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Protein Shake Recipes After Bariatric Surgery

February 21, 2014

If you’ve attended one of Griffin’s free weight loss surgery seminars, or you have recently scheduled your surgery at our Connecticut center, than most likely you’ve learned that after bariatric surgery your body needs time to heal and become accustomed to eating smaller portions. That means a change in diet. With the help of your surgeon and a nutritionist, you’ll learn how to follow a liquid and soft food diet until your body is ready to eat small portions of regular food again (about 12 weeks). After surgery it is essential that your body gets plenty of proteins without heading to your local steak house. Proteins are essential because they help your body stay full, regulate blood sugar, and maintain muscle mass. So, how do you get in enough protein, especially during the first liquid phase of your diet? Protein shakes! Luckily for us, protein shakes come in all kinds of flavors these days. Many health food stores even sell single servings of different flavors and brands so you can find one you like before committing to a large canister.... Read More

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Inspiration for the Weight Loss Surgery Patient

February 13, 2014

The weather in Connecticut may not be as tropical as it is in Sochi, Russia, but there is still a lot we can be inspired by. It is always exciting to watch the best athletes from around the world compete. Even though you may be sick and tired of the snow storms and the endless shoveling this winter, you have to agree that all this snow lends itself to quite a bit of exercise. Exercise is an integral part of our Bariatric Program. It helps patients get optimally ready for surgery, makes them recover faster and with less likelihood of complications. How much patients exercise determines how quickly and how much weight they loose and in the long run, how much weight loss is maintained. This is why we keep encouraging everyone to exercise daily. After patients fully recover from Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy, Lap Band or Revisional Surgery, they are no longer limited to walking. It is time to try new things or to pick up a sport they have not done in years. Let the Winter Olympics and... Read More

Plateaus After Weight Loss Surgery

February 10, 2014

If you’re one of the unusual people who haven’t experienced a weight loss plateau during your weight loss journey, consider yourself lucky. For the rest of us, hitting a plateau at least once between your starting weight and your goal is part of the process. Even patients of our Connecticut weight loss surgery center can experience a plateau. Often, a weight that just won’t budge can be linked back to little habits that are undermining your efforts. Other times, a plateau can be caused by an imbalance in a fitness plan. While frustrating, overcoming a plateau is possible! What is a Plateau? A weight-loss plateau is typically considered to be stalled weight loss even though you are still practicing your healthy eating and exercise habits. Nearly everyone who is following a weight loss program will experience a plateau at least once during their weight loss journey. Do Bariatric Patient’s Experience Plateaus? Even weight loss patients who are making great strides to a healthier body weight may experience a plateau along the way. Most patients who have had gastric band (lap-band)... Read More

Bariatric Friendly Superbowl Snacks

January 29, 2014

The big game is coming our way soon. You've got your jerseys, your pompoms, the war paint… All you need is some tasty food to nosh on. But what are you going to serve at the big event now that you are post-bariatric surgery? After all, during those tense moments you will be too focused on the game to make good food choices, right? We propose making all your snacks bariatric friendly so you don't have to worry about what you're munching. Your guests won’t know the difference. Healthy Superbowl Snack Ideas Edamame – Edamame are fresh, green soybeans. Loaded with protein, these tasty pods are perfect for bariatric patients. Pick them up at the supermarket in the frozen foods isle, nuke them for a few minutes and serve them warm with a bit of kosher salt. Shrimp Cocktail – This is the easiest snack that makes a big impression. Substitute a little less cocktail sauce for a little more lemon juice and you have yourself a delicious protein-rich snack. White Bean Dip – Put the rinsed contents of a... Read More

Your resolution after bariatric surgery for 2014: do what makes you happy

January 12, 2014

It is hard not to feel down in January in Connecticut. The weather has hit record lows with wind chills that make even the most devoted outdoorsmen into hermits. This leads you to watch way too much television and what do you keep hearing: That apparently you have been exercising the wrong way; the only food that is good for you tastes like cardboard; and that you need a stylist, a personal trainer, not to mention a nanny, personal chef, housekeeper and personal assistant to pull off the latest celebrity look. Whew! No wonder this is a rough time of year. Ok, we can be a bit hard on you, too. We keep forcing the healthy lifestyle on you: Exercise daily! Did you remember to take bariatric multivitamins?! Sleep 8 hours a night! Make sure you take the right calcium supplement! Have you tried meditation? Make sure that you get 75 grams of protein every day! Gee, looking at it this way, it does sound a bit harsh. A healthy lifestyle after weight loss surgery is so important. It is... Read More

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