Book Description
In Exodus From Obesity, Paula F. Peck provides the information, encouragement and guidelines for maintaining long-term success after weight loss surgery. Ms. Peck interweaves intelligent discussion with humorous stories about herself and individuals that have faced diet after diet and ultimately chose the gastric bypass procedure. This book is a clear, easy-to-read guide for patients, potential patients, loved ones, parents and friends. Based on scientific research and reflecting Paula F. Peck’s many years of personal and professional experience, this clear, authoritative guide provides readers: - A thorough, step-by-step approach for undergoing gastric bypass surgery. - Lifestyle changes necessary AFTER surgery for maintaining long-term weight loss. - Tips for preventing binge eating when hunger returns. - Skills for dining out at restaurants, salad bars and parties. - Identification of the triggers that set off out-of-control eating. - Approaches for overcoming self-defeat. - Ways to change a distorted self-image. - Methods for restructuring relationships and dealing with sexuality. - New attitudes for raising self-esteem and celebrating a new life.


From the Publisher
Paula F. Peck is committed to the education and support of gastric bypass surgery patients and considers it a calling and honor to assist in improving the quality of their post-procedure lives. She is a warm, compassionate and caring person. Her book, Exodus from Obesity; The Guide to Long-Term Success After Weight Loss Surgery is for pre-operative and post-operative bariatric surgery patients and their personal support team: spouse, parents, and friends. The book is a clear, authoritative guide providing readers a thorough, step-by-step approach for undergoing gastric bypass surgery and for creating a new life thereafter. It focuses on the lifestyle changes necessary for maintaining long-term weight loss after surgery including tips for preventing binge eating when hunger returns, skills for dining out at restaurants, salad bars and parties, identification of the triggers that set off out-of-control eating, approaches for overcoming self-defeat, ways to change a distorted self-image, methods for restructuring relationships and dealing with sexuality, and new attitudes for raising self-esteem and celebrating their new life.


From the Author
There has never been a time in my life that I can remember where food and weight were not an issue. My journey was a struggle to overcome the pain and prejudice of obesity. Eventually, I weighed 325 pounds and my health was deteriorating. I made the decision to have the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery. My surgery went well. I awoke from the operation with the realization that I had been granted another chance at life. I am about to celebrate the fifth anniversary of my surgery. My body has shed 185 pounds. I have found a renewed love of life. I am endlessly grateful. I embrace anyone who wants to walk through the door marked Weight Loss Surgery! I know of no other method that offers as much quality of life for the morbidly obese. There are many books available that instruct about the gastric bypass procedure and teach the basics of surgical preparation. But, as revealed in my Support Groups, there exists a distinct need to address lifestyle change issues, particularly after healing. That is the purpose of my book. Emphasis is placed on how to maintain weight loss long-term, deal with your changing body image, address feelings of sexuality, cope with resentment from fat prejudice, change your attitudes about relationships, and enjoy your new life. I sincerely hope this book will be of value to you.


About the Author
A Registered Nurse for over thirty years, Ms. Peck's knowledge and experience encompass bariatrics, medical, surgical, cardiac, obstetrics, psychiatry, orthopedics, and cosmetic surgery. As Clinical Nurse Manager for bariatric clinics performing gastric bypass surgery within Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s Tenet HealthSystem, Ms. Peck was the primary liaison to patients for preoperative and postoperative education. Key responsibilities included: preoperative preparation classes, postoperative behavior modification and nutrition classes, and managing weekly support group meetings. She created a Sensitivity Training Program taught to hospital staff - a program promoting more humane treatment of the obese patient. Ms. Peck is an accomplished public speaker, group leader and author and her experience includes lifestyle changes, such as: behavior modification, stress management, time management, exercise, nutrition, addiction theory, and attitudinal changes. Ms. Peck holds a license by the California Board of Registered Nurses and the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a member of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS), International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO), National Certification Board for Massage Therapy and Bodywork, American Massage Therapy Association, and the National Association of Nurse-Massage Therapists. She has served on committees in Obstetrics, Nurse Management, Anesthesia, and Risk Management.


Excerpted from Exodus from Obesity: The Guide to Long-Term Success After Weight Loss Surgery by Paula F. Peck. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpt from Chapter 11 - Navigating Through Food Landmines Eating In Restaurants The Wave Much of our socializing revolves around eating in restaurants. We use food for all our occasions, formal and casual. For me, the fast food restaurant is a thing of the past. I need to eat the most nutritious food I can from now on. When I go into a restaurant, my attitude is that I have rented the table for as long I am there. It is mine. Either I get my needs met or I leave. I am not encouraging rudeness. I am merely stating that if I can’t assert even my food preferences, then how do I get my more sophisticated needs of life met? Your server’s objective is to maximize your bill, which increases the size of the tip you leave. So she begins to recite a list of the "specials" usually with highly descriptive prose. I immediately interrupt with a wave of my hand and say, "I am eating light." That’s all. A wave of my hand and a simple declaration signals that I have made my decision and I don’t need to be informed further. I teach it to support groups as The Wave. We all laugh, and they get the idea that they don’t have to apologize for their choices nor ask approval for their needs. When you do The Wave, there is no need to say that you are dieting or to tell your life history. There also is no need to state that you just had gastric bypass surgery and show a diagram of where all your digestive organs are now routed. Your life is none of your server’s business and you don’t have to apologize for yourself. What about when your server asks about a dessert preference? I immediately interrupt with The Wave and say, "I am eating light." Try it yourself.