New year resolutions
We all have made them. Most of us make our resolution and we might even put some thought into it. However, the vast majority of us don’t really follow through very well. Why is that? It’s human nature. We’re busy. Life is hectic. We have lots of other things that interfere with our new, improved way of life. After a couple months, we’re often back to the status quo (old way). How do we fix this? The answers are really quite simple.
- Have concrete resolutions…if my resolution is to be healthier in 2016, this is vague. Make a much more concrete resolution like “I’m going to the gym 3x per week”…this is my goal.
- Write it out and give it to someone who will check up on you…nothing beats accountability when it comes to lifestyle change. It’s kinda tough to hear “you need to get your butt moving” from your accountability friend (or person). When two people are focused on the goal, you don’t bear all the weight and responsibility.
- Be realistic. “I’m going have abdominoplasty, breast lift and thigh plasty in 2016”…maybe too much and unobtainable.
- Schedule…put it on your calendar like it’s a really important appointment. If it really needs to be changed in your life, doesn’t it deserve some ongoing dedicated appointment times to work on it?
Why We Believe in the Benefits of the Gastric Sleeve Procedure
Over the course of the past several decades, bariatric procedures of all kinds have blossomed and waned in popularity. One of the procedures that shows the most promise, now and in the future, for a wide spectrum of obese patients is the gastric sleeve, otherwise known as the sleeve gastrectomy.
We All Have Bad Days
The weight loss journey after bariatric surgery is an ongoing process—a process that will last the rest of your life. Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy, especially after the rapid weight loss immediately after surgery begins to taper off. Becoming obese takes many years, often decades, and reversing the problem requires difficult decisions and a great deal of dedication. Not the least of these hurdles is our own mind. So much of our success relies on our willingness and ability to implement the lifestyle changes that will make us happier and healthier. And like everything else we do, we sometimes make mistakes and trip up.
Getting Sufficient Protein in Your Diet
One of the most difficult dietary changes to make, post bariatric surgery, is getting enough protein. Protein is critical to healing during recovery after surgery. In fact you will be started on a protein supplemented liquid diet soon after you leave the hospital. Protein is also an essential part of weight loss and building muscle over the longer-term. In fact, consuming enough of protein and forgoing simple carbohydrates such as refined sugars can keep you fuller, longer and help you lose weight more easily.
Ghrelin, the Hunger Hormone:
Very few people will know what you’re talking about when you mention ghrelin, but as we learn more about this hunger hormone and its effect on our weight, it has become an ever more important part of weight loss research.
Ghrelin is produced in the fundus, a small gland located toward the top of the stomach pouch. When a person feels hunger, it is, at least in part due to this gland secreting ghrelin. The ghrelin sends hunger signals to the brain, prompting us to consume food. Once the body has received what it believes to be the appropriate amount of food, our hunger disappears.
Body Mass Index Considerations
The Body Mass Index, or BMI, has become the standard by which obesity and overweight is judged. Diets and exercise websites of all kinds use a BMI calculator to help their visitors understand if they have a problem with their weight. Even the FDA and bariatric surgeons use the BMI calculation as an estimation of a person’s surgical eligibility. It is important to remember however, that the BMI number is just a guide and it should not be taken as the final say on whether a person is suitable for weight loss surgery. In fact, the preoperative process to qualify someone for weight loss surgery is much deeper than just entering weight and height into a calculator.
Consuming Caffeine after Weight Loss Surgery
A common question asked of us by post bariatric surgery patients is whether or not it is appropriate to consume caffeinated foods and drinks after surgery. The short answer is yes, but with a big asterisk. While caffeine itself, in significant quantities, can cause mood changes even dangerous physical changes in the body, the average person does not consume enough caffeine for that to be the case. Rather, the foods and drinks that contain caffeine are often diet-busters.
Supplementation after Weight Loss Surgery
Every weight loss surgery patient will have to supplement their diet after surgery. It stands to reason that a patient whose caloric intake has been significantly restricted will be more prone to nutritional and vitamin deficiencies than a person with no restrictions whatsoever. Further, many patients, believe (wrongly) that starving themselves will make them to lose weight faster – in fact the body is losing muscle mass and water weight and this unhealthy weight loss may lead to the possibility of more severe deficiencies and even significant injury.
Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome will be a common topic of discussion for anyone who has undergone gastric bypass. While not life-threatening, it can be a very uncomfortable side-effect that is a result of consuming too much fat or sugar, especially after gastric bypass surgery. When these foods are consumed, they pass through the stomach and into the intestinal system very quickly – largely undigested. The result is a sugar spike that causes the body to release additional insulin that in turn causes a low sugar (hypoglycemia) reaction shortly afterwards. Drinking water with meals rather than between meals can also cause dumping syndrome as the water flushes the food through the stomach too quickly causing the same problem.
How to Set Goals after Bariatric Surgery
Setting goals after bariatric surgery requires a little more thought than you may expect. We are all tempted to affix a goal weight to your surgery and while that is certainly an important and necessary aspiration, there are many considerations to be made outside of that final number alone.
First is the very important concept of interim or milestone goals. These are the goals that are not final, but mark a progress point toward your desired end result. Milestones are important because they are a reminder of how far you’ve come and allow you to celebrate progress. Without milestones, you risk becoming frustrated as the weeks and months go by. Milestones should be set with both a target weight and target time frame – both of which should be reasonable. In other words, losing 10 pounds in a week is not a sustainable nor safe goal to set. Goals should be measured and attainable.
Categories
Archives
Get Started
Register today for benefits!
Success Stories
See our patient testimonials.
Patient Portal
Access to your medical records.