Blog

Adding up the sugar

November 1, 2013

Now that Halloween is over, it is a good time to reevaluate how much sugar is in your (and your family’s) diet. Sugar is the downfall of weight loss surgery. It can slow down weight loss and also cause weight to be regained. Although it is true that about 80% of patients who had Gastric Bypass will experience dumping syndrome (lightheadedness and GI related symptoms after eating simple carbs), it is by no means a deterrent long term. Even patients who experience dumping syndrome will lose this negative feedback over time. The best policy is to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, regardless if you had a Lap-Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass. A healthy lifestyle after bariatric surgery means choosing foods that are nutritionally dense, such as lean proteins, whole grains and fresh vegetables, while limiting fried foods and simple sugars such as candy, fruit juice, sugar, white pasta and white flour. Of course, daily exercise, getting enough sleep and taking time for yourself make adhering to a healthy lifestyle easier. Naming the Sweet Stuff It is hard to know... Read More

Tools of Success for Bariatric Surgery

October 11, 2013

You have often heard that Bariatric Surgery, or Weight Loss Surgery, is a tool for fighting obesity and its related diseases. It is a very effective tool. We now have decades of studies that show the effectiveness of procedures such as the Gastric Bypass and Lap Band. We also have nearly 10 years of data on the Gastric Sleeve and its effectiveness against obesity and comorbid conditions. Bariatric surgery works. It helps patients lose weight, keep it off and most importantly avoid or control diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Unfortunately, sometimes we forget that Bariatric Surgery is not a miracle worker. It takes dedication and very hard work. This is where the other tools in your toolbox need to come in: nutrition, exercise, behavior management, follow-op and support. Let’s look at these in a bit more detail. Nutrition: Bariatric surgery helps patients feel satisfied with less food. It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure that the food is nutritious. Feed your body decadent, healthy food that is rich in protein, low in fat and low in sugar... Read More

Combatting the Munchies

September 27, 2013

In some form, all bariatric surgeries restrict the amount of food you can eat in one sitting. Of course, some procedures, like the Gastric Bypass, also restrict some food absorption, but for the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on the food restriction that is accomplished via Lap Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass. It works this way: The stomach (or pouch) is made much smaller, which fills up faster and thus leaves you feeling satisfied with less food. This leads to greater weight loss because you are not feeling ravenous like you did before surgery. But there is one catch: it only works if you do not graze. What is grazing? We commonly refer to grazing as eating a little bit of food throughout the day. One piece of candy here, a bite of cheese there – nothing that would make you think of noting it to your food journal. But it adds up. Suddenly you find yourself in a position where you realize that you were able to eat a large bag of potato chips and... Read More

Bariatric Surgery and Weight Management For The Long Run

September 16, 2013

The road to weight loss is hard. Some people may think that having Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Lap Band is the easy way out. After all, you had bariatric surgery; the pounds just fall off you, right? We love to talk about the success stories: Amy lost 80 pounds, Peter lost 150. What we need to discuss more is how much work goes into weight loss, regardless if it is lost with the help of weight loss surgery or not. Bariatric surgery does not make weight loss easier. What it does do, however, is make it more effective. You can see results. If you exercise daily, take care of your mental wellbeing and eat a bariatric-friendly diet, bariatric surgery will ensure that you lose weight. No more dieting and exercising with slow results and gaining the weight back and then some when you start to live like a person who is not on “The Biggest Loser” television show. Bariatric surgery helps you retain control of your weight loss. But it is still hard. Sometimes, it is difficult to stay... Read More

Bringing the healthy bariatric lifestyle to your kid’s lunchbox

August 29, 2013

Bariatric surgery is a life changing event. After weight loss surgery, patients become healthier and are more active. What about the other family members? The trend shows that kids, too, are living a healthier lifestyle. The holy grail of children’s nutrition is still the school lunch, so we thought we would give some ideas on how to increase nutrition without having to have your kids eat the brown paper bag. Pack the rainbow – Everyone eats with their eyes first. It is no wonder that candy is brightly colored – it attracts kids. Include fruit and berries and veggies in their lunch daily. Surprise your child by including purple carrots or orange cauliflower. Make it a game and soon you’ll have a child who cannot wait to open his/her lunch bag. What unusual veggie or fruit can you or your child think of? Serve only real food – It may sound a bit confusing, but think about it: Is that tube of yogurt really yogurt? What makes these chips glow in the dark? Why is the ingredient list one paragraph... Read More

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