. By keeping your food choices healthy and your attitude positive, there are limitless ways to enjoy dining while maintaining a bariatric appropriate lifestyle. Many patients often speak of the increasing challenge and difficulty of keeping food choices and meal selections a pleasing experience. Making the right choices not only means the food itself but the reasons and motivations for those choices as well; we often let life get in the way and distract us from what is important many times. If we are to avoid self sabotage, we have to be honest and up front with our behaviors as well as attitudes. Wouldn’t it be so much simpler to enjoy the experience of food and eating than to anticipate it with with angst and stress? Printer Friendly

urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2007-12-17T14:03:30Z

Helping Yourself (Helping Others) By: Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW, New York Bariatrics Printer Friendly At this time of year, it is so easy to live without accountability and responsiblity for oneself, forgetting that we once did not have the choices and lifestyles that we do today following our bariatric surgery. I like to think of modesty and humility, in a season full of giving and blessings, as a perfect way to remember “where you came from”. Many bariatric patients speak about the “honeymoon” being over and the struggle to keep weight off becoming more challenging the longer one is post surgery. I often hear people remark that it was so easy then and it was all new; now they have to live with their commitment which seemed so encouraging, bringing a sense of salvation, at a time when obesity and related health problems limit our quality of life. Perhaps we can find it in ourselves to be a role model and help others achieve goals and dreams with which we are struggling. I wonder if it may be an incentive for bariatric patients to reclaim that dramatic sense of accomplishment and pride around a life changing surgery. It can be a lifelong partner, a “tool”, toward attaining many realities only before dreamt about. Maybe it’s time to reconnect with your early pre-surgery motivations, one another and those less fortunate than you. You may reap many more spiritual and emotional rewards than you may have imagined!! Happy Holidays! Printer Friendly

urn:uuid:1225c695-cfb8-4ebb-aaaa-80da344efa6a 2007-11-06T21:31:44Z

Emotional Support, Practical Wisdom and Helpful Hints By: Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW, New York Bariatrics Category: Lori Sperling Nevins, LCSW Printer Friendly Bariatric surgery gives us an opportunity to enjoy a greater quality of life for years to come. Patients can also be great role models to others around them who may not have had surgery. As a guest blogger and professional in the field of bariatric patient care, I feel privileged to interact with the entire bariatric patient community and hope to offer some emotional support, practical wisdom and helpful hints to those seeking to maximize this “tool” that they have been given. I am looking to learn from all of you; after all that is really how we professionals do our jobs better. I would like to respond to questions or issues from you and post answers for the entire WLS Lifestyles community to read. Many topics come to mind in the areas of mental health, emotional support, cross addictive behavior, lifestyles changes with personal and professional life situations as well as self-image and maintaining a healthy and consistent post-operative healing period, both short and long term. Let me know what interests you, what you are struggling with and how you would like to address it. I welcome all issues that are presented in a sincere and respectful manner Printer Friendly