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The Weight Of The Nation: A Documentary

April 26, 2012 in Children, Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips with 1 Comment

I recently had the pleasure of attending the screening of an HBO documentary entitled, The Weight Of The Nation.  It’s about the obesity epidemic that our nation is facing today.  It is a realistic representation of a multifaceted problem.

More than two-thirds of U.S. adults age 20 and over are overweight or obese, while nearly one-third of the nation’s children and adolescents age 2 to 19 are overweight or obese.  Obesity contributes to five of the ten leading causes of death in America, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease.  We are clearly in crisis.

Made in partnership with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, this series is comprised of 4 films that will debut on HBO on May 14th and May 15th beginning at 7:00 pm Central.  The portion presented at the screening was Children In Crisis.  We are facing, for the first time in our nation’s history, a shorter life expectancy for our next generation of children.  That, by itself, should be enough to motivate us to action.

Obesity is a preventable disease; it’s not a condition that we have to accept like a natural disaster.  We must begin to make the necessary changes in our culture to ensure a healthy life for ourselves and our children.  After all, our lives depend on it.

For more information about weight management and weight loss surgery, please give us a call at St. David’s Bariatric Center, 512-544-LIFE (5433) or visit us online at www.stdavidsweightloss.com.

Bariatric Surgery Procedures Are Not Just About Weight Loss Anymore

March 29, 2012 in Diet, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss with 0 Comments

Two recently released studies, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, produced data that will change the conversation about bariatric surgery, also commonly known as weight loss surgery.  It’s no longer just about weight loss.  Bariatric surgery proved far more effective than medication in controlling blood sugar in obese individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

In these studies,  surgical procedures were compared head to head with traditional medical treatment of diabetes.  The results show that inidividuals with Type 2 diabetes undergoing one of three different versions of bariatric surgery (gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, or biliopancreatic diversion)  were significally more likely to lower blood sugar to normal levels than when treated with medication and diet and exercise counseling.

Researchers estimate that 80% of the 23 million adult Americans who have Type 2 diabetes are either overweight or obese.  With the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. surging in tandem with the obesity rate, this becomes a very important study.

Some of the key findings:

  • The surgery patients lost five times as much weight on average than those in the medical-therapy group.
  • 75 – 95% of  patients had complete remission of diabetes two years after their procedures, and some were off of diabetes medication before being discharged from the hospital.
  • In addition to lower blood sugar and weight loss, significant improvements were also seen in cholesterol and blood pressure.

Not every patient with Type 2 diabetes is a candidate for bariatric surgery, but at least now the door is open for conversations to occur individually on the best treatment options for diabetes management.

Be My Valentine: Healthy Ideas for Expressions of Love

February 14, 2012 in Diet, Holiday, Lifestyle Tips, St. David's HealthCare with 0 Comments

Valentine’s day is approaching and the quintessential gift comes to mind:  chocolate.  This can be a treacherous time if you’re trying to stick to a healthier game plan.  But, there are healthy gift options out there.  Whether you have a certain someone or not, try these ideas for a guilt-free expression of love:

  • Flowers and a movie
  • Massage (try a couple’s massage!)
  • Day at a spa
  • Personal trainer for a  month
  • Professional photography session
  • Hiking/camping trip
  • Yoga class membership

Have a happy and healthy Valentine’s day from St. David’s Bariatric Center!

Singing a New Tune: Robert Parish’s Life After Weight Loss Surgery

January 25, 2012 in Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss with 0 Comments

Robert is a nursing supervisor at St. David’s Rehab Hospital.  Along with his expertise as a care provider, he is also a very talented actor, musician, and songwriter.  Feeling his health deteriorating from excess weight, he made the decision to have bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery.  It has been 2 years since Robert’s gastric bypass surgery and I recently had an opportunity to sit down and talk to him about his life after surgery.

Q:  The first thing I notice about you is how healthy you look.

A:  I feel healthy and I am healthy.  Losing 135 pounds made a huge difference in my health.

Q:  What type of health issues were you dealing with?

A:  My blood pressure skyrocketing and I had a severe case of sleep apnea.  I found that as I grew older, not only was my health becoming worse, but my ability to lose the excess weight was becoming more difficult.

Q:  What made you look at surgical options for weight management?

A:  My primary care doctor looked at me one day when I was there for an appointment and asked, “When are you going to stop battling this weight?”  It was the spark that I needed to prompt me to look for a solution.  And I didn’t have to look far.  I was caring for postop bariatric surgery patients at the time and I saw what a difference it was making in their lives.

Q: And what difference has weight loss surgery made in your life?

A:  My blood pressure is normal and my sleep apnea is gone.  I’m wearing clothes that haven’t seen the light of day in at least 10 years.  But, most profound is the sense of relief that I experience every day – the relief that  don’t have to be constantly at war with myself and my issue with food.  I feel like I’ve gotten my life back.

Interested in seeing if weight loss surgery is right for you?  Visit our web site at stdavidsweightloss.com or give us a call at St. David’s Bariatric Center – 512-544-LIFE (5433)

Making Your 2012 Health Resolutions Stick

January 3, 2012 in Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Men, Weight Loss, Women with 1 Comment

It’s an all too familiar story:  making the resolution to a more healthy lifestyle on January 1 and giving up on said resolution before the end of the month.  How do we stay motivated and dedicated to achieving our health goals?  Try these tips:

1.  Eliminate “all or none” thinking.  Realize that we are going to slip up and just because we do does not mean that the day/month/year is shot.  Do not give up on your healthy aspirations just because you ate a cookie (or several!), or abandoned your exercise plan for a few days.  Like the song says, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!

2.  Take baby steps.  I’m not sure what you do, but my plans always end up very complex and elaborate.  I think that I can go from a relatively sedentary activity level to climbing mountains in a matter of a month…and liking it!  Not a realistic, achievable, or enjoyable goal.  When planning out your health resolutions, think incrementally.  If a daily 2 mile walk is your goal, go for a quarter of that distance three days a week, and gradually add more distance and more days as time goes by. Baby steps will help you to make your goal achievable and a permanent part of your daily routine.

3.  Make new habits.  Old habits die hard, and it seems like giving birth to new ones is equally difficult.  The key is to set yourself up for success with the development of a routine.  I don’t remember a time when brushing my teeth was not a part of my bedtime routine.  I’m sure it was an activity that was reinforced by my parents over and over again.  Now, not brushing my teeth before bed would just seem strange.  It has become a habit by repetition through the years.  We all have various means for reminding ourselves to do something that is not a part of our daily routine:  iphone calendar reminder, notes stuck to the refrigerator door, a phone message that you leave for yourself.  Think about ways that you can prompt yourself to adapt your new resolutions as part of your daily routine.  Once that habit forms, it will be almost as effortless as brushing your teeth!

 

 

‘Tis the Season: 3 Steps to Control Holiday Eating

December 12, 2011 in Diet, Exercise, Holiday, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss with 0 Comments

The holiday season is a time for merry making, which is usually associated with delicious food and drink.  Maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits during this time of year is a challenge for even the most dedicated!  Follow these simple steps to help control holiday eating:

1.  Plan what you will eat.  When you arrive at a party, scope out all the food choices and make a deliberate decision about what you put on your plate.  Following a plan that includes some healhy choices of fruit, lean protein, and vegtables will help you sample foods you enjoy without abandoning healthy habits.

2.  Tastes, pinches, and bites DO count!  Make your food selection and then walk away from the table and enjoy your meal.  Close proximity to those tempting morsels can lead to continued eating, even if you are no longer hungry.

3.  Avoid alcohol and save your calories for the main meal.  Alcohol provides many calories and essentially no nutrients.  Do your waist line and your friends a favor this year and be the designated driver.

Remember that the holiday season is a time for friends and family.  Make sure the time you spend with your loved ones is your priority.  Happy Holidays from all of us here at St. David’s Bariatric Center!

 

Walk for Health, Walk for Hope

November 1, 2011 in Community, Exercise, Weight Loss, Women with 0 Comments

As it turns out, an excellent way to get in shape is an equally excellent way to get involved.  Sometimes it takes the gentle nudging of a cause greater than ourselves to propel us into action.  The  Komen Austin Race for the Cure will be held on Sunday, November 13th, and I plan on participating in this annual event in the fight against breast cancer.  The race is 5K (or 3.1 miles), or you have the option of  a 1 mile family walk.  Not only will your participation provide physicial activity for yourself, but you will be among many who are making a difference in the lives of women everywhere.

Here are a few FAQs about Race for the Cure.

Q:  Is this something in which occasional exercisers can participate?

A:  Of course!  You can choose to participate in the timed race, or the untimed walk which is a pet friendy, family friendly walk of a little over 3 miles, or you can choose the 1 mile family walk.

Q:  What if I begin to feel too tired during the walk?

A:  You should slow down if you are getting too tired, and you can always stop and rest.  Water stations will be available for you along the walk as well.

Q:  Do you have to be a member of a team to participate?

A:  It’s not required that you join a team, but you are certainly welcome to join one.

Q:  Is there a fee to join Race for the Cure?

A:  Yes.  The fee is $30 online, or $40 on the day of the race at the registration tent.

Q:  How is the money that is raised by this event used?

A: 75% of net funds raised locally is used locally.  The Komen Austin provides funding to local non-profit healthcare organizations for breast health services for the  underserved men and women in Travis, Bastrop, Hays, Williamson and Caldwell Counties. The remaining 25 percent funds the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research.

So, let’s get out there and make a difference!  Let’s choose to walk for health, walk for hope.  To find out more information, register, or locate a team please visit www.komenaustin.org.

 

 

It’s Time for a Candid Conversation

September 15, 2011 in Community, Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss with 0 Comments

A recent survey found that the majority of patients (86%) who had a weight loss surgery procedure wish they’d had it sooner, and physicians echo this sentiment, wishing they had suggested it sooner to some of their patients. With the rising obesity rates across the US, it’s time for us to have a candid conversation with our doctor about weight management options and get on the path to lasting weight loss…our health depends on it!

If you are struggling with your weight and have concerns about the impact on your health, then weight loss surgery may be right for you. We invite you to attend a free seminar where you will hear honest and reliable about weight loss surgery from one of our bariatric surgeons.

Click here to register for the seminar.

 

4 Common Misconceptions about Weight Loss Surgery

September 1, 2011 in Diet, Lifestyle Tips, Weight Loss, Women with 0 Comments

In making an informed decision about Weight Loss Surgery, you need to have truthful and complete information. There are some misunderstandings about weight loss surgery that seem to be fairly common.

I would like to address those for you:

  1. The procedures are not covered by insurance companies – Not true. Many insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover weight loss surgery. If you have questions about whether this would be covered by your policy, please click here for suggestions on the type of questions you should address with your insurance company.
  2. Your diet and exercise days are over! – Not true. Weight loss surgery is a very powerful tool that assists with weight loss. However, it does not eliminate your responsibility to make wise, healthy food choices, and engage in regular exercise. Food choices and regular exercise will always be at the heart of any successful weight management plan.
  3. The things you eat will be severely restricted after Weight Loss Surgery – Not true. While the amount you eat is limited by the formation of a new, much smaller stomach pouch, the types of food you eat, after you have progressed and recovered from the surgery, are unchanged. You will receive education on making the right food choices to ensure lasting success, but your diet is certainly not limited.
  4. Having Weight Loss Surgery is too risky – Every treatment option carries a risk. So does staying where you are, especially if you have already been diagnosed with obesity related illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, sleep apnea, gastric reflux, and arthritis among others. What are your risks of suffering health related consequences by staying at your current weight? Please discuss this with your doctor, and do some investigation on the actual risks associated with Weight Loss Surgery.

Learn the facts about Weight Loss Surgery and make the best decision for you! Please register for our free seminar to hear a bariatric surgeon discuss Weight Loss Surgery.

~ Rebecca

My Happy Meal

August 4, 2011 in Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle Tips with 0 Comments

There has been a lot in the news lately about the trim down that is taking place with the Happy Meal at a leading fast food restaurant. Hearing the list of items in the happy meal got me to thinking about my own eating habits. Since having weight loss surgery, this is what I consider to be my happy meal:

  • Lean protein
  • Fresh vegetables and fruit
  • Whole grains
  • Low fat dairy products

You might ask what it is about this list that could possibly be described as a happy meal, and 4 years ago I would have agreed with you. Then, I changed my world, my health, and my mind set after having bariatric surgery. My food choices changed, and I discovered that I was getting my health back as the weight dropped off. Making food choices that are good for me feels great! That’s the true ingredient of a happy meal. And it even comes with a prize: watching myself evolve into a healthier and happier version of me!

For more information on weight loss surgery, click here to attend one of our free seminars.

If you have had, or are thinking about having weight loss surgery, please click here for our support group schedule.

~Rebecca

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