 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | At 278 pounds, Susan Maria Leach couldn't lie in bed without gasping for air, wasn't able to fit into a restaurant booth, and could barely buckle the belt in an airplane seat. It would have been easier to allow life to pass her by than to continue fighting her weight problem, but she made the difficult decision to take back control. In 2001, Susan underwent gastric bypass surgery and started on a journey that would not only cut her body weight in half but would change her life. Before & After is both a memoir and a cookbook—an intimate account of Leach's own transformation as well as a guide for those who have undergone or are considering the procedure. As Leach has learned in the six years since her operation, weight-loss surgery is not an event with a finish line or a goal weight—it is the beginning of a new way of life. This edition of Before & After has been updated with all that Leach has learned on her post-op journey. It includes a foreword by Leach's surgeon, advice from a nutritionist, answers to more frequently asked questions about weight-loss surgery, a whole chapter on meal plans for different post-operative stages, suggested menus for early food stages, additional questions and answers affecting longer-term post-ops, and new information about products that have entered the marketplace. Most notably, this edition showcases a wealth of new recipes that utilize the latest in light and healthy ingredients for smart and savory results, including everything from Asian Meatballs with Peanut Sauce and Turkey Tenderloin with Apple Chipotle Chutney to sugar-free Pistachio Gelato and Lemon Almond Sponge Cake. Each recipe makes about four servings, but includes a measured serving for WLS people along with a calorie/carb/fat/protein count. Leach has recipes for every step of the way, from tastes-like-the-real-thing milk shakes for those first post-op days to an entire Thanksgiving menu. Before & After is a journal of Leach's own inspirational story, where she shares her ups and downs, her tips and techniques, but mostly it's a book of hope for anyone who has a serious weight problem. |
Average Customer Rating:   Before and After I like the recipes in this book. Some ingredients in the book you have to go out and search for. I like the recipes that have ingredients I have in my pantry already. A book to help you through your gastric bypass I have read through all the journal entries several times. My gastric bypass is scheduled for later this month and I am trying to absorb all the help I can now. The recipes that are added seem a nice feature to the book, although I have not tried these. I will probably use some of the recipes, but I am not a recipe follower per say.
Once I try a food and like it, I can eat it for a while before I tire of it.
This book will give you the basic nuts and bolts about what 1 person went through when she choose gastric bypass. There are a few additional pictures that have been submitted and put into the book from former obese people with a one page synopsis of their weight loss.
I checked out this book from my library first to see if the purchase would be worth it. I am pleased (but not overly) Great recipes and her point of view I enjoyed this book very much. The recipes (especially the egg custard) are some of my favorites.
I personally enjoyed reading her journal entries and while her lifestyle certainly isn't for everyone I appreciate how she was able to live her life the way she really wanted.
If you're looking for a great guide then the WLS Dummies book is probably a better choice, but I loved this book and plan on making many of the recipes found within. Love this book! This is a fantastic book. It was well written by someone who has experienced the surgery and is over 6 years out. It was informative, practical and has some terriffic recipes to boot! Interesting, but not for everyone At first, I was very excited to find "Before and After" because it seemed to be a personal account of someone's weight loss surgery journey, rather than a dry, nuts-and-bolts information book. Her journal is very interesting to read, but I felt like much of her advice and recipes is a little unrealistic for the average person.
Most of her journal entries talk about extragavant trips she took (Vegas, London, etc.) and her struggles dining at fancy restaurants. While eating out IS a big temptation after weight loss surgery, it's not the only one. What about how to prepare dinner for family? Or how to make it through a co-worker's birthday party? The journal seemed somewhat idealized, with emphasis on choosing the right foods whle eating out rather than the emotional struggles that go on after the surgery.
The recipes were equally unrealistic. While many of them sound delicious, they are obviously for people who do not work, have kids, etc. They are also not for people who live in a "normal" city where you can't buy international food at every corner.
I also got a little tired of hearing about her website, which I felt like she shamelessly advertised at every opportunity. I did go to the website, and unfortunately found that the products were VERY expensive. Although they may be good quality, and it would certainly be convenient to order everything from one place, the products aren't really accessible to someone on even the loosest of budgets.
If you want some light reading on the subject, or you can afford (time-and money-wise) to follow the recipes she gives, then this book is for you. Otherwise, you may want to look elsewhere. |  |
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