For December’s support group, attendance was not as desirable. Was it the busy holidays interfering with the schedule? Was it the weather? Was it the topic (Clothing Exchange)? Or was it all of the above? As we look to 2010 and new changes that can be made, your input is vital.

However, one idea was further solidified during support group this month: Support from peers is vital. Whether it’s 5, 20, or 40 patients in attendance, knowing that you can interact with others who know exactly what you are going through is of great importance. We so value the efforts made by our patients this month to come and feel the support of others and RMAP. We strongly encourage you to make a new resolution to make support group a constant in your life!

E-mail your responses to Meredith@rmapinc.com

Success can be defined in many ways, and to different degrees, but the ultimate definition stems from HAPPINESS received. And the support groups in Orem, Ogden, and Salt Lake City all offered their HAPPINESS from personal success stories.

Our patients’ success:

• Fitting into clothes that haven’t seen the light of day since college. Or even fitting into size 14 of the little girl’s department!
• Running and playing with children, nephews, and nieces.
• Coming off of all diabetic, blood pressure, cholesterol, and sleep apnea (etc) medications/devices
• Flying on an airplane for the family’s annual vacation.
• Motivation to go to nursing school (Hooray for nurses! I am not biased or anything…)
• Seeing a 100 pound bag of potatoes during Idaho’s harvest and realizing that “bag” has been lost from the body.
• Being able to cross the legs when sitting, and not even think twice.
• Changing their family’s health: Teenage daughter losing 14 pounds simultaneously from healthier habits being established
• Has learned to love exercise. Yes, physical activity is now fun!

I cannot speak for all in attendance, but I certainly walked away from support group this month feeling buoyed and grateful for the opportunity to work with people who are changing their lives. Thank you for those who attended, for sharing a piece of yourself. It was rewarding and inspiring.

Many of you have come so far. And I look forward to seeing those same changes in patients to come. Enjoy this journey!

Meredith Mangum, RN

Topic: Vitamins and Minerals. The hope was to remind you what supplementation is needed, and WHY it is needed. We have 30 years of good data on gastric bypass patients specifically, and those who supplement do not have deficiencies. So, as a reminder, our recommended supplementation regimen is as follows:

1) Multivitamin: One/day, we don’t recommend a certain brand, but do know that Centrum is a popular one amongst our patients. For about two weeks after surgery, this pill should be chewable or liquid. Taking children’s vitamins is okay, as long as you take two pills (or the recommended adult dose as indicated on the bottle). Using a gummy bear multivitamin is okay, but do be aware of extra added sugar. Take it at a time that can become habit for you.

2) Vitamin B-12: 500-1,000 mcg/day. Take sublingually (a small pill that is placed under the tongue and absorbed directly into the bloodstream) daily or by intra-muscular injections, monthly. Take at a time that can become habit for you.

 3) Calcium: 1,200mg (pre-menopausal) — 1,500mg (post-menopausal) daily, but it is best to take in smaller doses 3x/day. Hence, 400-500mg 3x/day (at each meal). Do not take your calcium supplement until you are drinking at least 64 ounces of water. For the first two weeks after surgery, this pill will need to be chewable. Calcium Chews are okay to use, but be aware of any extra added sugar.

4) Iron: This may be prescribed by your surgeon at a later date, if needed. Usually only needed by menstruating women. Take at a time that can become habit for you, but with one stipulation: Iron must be taken at least 2 hours apart from the calcium supplement. They compete for absorption sites.

Not only was it a successful discussion on the assigned topic, but it was a good chance for our patients to connect with one another and get answers to questions that have arised since last month’s support group. I was able to attend to Salt Lake City’s group and so enjoyed meeting with our patients on a more personal level.

Look forward to seeing you next month! I need everybody’s participation, as the topic for November is:

            Success Stories. Bring your own success story to share and learn from others’  life changing experiences.

Best of all, we had many patients attend. A BIG shout out to those who gave up their Saturday morning to participate in this important event! We thank you!

Alicia had the following to say about the event,

“It was fun! Lots of kids and kid activity. I have a few ideas for next year to help us be more interactive with the population that will be there such as nutrition and activity games.”

Of course there are always things we can improve upon. The committee will be meeting at the end of September to discuss the Walk and to start planning for next year! We hope to make this an event that people will put on their calendar as something to look forward to! 

All proceeds from the event will go to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), as well as the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) for obesity research.

Come on ya’ll, let’s not just talk the walk, but walk the walk!

We so often view exercise as something painful, difficult, sweaty, and energy-depleting, when, in fact, it can be quite the opposite. When you find your “why,” exercise can become meaningful, enjoyable, and energy-building. Here are some of the following “why’s” of fellow RMAP patients: 

• Be healthy enough to play with my kids
• Live a healthy life to see my children grow up
• Lower my blood pressure, pulse, and cholesterol
• Lose more weight
• Increase muscle and muscle tone
• Be a good example to my children
• Help clear my mind and focus on eating healthy 

Despite common stigmas, exercise does not have to be an arduous ordeal: We feel we must always dress in the appropriate gear, drive to the gym, run myself ragged on the treadmill, and drive back home. Exercise can be simple, quick, and just as beneficial.

Try this: Finish your dinner, stay in the same clothes, grab your children or your dog, and walk for 30 minutes in your neighborhood. When you come back home, the last thing on your mind is food, and it will promote a better night’s sleep.

If walking is not your Modus Operandi, find an activity that works for you: swimming, or even walking in a pool, running, water aerobics, join a city league softball team, rollerblading, riding a bike, or using an arm “bike” machine. After you have exercised, do you ever regret it?

Brian Sabey, a Physical Therapist, from the Salt Lake Orthopedic Clinic at Support Group in Salt Lake City, mentioned that if you do even 20% of the ideal amount of exercise, you still achieve 80% of the benefits. That is a pretty good rate of return!

Parallel to weight loss surgery, exercise is a lifestyle change. It is not a crash diet, or a temporary fix. Find a routine that is enjoyable and can be maintained for life. Strive to find your motivation, your “why” for exercise. If you struggle with that task, fake it ‘til you make it.

Enjoy this journey.