29518:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Self-Sabotage Snacking After Gastric Bypass Surgery: Why Do We Do It?:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Snacking is the single biggest problem for people after having gastric bypass ? the problem being we snack on unhealthy items, we sabotage our weight loss or weight maintenance and we spiral back into the self-loathing that is so much an emotional part of morbid obesity. Why do we do it?:;:

LivingAfterWLS reader feedback indicates snacking is the single biggest problem for people after having gastric bypass ? the problem being we snack on unhealthy items, we sabotage our weight loss or weight maintenance and we spiral back into the self-loathing that is so much an emotional part of morbid obesity.

None of us goes into surgery expecting to be the one ?who lost all that weight and put it back on.? None of us goes into surgery expecting to become sneak eaters. We all believe we can beat obesity with our ?tool? and we all expect to become healthier, more active, and yes dare I say more attractive and happier after WLS and massive weight loss.

Then why do we work so hard to defeat the system? To abuse the tool?

I spent time perusing the personal journal I?ve kept since weight loss surgery and I discovered some interesting things about myself and my snacking habits. See if these sound familiar to you:

- Five PM is a trigger snack time for me because I grew up having an after school snack (hungry or not) and when I walk in the door at night from my grown-up job I become a school kid and I want/need/crave my ?after school snack.?

- When I opt for healthy high protein, low fat, low carbohydrate snacks I am remarkably satisfied and pleased with myself. These snacks include cottage cheese, a hard-cooked egg, deli turkey, sugar-free gelatin, beef jerky, almonds.

- Most often I opt for soft food snacks: crackers, trail mix RitzBitz, wheat toast with peanut butter, and worst of all, Nutter-Butter cookies. When I indulge in these snacks I am not satisfied, I feel sluggish and I become self-loathing. I risk dumping.

- Most of my snacking is done covertly ? I purchase a single serve pack from the convenience store and eat it in private; never at my work desk, never in front of my family. This covert behavior is reminiscent of pre-WLS days and causes me to be disgusted with myself. ?Who in the hell are you hiding from?? I asked myself in one entry.

- It never occurs to me to snack on carrots or apple slices or berries, oh no! I?ve convinced myself that roughage stuff will just tear up my tiny tummy. ?Can?t have that?, I say shaking my head with much willpower and determination.

- Consistently my entries about snacking or self-loathing and remorseful filled with negative self talk like ?ate mindlessly, AGAIN?, ?nervous snacking today,? ?carelessly ate a box of animal crackers, never tasted a bite and then got sick: I?m an idiot?, ?I was shoving food in my face like a junkyard dog ? how ugly that must have looked?, ?I made stupid food choices today and then ate chocolate cake with frosting and dumped; it was like I was trying to punish myself and I did.?

- Consistently my entries about exercising are positive filled with words like ?felt great? ?could have ran another mile? ?feel so strong? ?tons of energy? ?fantastic workout? ?strong lungs feel phenomenal?. Yet I more consistently reach for the snack bag than I do my running shoes. Why can?t I get it through my thick head what a remarkable thing exercise is for me and that I really do enjoy it and I like myself when I move my body? Why is that such a hard concept to grasp? Why do I prefer to snack and engage in self-loathing?

- If I see the scale going up I panic and then I snack ? almost as if I?m sending the message ?This (weight loss) was too good to be true; better hurry-up and defeat myself.?

- Sometimes I snack just because it?s there ? just like before surgery.

- I could not find a single entry that read ?I was actually hungry today so I had a snack.? That tells me I never snack because I?m hungry. Honestly, I seldom feel hungry so why am I snacking?

Do these behaviors sound familiar to you? Are they some of the demons you are fighting these days? Snacking truly is bariatric purgatory because it derails weight loss and causes self-loathing. And worst of all, we do it to ourselves.

For ongoing dialog about snacking and strategies to beat the habit after gastric bypass click on www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com

LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29564:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:3 Steps Gastric Bypass Patients Can Take to Avoid Calcium Deficiency:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Gastric bypass patients are at risk of calcium deficiency. Without supplementation they are ultimately at risk for osteoporosis. Three steps can be taken to avoid calcium deficiency.:;:

Most Americans do not get enough calcium in their diets; the average daily intake is 500 milligrams shy of the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) of 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams.

Gastric bypass patients are even more unlikely to intake adequate dietary calcium and without supplementation they may become calcium deficient which ultimately results in osteoporosis. Weight loss surgery patients are limited by the volume of calcium rich foods they may consume. In addition, the malabsorption issue resulting from gastric bypass presents another problem. Since the bowel does not readily absorb calcium and the stomach is drastically shortened there is limited opportunity for the calcium to be absorbed in the body.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body ? we have two or three pounds of it, most of which is located in the bones and teeth. In addition to building bones and teeth, calcium is an electrolyte required for transmitting nerve signals, water balance, acid/alkaline balance and maintaining osmotic pressure. It helps the blood to clot and is necessary for the heart muscle function. It?s long been known that calcium will aid in the prevention of osteoporosis, but new studies are identifying calcium for it?s anticancer actions within the colon.

Most dietary calcium comes from dairy products but can also be found in sardines, canned salmon, green leafy vegetables and tofu. The National Academy of Sciences has raised the calcium guideline to 1,000 milligrams a day for people under 51, and to 1,200-1,500 milligrams a day for people over 51.

Gastric bypass patients can do three things to better assimilate calcium in the body:

First, take a chewable calcium supplement twice daily.

Second, exercise consistently.

Third, enjoy sunshine every day.

Chewable supplements taken twice daily will more rapidly dissolve and assimilate into the body than hard pills. They should be 500 milligrams each; the body cannot absorb more than 500 milligrams at a time. The best supplements are calcium citrate, calcium carbonate and calcium lactate.

Next, studies show that people who exercise regularly better assimilate calcium into the body than sedentary individuals. Even though US Astronauts take calcium supplements in orbit, they return to Earth calcium deficient; NASA believes lack of physical activity prevents their bodies from assimilating the calcium.

Finally, get some sunshine. Twenty minutes a day of direct or indirect sunlight will give the body plenty of natural vitamin D, the ?sunshine vitamin?, which is necessary for calcium assimilation.

Doing these three things will make you feel great today and will contribute to healthier aging. Osteoporosis is an epidemic in this country and is directly attributed to calcium deficiency. We all know that when an elderly person falls and breaks a hip death is imminent. Osteoporosis is nearly always the reason why hipbones break when older people fall. In the case of osteoporosis there is nothing the body can do to defend itself from the loss of calcium associated with aging. Supplementation is necessary throughout adulthood to prevent chronic calcium deficiency.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29769:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Myth ? All Patients Stretch their Stomachs and Regain Weight:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Weight loss surgery patients who regain weight are snacking. The common belief is patients stretch their stomach to pre-surgical size; this is not possible. Snacking, which is contrary to post-surgical instructions from bariatric centers, causes weight regain.:;:

Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about anyone and you will hear, ?Yeah, I know someone who had that done and within a year they stretched out their stomach and regained all that weight ? plus some.?

Unfortunately it is true that some weight loss surgery (WLS) patients do regain their weight after losing it. What isn?t true is that they stretch their stomachs back to pre-surgical size. At best, a post gastric bypass stomach will expand from a capacity of 2 tablespoons to one-cup capacity. This is expected and part of the reason gastric bypass is successful. In the phase of rapid weight loss the patient cannot eat more than once ounce of food at a time. As the stomach heals and the weight loss stabilizes the stomach can eventually hold up to a cup of food at a time.

The reason that some patients regain their weight after surgery is they return to snacking which is contradictory to the directions given by their bariatric center. Snacking is forbidden by most centers. Eating little quantities of the wrong foods throughout the day causes WLS patients to stop losing weight, or worse, this behavior results in weight gain. Snacking is one of the behaviors that caused morbid obesity in the first place.

Snacking is the downfall of the WLS patient who regains weight, not stretching the stomach. For example, at five years out of surgery, I can eat one piece of pizza at dinner. If I eat a second piece at dinner I WILL get sick. Guaranteed. However, If I nibble on the leftovers an hour later, I can add another piece, and an hour later, another piece, and so-on. See the pattern? Snacking is the problem, not stretching the stomach.

The fact is, patients who live by the four rules do not regain their weight. The four rules for long-term success after gastric bypass surgery are: Eat protein first; No snacking, Drink lots of water and Exercise daily. The four rules are in place to ensure successful weight loss and long-term weight maintenance.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.LivingAfterWLS.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com - Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:21957:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Surgery - Weighing The Risks of Obesity Weight Loss Surgery:;:S.A. Smith:;:Gastric bypass surgery helps over 100,000 individuals per year in their fight against morbid obesity after traditional diet and exercise regimes have failed to work. If you are considering this surgery this article can help you weigh the risks of undergoing gastric bypass surgery against the risks of doing nothing and the associated obesity related health risks.:;:

RISING POPULARITY

Gastric bypass surgery has become a popular surgical procedure in the last 5 years as a radical option for clinically obese patients to manage weight loss. During this time several notable celebrities have undergone this procedure such as Carnie Wilson, Al Roker, ? and ?.. With their physical transformation being televised to the world has contributed to the rising mainstream interest in this surgical weigh loss procedure.

WHY IT WORKS

Gastric bypass surgery works by restricting either the size of a stomach or reducing nutrient absorption in the digestive tract. The basic objective is to alter the size of stomach, so the patient feels full after eating of a small amount of food or liquid. With a notable decrease in food intake, the patient loses weight until the calories eaten can keep up at a steady weight.

RISKS OF SURGERY

There is no doubt about it that undergoing gastric bypass surgery carries significant surgical risks, along with risks of post-operative complications and a required lifetime modification of diet. Surgical complications may include:

- infection

- ulcer

- Incisional Hernia

- Stomal Stenosis

- Gallstones

- Blood clots in the lungs

- Death

POST SURGERY COMPLICATIONS

Although gastric bypass surgery can provide significant weight loss, the effects of the surgery on your lifestyle can also be profound an may include:

- dumping syndrome

- lactose intolerance

- decreased vitamin absorbsion and need for supplementation

- significant diet restrictions and modifications

- anemia

- osteoporosis

- need for lifelong medical follow up

- thinning hair

- psychological changes

- need for cosmetic surgery

RISKS OF OBESITY

Doing nothing can sometimes be a greater risk so it is important for people considering gastric bypass surgery to understand obesity health risks which can include:

- hypertension

- heart problems

- Type II Diabetes

- Gall bladder disease

- Gout

- Sleep Apnea

- Various forms of cancer

- Heartburn

- Athsma

- Incontinence

- Poor quality of life

- Emotional / psychological / sociological issues

- Death

OBESITY HEALTH RISKS MAY IMPROVE AFTER SURGERY

The risks of some obesity related diseases may diminish over time after undergoing weight loss surgery. Studies have shown that some patients have experienced:

- Decreased overall mortality risk and health risks

- improvement in hyperlipidemia,

- improvement in hypertension,

- elimination of obstructive sleep apnea

- improved cardiovascular

BALANCING THE RISKS

The decision to undergo weight loss surgery will depend on each individual?s unique circumstances and weighting the risks of continued obesity versus the surgical risks of the procedure. No decision should be made without in-depth consultation with your medical health providers and bariatric surgeon specialists.

Gastric bypass surgery should always be considered an option of last resort for morbidy obesity after undergoing traditional diet and exercise regimes.

About the Author

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Gastric bypass risks information portal.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29594:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Even Gastric Bypass Patients Hit Weight Loss Plateaus:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Public perception is that gastric bypass patients lose weight effortlessly and non-stop. In fact, many weight loss surgery patients experience a plateau during the phase of rapid weight loss. Understanding a weight loss plateau is the first step to beating it.:;:

Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric bypass surgery, many patients may find their weight loss is stalled. Talk about discouraging. The daily ritual of weighing and celebrating another pound gone has turned into depressing torture because the scale just won?t move- the dreaded plateau has arrived.

One reason for the plateau is physiological. The body reacting to the restrictive caloric intake sends out a signal to start burning less stored fuel. In other words, the metabolic rate (the rate at which the body burns fuel) is reduced as the body attempts to conserve fuel in reaction to a state of famine. Your body is hanging on for dear life to it?s beloved fat.

Face Down The Dreaded Plateau:

There are things we can do to face down the dreaded plateau. The first is to avoid beating up on ourselves or regretting the decision for WLS. Simply accept that a plateau is part of the natural course of weight loss and this too shall pass. Plateaus can last two to four weeks. Try to be patient and consider your body is simply taking a rest from the hard work of losing weight.

Avoid snacking during the plateau. Old eating habits that caused obesity may resurface as we comfort our disappointment with extra snacks or make unhealthy food choices. Try to avoid this type of self-sabotage. Keep in mind, a plateau is a difficult time emotionally. I can recall feeling, ?I really didn?t deserve to lose all this weight anyway, so I may as well eat this or that.? Avoid the self-pity trap.

Re-examine your commitment to healthy eating and exercise. Sometimes a plateau can be busted simply by returning the very basic principles of living after gastric bypass. One nurse-dietician suggests a return to pure protein for 48-hours. That means eating only eggs, low-fat cheese, chicken, tuna, turkey, etc. - nothing processed. The science behind that is the intake of pure amino acids (protein) will boost metabolism and force the body to burn stored fat.

Another way to feel proactive in plateau busting is to kick-up the exercise program. Add an extra half-mile to a walk or an extra set of repetitions to the strength training program. Any little change will catch the body off guard and it just may respond by dropping a pound or two.

And of course continue to drink clear fluids, specifically water, to flush the body of toxins and fat.

Counterfeit Plateaus:

Now, What about the plateau that lasts longer than four weeks and you still have lots of weight to lose? These are referred to as ?Counterfeit Plateaus? in the health community. Most counterfeit plateaus result from miscalculations or forgetfulness on the part of the dieter. For example, maybe we are forgetting to avoid starchy carbs or processed snacks. Maybe we are eating a tiny dinner and an hour later eating another tiny dinner? Perhaps we?ve fallen out of the habit of exercise. Little slip-ups or forgetfulness can become quite costly if we let it go too long without correcting the behavior. Take a hard look and find ways to improve habits and boost weight loss.

Water/Fluid Retention Plateaus:

Too much salt in the diet will cause a water retention plateau ? avoid prepared soups or other foods that have excessive salt. A fluid retention plateau is the result of insufficient water consumption so the body retains fluid to compensate. Remember, drink the water.

Plateaus are Temporary:

Remember, plateaus are temporary. As discouraging as it may seem at the time it will pass and it is a natural part of the weight loss journey.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:39017:;:Home-and-Family:Pregnancy:;:Is a Healthy Pregnancy Possible After Gastric Bypass Surgery?:;:Kaye Bailey:;:When a woman in the child bearing years undergoes gastric bypass surgery to lose weight one of the first things she will hear from the nay-sayers is that after surgery she cannot have a healthy pregnancy because of presumed nutritional deficiencies. The contrary is true. Morbid obesity results in a high rate of complicated pregnancies and a high rate of miscarriage. Women who become pregnant after achieving weight loss with gastric bypass generally have lower risk pregnancies than morbidly obese women.:;:

When a woman in the child bearing years undergoes gastric bypass surgery to lose weight one of the first things she will hear from the nay-sayers is that after surgery she cannot have a healthy pregnancy because of presumed nutritional deficiencies. The contrary is true. Morbid obesity results in a high rate of complicated pregnancies and a high rate of miscarriage. Women who become pregnant after achieving weight loss with gastric bypass generally have lower risk pregnancies than morbidly obese women.

The United States Surgeon General lists several reproductive complications associated with pregnancy in women who are obese. Complications include an increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times. In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.

The Surgeon General concludes that Infants born to women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to be high birth weight and, therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage and seizures). Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

In a study by Dr. Alan C. Wittgrove, past president of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and pioneer of the laparoscopic technique, post-gastric bypass pregnancy indicates fewer risks than commonly reported by women who are obese during pregnancy. His study was conducted with nurse-practitioner Leslie Jester who had a low-risk pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby after gastric bypass surgery.

The Wittgrove Center has an active patient list of over 2000 people. The patients are informed to contact the Center when they become pregnant. In the study 41 women in the patient population became pregnant. Using personal interview, questionnaire, and review of perinatal records, pregnancy-related risks and complications were studied.

The study found less risk of gestational diabetes, macrosomia, and cesarean section than associated with obesity. There were no patients with clinically significant anemia.

Dr. Wittgrove concluded, ?Since the patients had an operation that restricts their food intake, some basic precautions should be taken when they become pregnant. With this in mind, our patients have done well with their pregnancies. The post-surgical group had fewer pregnancy-related complications than did an internally controlled group that were morbidly obese during their previous pregnancies.?

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Home-and-Family/Pregnancy/

:;:;:;:29528:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Pushing Gastric Bypass: When to Talk, When to Keep Quiet:;:Kaye Bailey:;:The desire to share our stories - to make converts to the bariatric persuasion - is sincere and well intentioned. But just like the recovered addict or the new believer, we must tread lightly when it comes to proselytizing this new wonderful way of life. First, we cannot assume that every obese person we meet is in a place where they wish to hear about our weight loss success.:;:

Sharing our bariatric stories is as personal decision as electing to have the surgery itself. Some of us are very private and others of us are very open. Overall I think we do the best we can on any given day. There are times when the moment is right to share and times when it is best to keep quiet. Here are a few things this bariatric zealot has learned the last few years:

It is well known that when a person affects a tremendous change in their life they often experience a great spirit of sharing and a desire to convert others to the new belief system. This is an altruistic desire to bestow upon others their wonderful new life. Think of converts to religious beliefs or former addicts graduating from recovery programs; often these people reach out enthusiastically to others who are as they once were. The recovering alcoholic is a champion of reform to the drunken and depressed. The born again believer is a champion to the sinners and downtrodden. So it is with the bariatric zealot, a champion to the fat and hopeless.

The desire to share our stories - to make converts to the bariatric persuasion - is sincere and well intentioned. But just like the recovered addict or the new believer, we must tread lightly when it comes to proselytizing this new wonderful way of life. First, we cannot assume that every obese person we meet is in a place where they wish to hear about our weight loss success. Second, it is quite easy to hurt someone?s feelings by suggesting weight loss surgery ? it implies inferiority, even coming from a formerly obese person.

Think back to when you were overweight and hopeless. Didn?t you sometime feel betrayed by a former fatty gone thin? Chubby folks stick together and when one betrays the band to join the tiny tummy league the others can feel exposed and vulnerable. They can feel like failures because one of their members has succeeded where they have given up hope.

On the other hand, a bariatric patient is an inspiration for the heavyweight hopeless among us, a living breathing shrinking miracle overcoming the obstacle of obesity right before our very eyes. It is my experience that this metamorphosis is the greatest inspiration of all. Let the physical manifestation do your talking for you and tread lightly on tender feelings. We all share a great empathy for the obese and should never forget where we came from, even after the giant clothes have long been tossed on the garbage heap.

When asked about the wonderful transformation weight loss surgery has affected, the opportunity is ours to empathetically inspire others with hope. It is an opportunity to commiserate. Obesity is a lonely place to be. Sharing an intimate understanding of that loneliness will go far to ease another?s pain.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29566:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Myth: Gastric Bypass Patients Can Never Be Nutritionally Healthy:;:Kaye Bailey:;:It is a mistaken notion that weight loss surgery patients cannot lead a nutritionally sound life. The assumption is due to the restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the surgery it is impossible to eat a nutritionally sound diet. However, when healthy food choices are combined with a solid vitamin and mineral supplement program bariatric patients do enjoy sound nutritional health.:;:

A common claim from gastric bypass detractors is that after surgery patients can never be nutritionally healthy and they must take daily vitamin supplements just to survive.

It is a mistaken notion that weight loss surgery patients cannot lead a nutritionally sound life. The assumption is due to the restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the surgery it is impossible to eat a nutritionally sound diet. However, when healthy food choices are combined with a solid vitamin and mineral supplement program bariatric patients do enjoy sound nutritional health. In fact, after surgery, most weight loss patients are more nutritionally healthy than before surgery.

Furthermore, evidence suggests most Americans should take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure nutritional wellness. In the 2005 Dietary Guidelines published jointly by the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health & Human Services the government concedes that dietary supplements are a useful source of nutrients when nutritional needs are not being met through diet.

Here?s the quote: ?A basic premise of the Dietary Guidelines is that nutrient needs should be met primarily through consuming foods. . . In certain cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements may be useful sources of one or more nutrients that otherwise might be consumed in less than recommended amounts.?

In most cases Americans, even those criticizing gastric bypass, don?t meet their RDI of vitamins. Furthermore, most Americans do not know the specific guidelines are for vitamin and mineral intake. Even more alarming, because Americans do not consistently have annual check-ups and blood work, many do not know the state of their nutritional health.

WLS patients who return annually to their bariatric centers undergo blood tests to screen for nutritional health. Most patients meet with a nutritionist to assess vitamin and mineral needs and make adjustments for better health. Gastric bypass patients are on top of the nutritional game when they follow the program.

Bariatric patients who desire optimum health and nutrition will take dietary supplements daily. Combined with wise healthful food choices they can meet their body?s nutritional needs.

The Food and Drug Administration considers vitamins, minerals, herbals and botanicals, animal extracts, amino acids, proteins, concentrates, and teas dietary supplements. The FDA governs the labeling and intake recommendations for dietary supplements. The following are FDA terms for describing dietary and nutritional needs:

DVs: Daily Values ? Daily values are two sets of references: DRV?s and RDIs.

DRVs: Daily Reference Values - a set of dietary references that applies to fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, sodium, and potassium

RDIs: Reference Daily Intakes - a set of dietary references based on the Recommended Dietary Allowances for essential vitamins and minerals and, in selected groups, protein. RDI?s are essential to our health.

RDAs: Recommended Dietary Allowances ? a set of estimated nutrient allowances required daily to maintain good health - established by the National Academy of Sciences. It is updated periodically to reflect current scientific knowledge. RDA?s set the minimum intakes of vitamins and minerals and protein needed for the average person to stay healthy.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29682:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Body Dysmorphia: Mind Games After Gastric Bypass Surgery:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Maybe you?ve heard about body dysmorphia ? it?s a mental image many victims of anorexia nervosa have that tells them they look fat, even when they are emaciated. Bariatric patients can suffer from body dysmorphia as well.:;:

Maybe you?ve heard about body dysmorphia ? it?s a mental image many victims of anorexia nervosa have that tells them they look fat, even when they are emaciated. Bariatric patients can suffer from body dysmorphia as well.

When we were morbidly obese our emotional coping mechanisms kicked in and many of us were able to convince ourselves we really weren?t that big. It is emotionally kinder to avoid body criticism, the whole issue seems hopeless. In fact, many morbidly obese patients will say they see themselves normal sized. That is until a rude moment reminds them they are not normal sized: a skinny chair, a turnstile, a bathroom stall, a flight of stairs, a photograph. This false perception is a subconscious coping strategy to protect us from the brutal truth, the truth about how big morbidly obese really is.

My sister and I were clothes shopping one day with our morbidly obese mother. She tried an outfit and complained to us, ?but it makes me look fat.? And gently we told her, ?Mom, you are fat.? Intellectually my mother knows she is morbidly obese, but the emotional issues run over reason and she doesn?t see herself fat. She is in serious denial that is preventing her from getting the help she needs ? bariatric surgery ? to save her life.

After surgery, there is a tendency for the body dysmorphia to reverse. Before surgery we denied how big we were, after surgery we judge ourselves critically ? like the anorexic ? and fail to see an honest reflection. One woman, down from size 24 to size 10 wrote, ?I feel fat daily. I never felt this at 248 pounds ? I saw a thinner person in the mirror than I see now. I look at my size 10 jeans and they look like tents. I don?t feel as attractive as I did when I was heavy. I don?t understand it,? she continued, ?but I think it has to do with learning to accept yourself fat so you didn?t see all the fat. Now I just have to learn to accept myself as thinner.?

Many patients report hyper-judging their figures after weight loss. It seems the thinner you get the more judgmental of your body you become. To this day, the first thing I see in my reflection in my pudgy tummy ? I think it?s enormous. I don?t see long slender legs or a tiny waist or trim arms. I see a Buddha belly. I?ve even apologized for my chubby tummy to others when they compliment my new figure. The apology usually goes, ?Yes, but I can?t get rid of this stomach.? I say this while pointing to my "flaw".

That is wrong and brutally unfair to myself. I am working daily to keep this hyper-judgment in check, reminding myself the days of belittlement and self-loathing are over. Now is the time when I love myself.

Patients report universal success when they do one thing in the face of body dysmorphia: dress to impress! Get rid of the flowing camouflage clothes and wear a smart, well fitted outfit. Gentlemen, tuck in your shirts in. Ladies, wear a fitted skirt with a waistband. Small sized ?fat clothes? do nothing for body image ? dump that style and get something that flatters your new size. Enlist the help of friends you trust to find flattering clothes. Sometimes you have to force yourself to see your body as it is, a great fitting outfit will certainly do the trick.

Extreme cases of body dysmorphia after gastric bypass weight loss may be treated with counseling and psycho-therapy.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29684:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Dumping Syndrome: The Dirty Secret Gastric Bypass Patients Keep:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Dumping Syndrome is a state of chemical imbalance resulting in panic, sweats, cramping and disorientation. Gastric bypass patients are vulnerable to dumping when they eat the wrong foods. Adherence to a specific diet can reduce incidence of dumping in weight loss surgery patients.:;:

Dumping syndrome is an effective result of the gastric bypass system which alerts the body of inappropriate eating. Dumping syndrome is described as a shock-like state when small, easily absorbed food particles rapidly dump into the digestive system. This results in a very unpleasant feeling with symptoms such as a cold clammy sweat, pallor, butterflies in the stomach and a pounding pulse. These symptoms may be followed by cramps and diarrhea. This state can last for 30-60 minutes and is quite uncomfortable.

That was the clinical description of dumping.

This is what I experience when I dump: shortly after eating a food I don?t tolerate (sugar, milk, sugary milk products or starchy carbs) I begin to feel a bit disoriented, maybe dizzy and then an overall sense of confusion or panic takes over my mind and body. This is a mild state of delirium. Then I begin sweating. Profuse sweating that can completely soak my hair, my clothes; it drips and glistens on my skin. During this state of sweaty panic I feel like I?m out of my mind! A few times during extremely dramatic dumping episodes I literally thought I was dying, the state of distress was that severe.

At this point during a dumping episode I have learned it is best to lie down on my side and let it nature take its course. The body is efficiently, albeit painfully, correcting a chemical imbalance in the cell system. It takes great presence of mind to calm myself and lay down, but even in a state of near-delirium I now know this is the only action to be taken. I know the event is passing when the sense of panic is replaced by exhaustion and cold chills instead of sweating. Occasionally I have suffered diarrhea at this point. If I have the luxury I?ll try to take a nap or go to bed after dumping. If it is in the evening I?ll sleep through the night, and wake feeling like I?ve been run over by a truck.

The mild delirium associated with dumping is the result of an interruption of nerve impulses affecting cerebral metabolism. The interruptions are caused by metabolic disturbances such as fluid or electrolyte imbalance. When the incorrect foods are consumed and dumped into the digestive system the electrolytes get out of balance. Dehydration will also cause an electrolyte imbalance. This mild delirium is characterized by a reduced ability to maintain attention to surroundings or disorganized thinking. The daily routine can become confusing. In extreme cases a person who is dumping may experience rambling, irrelevant or incoherent speech.

After the dump passes the interrogation begins: what caused that dump? I have dumped on yogurt, sugar cookies, lobster bisque and blackberry sorbet. I have dumped after one margarita. A particularly impressive dump followed a love-fest with a piece of pecan pie. Salty potato chips that should have never crossed my lips knocked me flat quicker than a prize-winning boxer could have. I have dumped a few times for which I never determined a cause. In most cases eating the inappropriate food for my gastric bypass system is the culprit. Through trial and error I can predict most things that make me dump and I avoid them contemptuously.

The most efficient way to avoid dumping is to maintain the strict regimen practiced during bariatric infancy: follow the four rules. Eat protein first making sure it comprises one-half of every meal. Avoid snacking. Avoid all sources of simple sugar; and yes, this includes cookies, cakes, candy, sodas, ice cream and sorbet. Sip water throughout the day. When you practice this eating behavior your blood sugar will not fluctuate and you will not dump. Most patients, who crave a taste of something sweet, have learned they can tolerate a bite of fruit at the end of the meal. Proceed with caution and discover what works for you.

The first reaction when dumping begins is to try and make it stop. There is a feeling of helplessness ? like trying to stop an earthquake. I have tried eating myself out of it. I have tried flushing it away by drinking water. I have tried physical motion ? pacing ? to get myself out of it. I have not successfully stopped a dumping episode. I don?t know anyone who can successfully halt a dumping episode. Sipping a sports drink like Gatorade will relieve my symptoms, although my surgical weight loss specialists do not recommended this practice. If you find something to bring relief during a dump, and it causes no further harm, then do it.

It is important to note that the dumping experience is different for every person. Some will always have extreme dumps and others more mild episodes. Individuals will notice dumping episodes will vary by incident. No two people dump the same and no two dumps are alike.

Dumping is a bittersweet fact of life after weight loss surgery. Because we must fuel our bodies by eating we will experience dumping. Adherence to the four rules will prevent dumping in most cases. However, every now and again we will be blindsided by a dump caused by a food never suspected. Keeping a list of poorly tolerated foods will help you avoid them. The acutely dramatic event of dumping is a convincing motivator to follow the rules and avoid the foods that have trigged a dumping episode.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29671:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Myth: Gastric Bypass Patients Don't Need to Exercise to Lose Weight:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Gastric bypass patients who do not use the time of rapid weight loss to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle are doing themselves a grave disservice. The most effective way to heal the body from the ravages of obesity is to exercise. The body is a magnificent machine ? given proper nutrition and physical motion it will rebuild its broken framework.:;:

Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient brag that they didn?t have to exercise to lose weight. It?s true; patients will lose weight without lifting a finger. In fact, for many, the lack of physical effort required to lose weight is an appealing part of weight loss surgery. But patients who do not use the time of rapid weight loss to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle are doing themselves a grave disservice.

Obesity cripples the body. Bone tissues are compromised, joints are swollen, the vascular system is inadequate and the skeleton overburdened. Some morbidly obese people are so crippled from carrying excess weight they are confined to wheelchairs and scooters. They yearn to walk painlessly through a park or museum. When pre-operative patients imagine life after weight loss surgery I suspect there is no wheelchair, scooter or walking stick in that dream. Patients dream of mobility and strength in their bodies.

As weight is lost, the burden on the bones, joints and vascular system is decreased. And the body is a magnificent machine ? given proper nutrition and physical motion it will rebuild its broken framework. The systems will become strong and vital.

The most effective way to heal the body from the ravages of obesity is to exercise.

Patients don?t have to jump up from the surgical bed and run a marathon; in fact, they never have to run. But they have to move their body: walk, stretch, bend, inhale and exhale. Patients who want to take full advantage of weight loss surgery must engage in daily physical exercise.

Exercise, however defined, is the most effective, most enjoyable, most beneficial gift one can bestow on themselves while recovering from life threatening, crippling morbid obesity. Patients who initiate an exercise regimen quickly after surgery report long-term success at weight. Exercisers seldom report weight regain.

There has never been a better time to become fit. Exercise philosophy has changed. Gone are the days of ?make it burn? and ?no pain, no gain.? Exercise experts say move your body 30 minutes a day, and the benefits will resonate throughout your being. Injuries are down and exhaustion isn?t the objective. Consistency is all that?s required. Fitness is no longer considered an exact science ? we are given permission to find what works and enjoy it. Incorporate cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training into the exercise program: the three work in combination to help you become healthy, agile and maintain metabolism.

If quality of life is to be preserved ? or restored ? exercise is required. The body was designed to require a certain minimum level of physical activity. When physical activity is absent obesity results. Our bodies do not thrive when they are sedentary. It is therefore crucial to deliberately incorporate movement into our lives.

More than any other time in your life, following surgery the body is ready to respond to the benefits of physical motion. Surgery is the first step to better health and controlling obesity by restricting food intake. Following surgery is the golden opportunity to muster all the discipline possible and take a stand for a healthier, happier, longer and more productive life. Patients must exercise more than we have in the past and more than is convenient.

I implore patients, ?Do not make the mistake of delaying your exercise program until the weight is gone. If you fail to exercise during the phase of rapid weight loss your skin will sag, your energy will lag and your metabolism will slow. Weight loss will be more difficult to accomplish. You will miss an opportunity to feel good about yourself as you set realistic fitness goals and achieve them. You will miss the euphoria from oxygenated cells. You will betray yourself.?

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery (WLS) success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com - Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:30382:;:Health-and-Fitness:Supplements:;:Vitamin B-Complex: Gastric Bypass Patients Must Supplement:;:Kaye Bailey:;:The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate amounts of B-complex vitamins from food sources from entering the body of weight loss surgery patients. Annual blood tests indicate that patients who do not supplement their diet with B-Complex Vitamins are deficient.:;:

The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate amounts of B-complex vitamins from food sources from entering the body of weight loss surgery patients. Annual blood tests indicate that patients who do not supplement their diet with B-Complex Vitamins are deficient.

B-Complex vitamins are found in both meat and plant foods. Most dietary supplements contain the B-Complex vitamins, but many WLS patients elect to take an additional B-Complex tablet. There is risk of B-Complex deficiency due to malabsorption and limited food intake. B-Complex tablets can be purchased in sublingual form ? a small tablet placed under the tongue to be dissolved and absorbed through the soft tissues of the mouth.

It has long been believed, although not scientifically supported, that mega doses of B-complex vitamins will combat everyday stress, boost energy and control food cravings. I can recall years ago my moody grandmother taking a trip to see the town doctor for a B-12 shot. Much to grandfather?s relief she returned from the visit cheerful and seemingly stress-free. In those days it was common for women ?going through the change? to take B-12 shots.

The Vitamin B complex refers to all of the known essential water-soluble vitamins except for vitamin C. These include thiamine (vitamin B1) riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3) pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) pyridoxine (vitamin B6) biotin, folic acid and the cobalmins (vitamin B12). Each member of the B-complex has a unique structure and performs unique functions in the body. B-Complex vitamins support energy production, the immune system, proper cell division and support the nervous system.

Recent research conducted by the National Institute on Aging found that women over age 65 with a vitamin B12 deficiency were twice as likely to suffer from depression as those with a full store of the vitamin. Maybe Grandma was right to visit her doctor for that shot of cheerfulness. Today things are easier, slip a tab of feel-good nutrients under your tongue.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Supplements/

:;:;:;:29743:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Causes Hair Loss: Can It Be Avoided?:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Hair loss is a transient effect of gastric bypass surgery, usually occuring during the fourth or fifth month after surgery. During this phase hair loss is dramatic, often patients find clumps of hair on the shower floor. Remaining hair becomes drab and lifeless. Vitamin supplementation can help resolve and stablize hair loss after weight loss surgery.:;:

Surprisingly, hair loss is one of the reasons female pre-operative patients sit on the fence before deciding to have gastric bypass surgery. Obese people, particularly obese women, often have lush gorgeous hair. Of course they do ? it?s well fed and nourished! How many of us have been described as the woman with ?beautiful hair and a pretty face?? What person in their right mind would give up one of their beautiful features?

Hair loss usually occurs in the fourth of fifth month following weight loss surgery. During the phase of rapid weight loss, caloric intake is marginal. This puts the body in a state of panic called starvation. Think about the pictures of prisoners of war. Most victims of this atrocity are without hair because they are literally starving to death. A healthy body normally sheds ten percent of hair follicles at any given time. When a body is starving roughly thirty to forty percent of hair follicles are sacrificed as the body channels nutrition to more vital areas. During this phase hair loss is dramatic, often patients find clumps of hair on the shower floor. Remaining hair becomes drab and lifeless.

I knew hair loss was a potential result of weight loss surgery, but because I?m a ?cup-half-full? person, I didn?t believe that hair loss would happen to me! That just happens to other people, I told myself! Imagine my surprise when my blonde locks were littering the bathroom floor like hair saloon. I shed some tears over that.

The hair loss is a transient effect of your gastric bypass surgery and will be resolved when nutrition and weight stabilize. When my hair began falling out, my husband, who has been a proponent of vitamin supplements all his life, found a vitamin specifically formulated for building strong healthy hair. The vitamin I take for healthy hair and nails is Silica Complex by Puritan?s Pride?. It contains calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, betaine and horsetail extract. Consumption of this supplement almost immediately retarded my hair loss and renewed my dull lifeless hair. I will continue taking this supplement throughout my life. Three years after surgery my hair is long, full and lustrous ? one would never know I had suffered significant hair loss. In hindsight, I would certainly begin taking this supplement prior to my surgery. In the very least I would begin taking it soon after surgery before the signs of hair loss were apparent.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29764:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Secrets of Gastric Bypass Surgery: Lose Weight Without Surgery:;:Kaye Bailey:;:There?s more to gastric bypass than surgery and rapid massive weight loss. Patients who undergo weight loss surgery (WLS) sign-up for a lifetime of rigid behaviors to guarantee their long-term success. Just imagine: If you knew what those behaviors were, could you lose the weight and keep it off without surgery?:;:

There?s more to gastric bypass than surgery and rapid massive weight loss. Patients who undergo weight loss surgery (WLS) sign-up for a lifetime of rigid behaviors to guarantee their long-term success.

Just imagine: If you knew what those behaviors were, could you lose the weight and keep it off without surgery? Take a look at the four rules WLS patients live by:

Rule 1: Protein First:
The first rule for living after Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) is Protein First ? that means eating protein for three daily meals, and protein must be 50 percent of food intake. Animal products are the most nutrient rich source of protein and include fish, poultry and meat. Dairy protein, including eggs, is another excellent source of protein. Nuts and legumes are also good sources of protein, but sometimes difficult for the bariatric patient to consume.

Science is proving that a protein rich diet will prompt weight loss and increase energy. The body contains over fifty-thousand different active proteins all made out of the same building blocks: amino acids. Amino acids are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen as well as sulfur, phosphorus and iron. Many diseases ? including obesity ? indicate an amino acid deficiency.

Weight loss surgery patients don?t have a choice, they must eat lean protein or they will get sick, anemic, and weary. Weight loss will cease if they eat processed carbohydrates instead of lean protein. Dumping or vomiting may also result if patients do not eat lean protein for the first half of every meal.

The distinction must be made between high fat proteins and lean proteins. A gastric bypass patient cannot tolerate high fat proteins such as bacon, fatty beef or sausage products or greasy fried chicken: these foods cause nausea and vomiting. In addition, these high fat protein rich items are contributors to obesity and should be avoided by anyone wishing to control their weight.

Rule 2: Drink lots of water
Dieters are often told ? drink water. Drink a minimum of 64 ounces a day ? eight glasses a day. Gastric-bypass patients don?t have a choice: they must drink lots water. Other beverages including coffee, tea, milk, soft drinks and alcohol are forbidden. Water is the essential fluid for living. Water is one of the most important nutrients the body needs to stay healthy, vibrant and energetic. A tell-tell sign of a gastric bypass patient is the ever-present water bottle.

The human body is a magnificent vessel full of water. The brain is more than 75 percent water and 80 percent of blood is water. In fact, water plays a critical role in every system of the human body. Water regulates body temperature, removes wastes, carries nutrients and oxygen to the cells, cushions the joints, prevents constipation, flushes toxins from the kidneys and liver and dissolves vitamins, minerals and other nutrients for the body?s use.

Nutritionists say a precise measure of the body?s need for water is to divide body weight (pounds) in half and drink that many ounces every day. That number could well exceed 200 ounces a day for morbidly obese people actively engaged in weight loss.

The body will panic if actual water intake is significantly less than required. Blood cannot flow, waste processes are disrupted and the electrolytes become imbalanced. Proper hydration prevents inflammation, promotes osmosis and moistens lung surfaces for gas diffusion. It helps the body regulate temperature, irrigate the cells and organs and promotes all functions of elimination. Certainly by drinking plenty of water many people could resolve inflammation and elimination problems that result from insufficient water intake. Adequate water facilitates weight loss.

Rule 3: No Snacking
Gastric bypass patients are instructed to avoid snacking. No exceptions.

Snacking is the worst possible thing a WLS patient can do. If patients snack they cease to lose weight and could possibly regain weight. In addition gastric bypass snackers risk severe swings in blood sugar levels and glucose overdose, they fail to move forward to the healthy life that surgery makes possible. They feel like failures when the WLS does not result in weight loss.

The nature of gastric bypass surgery gives patients an edge on beating the snacking habit. When a patient eats three protein-rich meals a day the body?s fuel requirements are met and satiation results. Hunger does not occur if water is sipped throughout the day. If a patient is taking vitamins they will not be nutritionally wanting. Given that, patients who snack are doing so out of the very habit that contributed to obesity.
If a dieter must snack they must be mindful of their choices. Fruits, vegetables and lean proteins will contributed to wellness and weight loss. Processed carbohydrate convenience foods fail to meet nutritional needs or facilitate weight loss and should be avoided.

Successful WLS patients understand that snacking is bariatric purgatory. When they begin to snack weight loss will cease and weight gain will certainly result. Successful weight loss patients ? those who maintain their weight loss years after surgery ? do not snack. The same is true for all successful dieters regardless of the means by which they initially lost weight.

Rule 4: Exercise
The final rule, the one WLS despise the most, patients must exercise every day.

Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient brag that they didn?t have to exercise to lose weight. It?s true; patients will lose weight without lifting a finger. But patients who do not use the time of rapid weight loss to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle are doing themselves a grave disservice.

Obesity cripples the body. Bone tissues are compromised, joints are swollen, the vascular system is inadequate and the skeleton overburdened. As weight is lost, the burden on the bones, joints and vascular system is decreased. However, the body is a magnificent machine. Given proper nutrition and physical motion it will rebuild its broken framework. The systems can become strong and vital.

The most effective way to heal the body from the ravages of obesity is to exercise. Exercise means moving the body: walking, stretching, bending, inhaling and exhaling. Exercise is the most effective, most enjoyable, most beneficial gift one can bestow on themselves in the recovery from life threatening, crippling morbid obesity. People who successfully maintain their weight exercise daily.

Conclusion:
Successful weight loss surgery patients will tell you these are the four rules they live by, that the gastric bypass is only a tool to facilitate mindful behavior for better health. They will confirm that weight control, even with surgery, takes a lifetime of diligent attention to their bodies and behavior. They will assure you it isn?t easy, but the results are worth the effort.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author of many articles about life after gastric bypass. Ms. Bailey is the webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29543:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Running from the Fat Monster after Gastric Bypass:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding at weight loss after a lifetime of failed diet attempts. In most cases, the fear of success subsides as a patient reaches goal weight and becomes comfortable in their new body. About that time the Fat Monster shows up to scare the hell out of patients.:;:

Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding at weight loss after a lifetime of failed diet attempts. In most cases, the fear of success subsides as a patient reaches goal weight and becomes comfortable in their new body. About that time the Fat Monster shows up to scare the hell out of patients.

I thought the fear of success was scary ? that is until I met the Fat Monster. The Fat Monster came into my life one night shortly after I achieved my weight loss goal. The Fat Monster terrified me with illusion ? in the darkness of night he convinced me that the weight loss was just a dream, that by morning the Little Fat Girl would be back. He convinced me that being thin was too good to be true. I was terrified.

The Fat Monster scared the hell out of me and I believed his frightening stories. Even on days when my behavior was stellar ? I followed the four rules ? I was convinced he could catch me. Many restless nights I woke frequently to run my hands over my body confirming he hadn?t caught me that night. I needed to know that I was still thin. Many patients are acquainted with the Fat Monster ? after years of dieting failure it is common to believe this weight loss is too good to be true.

To this day the Fat Monster keeps me honest. Aloud I can say that looking and feeling great is my motivation to follow the rules, to exercise and maintain my weight. But deep down inside I?m on a dead run trying to get away from the Fat Monster. I don?t ever want to return to being morbidly obese, I hated that life. So when I get on the treadmill I am literally running from the Fat Monster. When I eat my protein and take my supplements I?m building my strength to battle the Fat Monster. I am at war with the Fat Monster and I will never surrender; I am winning!

Other patients are battling their own Fat Monster. One woman believed the Fat Monster had occupied her bathroom scale ? she began weighing compulsively around the clock. She had a before work weight, an after work weight, before work-out weight, after work-out weight and on and on. Any fluctuation from normal caused immediate panic and self-loathing. Her husband locked away the scale and she nearly lost her mind! So, they came to a compromise. He would keep the scale - and the Fat Monster - locked away except for the once a week weigh-in. The physical act of locking-up the Fat Monster worked for her. She no longer weighed herself compulsively and her weekly weigh-ins showed she could very successfully maintain a healthy weight without round-the-clock vigilance to the bathroom scale.

Patients do best when they identify their own Fat Monster and learn what behaviors ? good or bad ? the monster is affecting in your life. Do not surrender control to the Fat Monster but use terror as a source of motivation in your healthy life.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:18961:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Dietary Recommendations After Gastric Bypass Surgery:;:Jim Duffy:;:When obesity gets out of hand, unresponsive to dietary, lifestyle and medical interventions, drastic measures are needed to cut down calorie intake. Morbid obesity with a BMI (body mass index, a measure of malnutrition) above 40 kg/m2 is an indication for surgical procedures such as gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass is now a well-trodden path to lower BMI??s and achieve healthier lives in 18 months or so. First used in the 1950??s, only the last two decades have seen safe and successful gastric bypass surgery with any consistency. Half a century of meticulous observations and patient follow-up has led to the formulation of strict guidelines to ensure desired results.:;:

When obesity gets out of hand, unresponsive to dietary, lifestyle and medical interventions, drastic measures are needed to cut down calorie intake. Morbid obesity with a BMI (body mass index, a measure of malnutrition) above 40 kg/m2 is an indication for surgical procedures such as gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass is now a well-trodden path to lower BMI?s and achieve healthier lives in 18 months or so. First used in the 1950?s, only the last two decades have seen safe and successful gastric bypass surgery with any consistency. Half a century of meticulous observations and patient follow-up has led to the formulation of strict guidelines to ensure desired results.

Gastric bypass is a series of steps initiated starting with the decision to undergo the procedure. Identifying existing nutritional deficiencies is the first step towards surgery. Vitamin and mineral deficiency often occur in obesity, and need to be addressed before the procedure. The surgery itself has two goals; to reduce the volume of the stomach and shorten the food transit time in the intestine. After surgery the stomach cannot receive large meals or participate in digestion. This by itself limits food intake. Food also bypasses a large part of the intestine and has little time to interact with liver and pancreatic enzymes. As a result, nutrition absorbed from diet drops drastically. In most types of gastric bypass surgeries done today only 50 cm of the intestine is allowed to function in normal fashion. Compare this to food absorption taking over 7 feet of small and large intestine before surgery.

With such a radical reduction in the capacity to assimilate food, the postoperative period can be rather tricky. Only clear fluids are advised for the first two days while waiting for gut to recover. The gut is then re-trained for about two months before it can go back to a normal diet. During the recovery period the limitations imposed by the gastric bypass procedure should be kept in mind. After surgery the stomach has become much smaller and can only hold approximately eight ounces at a time. The stomach has also lost its ability to pulverize food to initiate digestion. Consequently the appropriate diet for postoperative recovery would be a liquid to soft solid diet that can be taken six to eight times a day in small quantities. Nutrient fluids are preferable since they can provide hydration and energy at the same time. Non-nutrient fluids are best avoided or at least restricted to in-between meals.

The type of nutrient chosen also deserves due consideration. The chosen macronutrient should not affect the stomach emptying time while providing enough energy to recover from the surgery. In this regard carbohydrates and fats are at either end of a spectrum and neither is suitable. Carbohydrates pass through very quickly and produce very uncomfortable symptoms like vomiting, bloating, diarrhea and sweating. Fat slows the gut considerably, and it is oftentimes ruled out because of its direct link to obesity. Research suggests that the macronutrients of choice after gastric bypass surgery are proteins. Proteins do not change gastric transit time significantly. A high-protein diet can also provide enough amino acids for repair and growth after a major surgical procedure like gastric bypass.

Apart from these advantages, a high-protein diet has a special role in the treatment of obesity. Gastric bypass restricts excessive calorie intake to prevent weight gain. However, accumulated adipose tissue also needs to be expended to achieve the desired weight loss. The basal metabolic rate (energy expenditure) should be increased simultaneously to burn stored fat and reduce BMI. This can be achieved by a high-protein diet since proteins in diet increase the basal metabolic rate by stimulating protein synthesis. Observations made during the postoperative period also confirm this proposition. Unless a high-protein diet is provided, weight loss often ceases despite controlled consumption.

Currently, a protein intake of up to 90 grams per day is recommended in the post-operative period. Given the trauma and the limitations the gut is subjected to during the procedure, such a high protein intake can be difficult to maintain. The gut is hardly ready and often fails to assimilate proteins and energy from traditional foods and diets. Therefore, a sugar-free fluid protein concentrate with a high bioavailability, adequate essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals is the most appropriate diet in the post-operative period. Digestion is further facilitated if the protein concentrate is already pre-digested, or hydrolyzed. Such a nutrient fluid can simultaneously supply concentrated energy and hydration even when taken in small quantities.

After recovery and return to a normal diet divided over 3 to 4 meals per day, a high-protein concentrate is still a relevant supplement between or during meals. The protein supplement continues to provide thermogenic action necessary to lose weight essential to sustain weight loss. It also compensates for any amino acid deficiency in the diet and maintains nutrition on bad days not uncommon in the months and years after a major surgery.

ABOUT PROTICA

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at http://www.protica.com

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

1. Kellum JM, DeMaria EJ, Sugarman HJ. The surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Curr Prob Surg. 1998;35:791-858.

2. MacLean LD, Rhode BM, Nohr CW. Late outcome of isolated gastric bypass. Ann of Surg. 2000. 231:524-528.

3. Nutritional Implications of Bariatric Surgery: Perspectives of Practitioners Audiotape/Handout packages available post-conference.

4. Weight management?Position of ADA. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:1145-1155

5. Faintuch J, Matsuda M, Cruz ME, et al. Severe protein-calorie malnutrition after bariatric procedures. Obes Surg 2004; 14:175?181.

6. Alvarez-Leite J.I. Nutrient deficiencies secondary to bariatric surgery. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 7:569?575.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29634:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Children of Gastric Bypass Patients at Risk for Eating Disorders:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Perhaps an unexpected challenge parents who have undergone gastric bypass face is seeing a child develop an eating disorder that may be exacerbated by the parent's dieting habits. Children of chronic dieters are at risk of eating disorders.:;:

As parents who?ve had gastric bypass we face many challenges raising a family. Perhaps an unexpected challenge is when a child develops an eating disorder that may be exacerbated by the parents dieting habits. It turns out as our children observe us diet and fail (repeatedly) before having gastric bypass, then they watch us lose weight in an almost obsessive excitement after weight loss surgery (WLS), some panic and vow ?this will not happen to me.? A descent into an eating disorder may follow.

According to AnorexiaBulimaHelp ?Dieting or restriction of certain foods, or excessive dieting from parents? is a contributing factor in teen and pre-teen eating disorders. In addition ?The appearance obsessed society most people live in can contribute to eating disorders . . . When combined with a low self-esteem, feelings of depression or anxiety or isolation, the effects can be devastating. Eating disorders commonly erupt as a coping mechanism, as a way for people to feel more ?normal? and in control in a society that isn?t really normal to begin with.?

Wow. Are you worried? Growing up I watched my mother work her way up and down the scale many times. No need to name the diets she tried: we all tried them. I believe I learned from her that diet equals failure. It seems like every time she?d get to the benchmark, ?this is the lowest weight I?ve been since having my first child? suddenly her weight loss would stop and back up the scale she?d climb at a rapid rate. She is morbidly obese today and no longer attempts dieting. Who can blame her?

Did she know that was the lesson she was teaching me? That eventually I?d "diet" myself into morbid obesity? I don?t think so, and I don?t blame her. She didn?t know any better.

We know better today. It is our stewardship to our children to do the best we can to protect them, raise them healthy, and teach them healthy habits of nutrition and exercise. We owe it to our children to keep them off the operating table and out of eating disorder treatment centers.

But how to do that? By example and by being informed.

AnorexiaBulimaHelp.com is a comprehensive resource on eating disorders ? if you fear someone in your family is suffering from an eating disorder please visit this site. The site includes many links to several other resources about eating disorders.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29665:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Patients at Risk for Stomach Blockage: How to Avoid This:;:Kaye Bailey:;:After gastric bypass the outlet from the stomach to the small intestine is roughly the size of a woman's little finger. This outlet can become blocked when foods are eaten quickly or poorly chewed.:;:

In a gastric bypass the connection between he stomach pouch and the small intestine is called the gastrojejunal anastomosis. It is roughly the diameter of a ladies little finger. This small opening slows food from leaving the stomach too quickly prolonging the satiated feeling. In extremely rare cases scar tissue may form at this connection resulting in a blocked outlet. Treatment to correct this is the insertion, endoscopically, of a special balloon. The balloon is inflated and expands the anastomosis returning it to the correct size.

If a patient has symptoms of blockage that is not the result of overfilling the stomach pouch they must seek the advice of their bariatric professional. The symptoms include chronic vomiting and food intolerance.

More commonly, a blockage of the anastomosis is caused by poorly chewed foods. Patients must be diligent in avoiding foods that may cause a blockage. This includes large pills, some types or too much bread, overcooked or chewy meats, starches and nuts. If a pill becomes lodged in the stomach outlet it will usually dissolve after a few hours. If food becomes impacted it will be painful to the patient. Food will eventually digest and dislodge itself in most cases. In extreme cases a patient may need to have an endoscopy to dislodge the offending food. Patients in the habit of chewing their food will rarely encounter a blockage or plugged outlet.

When patients do suffer a mild blockage they can find usually relief by taking a dose of Pepto-Bismol and returning to soft foods such as gelatin or broth for a day or two.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29519:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:The Public Stoning of Gastric Bypass Patients: When Things Get Ugly:;:Kaye Bailey:;:What happens when an online diet community fails to support one of their own members who undergoes gastric bypass weight loss surgery?:;:

Recently a woman went public in her online diet community with her decision for gastric bypass surgery. She was asking for fellowship and support from fellow dieters. What she received was a public cyber-stoning from hostile opinionated and poorly informed sanctimonious people.

I was a bit taken back by the arrogance of some respondents: that if Lisa simply had the willpower she could lose the weight.

Lisa has 170lbs to lose. In the last two months she has lost 7 pounds and a poster told her that was wonderful progress ? she should just keep doing what she?s doing and lose the remaining 170 lbs. It would take Lisa, losing 3.5 lbs/month, 48 months to lose her weight. That is without setbacks or life?s little disruptions. That?s 48 months of maintaining a rigid diet/exercise program while seeing little progress. Few people can accomplish that. Take a look around, there are a lot of obese people struggling just to get by, yearning to be in any body besides their own fat one.

In the same forum another poster had the nerve to write Eat Less: Exercise More. Calories In = Calories Out. Really? Thanks for the help with the math.

Another threw in the cheesy slogan: Grit Determination + No Excuses = Goals Reached and Dreams Becoming Reality.

Guess what folks? Catchy phrases and simple math don?t cut it when a person is morbidly obese.

I do not personally know Lisa, nor do I know her state of self-esteem.

I can tell you with heartfelt sincerity that when I had 150 pounds to lose I was in such a spiral of despair and hopelessness that nothing short of surgery worked for me. My acts of self-sabotage and self-destruction derailed every conventional attempt to lose weight. I did not have the self-esteem or courage to muster any grit determination. I was on the train to hell and getting there by way of obesity.

I needed help.

Surgery opened a window for me: for once in my fat life I was succeeding at weight loss. My weight came off and I was empowered by the success of it. I sought fitness as a way of life, not evil torture. I embraced the art of cooking healthy balanced meals. I started taking care of myself. Surgery and the occasional resulting discomforts is a small price to pay for self love and self acceptance, not to mention health and wellness. Without weight loss surgery I can only shut my eyes in horror at the sad life I may have had. Low self-esteem and poor health never equal grit determination.

The most disappointing thing to come of Lisa?s call for support was the lack of empathy or understanding from people aboard the same sinking ship ? all overweight, all struggling dieters, all hopelessly defeated. Should this not have been the very group to rally Lisa?s cause; to give her credit for a making a gut-wrenching decision; for having the courage to reveal her very private choice?

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:10912:;:Health-and-Fitness:Nutrition:;:Food Selection for Gastric Bypass Patients:;:Jim Duffy:;:The bulk of concern surrounding stomach-stamping procedures is emanating from the medical community. Some experts are worried that individuals opting for this rather dramatic surgery are not prepared to make post-procedure lifestyle changes. They point out that since stomach stapling reduces the size of the stomach, and therefore the amount of food that a person can digest is severely reduced, an individual must be fully equipped to eat wisely after the procedure. This ?wise eating? must include both the volume of post-procedure food that is eaten, and the number of calories that are eaten on a daily basis.:;:

Dieters who dejectedly complain they are figuratively ?stuck? with their excess fat may be surprised to learn there is a scientifically-accurate truth to their statement. Fat cells -- which are created when the body is unable to convert excess calories to energy -- are permanent. Fat cells cannot be removed by any diet known to humanity [1]. They can, however, be reduced in size. This is the experience enjoyed by people who lose weight [i].

There is, however, an increasingly popular ? and controversial ? method to eliminate fat cells permanently via an external, non-diet method. Scientifically referred to as a Gastric Bypass Operation, but more popularly known as ?stomach stapling?, this procedure literally staples part of the stomach together. The result is that food intake becomes severely restricted, and the body begins the process of malabsorption, or a decreased ability to absorb nutrients. In addition, the duodenum [2] is bypassed to prevent the absorption of nutrients that could cause excess calories, and as such, the creation of additional fat cells [ii].

In addition to this, a more complex and less frequent procedure called Extensive Gastric Bypass or ?biliopancreatic diversion? involves the removal stomach parts, and the circumvention of the duodenum and jejunum ? or in laypersons terms, the circumvention of the first part of the small intestine, and the middle portion the small intestine. The result is an even greater malabsorption capacity.

The bulk of concern surrounding stomach-stamping procedures is emanating from the medical community. Some experts are worried that individuals opting for this rather dramatic surgery are not prepared to make post-procedure lifestyle changes. They point out that since stomach stapling reduces the size of the stomach, and therefore the amount of food that a person can digest is severely reduced, an individual must be fully equipped to eat wisely after the procedure. This ?wise eating? must include both the volume of post-procedure food that is eaten, and the number of calories that are eaten on a daily basis [iii].

These experts are also quick to point out that the failure to adequately prepare people for post-procedure wise eating habits often leads to various forms of malnutrition. These include anemia due to Iron and B12 deficiencies, hair loss, calcium deficiencies, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, diarrhea, and the loss of water-soluble essential vitamins such as C, Niacin, and B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Biotin, and Folic Acid [iv].

The jury on whether stomach stapling is a ?fair? choice, or one that is driven by unhealthy body-image stereotypes propagated by the media and elsewhere, is hotly debated and will continue to dominate conversations about this controversial procedure. Yet what cannot be lost in this debate is that, everyday, real human beings are facing an uphill battle after their stomach stapling surgery. For these people, whether they chose to have the surgery due to body image issues or not, the rationale is rather academic once the surgery is over. What they clearly need at this point are nutritional supplement solutions that cater to their new eating limits and framework.

Profect, which is a nutritional supplement created by Protica Research, does not support the proliferation of unhealthy body image expectations that people are inundated with each day; especially impressionable youth. Yet with this being said, Profect has been engineered to provide those who have opted for this dramatic weight-loss surgery with an ideal source of post-procedure food.

Each serving of Profect is contained in 2.7 fluid ounces, which is significantly smaller than most other nutritional supplements. It is therefore aptly suited for those who must limit their volume of food intake. At the same time, each serving of Profect contains only 100-calories ? none of which are from fat -- and as such will not lead to runaway caloric intake.

What is clearly the most appreciated medical quality, however, is Profect?s protein configuration. Each 2.7 fluid ounce serving of Profect contains 25 grams of protein. This is the densest protein available on the market. As such, individuals who are obliged to eat very small food portions can easily ingest 100% of the U.S. Recommended Daily Intake of protein in less than six fluid ounces.

In addition, each serving of Profect contains 50% to 100% of all nine water-soluble vitamins. These vitamins help consumers replenish the vitamin stores that they may be losing due to the post-procedure side effects noted above, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and sweating. In the long-term, daily usage of Profect provides the body with the critically important constant flow of water-soluble vitamins.

Indeed, the controversy surrounding stomach stapling, which also includes its hefty price tag, will continue; and it is important to hear all views. Yet what must also continue is quality education and awareness. People must be adequately informed that while their weight may seemingly ?disappear? overnight thanks to stomach stapling, there is still a challenging road ahead. This road includes an eating regimen that will require conscientious food selections, much smaller portions, and careful monitoring of protein and vitamin intake.

ABOUT PROTICA

You can also learn about Profect at http://www.profect.com

REFERENCES

[i] Source: ?Is the Number of Fat Cells you Have Predetermined??. iVillage. http://www.ivillage.com/diet/experts/wlcoach/qas/0,,222000_36838,00.html?arrivalSA=1&cobrandRef=0&arrival_freqCap=1&pba=adid=13185251

[ii] Source: ?Weight Loss: Gastric Bypass Operations?. WebMD. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/46/2731_1654.htm

[iii] Source: ?What You Need to Know About: Gastric Bypass?. About.com. http://weightloss.about.com/cs/gastricbypass/l/blgastby1.htm

[iv] Source: ?Gastric Bypass?. MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007199.htm

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Nutrition/

:;:;:;:29666:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:What is "Back to Normal" After Gastric Bypass Surgery?:;:Kaye Bailey:;:It is common for new WLS patients to ask, ?How soon after surgery will I get back to normal?? Patients who are must successful redefine what "normal" is.:;:

It is common for new WLS patients to ask, ?How soon after surgery will I get back to normal?? This is understandable. We?ve spent a lifetime dieting for the short-term ? the 30-day diet, the six-week program, the lose-ten-pounds-over-the-weekend diet. Remember thinking, "If I can stick with this plan for just 10 days, then I can go back to normal.?

The diet industry has conditioned us to think long-term lifestyle changes are unnecessary to accomplish weight loss. We are impatient and demanding, we want a quick fix. Expectations are unrealistic and result in failure, disappointment and self-loathing.

But weight loss surgery is for life.To that end, we must re-define normal:

Normal is living without co-morbidities: asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, heartburn, and knee and back pain.

Normal is feeling your body in motion, walking up stairs briskly, and bending to tie your shoes.

Normal is playing children?s games on the floor and getting up without struggling.

Normal is hearing compliments about how great you look.

Normal is ACCEPTING compliments about how great you look.

Normal is fastening an airplane lap belt and pulling it tight.

Normal is enjoying clothes shopping.

Normal is the thrill of amusement park rides.

Normal is waking up early to jump on the scale ? and thrilling at the number.

Normal is living without the incessant distraction of food and the relentless hunger.

Normal is feeling proud ? not ashamed ? of your body.

Normal is savoring food one bite at a time, not ravaging it.

Normal is having the power ? the tiny tummy - to control eating behavior.

Normal is eating three meals a day and not snacking in between ? and doing just fine.

Normal is feeling immediate discomfort when too much food, or the wrong food is consumed.

Normal is taking vitamins every day.

Normal is drinking water ? lots of water.

Normal is enjoying exercising!

Normal is boundless energy.

Normal is a positive outlook, not fearing the doom of an early, miserable death for obesity related health complications.

Normal is eating lean protein at every meal.

Normal is declining doughnuts or pizza ? and not feeling deprived!

Normal is making healthy eating and behavior modification a lifestyle for the whole family.

Normal is quality food, not gluttonous quantity.

Normal is taking responsibility for your own health and wellness.

Normal is respecting the science of your body, respecting the tiny tummy, and respecting yourself.

Normal is constant attention to weight maintenance.

Normal is feeling deep compassion for the obese.

Normal is being scared of the rapid transformation your body makes.

Normal is bouts of anger over years of self-loathing, discrimination, isolation and suffering.

Normal is the occasional departure from the rules that results in dumping or vomiting.

Normal is a rapid return to appropriate eating behavior.

Normal is seeing, for a time, a stranger in the mirror.

Normal is freeing yourself from obesity?s prison.

Normal is understanding that the pre-surgical behaviors and habits were unhealthy, destructive and abusive.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29596:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Dropping Weight Too Fast After Gastric Bypass: What If I lose Too Much?:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass surgery many patients begin to fear they may become emaciated. When patients are following the rules of weight loss surgery the body will stabilize at an appropriate weight, even as the patient continues with low-caloric food intake.:;:

Weight loss is so consistent and rapid after gastric bypass surgery many patients begin to fear they may become emaciated. They ask, ?Will my body know when it?s time to stop losing weight?? Patients fresh out of weight loss surgery usually find this question absurd ? Impossible! Lifelong dieters don?t become emaciated. However, patients nearing their goal weight become concerned as their body continues shedding weight rapidly showing no sign of stopping.

When patients are following the rules of weight loss surgery the body will stabilize at an appropriate weight, even as the patient continues with low-caloric food intake. The diet industry calls this weight the ?set point.? Body-weight set point is Nature's idea of what amount of fat a body needs.

Weight loss occurs when stored energy is used. By eating protein and exercising, the only available stored energy for the body to burn is fat. This reasoning concludes the body will maintain its weight when it has burned all of its stored fat, when muscles are used through living and daily exercise, and when nutritional needs through a careful diet and supplementation are met. Patients are advised to continue to exercise, take vitamin supplements, eat nutritionally with a focus on high protein, low volume meals while avoiding snacking. Failure to exercise and a decrease in protein intake will cause the body to consume muscle and possibly regain weight.

If a patient?s weight continues to drop below a reasonable Body Mass Index (BMI) they must consult with their bariatric center to identify the cause.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29542:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Friendly Eating: Cantaloupe and Melons:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Many gastric bypass patients report melon to be one of the easiest of fruits to enjoy after surgery. Melons are generally low in natural sugar, ripe on flavor and easily digestible. They are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Vitamin B6, folate and dietary fiber.:;:

Many gastric bypass patients report melon to be one of the easiest of fruits to enjoy after surgery. Melons are generally low in natural sugar, ripe on flavor and easily digestible. They are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Vitamin B6, folate and dietary fiber.

How to Select and Store

The key to purchasing a quality melon is to find one that is ripe. If you tap the melon with the palm of your hand and hear a hollow sound, the melon has passed is ripe. Choose a melon that seems heavy for its size, and one that does not have bruises or overly soft spots.

Melons & Food Borne Illness

Because of heightened sensitivity to foods and food borne illness gastric bypass patients must exercise extreme food safety precautions. Follow these simple guidelines to help keep your fruit fresh as well as safe.

When you buy cut melons, be sure they have been buried in ice or displayed in a refrigerated case, not just displayed on top of ice. Uncut melon does not need to be refrigerated.

Before cutting, the outer surface of the melon should be washed with drinking water to remove surface dirt.

Hands and all equipment and utensils (cutting boards, knives, etc.) need to be washed thoroughly with hot soapy water, and rinsed.

Cut melons must be refrigerated at 41? F or below.

Cut melons may be served without refrigeration for a maximum of 4 hours (such as at a brunch, picnic, or buffet). At the end of that time, any leftover melon must be thrown away.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

Add some sparkling water to fresh squeezed cantaloupe juice for a delightfully refreshing drink in the warm months of the year.

In a blender or food processor, pur?e cantaloupe and peeled soft peaches to make delicious cold soup. Add lemon juice and sweetener (sparingly) to taste.

Top cantaloupe slices with yogurt, and chopped mint.

Slice melons in half horizontally, scoop out seeds and use each half as a basket in which to serve fruit salad.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

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Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29744:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:I'm Freezing! Why Gastric Bypass Causes Patients to be Cold:;:Kaye Bailey:;:People who experience the massive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold for two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation.:;:

Body temperature is the result of your body generating and radiating heat. The body is adept at keeping its temperature within a narrow range even though ambient air conditions vary. A normal body temperature is 98.6?F. It is common during the period of rapid weight loss for bariatric patients to feel cold or chilled, even when their temperature reads normal.

People who experience the massive weight loss associated with weight loss surgery experience feeling cold for two reasons: loss of insulation and less energy generation.

Fat is a highly efficient insulator. Consider animals native to cold climates: for example sea lions and polar bears. They are loaded with insulation and thrive in cold climates. When gastric bypass patients follow the rules: eating protein and exercising, the weight lost can only come from fat or stored energy. In effect you are losing your insulation. Less insulation increases the likelihood that you will feel cold.

The second reason for feeling chilled is that the metabolic cell processes are not working as hard as when you were heavier; it takes fewer calories and less energy to maintain and move a smaller body. Think about using an electric mixer: if you are whipping egg whites for a meringue the mixer will do this task effortlessly. But use the same mixer to knead bread dough and it will become warm to the touch, it is working harder because it is moving more mass. The same thing happens with your body; the more mass it must move, the harder it works. As a result more heat is generated.

The body has two well-tuned mechanisms for regulating body temperature: sweating and shivering. What overweight person hasn?t been embarrassed by a sticky bout of sweating at the most inappropriate time? Sweating is a mechanism for cooling your body when it becomes too hot inside. The body rids itself of excess heat by expanding the blood vessels in the skin so the heat may be carried to the surface. When this energy or heat in the form of sweat reaches the skin?s surface it evaporates and helps cool the body.

Gastric bypass patients become more familiar with the second temperature regulator, shivering, as they lose weight. When you are too cold your blood vessels will contract reducing blood flow to the skin. The body responds by shivering which creates extra muscle activity to help generate more heat. If you allow your body to shiver it will begin to feel warmer. But this is also a good clue that it?s time to put on a sweater or turn up the heat. I think most weight loss patients will happily wear a sweater ? a sweater is much easier to shed than that insulation we?ve worked so hard to lose!

Most weight loss patients report that their body temperature regulates after their weight is stabilized, usually eighteen to twenty-four months after surgery. Keep in mind your body is rapidly losing weight and the rest of your body?s functions are caught off guard when this weight loss begins. The body?s thermostat needs time to catch up to the weight loss, and it will. Patients who incorporate exercise in their weight loss program experience less chilling than patients who do not exercise.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29716:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Gastric Bypass Surgery Alternative:;:Jon Yarbrough:;:I am considering Gastric bypass surgery because I am overweight, in fact I am a least 100 pounds over my ideal weight making me obese. I have tried the Atkins diet and had some success but I gained the weight right back in just over a month.:;:

I am considering Gastric bypass surgery because I am overweight, in fact I am a least 100 pounds over my ideal weight making me obese. I have tried the Atkins diet and had some success but I gained the weight right back in just over a month.

I have tried diet after diet with little to no success; so gastric bypass surgery is definitely something that someone in my position should at least consider.

After some research, I found that gastric bypass surgery is very dangerous, several complications can occur up to and including death. I found myself wondering if I really wanted to go through something that actually has a death rate.

While searching for gastric bypass surgery information I found a pill that claimed to be ?a gastric bypass in a bottle?. It sounded ridiculous, somewhat like the claims I get in my email box for a miracle grow formula for my manhood. Despite my doubts, I was at least curious enough to check them out, and I am glad I did.

I do believe this could be the gastric bypass surgery alternative I have been looking for. If you are considering gastric bypass surgery you should at least check them out for yourself.

http://www.bypass-gastric-surgery.info/pills

Gastric bypass surgery may be dangerous but regardless of what you decide, gastric bypass surgery or an alternative, not doing anything is the most dangerous by far.

This article was provided by Jon Yarbrough of http://www.bypass-gastric-surgery.info.

You may use this article as long as the article is unchanged and all links are intact including this resource box.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:29605:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Lost Weight with Gastric Bypass & Now You're Regaining - Fix It Fast!:;:Kaye Bailey:;:About the third year after gastric bypass we get hungry. And we eat more. And weight starts to creep back on. In the worst case a patient regains so much weight a revision surgery is required to again reduce the stomach and facilitate weight loss. In the best case, the patient catches the problem early and reverses the trend.:;:

I?ve talked to quite a few fellow gastric bypass patients recently and we all have one thing in common: About the third year after gastric bypass we get hungry. And we eat more. And weight starts to creep back on. In the worst case a patient regains so much weight a revision surgery is required to again reduce the stomach size and facilitate weight loss. In the best case, the patient catches the problem early and reverses the trend.

In my third year out when this happened to me and I saw the scale jump ten pounds I called my counselor at my bariatric center. She told me ?Get Back-to-Basics immediately.? She recommended that for ten days I eat like a post-op newbie. Jell-o, chicken broth, soft-cooked eggs. No solids. Lots of liquids. No snacking. Take my vitamins. Drink lots of water.

I was so terrified of regaining the weight that I followed her directions exactly. She told me, ?You have already done this once when you had surgery. You certainly can do it again, and this time you are much healthier.? She was right!

The first day was hell. I was hungry and crabby. The second day was not as painful. By the third day Back-to-Basics was routine. By the tenth day my weight was down 7 pounds, my body felt lighter and happier. I felt unpolluted. Best of all, my tiny pouch seemed to be tighter and less tolerant of over-filling and that?s a very good thing! I was eating like a newbie again, recommitted to following the four rules and succeeding after weight loss surgery.

Now, to be honest, I?ve had to employ this technique more than once to get myself back on track and avoid weight regain. Sometimes I?ll go Back-to-Basics for a long weekend, just to refresh and rejuvenate my body. I like the power the mindfulness of Back-to-Basics gives me, the complete awareness of my body and it?s needs. I like being able to remind my mind and body of this powerful bariatric tool. I like that when I do see a weight gain I can quickly get it under control by employing past practice that I know works.

Are you in your third year and hungry? Give the Back-to-Basics a try.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:30888:;:Health-and-Fitness:Women's-Issues:;:Female Tummy Tuck After Massive Weight Loss with Gastric Bypass:;:Kaye Bailey:;:After massive weight loss with gastric bypass weight loss surgery many patients are left with unattractive and uncomfortable aprons of abdominal skin. In most cases a tummy tuck is the only way to resolve the problem.:;:

It took me a long time, 3 years, about 1-million ab-crunches and a few thousand miles on the treadmill before I gave in and decided to have a tummy tuck. After having lost weight with gastric bypass I was left with an apron of loose abdominal skin. A tummy tuck was my last hope to get rid of it.

No matter how thin I appeared, how many compliments I received, I always believed the belly bulge was the equivalent of a wart on the tip of the nose. I was certain it entered the room before me and people stared at it. I loathed how I looked naked.

A tummy tuck, abdominoplasty, is a procedure that flattens your abdomen by removing extra fat and skin, and tightens muscles in your abdominal wall. But be cautioned: This is a major surgery, it is not the easy way out

I had the tummy tuck last fall. The surgeon cut me hip to hip: I have a 20? scar to prove it. He removed the flap of skin, gave me a new belly button and did some body sculpting with liposuction on my hips and waist. Like the breast surgery, it was done in his surgical suite and I went home that evening heavily medicated. I rested in a reclining chair for several days. Everything was painful and exhausting: sitting, standing, showering, eating. I slept a lot for two weeks. I wore a surgical girdle to keep everything in place.

The surgeon closed the wound with tape and I wore a surgical drain for 10 days (sound familiar?) My body was quite swollen and this messed with my head - - I expected to wake from surgery swimsuit model perfect. Not so. In fact, my measurements after surgery were actually greater than prior to surgery. The swelling lasted, to a lesser degree, for about a month. The good news, within 3 weeks I was back to my walking program on the treadmill.

Now, six months post-op I?m happy to report a firm flat tummy. Who me? The Little Fat Girl!! The incision is still wicked ugly red and tender: wearing jeans is uncomfortable. Still, I?m happy I had the surgery, but don?t even consider asking me if I want any more surgery. I hope I?m done with that forever!

Who Are the Best Candidates For a Tummy Tuck?

A tummy tuck is suitable for both men and women who are in good general health overall.

It should not be confused with a liposuction (the cosmetic surgery used to remove fat deposits), although your surgeon may elect to perform liposuction as part of a tummy tuck.

Women who have muscles and skin stretched by multiple pregnancies may find the procedure useful to tighten those muscles and reduce that skin. A tummy tuck is also an alternative for men or women who were obese at one point in their lives and still have excessive fat deposits or loose skin in the abdominal area.

How a Tummy Tuck is Done

Depending on your desired results, this surgery can take anywhere from one to five hours. The complexity of your particular situation also will determine whether you have it completed as an in-patient or outpatient procedure.

You will receive general anesthesia, which will put you to sleep during the operation. It's important to have someone with you who can drive you home. If you live alone, you also will need someone to stay with you at least the first night after the surgery.

There are two options for a tummy tuck. You and your surgeon will discuss your desired results, and he or she will determine the appropriate procedure during your consultation.

Complete abdominoplasty

Your abdomen will be cut from hipbone to hipbone in this procedure, the option for those patients who require the most correction. The incision will be made low, at about the same level as your pubic hair.

Your surgeon will then manipulate and contour the skin, tissue and muscle as needed. Your belly button will have a new opening if you undergo this procedure, because it's necessary to free your navel from surrounding tissue. Drainage tubes may be placed under your skin and these will be removed in a few days as your surgeon sees fit.

Partial or mini abdominoplasty

Mini-abdominoplasties are often performed on patients whose fat deposits are located below the navel and require shorter incisions.

During this procedure, your belly button most likely will not be moved. Your skin will be separated between the line of incision and your belly button. This type of surgery may also be performed with an endoscope (small camera on the end of a tube). The procedure may only take up to two hours, again, depending on your own personal situation and the complexity of your needs.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Women's-Issues/

:;:;:;:29754:;:Health-and-Fitness:Weight-Loss:;:Anger: The Unexpected Emotion After Gastric Bypass Surgery:;:Kaye Bailey:;:Most gastric bypass patients experience anger as they lose weight. Most of our anger is about how obesity caused us to be self-loathing: about learning to hate ourselves ? since childhood ? because of our obesity. We are angry for blaming ourselves for lack of control that caused obesity, we are angry at others who blamed us.:;:

The words I read made me furious. There it was, in black and white, the story of a fussy baby who was spoon fed ice cream to keep her quiet. I was reading a baby book and that baby was me! I was indignant ? how dare my parents comfort me ? at six months old ? with ice cream? No wonder I grew up to be a fat adult addicted to high fat sugary sweets. I was a fat baby and I became a fat child, a fat teen and a fat adult. All because at six months the solution for my tears was ice cream.

When I read dusky smelling baby book it unleashed an anger that had been building since the good doctor cut up my God-given stomach and deprived me of every comfort I?d ever known. My gastric bypass made me skinny, but it also made me angry.

I was mad as hell, and I was blaming them ? my parents ? for twenty-five years of obesity. Twenty-five years of suffering and self-loathing. Twenty-five years of social inferiority because I was fat. It was their fault! A normally docile person, I was livid. I was enraged. I was heartbroken. There is so much pain associated with obesity, particularly for children and adolescents, how dare they ? they who gave me life ? put me in harm?s way by making me fat? How dare they?

I harbored my anger for weeks festering it in my mind until it took on a life of it?s own. I was no longer in control of my thoughts because I had surrendered to the anger. Here I should have been at the most exciting moment of my adult life for I had become the new me, yet I was a bitter angry unhappy thin person.

Most gastric bypass patients experience anger as they lose weight.

I understand now that this phase of anger is common for the recovering morbidly obese person. Most of our anger is about how obesity caused us to be self-loathing: about learning to hate ourselves ? since childhood ? because of our obesity. We are angry for blaming ourselves for lack of control that caused obesity, we are angry at others who blamed us. We are angry at the people who have belittled us for being fat, then belittled us as ?weak? for taking the easy way out ? surgery ? to lose weight. We are angry at doctors who?ve told us to lose weight, but didn?t tell us how. We are angry at the media that bombards us with pictures of rail thin skeleton models sending the message that unhealthy anorexic behavior is fashionable and obesity is loathsome. That is the same media that advertises thin people joyously eating heaping portions of unhealthy processed fat laden food. We are angry at employers who fail to promote the obese and who make us work twice as hard to prove that obese does not equal stupid. We are angry at the diet industry that has taken billions of our dollars when we fell for their promise of ?instant weight loss guaranteed?. We are angry at every person who said, ?You have such a pretty face, if you could just lose the weight.? We are angry at a society that deems it politically incorrect to insult people for their race, religion or sexual preference, but leaves the field wide open to defame and humiliate the obese.

The recovering obese are very angry. And finally, after years of stuffing angry feelings inside, the anger erupts when we lose weight and discover our new selves. And that makes us angry too! Why did we have to lose weight in order to allow ourselves to be angry?

We are entitled to be angry. As a class of people we are subject to the most tolerated form of socially accepted bigotry: it is in our home and social lives, in the workplace, in our leisure activities. We live in a society where half the people are obese ? half of those morbidly obese ? yet that same society condemns the obese as today?s untouchables. We are entitled to be angry.

Anger leads us down a path of blaming. We want to blame someone or something for our suffering. It?s true, not one single fat person has chosen to be fat. Obesity is not a choice. We want to blame someone else because for most of our lives we have blamed ourselves: that?s what fat people learn to do ? we hate ourselves for a choice we did not make.

But a new movement in psychology, the science of happiness, says there is a better way. This practice says, sure, bad things happen to good people. The science of happiness calls people to muster their inner resilience and accept bad things happen as a matter of fact and then move forward.

The science of happiness has us focus on our strengths. According to Dr. Dan Baker, a leader in the science of happiness and author of What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better: ?focusing on our strengths works because it feels better than focusing on weakness. It creates energy, which is always necessary for transformation. Also, it?s self-sustaining and full of rewards.? When I began to understand that my obesity was the result of converging anthropic change ? the industrial revolution ? that my parents did not intend for me be fat, and that I?d done the best thing I could for my health by having surgery ? then my anger subsided.

Some weight loss patients have managed their anger by becoming advocates. Advocates for the fair treatment of the obese, for fair treatment in the workplace and improved insurance coverage for obesity treatment. I know some people who are sport and life coaches for children to teach them about nutrition and physical activity.

But most importantly, I know WLS patients who are advocates in their own homes. They are affecting healthy change for the next generation. These brave people are teaching their children to eat nutritionally and exercise and avoid the foods and habits that result in obesity. They are the advocates who will keep the next generation off the surgical table and free from the torments of growing up obese. Advocates do not have time for anger. They will step in where genetics can?t keep pace and independently, one-by-one, fight the epidemic of obesity.

Is it easy to let the anger go? Not all the time. I still get very angry when I see overweight adults mindlessly feeding their children things that will make them fat. Sometimes I just want to shake them and say, ?Do you know what you are doing to that child? Do you know what kind of life you are leading her toward?? I?m still looking for a response to this anger but the wounds of childhood obesity do not easily heal. Maybe that?s a good thing. Maybe that will be the motivation it takes to leave a better, healthier legacy for future generations ? with or without weight loss surgery.

Kaye Bailey is a gastric bypass success story having maintained her health and goal weight for more than five years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com - Fresh & insightful content about living after weight loss surgery is added daily, check in often.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Weight-Loss/

:;:;:;:30363:;:Health-and-Fitness:Supplements:;:What Vitamin Supplement is Best for Gastric Bypass Patients:;:Kaye Bailey:;:In the choice rich world of vitamin supplements it's easy to get lost. Gastric bypass patients are at risk of nutritional deficiency if they do not take vitamin and mineral supplements. Here is a simple guide for selecting the best supplement.:;:

The multi-vitamin market is rich with choice. It?s also very confusing. There are mega?s, potents, super all-day?s, vegetarian formulas, geriatric formulas, athlete?s formulas, recipes for men and women and teens! There are some things gastric bypass patients must consider when selecting a multi-vitamin supplement.

The weight loss surgery patient must first ask, ?Can I swallow this with a small amount of water?" The next question, "Will it absorb quickly enough for my short circuited system?? Adult chewable tablets are available, but the taste is often unpleasant. However, these may be used during the first few months after surgery. Capsules and gels are a good choice because they are more likely to absorb quickly. Time released tablets should be avoided, they dissolve slowly, that?s what makes them timed release. They will pass through the shortened intestine before absorbing into the body.

There is no right or wrong form of supplement, just make sure to select a form you will take routinely.

Choose a gender and age specific formula. The more that is learned about nutrition, the more obvious are men and women?s different dietary needs. For example women need more calcium and iron in their diets. Men, particularly over 50, must be careful to limit iron intake. Geriatric vitamins often included chelated minerals for better absorption in addition to glucosamine to help with bones and joints and herbs to improve memory and wellness.

Finally, look for a supplement that contains most of the vitamins and minerals essential for good health ? but does not exceed the U.S. RDA by more than 150 percent. (Most multi-vitamin supplements do not contain vitamin K ? it is naturally synthesized by the body.) The label on the supplement bottle lists the weight in milligrams of the vitamin and minerals contained in the supplement.

The label also shows the percent of the U.S. RDA the supplement supplies. Natural and synthetic vitamins are virtually identical and most supplements are synthetic. It would require heaps of natural foods to extract enough vitamins for supplements and the cost would be prohibitive. One exception is vitamin E: the natural form is actually biologically more active and better absorbed and utilized by the body.

Article source: http://www.topiccenter.com/Health-and-Fitness/Supplements/