It’s Callie!

Callie Pre-Weight Loss Surgery at Video Shoot

Hi everyone! I am Callie Ellis and I will be in real life blogging about fingers-crossed, my soon to happen bariatric/weight loss surgery with Dr. Feiz. If you are reading this blog, then you know how amazing Dr. Feiz is and that you would do anything for him so when he asked me to live blog my weight loss journey, I happily said YES!

Friday, April , I went to a gorgeous house in SoCal to shoot a video about why I decided to have weight loss/ bariatric surgery. Look out for it, should be up soon! Here are some behind the scenes pictures. It was great to meet other patients who have had weight loss/bariatric surgery with Dr. Feiz and see their amazing weight loss results. 

Rocio and I after our endoscopy procedure Wednesday  4/24

As part of my insurance requirements for bariatric surgery, I need to have three months nutrition documented and, trust me, I have years upon years.  I went to a weight loss clinic in TJ (Tijuana, MX for non California peeps)  for six months which my insurance said would qualify but I needed to pick up the paperwork. So that is what I did this past Monday.  Wednesday, I had my Upper GI endoscopy with my partner in crime, Rocio, who is also having bariatric surgery with Dr. Feiz. I am so ready to have gastric sleeve and start my new Path For Life!  

Older Adults Enjoy Positive Health Effects of the Mediterranean Diet

As one of the foremost experts in bariatric surgery our team at Dr. Feiz and Assoicates is always interested in new research into weight loss for individuals of all ages. That's why we wanted to share some fascinating information we found in an article from Science Daily. The article details a study published in the Journals of Gerontology Series: A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences regarding the Mediterranean diet.

The diet is associated with a lower risk of hyperuricemia, which has been associated with metabolic syndrome, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, gout and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The study found a distinct decrease in hyperuricemia risk in older adults who partook in the diet. 

The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, olive oil, nuts and whole grain, as well as occasional dairy, meats and pastries. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, the diet has been widely touted among weight loss professionals.

Dr. Feiz is of course the premiere expert in performing gastric sleeve surgery to obese and severely overweight patients, but Dr. Feiz and his entire team stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and fitness regimen throughout life. For questions regarding your best options for weight loss in Los Angeles, contact Dr. Feiz and Associates today, and lead the healthy, happy life you deserve!  

Way to Go, Matt!

If you haven't met our April patient ambassador, here's another chance. Matt Brown is a 37 year-old married father of two from Camarillo who obtained the gastric sleeve surgery from Dr. Feiz after being floored by severe back pain in the form of a 9 millimeter disc bulge. Like so many painful conditions, Matt's back problem was being significantly worsened by his excessive body weight of well over 340 pounds on a 5'11" inch frame.

Matt was already concerned about the effect of his weight on his ability to function as a dad after a long day of doing construction work, and he could see a future ahead of him where his health would very likely be threatened by such scourges as diabetes and high blood pressure. The back pain, though, was an impossible-to-ignore sign, and he decided to pay attention.

Talking to Matt now, two months and 60 pounds later, you can tell he's satisfied that what he did was the right thing. His is very definitely a happy story of weight loss surgery -- even if he's been eating so little in comparison to the past that his wife was initially worried.

Although the road back to health after any of the types of weight loss surgery that are available is far from instant, he's clearly the kind of hardworking, sticktuitive guy who is determined to make the most of his life for both himself and for his family. As he puts it, "It’s just kind of thrilling to be able to be over that drama of being so overweight and in pain that it felt like I couldn’t do much. Now, it really looks like things are going to be getting a lot better over the long haul.”

Matt, Our hats are off to you.

Creative Ways to Assist Weight Loss

Patients will come to the office of Michael Feiz, MD, FACS looking to reclaim their health through weight loss surgery. These people have tried everything, including diet and exercise, to no avail. In fact, one of the requirements for a bariatric surgery is that the patient has tried to lose weight in other ways. Once approved for a surgery like the sleeve gastrectomy or lap band, the journey begins for Dr. Feiz' patients. Here are three creative ways to lose weight that can help promote the effects of a weight loss procedure:

Money for weight loss.

Cash incentive, especially when shared by groups, have been shown to help weight loss, as shown by a University of Pennsylvania study. Many groups of friends or coworkers have also found success through diet pools, where those who keep their fitness commitment win a collective pot.

Weight loss apps.

A recent UK NHS study showed that overweight users of a smartphone app lost three times as much weight as paper diary users. The app used kept track of caloric intake, exercise, and sent weekly updates to users. This doesn't surprise us; knowledge and keeping notes always helps weight loss and using something we have on us all the time anyway makes the process easier (the study said that paper diary users only wrote in their journals about once a week, compared to every other day for the app users).

Hula hoop as exercise.

Kelly Osbourne recently attributed part of her weight loss to having a girls night in where they all exercise through a hula hoop workout. Not only is this an incredibly aerobic and midsection workout; it also brings some fun back into exercise. Find something you enjoy doing—no matter how silly—that counts as a workout and find the joy in exercise again!



Dr. Feiz understands that weight loss doesn't just magically happen after a bariatric surgery; it takes hard work and commitment to a nutrient-rich diet. Plus, a patient's weight loss, while rapid at first, must be confidently maintained and improved on through this dedication. Dr. Feiz keeps tabs on his patients throughout the post-surgical time period, making sure they are losing weight, maintaining healthy habits, and staying aware of their psychological health. To go on this journey with Dr. Feiz and his fantastic team, call 310-817-6911 today to schedule a free consultation.

New Research Shows How Weight Loss Surgery Changes Fattening Microbes in the Stomach to Slimming Ones

As experts on weight loss in Los Angeles, we're always on the look out for new stories about life-changing weight loss procedures, and this news article out of Connecticut certainly caught our eye.

The story from the Stamford Advocate follows Anthony Accino, a Stamford, Connecticut man who once reached a high of 315 lbs. After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery a little over a year ago, Accino reached his goal weight of 215 lbs, a full 100 lbs less than his heaviest weight.

The story also includes quotes from staff members of the Stamford Hospital Center for Surgical Weight Loss. Dr. Daniel Davis, the center's director of bariatric surgery, said the number of people choosing bariatric weight loss surgery has grown in recent years thanks to less-invasive laparascopic surgical techniques requiring smaller incisions that limit pain and recovery time. Davis says the increase has also been partly linked to a gradual change in which employers have added insurance coverage for the procedures as an effective way to improve the health of overweight workers. "What we hope will happen is with more data about the impact of the surgery that more and more employees will realize that they will have employees who are healthier and absent less," he said.

Dr. Anna Freitag, medical director for the hospital's Diabetes and Endocrine Center and president of the Fairfield County American Diabetes Association said she has seen bariatric surgery procedures help diabetes patients who could not control their weight through dieting and exercising alone.

Freitag said she has seen a trend of more newly diagnosed diabetes patients  in their 30s and 40s come to the hospital. Many of these patients have developed the disease because of their genetic predisposition being aggravated by poor diets and excessive eating.

At Dr. Feiz and Associates, we commend the work being done by the medical professionals at the center as well as the discipline among patients. By continuing to encourage positive dietary and fitness habits in addition to any necessary surgical weight loss solutions, we may be able to make a significant difference in the fight against obesity and diabetes in the U.S.