WLS patients often have to break the lifelong habit of emotional eating and relearn what it really means to be physically hungry. Bariatric Physician Assistant Chrystyna Senkel explains how. Read the full story

For many Americans, Thanksgiving marks the first day of a five-week holiday party circuit filled with incredible foods and decadent desserts. Joyful celebrations with co-workers, family and loved ones almost inevitably include high-calorie cakes, cookies and cocktails – making it near impossible to focus on weight loss. A more realistic plan is to aim for weight maintenance rather than trying to shed excess pounds during the holidays, experts say, and to wait until January to resume a more restricted diet.

Here are three smart strategies to keep your waistline in check through the final weeks of 2010, so you can start the New Year with a positive outlook. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery patients often put plastic surgery on their “To Do” list after they shed the excess pounds — and face the prospect of flabby skin. Plastic surgeon Dr. Mitchel Krieger explains how body contouring procedures can help bariatric patients get the look they truly want.

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After weight loss surgery, learning what to eat — and in what quantity — can be confusing.  Margaret Furtado, clinical nutrition specialist for the bariatric surgery program at Johns Hopkins University’s Bayview Medical Center, shares her healthy eating tips for bariatric patients. Read the full story

Weight loss surgery is a powerful tool in the treatment of obesity. But, many bariatric surgeons note that the real key to positive outcomes lies in providing patients with comprehensive, ongoing support after their surgery. Dr. Emma Patterson, Medical Director at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery, explains the fundamentals of post-op support and the revolutionary program she has created for her practice in this interview at the 2009 ASMBS annual meeting in Grapevine, TX. Read the full story

Lap-Band support hinges on effective, ongoing communication to promote patient compliance. Bariatric surgeon Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul explains how the Lap-Band can be leveraged to provide continued opportunities for guidance and counsel in this interview from the annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Read the full story

When is it safe to consider a body lift after weight loss surgery?  How long is the recovery time? What other plastic surgery operations are popular for bariatric patients? Board certified plastic surgeon T. Michael Dixon, MD, FACS, answers these questions and shares some remarkable patient before and after pictures in this informative interview. Read the full story

When it comes to exercise after weight loss surgery, the first rule of thumb is: start slow. You didn’t gain all the excess weight overnight, and you won’t lose it overnight, either. Fortunately, with bariatric surgery, you will lose more weight more quickly than you could with fad diets or sheer willpower. And, by adding exercise to the mix, not only will the pounds melt off faster, but you’ll improve your heart health and increase your overall energy. Read the full story