Before & After: Living & Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery

By Susan Maria Leach

Book Overview

At 278 pounds, Susan Maria Leach couldn't fit into a roller coaster seat, couldn't tie a bathrobe around herself, couldn't even ride with her husband on the back of his Harley. Enough was enough. Susan underwent gastric bypass weight loss surgery. Now Susan weighs in at a mere 135 pounds. Her book, Before & After, is the story of her incredible journey from being too big to enjoy her life, to being able to truly enjoy life to its fullest.

Now Susan can fit into that roller coaster seat, completely tie that robe, and ride on the back of her husband's Harley.

More than one hundred thousand people had weight loss surgery in 2003, and as those pounds continue to drop, the number of people opting for the surgery continues to rise.

Part memoir and part cookbook, Before & After includes a foreword by Susan's surgeon, comments from a nutritionist, and a section on frequently asked questions. It is an intimate account of Susan's own transformation, as well as a universal guide for those who have undergone or are considering the procedure.

After her own success, Susan participated in support groups for weight loss surgery patients. There, she discovered that people had as many questions about life after surgery as they had about the operation itself. Before & After answers those questions and many more. An accomplished home cook and longtime culinary enthusiast, Susan quickly became known as the "lady with the recipes."

Determined not to give up good food and a flexible lifestyle, Susan worked hard to develop recipes that meet her nutritional requirements, yet are delicious and satisfying for her, her family, and her guests. The 100 recipes -- which include everything from Roasted Salmon with Mango Salsa and Italian Meatballs to Belgian Chocolate Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue Pie -- make about four servings, but each comes with a measured serving for WLS people along with a calorie/carb/fat/protein count. Susan 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 Susan's own inspirational story, where she shares her ups and downs, her tips and techniques, but mostly it's a book about hope for anyone who has a serious weight problem.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060567228
• ISBN13: 9780060567224
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Waste of time

I was so excited to read t his book, expecting it to be basically this woman's life before and after surgery. What I read was a pseudo-chef's description of every meal, and activities. The emotions behind pre and post-op wls were lacking. There was also boosts for the author's products/business, which I didn't know she had. The question and answer part were the only reason I gave this two stars. Waste of money, waste of time.

Before and After, revised edition: Susan Maria Leach

I read the orginal book in December of 2006 when I as starting to investigate if WLS was a solution for me. I found the book to answer so many questions and to teach what the facts are. Susan tells it how it is the good the bad and the ugly. But she is good at telling you that with good research if this is the choice you make your life of eating good food is not over. With surgery you have a second chance at health, kind of a rebirth. I love her attitude of nothing tastes as good as thin feels. I have learned thru reading this latest book more info about after the surgery and I look forward to learning more on this journey. THis is a must for someone pre-op and a important part of success for the post op!

Best Pre and Post RNY Surgery Book on the Market

Just got my book in the mail today and I've not put it down. I am a post RNY surgery patient and I bought Ms. Leach's original book at the start of my journey almost 3 years ago. I bought several books on the surgery but found Ms. Leach's to be my bible. This book offers a soft cover which makes it easier to lay open on the counter when using her recipes (the book actually stays open to the page). You can't beat the price. The valuable information contained in the book is a must for anyone considering the surgery, recovering from the surgery or like me 3 years post op. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Don't make the same mistake I did...

Wow... I've ready many, many negative reviews about this book. I did not buy this book as a pre-op, mostly because of said reviews. What a HUGE MISTAKE. I missed out on three months of Susan Maria's ideas and recipies... and those three months were filled with bad protein and too much SF jello. If I had to do it all over again, I'd get it pre-op for two reasons, 1)variety is the spice of life... and Susan Maria offers plenty of recipies that are gentle on our new pouchies! and 2)variety is the spice of life... once you're surgeon allows you on solid foods again, what better to cook for you (and your family) than tried and true low carb high protein recipies? The first half of the book is a tale of the author's WLS journey. I found it interesting and a fun read... but if you're not into that stuff, bypass it. But get this book... it is worth every penny.

What a great book

My daughter gave me this book 3 weeks before my surgery. What a god send it was and still is. Daughter also had WLS and she also found it extremely helpful. It is written in a down to earth style and is an easy read. SusanMaria Leach helps to de-mystify the unknown pre ops are facing and lets us know there is hope for the obese. She also includes many recipies for post op patients. Something our doctors do not. What are you waiting for? Get the book!

So much info in such few pages

I ordered this book a week or so ago and have read it several times. We have tried 2 of the recipes and they were both excellent -- the potato soup and the vanilla custard. My husband is going to make the black bean soup and talapia with salsa this weekend. I'm only 3 weeks out from surgery and it was so nice to have something different. Highly recommend this book.