Congratulations on your decision to learn about the gastric balloon or to get it! You’re about to find out more about this tool that can help you lose weight, and also about to discover the healthy habits that can keep you losing weight and keep it off for years to come.
That’s a big deal! If you’re looking into the gastric balloon system, you’ve already been fighting obesity for quite a while. You’ve tried diets, and haven’t found a permanent solution. The balloon is designed to lend a hand as you jump-start your weight loss. For 3 or 6 or even 12 months, the balloon will be in your stomach, reminding you of what you should and shouldn’t eat.
When you get the gastric balloon, your doctor should also provide you with complete support. The balloon is supposed to be used along with a diet and exercise program that teaches you healthy habits for life. Regular visits with a nutritionist can get you on the right path and help you learn strategies for making the right choices.
This book is NOT a substitute for a complete nutritional and medical support program under the guidance of your own medical care team.
Your healthcare team may include your primary care physician, the doctor who put in your gastric balloon, a nutritionist, and any other healthcare experts you work with. We assume you also are working closely with your doctor and supporting team during the process.
This book can accompany you through your gastric balloon journey and is designed to assist you with each of the steps you will encounter on the gastric balloon experience from beginning to end.
It is set up in chapters that progress from learning about the gastric balloon and considering it, to losing weight with it, to life after the balloon is removed. It starts by giving you information about the balloon, moves forward with you as you get ready for the procedure, then as you lose weight for months with the bariatric balloon. It will remain a valuable asset once you have the balloon removed and work to maintain the new lifestyle you will have adopted.
As you progress, we offer ideas and knowledge you will need to help you make healthy decisions and to make daily living easier. You will find practical advice on food choices, restaurants, and handling cravings. Along the way, we provide an assortment of healthy meal plans to help you plan your diet throughout your journey.
Most chapters also have a challenge to give you a chance to test your skills and your new awareness of nutrition, tools you can use, and how to develop habits that can help you lose weight and improve your health.
We hope this book can play a small role in your healthy gastric balloon journey. To your satisfying and long-lasting weight loss success!
Alex is just a regular guy, as he puts it. The difference between Alex and other “regular” people, or at least two-thirds of the people in the United States, is that Alex is maintaining a healthy weight. He credits the lap-band with his success, and his current focus is on helping others achieve their own weight loss goals when they are investigating or have chosen to use any weight loss surgical procedure as an aid. BariatricPal.com is one of Alex’s major projects. He was a 255-pound man whose weight had gone up and down his entire life as he tried diet after diet. He got weight loss surgery done and was finally able to consistently make healthy dietary choices to lose weight and keep it off. Since his 2003 surgery, Alex has felt in control of his weight, and he maintains a weight of 150 pounds. He is so pleased with the results that he achieved with weight loss surgery that he dedicates himself to helping others in their weight loss surgery journeys. Alex Brecher is a native New Yorker. Except for his weight, which was a chronic struggle, he has what he calls the perfect life. He loves spending time with his three children, two sons and a daughter, who are all in elementary school. He hits the gym every day for some running and strength training, and is looking forward to many more happy and healthy years.
