10 Best Bariatric Surgery Books

10 Best Bariatric Surgery Books

If you are considering bariatric surgery, or have had bariatric surgery, consider adding these 10 best bariatric surgery books to your reading list. The list includes books on weight loss surgery written by doctors, nutritionists, mental health professionals, and patients. Similarly, this list also contains books that will help you change your behaviors, habits, and mindset. Each of the weight loss surgery books on this list includes important tools to help you succeed in your weight loss goals.

1. Bariatric Mindset Success By Kristin Lloyd, MS, LPC/LMHC

Kristin Lloyd offers a unique insight into how to change your mindset when it comes to weight loss after bariatric surgery. As a psychotherapist and post-gastric-sleeve surgery patient, Lloyd writes from the perspective of both a patient and mental health professional. She delves into the basics of weight loss surgery (WLS) and provides strategies for conquering your mindset and emotions.

Lloyd offers practical tips and techniques to help you adopt and love your new lifestyle after surgery. Finally, this bariatric surgery book provides tools for how to navigate family, friendships, and relationships after WLS.

2. Weight Loss Surgery Success: Dr. V’s A-Z Steps for Losing Weight and Gaining Enlightenment By Dr. Duc C. Vuong

Most weight loss surgery books focus on physical strategies for success. In Dr. Vuong’s book, he goes beyond discussing different diets, surgeries, insurance coverage, and complications. Instead, Dr. Vuong provides psychological strategies that are necessary for post-surgery success. In short, no matter what stage of weight loss you find yourself in, Dr. Vuong provides insight into how to gain enlightenment and peace in your journey.

Finding enlightenment can help you find peace and security in your life.

3. The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, And Confidence With Everyday Courage By Mel Robbins

Renowned motivational speaker Mel Robbins dives into practical tools to build confidence and bust self-doubt. Although this book is not found commonly found among other bariatric surgery books, the tools in this book are profound for anyone who struggles with self-confidence and courage. For example, Robbins begins the book by sharing how she could not even get out of bed because she was too anxious, depressed, and low in self-confidence.

One morning, she gave herself 5 seconds to just get out of bed—what she eventually coined the “push moment.” Robbins found that applying this strategy to all areas of her life improved everything, including her health, relationships, work, mindset, and overall happiness. Learning to apply the 5-second rule in your own life can help:

  • Increase your confidence
  • Break hard-to-break habits including procrastination and self-doubt
  • Put a stop to fear and uncertainty
  • Share your self and your ideas with courage and confidence
  • Quit worrying and start living

There is no doubt about it: life after weight loss surgery is challenging. It requires that you change your habits, behaviors, thought patterns, and relationships to achieve and maintain weight loss. Whether it is deciding to hit the drive-thru window, indulge in an office party birthday cake, or ditch your morning exercises, the tools in this book can help you overcome your self-doubt and give you the courage to achieve your goals. All it takes is 5 seconds.

Give yourself 5 seconds to think about doing something and then take action.

4. Ultimate Gastric Sleeve Success: A Practical Patient Guide To Help Maximize Your Weight Loss Results By Dr. Duc C. Vuong

Dr. Vuong’s book is one of the top gastric sleeve books because of his easy-to-understand writing. Considered one of the “must-read” bariatric surgery books and gastric sleeve books, Dr. Vuong discusses the anatomical and surgical aspects of gastric sleeve surgery, as well as practical strategies to have long-term success.

The gastric sleeve is one of the most common bariatric surgeries performed in the United States. The science behind gastric sleeve for weight loss is to decrease the size of the stomach so it cannot hold a large amount of food at any given time. Indeed, about 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a banana-shaped sleeve. However, one of the most significant impacts of this surgery is that it alters gut hormones that decrease hunger sensations, increase satiety, and regulate blood sugar.

Many people who undergo gastric sleeve surgery have rapid weight loss in the first 3-5 years of surgery. However, some people can rebound and re-gain weight after the “honeymoon” period of weight loss passes. Dr. Vuong’s gastric sleeve book dives into how to manage weight loss plateaus, long term follow-ups, testing, and social eating.

5. Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery By Cynthia L. Alexander

The Emotional First Aid Kit is an important read for anyone considering weight loss surgery. Alexander offers unique strategies for overcoming hurdles with following a diet and exercise regime. Indeed, Alexander goes beyond the physical challenges of weight loss and provides insight on how to deal with negativity from family and friends, and how to avoid relapse.

When you have weight loss surgery, you are forced to reconsider how you think about yourself and how you think others perceive you. Some people gain confidence as they see the pounds fall away, whereas others still see themselves as affected by obesity. Moreover, your relationships can either be strengthened or weakened based on how well you communicate your needs and experience. Many people find it beneficial to have an experienced mental health professional to help navigate the hurdles you may face after surgery. However, because emotions are so critical in our self-confidence and self-perception, it is helpful to have as many tools in your toolbox as possible entering surgery. As one of the best bariatric surgery books, Alexander’s book will be beneficial in the years after weight loss surgery.

Knowledge is power. Educate yourself on weight loss surgery by reading a number of different books and perspectives.

6. Life After Gastric Bypass: 6 Steps to Ensure Your Weight Loss Success By Katrina Segrave and Jerry Wayne

Katrina Segrave, who is a leading nutritionist in her field, and Jerry Wayne, a gastric bypass success story, come together to create a unique reading experience among weight loss surgery books. Wayne shares an intimate reflection of his journey as an overweight child to an obese adult. He delves into the physical challenges, as well as emotional and mental hurts on his road to weight loss surgery. Wayne highlights the fact that surgery is not the easy way out. Indeed, it takes serious commitment, work, and it changes you and your loved ones.

Throughout the book, Segrave offers tips on how to not only achieve your weight loss goals but to maintain them long after you leave the hospital. With great strategies on exercise and dieting, the stories and tips contained within these pages will stick with you as you embark on your weight loss journey.

7. The Sleeved Life: A Patient-to-Patient Guide on Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery By Pennie Nicola

If you are looking for an informative personal account of gastric sleeve surgery, Nicola’s book will answer your most burning questions. Nicola aims to offer her best tricks and support as she lost over 100 pounds with a sleeve gastrectomy. As one of the best gastric sleeve books, The Sleeved Life addresses numerous topics, including:

8. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life And Business By Charles Duhigg

This New York Times Bestseller has earned its place among some of the most excellent self-improvement books for its insightful research on human behavior. Tapping into scientific research and highlighting findings in fascinating narratives, Duhigg offers strategies for how to change habits to improve your life. Whether you are aiming for more productivity at work, motivation to exercise, or finding the strength to pursue a healthier lifestyle, the key is exchanging unhealthy habits for healthy habits.

9. Weight Loss Surgery For Dummies (2nd Ed.) By Marina S. Kurian, Barbara Thompson et al.

If you are looking for an all-in-one learning experience, Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies may be for you. Covering topics ranging from how to know if weight loss surgery is for you to guidance on choosing the best surgeon, this practical guide can help you navigate weight loss surgery.

One of the main barriers to WLS is affordability, and many people are unsure how to navigate insurance coverage. The cost of surgery is just the tip of the iceberg, as follow up care and supporting a healthy lifestyle and diet requires financial planning. This book has an added feature of helping you plan how to finance your surgery.

Fresh new recipes can inspire you to stick to a healthy diet after weight loss surgery.

10. Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery: Over 150 Delicious Low-Fat High-Protein Recipes to Enjoy in the Weeks, Months and Years After Surgery By Patt Levine et al.

This cookbook is an excellent resource for anyone looking for healthy meal inspiration. With beautiful photographs and simple recipes, this post-bariatric surgery cookbook will please everyone in your family. If you are recovering for WLS, diabetic, or just looking for a balanced diet, you will find creative recipes covering breakfast through dinner, and snacks and treats in between.

The revised edition of this cookbook offers more new recipes and tailors meal recommendations based on the most recent research available on bariatric surgery. Furthermore, each recipe contains recommended serving sizes based on the different stages of eating programs for Adjustable Gastric Lap-Band, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Biliopancreatic Division with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS).

Julia Rae Walker, RN, BSN, BA

Author

Julia is an experienced critical care nurse with a background in pediatric and adult patient populations. Her passion is helping patients maximize their quality of life.

Gintas Antanavicius, MD, FACS, FASMBS

Medical Reviewer

Dr. G is a co-founder of BariBuilder. A US-based expert surgeon with over 10 years of bariatric experience, he regularly publishes research in medical journals like SOARD, Obesity Surgery, etc.