In 109 pages and fifteen chapters authors Nicholson and Blackwood do a pretty decent job of discussing the issues that accompany the decision to pursue surgery for weight loss. The first few chapters touch on subjects you should ponder before seeing the surgeon, but the bulk of the book is about how the surgery will effect your life long term; physically, psychologically and emotionally.
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY: THE REAL SKINNY goes into more detail than I have encountered previously on how your choices may impact relationships ranging from coworkers, family and partners but perhaps even more importantly, how the issues that impact a person to become heavy in the first place are often laid bare by the loss of weight.
The book was published in part through the support of Northstar Healthcare but instead of being biased for the surgery in general, it clearly and honestly laid out what the weight loss surgery can do, and what it will not. Before reading this I didn't realize that every benefit the surgery provides will almost certainly disappear with time, leaving the time immediately after surgery as an almost Olympian race to lose as much of your weight as possible and develop permanent lifestyle changes that will help you remain healthy through the rest of your life. I definitely recommend the book for those who are seriously considering any form of bariatric surgical intervention in order to go into your first meeting with the specialist with eyes open.
Is it possible to lose weight fast and keep it off long-
term? Whether itβs a new diet, an exercise regimen, or
surgery, people are always looking for the shortest path to
their ideal weight. Bariatric surgery can help you get ahead
of your weight issues, but itβs not a one-and-done remedy;
it gives you a head start, but lasting weight loss requires
maintenance. Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny tells you
the truth. Bariatric surgery can be an excellent way to
quickly lose weight, but itβs not a permanent fix. It can
change your body, but it doesn't change your mind or your
relationship with food. As Dr. Nick Nicholson and B. A.
Blackwood explain, "overeating has little to do with
physical need and everything to do with emotional need."
Surgery will get you started, but patients must also be
willing to adopt a healthier way of living. While the
authors touch on the benefits of bariatric surgery and
practical advice on how to select your surgeon, much of this
book addresses the issues connected to weight management
that precede and follow surgery, with chapters that tackle
questions like βHow Did I End up in this Mess and Why Canβt
I Get Out of It?β and βIβm Doing Everything Right, So Why
Doesnβt My Weight Show It?β Other chapters address some of
the unexpected consequences of dramatic weight loss. You may
have already known that weight gain could adversely affect
your relationshipsβ¦but weight loss? Like any major life
change, losing weight can upset the balance in your
relationships. Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny honestly
acknowledges the effect that bariatric surgery can have on a
patient and that patientβs family and friends. The authors
offer insight into how to prepare yourself and your loved
ones for the shift, highlighting the importance of open
communication throughout the process. Dr. Nick Nicholson, a
renowned bariatric surgeon, and B. A. Blackwood, an author,
retired trial lawyer, and marathon runner, teamed up to
write Weight Loss Surgery: The Real Skinny, a guide for
people who are considering or have already undergone
bariatric surgery. Nicholson was voted one of D Magazineβs
top bariatric doctors seven years in a row, and Blackwood
has completed more than 20 marathons. Together they share a
passion for encouraging people to achieve and maintain
healthy lifestyles. They know that anyone who chooses to
undergo bariatric surgery will experience bumps in the road
to maintaining their weight loss. One size does not fit allβ
everyoneβs body is unique and everyone faces a unique set of
challenges. If you or a loved one is considering bariatric
surgery or has already undergone surgery, Weight Loss
Surgery: The Real Skinny can help you find and face the real
issues that brought you to this place and lead you on the
way to creating a new lifestyle that will preserve a
healthier you. Written in an easy-to-read, engaging, and
encouraging style that is supplemented with informational
charts and data, this book shows readers how to take charge
of their health by addressing their emotions and changing
their thinking so they can maintain a healthy weight
throughout their life.
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