The Best Way to Run During Your Weight Loss Journey
No matter how you’re losing weight – surgery, diet, exercise, or weight loss medications- exercises are crucial to hitting your goals and ultimately maintaining that weight loss once you reach them. However, many patients are concerned about which exercises may be best for them, and the question is justified. Importantly, this applies particularly to running, which offers excellent lower-body toning, cardio, and calorie burn but can also be very strenuous on the legs and joints, especially when patients carry extra weight. So, what are the best ways to run, and how do we ensure we don’t injure ourselves?
Common Nutritional Deficiencies After Bariatric Surgery
In a practice that has treated thousands of bariatric patients, we have seen it all. However, one of the most problematic complications we see after bariatric surgery is when patients don’t stay abreast of their nutritional requirements. Patients lose weight because of a significantly restricted caloric intake, meaning they will consume fewer vitamins and minerals. Some vitamins and minerals are more affected than others. As such, we work with our patients to create a supplementation plan based on the procedure performed and the results of their blood panels taken periodically after surgery.
Three Critical Factors to Maximize Weight Loss
Any patient considering or having had bariatric surgery or who starts on GLP-1 agonists like Wegovy or Zepbound wants to know how to maximize their weight loss. And there certainly are ways. But before diving deeper, remember that no matter what weight loss modality is used, there is no substitute for hard work to achieve and maintain weight loss results. Bearing that in mind, answering this question is difficult, but many factors influence weight loss. Further, each of us is different, and the reasons for gaining weight and the best way to lose it may differ slightly between us. However, there are some tried and true ways to help ensure you lose the most weight, three of which we will discuss in this article.
Getting Off GLP-1s – Having a Game Plan
If you’ve been using GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound), you might be wondering what it looks like to stop taking them. Maybe you’ve reached your health goals or are dealing with side effects that make you want to reconsider your options. Whatever the reason, getting off GLP-1 medications is a big decision that requires careful planning.
These medications are often prescribed to help manage type 2 diabetes or assist with weight loss. They mimic a hormone in your body that helps regulate blood sugar levels and appetite. But just like starting the medication was a big step, stopping it should be done thoughtfully and with guidance from your healthcare provider.
Stress and The Vicious Cycle of Obesity
In a world where stress is as common as the air we breathe, the impact on obese individuals is undeniable. The vicious cycle of obesity often starts with stress, triggering unhealthy eating habits. The added weight leads to a sedentary lifestyle and further worsening physical limitations. The person living with obesity begins to feel overwhelmed by even more stress. The cycle often continues until patients hit rock bottom or decide to address it comprehensively and aggressively through diet and exercise, weight loss medications, or bariatric surgery.
When You Need a Conversion or Revision to Your Bariatric Procedure
Dr. Chang believes in a 100% commitment from his patients, just as he gives 100% of his passion and dedication to them. For most, this works well because weight struggles are lifelong. Without accountability, it’s easy to lose focus and motivation and gain back significant weight. Fortunately, good patient selection, education, and working on your habits keeps most of our patients on the right track. We rarely have to worry about bariatric revisions or conversions among our patients.
Does Long-Term PPI Use Increase the Risk of Dementia?
A recent study has shed more light on the potential risks and complications of long-term proton pump inhibitor or PPI use, showing that long-term use may increase the risk of dementia by over 30%. The study followed patients over 45 who took PPIs for more than four years. The results add to the list of potential side effects of using these drugs past the amount of time indicated.
Will I Regain Weight After a Gastric Sleeve?
When considering bariatric surgery, weight regain is at the top of many patients’ minds. After all, the whole point of surgery is to drop the pounds, get back to a more normal weight, and improve or eliminate the diseases associated with obesity; there are horror stories on the Internet discussing significant regain and reversal of the benefit achieved through surgery. It is one of the issues that stops most common issues stopping patients from getting surgery.
Let’s discuss weight gain and whether you should be worried about it now that you are considering bariatric surgery.
Can You Enjoy Alcohol After Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric patients must make significant changes in their lives after their procedure. Most welcome these changes knowing the goal is worth the sacrifice. With many of our celebrations revolving around alcohol, it can be difficult for bariatric patients to reconcile the prospect of a life without a drink here or there. Fortunately, alcohol consumption is a nuanced but ultimately acceptable option after bariatric surgery, with a few rules and caveats. So, let’s jump into how exactly a bariatric patient (and especially a gastric bypass patient) can and should consume alcohol and some of the potential problems and pitfalls that go along with it.
Managing Excess Skin After Weight Loss
Whether you’re losing weight using weight loss medications like Wegovy® and ZepboundTM or off-label like Ozempic® and MounjaroTM, or if you’ve had bariatric surgery, excess skin is a concern. Most bariatric patients should expect to develop some loose skin after their procedure. At their highest weight, they may have stretched their skin. The good news is that the skin can shrink back down with proper exercise and proper weight loss. However, we have seen some patients with remarkable little loose skin but these patients were very discipline with their eating and exercise.
Categories
Archives
Get Started
Register today for benefits!
Success Stories
See our patient testimonials.
Patient Portal
Access to your medical records.