Surviving the Weight Loss Downs and Ups

The phrase "ups and downs" is bit confusing when we're talking about the lifelong battle to keep our weight under control. That's because, well, when you're weight is down that's more likely to feel like what we'd usually call an "up" and when it's up, you're quite likely to feel pretty down! Still, those of us who've had weight loss surgery should understand that fluctuations both in our behavior and our actual weight is normal.

There are a great many adjustments to deal with in the wake of a weight loss surgery, whether it's a lap band, a gastric sleeve, or something else. The fact of the matter is that while modern day obesity surgery is a genuine medical miracle, it isn't quite on the level of being a magic wand. The battle to watch our diet and keep up an overall healthy lifestyle will continue. The important thing is not to panic every time we experience a minor weight gain or "fall off the wagon" when it comes to what we should be eating.

The other important thing is to try to view the struggle not as a never-ending slog or struggle, but almost as a kind of game in which you will win by gradually improving your habits. The prize, of course, is a better life but the important thing -- and this might sound a little strange -- is to have fun while your doing it.

Food for Thought: Guidelines for Healthy Eating this Holiday Season

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Dr. Feiz & Associates trust that all of our patients had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day! For many of us, the celebration extends through the four-day weekend. As family and friends come together, food can become the focus of the social time. If it was your turn to cook the feast this year, you probably felt more prepared. If another family member is heading up the meal, you don’t exactly know what you will be dealing with. This can be intimidating for those who recently chose the right path to health with a bariatric surgery from Dr. Feiz.

Although Thanksgiving is over, you may have many other holiday potlucks and dinner on your calendar. But you don’t have to be intimidated by what’s being served. Just apply the same rules and behaviors that you more strictly enforced at the start of your weight loss plan. Give yourself a mental pep-talk just before the event. Tell yourself that you will watch your portions, focusing on the nutritious vegetable options and staying away from the high calorie foods that are offered. Drink plenty of water. Don’t view food as the centerpiece of the event. Think about catching up with friends, topics for conversation. Sit in an area where the banquet table is not directly in your field of view. Think about talking to a fellow bariatric patient for moral support.

When you received your FDA-approved LAP Band procedure or sleeve gastrectomy, you made a commitment to eat healthily. You can keep this promise to yourself year-round. Dr. Feiz & Associates are here to follow up with patients’ dietary concerns. Feel free to give us a call this holiday season if we can be of assistance.    

The Many Benefits of a Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Dr. Michael Feiz, M.D., FACS is one of only a few accomplished bariatric surgeons who are qualified to perform a micro gastric sleeve surgery, employing the single-incision STARR Treatment. Dr. Feiz, who has performed numerous sleeve surgeries and FDA-compliant Lap Band procedures, recommends the STARR Treatment for qualified patients who are concerned about scarring or marks following the operation. Many potential patients are anxious about scars, but with gastric sleeve surgery, those receiving the procedure will only be left with one small mark about the size of a dime, contrasting with the standard laparoscopic method, which only requires a couple small incisions.

With all of the positive feedback from trustworthy medical sources, the gastric sleeve surgery is an excellent choice for the person contemplating a weight-loss procedure. Both young and old people suffering from obesity might be good candidates. The presence of a gastric sleeve may have a positive effect on glucose levels for patients with type 2 diabetes, and the procedure may improve a person’s candidacy for organ transplant. And of course, if you go by the testimonials of Dr. Feiz’s past patients, there is no denying that the gastric sleeve expedites weight loss. The patient will not experience the daily, sometimes hourly, cravings they struggled with prior to their weight loss surgery.

To set up a FREE consultation to see if gastric sleeve surgery might be right for you, please contact our office today.

Breaking the Chain of Obesity?

We're all familiar with the reality that certain health problems seem to be passed from generation to generation. For reasons that we have usually assumed related to be a combination of environment and genetics, obesity has been among those issues we always assumed that, to some degree or another, would always tend to run in families. However, a really hopeful and rather amazing study presented regarding the possible effects of weight loss surgery on an obese mother's offspring presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress points to some potentially very exciting conclusions and a possible long-term solution.

Although we have to mention the usual cautions that these findings about obesity surgery are still highly preliminary and there may be differences in outcomes based on differing types of weight loss surgery, the study appears to indicate that the children of mothers who have lost weight through bariatric surgery could be benefiting from some significantly improved health prospects. The really fascinating part, however, is the changes appear to be happening at the genetic level. In other words, it might turn out that, that a significantly overweight woman who loses weight prior to her pregnancy could be decreasing the risk of obesity, and its many related health risks, in her children. Moreover, the reason for this is certain very subtle changes in particular genes which may tend to predispose children to being overweight, or not being overweight. According to the new scientific discipline of epigenetics, It increasingly appears that environmental factors, perhaps including the environment of the womb in the case of unborn children, can turn genes "off" and "on."

So, will women losing large amounts of weight -- either with or without bariatric surgery -- by itself prevent obesity and other issues in children? It's too early to say, but it's definitely an area of study worth paying real attention to.