Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery Weighs in on Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain After Weight Loss Surgery

The holidays are approaching, and Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery wants you to know that you don't have to eat and drink to be merry. The average person packs on five to 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's, and people who have had weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass or Lap Band surgery may be particularly at risk for holiday weight gain. From roast turkey loaded with gravy and stuffing, to pumpkin pie and eggnog, the temptations are seemingly endless.

But a timely new article published by Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery offers revelers 12 expert-approved tips on how to stick to their new way of eating, despite the many temptations on offer throughout the holiday season. Instead of making your New Year's resolution about losing weight, keep it off in the first place using this informative feature.

"12 Ways to Avoid Weight Regain During the Holidays" can be found at: www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/holiday-weight-gain/

"The holidays can be challenging for people who have had bariatric surgery," admits Christine Ren Fielding, MD, an associate professor of surgery and the founder and director of the New York University Program for Surgical Weight Loss in New York City.

"Those individuals who have adapted successfully with the behavioral changes required actually find the holidays quite easy, mainly because they fill up with food quickly and have little temptation for sweets; but those who have been struggling with their new life after bariatric surgery may find the temptations of large quantities of high calorie foods difficult," says Dr. Ren, a member of Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery's editorial advisory board.

"It doesn't have to be this way," she says. "The new article gives bariatric surgery patients an easy-to-follow action plan, such as never arriving to a holiday celebration with an empty stomach, bringing a fruit or veggie plate so there is something they can eat in large quantities, and focusing on family and friends; not food."

The new content was created with the help of editorial advisory board member Jacqueline Stark Odom, PhD, the director of psychology at the Beaumont Weight Control Center in Royal Oak, Michigan, and Silvia Veri, RD, the nutrition supervisor for the weight control center at Beaumont Hospital.

"This article strikes at the heart of our mission, which is to arm people who have had – or are considering – weight loss surgery with essential tools for success on this lifelong journey," says editor Denise Mann. "You can and should enjoy the holidays and continue to live your new life to the fullest."

About Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery

Consumer Guide to Bariatric Surgery is a one-stop, independent resource with comprehensive information on life before, during and after bariatric surgery. This website provides detailed information about weight loss surgery (or bariatric surgery), including information about who make the best candidates for each procedure, the recovery time after surgery and appropriate expectations.

Popular topics include:

- Gastric bypass surgery
- Lap Band surgery
- Duodenal switch
- Bariatric surgery for teens
- Obesity
- Choosing a bariatric surgeon

Bariatric surgery articles are reviewed by an editorial advisory board comprising some of the nation's leading surgeons. The site is accredited by the Health on the Net Foundation, assuring consumers of the highest-quality, most trustworthy information on the Web. To complement this robust content, a before-and-after photo gallery is available.