Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part I: Is Weight Loss Surgery for You? 7

Chapter 1: The Ins and Outs of Weight Loss Surgery 9

Chapter 2: Voting for Surgery: Are You a Candidate? 19

Chapter 3: Incision Decisions: Your Surgical Options 33

Chapter 4: Understanding the Risks of Surgery 53

Chapter 5: Drafting Your Dream Team: It's More Than a Surgeon 69

Part II: Preparing for Surgery 79

Chapter 6: Paying for Surgery: No Assurance of Insurance 81

Chapter 7: Making the Grade: Testing Prior to Surgery 91

Chapter 8: Preparing Yourself Physically and Mentally: Getting in Tip-Top Pre-Op Shape 103

Part III: The Hospital Experience and Beyond 115

Chapter 9: Checking In and Out: Your Hospital Stay 117

Chapter 10: Knowing What You Can Eat for the First Few Months 133

Chapter 11: Starting on Solid Food 155

Chapter 12: Home Sweet Home: Returning after Surgery 171

Chapter 13: Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Back to Work You Go! 181

Part IV: This Time I'm Going to Make It: Ensuring Success 189

Chapter 14: What Is Success Anyway 191

Chapter 15: Food for Thought: An Eating Plan for the Rest of Your Life 201

Chapter 16: Getting It in Gear: Making Exercise Part of Your Routine 233

Chapter 17: Enlisting Outside Help 249

Part V: Changing Outside and In 257

Chapter 18: Avoiding Potential Pitfalls: Physical Challenges 259

Chapter 19: Dealing with Post-Op Emotional Issues: What's Eating At You? 269

Chapter 20: Me, Myself, and I: Your Relationship with Yourself 281

Chapter 21: Working At Relationships: Family, Friends, and Everyone in Between 293

Chapter 22: Now That I’m Thin, What about the Skin? 307

Part VI: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 23: Ten Weight Loss Surgery Myths 321

Chapter 24: Ten Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery 327

Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Stay on the Straight and Narrow 331

Index 335

About the Author

Marina S. Kurian, MD, is a weight loss surgeon at NYU Medical Center. Barbara Thompson is a nationally recognized speaker who brings hope to the dangerously obese. Brian K. Davidson is the coauthor of Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook For Dummies.