Support

Body Image: The struggle after bariatric surgery

April 19, 2012

People of all sizes can struggle with body image. It does not help that we are constantly bombarded with images of what we are supposed to look like. If you are obese, then you are probably familiar with the hurtful looks and comments some people can make. A positive body image is developed early in childhood and its fragility cannot be overstated. One of the many questions we hear when patients are considering bariatric surgery is about excess skin. For some patients, the thought of excess skin after significant weight loss can be overwhelming. The amount of excess skin that can be expected after bariatric surgery varies greatly and is related to how much weight is lost, the body fat distribution, genetics and age. How fast you lose the weight does not impact how much excess skin you will have. Although very effective, the surgical removal of excess skin (reconstructive surgery) is rarely covered by health insurance. The probability increases somewhat when the patient is diligent about having multiple health care providers document how the excess skin affects the patient’s... Read More

Putting your relationship back onto the front burner after Bariatric Surgery

February 10, 2012

Weight Loss Surgery, or Bariatric Surgery, requires adherence to a lifelong lifestyle change. Focusing on eating right, exercising and attending plenty of support groups can make your partner feel like they are no longer part of your life. How do you ensure that your partner supports you and also enjoy quality together time, strengthening your relationship? Share your active lifestyle together. Make an effort to exercise together. Try activities that you both may enjoy, such as dancing to a local rock band, hiking, walking at the beach, yoga, Tai Chi, skiing, karate class or swimming. Sweat the small stuff. If little comments about your weight hit a nerve or nagging is considered a hobby in your household, make an effort to stop it as it happens. Little hurts build up to resentment and all of a sudden, you may be wondering why the other person is so hurtful and unloving. Touch more. Intimacy is about the little, gentle touches. It is about sitting a bit too close to each other, kissing for no apparent reason and hugging, just because you... Read More

Let 2012 be all about you!

January 26, 2012

The health benefits of bariatric surgery are numerous and are often the primary reason patients seek out the gastric bypass, the sleeve gastrectomy or the lap band for sustained weight loss. However, results do not happen without hard work and weight loss cannot be maintained without a healthy lifestyle. Implementing a healthy lifestyle is not easy and requires continued effort and time. Putting your own needs first is difficult to do. Goal setting is a good way to enforce a healthy lifestyle. Important things to consider when setting goals: Make it measurable Your goal may be to be healthier, but how do you measure this? Do you want to have lower triglycerides, have a BMI below 30, gain more muscle mass, be able to run a 5K? Making your goal measurable will help you see your progress and keep you motivated. Make it a fun Truth is, if it feels like work, we are much less likely to stick to it. Make it a game and involve your loved ones. For example, if your goal is to increase your protein... Read More

Unconditional Support – The gift every weight loss surgery patient wants

December 15, 2011

The media is not doing bariatric patients any favors. Many stories go something like this: “Patient lost 150 pounds without Gastric Bypass”. They did not mention that the success rate of maintaining the weight loss over 5 years is about 3-5%? Maybe you heard this story: “Patient regained all the weight after Lap-Band”. What was the cause? Was the patient getting the support they needed? “Patient becomes an alcoholic after Sleeve Gastrectomy”, hinting that bariatric surgery will lead to an addiction transfer. Was the patient offered the help she needed? Obesity is a complex, chronic disease. There are many reasons why people become obese. Bariatric surgery helps fight obesity because it helps patients feeling satisfied with less food. Nothing more. Bariatric surgery is not the easy way out. It is hard work. Lifelong work. It includes attending support groups, daily exercise and healthy food choices. Friends and family can be instrumental in the success with bariatric surgery, their unconditional support playing a vital role. How family and friends can give unconditional support Be informed Learn about Bariatric Surgery and read... Read More

Thanksgiving Strategies Addressed at On Track Workshop for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

November 16, 2011

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you may already be preparing for the yearly family feast. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves during the holidays and it can be a stressful time. It can be particularly hard after weight loss surgery, especially if not everyone is particularly supportive. Thus, we will be discussing coping strategies at this Saturday’s On Track Workshop. We’ll get started with some fun exercise. Come with comfy clothes and get ready to Zumba! We will finish the exercise segment with some holiday exercise ideas. Dr. Ehrlich, Becky McAndrews, PA-C and Delphine Geraci, RN, CBN will be here to trouble shoot questions and will discuss concerns such as weight regain and post-op complications and the necessity of follow-up after weight loss surgery Chef Greg O’Gorman is going to be entertaining us with a seasonal cooking demonstration. Come and taste his recipes that are bound to be both nutritious and delicious! Hillary Freedman, RD will be discussing bariatric nutrition and the special concerns weight loss surgery patients face. She will be discussing Thanksgiving tips for... Read More

Previous Page Next Page