Gift Guide for Bariatric Patients

Kathryn Naphy is a mom of two who’s maintained her 100+ weight loss since 2006, when she had weight-loss surgery with Matt Kirkland, MD, bariatric surgeon at Penn Medicine in 2006. In this blog, she shares some of her gift ideas for those who’ve had weight-loss surgery.

Read more about her story here, join her on her blog, Eating After Gastric Bypass or follow her on Twitter. Also, learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn Medicine at a free information session.

Happy holidays to the bariatric patient!

The holidays are right around the corner, and chances are there’s someone on your list this year that’s had weight-loss surgery or is preparing for surgery. There are some very obvious high calorie food gifts that are a no-go for your bariatric friend but what kind of stuff do they really need? Here are some suggestions your friend or loved one will really appreciate for his or her post-op life.

• Dishwasher-safe water bottles
• Gift certificate for clothing-- their clothing size will be changing…a lot!
• Gift basket with whey or soy protein powder samples
• Complete multivitamin and mineral supplements, or a gift certificate for vitamins
• Shaker bottle for protein shakes
• Kitchen supplies, such as a set of measuring cups and spoons, food scale, or pre-measured food containers holding 2 – 4 oz.
• An attractive insulated lunch box or Bento boxes for meals on the go.
• iTunes gift card for rockin’ workout songs
• Bariatric or low fat/low calorie cookbook
• Get physical! Exercise is a big part of our post-op lives, so if your loved one has been eying up a some exercise equipment for the home or a gym membership or thinking about taking up a sport like tennis, maybe a gym membership or a lesson would be a welcome gift. Also consider a fitness tracker such as the Fitbit, Nikefuel band or Jawbone.

Please skip: Candy, alcohol (no alcohol is permitted for a year after surgery), holiday cookies, fruit cake, etc. It will end up going to waste or have to be re-gifted.

All in all, the focus is still on thoughtful gift giving and the above gift suggestions will be very welcome to your pal post bariatric surgery!

Happy Holidays!

Lose Weight at Penn Medicine

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Learn about medical weight loss in Philadelphia, and the Penn Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Program at a free information session about weight-loss surgery in Philadelphia.

There, you will hear about your weight-loss surgery options, and how Penn can help you lose weight and get healthy for good.

Register for a free information session today.