In this section, we have collated some resources that you might find useful for additional support during your weight loss journey. Please note this is not exhaustive – there may be many more resources that you find helpful.
Understanding the gastric band
Some of us may need to see a video showing how the adjustable gastric band works to be able to fully understand the process. Paul O’Brien is an extremely experienced weight loss surgeon from Australia who has produced very informative videos which are available on YouTube. Examples of those videos which are worth watching are:
- A short explanation of the gastric band mechanism
- Eight Golden Rules with the gastric band
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL81029F56DF22EA4A
- Managing problems with eating http://youtu.be/ceR5lHCS3cI
Book
As well as our own patient information booklets, you might want to read further about the gastric band. Paul O’Brien has also written an excellent book describing the adjustable gastric band and how to find success following surgery.
Paul O’Brien (2007) The Lap-Band Solution. A partnership for weight loss
Counselling and Psychological Support
In the Psychological Support section, we touch many different issues which may be present before surgery, or which may even arise after surgery. Should you feel that some of this is relevant to you and that some further reading and support will help, please have a look at the options below. Remember, if you believe you require urgent psychological support, please contact your GP or Samaritans.
Websites
These websites cover a number of different mental health topics.
|
Topic |
Websites |
|
General mental health |
Every Mind Matters |
|
Anxiety and depression |
Mood Gym – an interactive self-help website |
|
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/mindfulness.aspx |
|
|
http://www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/anxiety-control-training-podcast.aspx |
|
|
Talking therapy & counselling |
National Counselling Society https://www.nationalcounsellingsociety.org |
|
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) (NHS service) To find your local IAPT service, use this link: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/ |
|
|
Julia Buckroyd – specific to disordered eating |
|
|
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Therapists – to find a registered Cognitive Behavioural Therapist |
|
|
Mindfulness & mindful eating |
|
|
https://www.actmindfully.com.au/free-stuff/ for free worksheets and resources relating to Acceptance and Commitment Theory |
|
|
Disordered eating |
|
|
National Eating Disorders Association |
|
|
Overeaters Anonymous https://www.oagb.org.uk/ |
|
|
Self-harm |
|
|
Telephone helplines (see below) |
|
|
Self-help |
|
|
Suicidal thoughts |
|
|
Telephone helplines (see below) |
Telephone helplines
Samaritans – for everyone
Call 116 123 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Email [email protected]
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men
Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day
Visit the webchat page
Papyrus – for people under 35
Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, weekends and bank holidays 2pm to 10pm
Text 07860 039967
Email [email protected]
Apps
|
App |
Apple |
Android |
|
Meditation/mindfulness |
||
|
10% Happier |
X |
X |
|
Head Space |
X |
X |
|
Calm |
X |
X |
|
Insight Timer |
X |
X |
|
Mindfulness: Finding Peace |
X |
X |
|
Emotional eating |
||
|
Am I Hungry? |
X |
X |
|
Before I Eat |
x |
|
|
Mindful eating |
||
|
In The Moment |
X |
X |
Books
Bailey, A (2014) The Weight Escape
Ratcliffe, D (2018) Living with Bariatric Surgery: Managing Your Mind and Your Weight
Diet, Eating Technique and General Health and Wellbeing
This section provides further advice on what you should eat before and after surgery - and even how to eat your food following surgery. We have highlighted some different websites or apps that may help.
Websites
This is an online weight loss surgery hub for people who have had weight loss surgery. It provides support from a dietitian, a nurse, a CBT therapist and a fitness advisor.
The site includes recipes, meal plans, helpful tips, and much more. Bariatric plates and cutlery are also available to purchase to help you in your weight loss journey.
Transform Hospital Group bariatric patients are entitled to 12 months’ free Bandboozled membership. Just email [email protected] to obtain your login details.
This website can help you understand how many calories are in carbohydrate foods. There are many images which show you how many calories are contained in various portion sizes, and good food swap examples are given to help lower the amount of calories you consume.
You can also purchase a range of books, very low calorie meal plans, flash cards, apps and recipes from this website.
https://www.bariatriccookery.com/
This website has a vast collection of recipes and meal ideas for those who have undergone bariatric surgery. It even has recipes suitable for each of the post-operative stages, e.g. liquids, pureed and soft foods.
They also offer some cookbooks – Return to Slender and Return 2 Slender: Second Helpings are examples.
British Dietetic Association Food Facts
These are a great way of getting an easy-to-understand evidence-based summary on a particular topic, but none can take the place of a consultation with a dietitian.
A few that may be particularly useful are:
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/detox-diets.html
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/weight-loss.html
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/food-labelling-nutrition-information.html
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/food-facts-food-and-mood.html
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation has a fantastic section on their website to help change and adopt habits to improve your health.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/healthy-living
There is even a section on there to help you decode those tricky food labels. It can be hard to know how much fat is in one portion of a food item, and even the amount that makes up s one portion of the food. This guide should help you to better understand food labels so that you can make healthy food choices.
Eating Technique Apps
|
App |
Apple |
Android |
|
Bariatric Meal Timer |
X |
|
|
Baritastic |
X |
X |
|
Baribuddy |
X |
|
|
Time Your Bites |
|
X |
General Health and Wellbeing Apps
|
App |
Apple |
Android |
|
Drinking more water |
|
|
|
Waterlogged |
X |
X |
|
Daily Water Tracking Reminder |
X |
X |
|
Hydro Coach |
|
X |
|
WaterMinder |
X |
X |
|
Water Drink Reminder |
|
X |
|
iHydrate |
X |
|
|
Aqualert: Water Tracker Daily |
X |
X |
|
Water Tracker and Alarm |
|
X |
|
Plant Nanny |
X |
X |
|
Healthy eating / food tracking |
||
|
Fooducate |
X |
|
|
My Diet Coach |
X |
X |
|
MyFitnessPal |
X |
X |
|
Carbs and Cals |
X |
X |
|
Change4Life food & drink scanner |
X |
X |
Books
Bowen, C (2010) Return to Slender After Weight-Loss Surgery: Mouth-Watering Dishes to Nourish, Feed and Inspire You
Bowen, C (2010) Return 2 Slender Second Helpings: More Ideas for Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery
Bowen, C (2019) The Bariatric Bible
Furtado and Schultz (2012) Recipes for Life after Weight-Loss Surgery, Revised and Updated: Delicious Dishes for Nourishing the New You
Nutrition and Diet Resources (2015) Recipes for Life: Before and after a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass
Cutlery and plates
Following weight loss surgery, you might find it difficult to serve the advised portion size or struggle with small bite sizes. As you already know, consistent discomfort can cause complications.
Bandboozled have designed plates and cutlery specific for those who have had weight loss surgery. Each plate shows you the recommended portion size of each food group: protein, vegetables/salad and carbohydrate. They can be purchased directly from the website or from Burcot Hall Hospital.
Following the advised eating technique after weight loss surgery means your food can go cold before you have finished it. Insulated food bowls and plates will keep meals warmer for longer so you can enjoy your food before it goes cold. Check out www.livingmadeeasy.org to purchase these online.