The Holiday Season

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we have now entered the holiday season. It's a wonderful time of year where we all get to celebrate and spend time with our family and loved ones. It's also a time to reflect on the past year and see how far we've come in terms of achieving any personal goals.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we understand that when it comes to our weight loss goals, keeping track of our progress throughout the year can be a challenge. Moreover, we know that it is especially challenging during the holiday season when we are tempted to stray from our healthy eating habits with holiday treats.

While this may be a time to celebrate and let loose a little, keeping our healthy eating habits in line should remain a priority. Taking some extra time to reflect on our habits can really help us with our weight loss goals in the long run.

Luckily, we not only offer our patients with cutting-edge bariatric surgery procedures, such as a sleeve gastrectomy, to help them achieve their weight loss goals, our friendly and understanding team of medical professionals are available to answer any questions or address any concerns our patients may have. We know that with the right support, our patients can maintain their healthy eating habits and enjoy the many benefits following a weight loss surgery procedure.

So this holiday season, keep your health and healthy eating habits in mind. Take some time to reflect and surround yourself with supporting people to help and motivate you during your weight loss journey.

Getting the Whole Story

One of the biggest problems we face in every endeavor of any kind is making sure we have all the information need. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing," goes the old saying, because it can be only too easy to think we know more than we do about a given situation and get ourselves into trouble. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we are big believers in providing our patients with all the information they need to make a truly informed decision about their weight loss options. The usual result is an outstanding outcome.

The fact of the matter is that we humans have a tendency to believe what we want to believe. This is why so many dubious weight loss supplements have, unfortunately, made a lot of people wealthy. Bariatric surgery, on the other hand, is a highly effective intervention that definitely works, which is the good news. The less good news is that it's a very serious step and really not for everyone, but for the right patient it can truly be a lifesaver.

Whether patients end up getting a sleeve gastrectomy or some other procedure, our goal is to make sure patients have the complete story and understand fully what to expect before, during, and after their procedure. Weight loss surgeries are extremely safe and very effective, but they are still surgeries. Patients should know all the important details, and we work hard to make sure they do.

A Lifelong Effort

While the road to a healthy weight may seem daunting at first, the significant health and lifestyle benefits make it all worth while. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates remind our patients of the powerful and positive outcomes that await them following their weight loss journey.

Research has revealed that bariatric surgery has improved or even resolved a variety of life-threatening diseases and health complications. Ranging from type-2 diabetes to heart disease, a significant weight loss positively impacts individuals suffering from these complications or who are seriously at risk of developing them. In addition, patients can also experience a reduced risk of developing other related complications, such as eye and nerve damage for diabetes patients.

Moreover, it's also important to remember the lifestyle benefits that are related to a significant weight loss. Obesity is often related to bone and joint pain that can make it extremely difficult and uncomfortable for patients to complete simple daily tasks. A significant weight loss following a bariatric procedure, such as a sleeve gastrectomy, can relieve the constant pressure on a patient's bones and joints and enables patients to have a more active lifestyle that, in effect, allows them to maintain their healthy weight in the long run. 

All in all, the health and wellness benefits following a significant weight loss can really make a difference in the overall quality of our lives. While we may be successful in achieving our goal weight, we must also remember to continue to put some effort in maintaining our health and well-being throughout our lives. 

Setting a Good Example

We know this won't exactly come as a big shock to you, but one thing we've noticed at Dr. Feiz & Associates is that parents are only human. Shocking, yes, we know.

The thing is most parents who are severely obese are extremely concerned, and for good reason, about the possibility that their children might also run into weight issues as they get older. Without going too deep into the whole nature vs. nurture questions, it's clear that weight issues really do run in families for reasons that are probably both genetic and environmental. It's also very likely that a parent's good example can rub off on a child, as a recent Washington University study found when it looked at parent's weight loss and some corresponding weight loss in their adolescent offspring.

Which brings us back to that whole matter of parents being only human. We're learning more and more that the reason bariatric surgery is necessary for some many people boils down to one fact. It's not that traditional diet and exercise solutions don't work -- they do. It's just that, largely because of hormonal and also some metabolic factors, it's just so incredibly difficult to sustain a large weight loss over time that very, very few people are able to do it. It's as if the body is doing everything it can to make losing large amounts of weight into a full time job that most people simply find impossible.

The good news is that, like most illnesses, obesity is a lot easier to prevent that it is to cure. It's possible that parents really can help to prevent severe obesity in their children by setting an example, eating a great deal less and losing weight permanently as as result. However, since it's too late for prevention for the parents, they're likely to need the help of a procedure such as a sleeve gastrectomy  to really be able to do things right.

Parents should also realize that they are sending a pretty positive message by getting a procedure. Their kids will learn it's by no means "the easy way out" -- it's more like the only way out -- and they'll admire their ability to do what needs to be done to make a positive change. Then, they'll see the change in the parents actions that result from the procedure...and we know that all the good advice in the world is nothing compared to the power of a good example.

Trick or Treat?

With the upcoming Halloween festivities underway, we know how tempting it is to indulge on our favorite candy and sweets. Although the idea of biting down on a delicious caramel apple may not seem so bad, especially since an apple is often considered a healthy food choice, these treats are not the best way to stick to our healthy diets.

We at Dr. Feiz & Associates are well aware of the many snack and food temptations that are especially popular around October and spill on to the holiday season. During this time, it's especially essential to reflect on our food choices and make sure that we stay on track. 

While we may sometimes feel at fault for having these cravings and diverging a bit from our regular healthy diets, extensive research points to our hormones and brain as large factors that influence our food preferences. These factors, however, shouldn't dissuade us from thinking that we are unable to combat our obesity. There are a number of cutting-edge bariatric surgery procedures that can really make all the difference in helping us reach our weight loss goals. 

It's also important to remember that even after a a weight loss procedure, such as a gastric sleeve, we have to continue to make efforts to maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. Luckily, these procedures can make our weight loss goals alot easier to achieve and maintain throughout our lives. 

We hope that you have a happy and safe Halloween and remember not to let those seemingly healthy treats trick you!

The True Cost of Obesity

A recent review which looked at improvements in illness and sick leave by employees who have had bariatric surgery got us thinking about the true cost of obesity. Of course, many of the impacts of being severely obese especially are impossible to put into dollars and cents. Still, there's no getting around the fact that, on top of the non-financial cost of being obese in terms of the length and quality of life, it's also very expensive.

The most obvious part of the equation, as we're keenly sware of of here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, are increased health care costs. Even with a decent insurance plan, prescriptions, frequent office visits, tests, outpatient procedures, and hospitalizations can really add up over the course of a lifetime.

That's just  one aspect of the cost side of the equation. Being severely obese can also really cut into income in a number of different ways. There's the increased number of sick days that may or may not be covered by employers but, more seriously for the individual, there's an increased chance of being out of work entirely. Sometimes there are health reasons for this and, sadly, workplace discrimination is a genuine issue for very obese obese individuals.

Fortunately, modern medical science is here with techniques that really do work, including procedures like a gastric sleeve with it's very many well documented benefits. It's a solution that really does add up.

Combating Obesity and Its Health Risks

As more research and studies are conducted to better understand the causes and risks of obesity, the results all tend to have a similar message; obesity leads to a number of life-threatening health problems. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates stay up to date on the latest discoveries so that we can continue to help patients significantly improve the overall quality of their lives through the latest and best bariatric surgery procedures.

Recently, new research has revealed that obese individuals with type 2 diabetes are at a much greater risk of developing liver cancer. Obesity has also been linked to a number of other health conditions such as osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and heart disease. That's why, now more than ever, it's important to address obesity so that patients can improve their health as well as their quality of life.

Many of our patients have experienced significant health improvements after losing their excess weight following a bariatric surgery, such as a sleeve gastrectomy. Apart from higher levels of energy and increased mobility, patients have also noticed that a variety of their health conditions have improved or have even been completely resolved.

Losing weight isn't just about looking better, it's also about reducing our risks of developing life-threatening health conditions and living happier and healthier lives. There are a number of bariatric surgery procedures that can provide patients with significant health improvements and long-term results. It's up to us to continue to make solid efforts to maintain our weight and keep our health in check so that we can experience the best that life has to offer.

Of Diet and Delusion

It doesn't matter whether you're dealing with severe obesity or the kind of smaller but still important weight issues that are now facing the majority of Americans, you are probably perfectly aware that you're eating more food than is good for you. Yet, you continue to eat that way. Even those of us here at Dr. Feiz & Associates find ourselves making food choices that may be less than ideal, while giving ourselves an excuse that may not be consistent with reality.

Everyone has their own excuses and it's easy to make fun of them in others, but harder to see in ourselves. For example, we've heard of one older gentlemen who always select strawberry ice cream, not because it's his favorite flavor, he says, but because he assumes it's healthier as there might be a small amount of actual strawberry contained within it. In reality, he might as well go with chocolate, but then why was it we found ourselves saying it was perfectly okay to eat that large bowl of super-rich, butter-laden Indian chicken curry because it had chicken breast and vegetables in it? Of course, the dish would have been fine...without the hugely fattening sauce which we nevertheless consumed in its entirety, while also downing every grain of rice and all the naan on our plate! Oh, did we mention that we walked an extra block before we ate and burned maybe 35 additional calories? Never mind.

Yes, if we're at all overweight, we all delude ourselves to some degree when we eat. There's a reason for it, however, and it's not that we're weak or lacking in self-control. It's actually very largely because of the hormonal impulses which are subtly encouraging us to eat as much as we can. The more overweight we are, the stronger and more difficult to fight those impulses become, which is why procedures like a gastric sleeve have proven to be such a godsend. These surgeries actually appear to address the hormonal impulses -- once useful to mankind when food was scarce, but now something of a curse -- which have been designed to make us eat more than we really need at any given time.

Of course, we humans are pretty good at deluding ourselves about all kinds of things, not just food. It's possible we'll never cure that problem in most areas of our lives, but at least a bariatric surgery can help us to be a bit more realistic about our eating.

Different Approaches to Weight Loss

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we often hear about theoretically new methods of weight loss. Some seem more promising than others, of course. Others are modestly helpful. Lately, there's been lots of talk about weight loss therapy and how it can help people struggling with their weight.

This form of therapy, called Acceptance Based Behavioral Treatment, helps individuals cope with their feelings related to hunger and food. Although this form of therapy may be helpful, particularly for folks trying to lose a fairly small percentage of their body fat, severely obese people for the time being generally need the support of a bariatric surgery in order to make serious progress in the fight against obesity. It has been to actually change the mental impulses that often cause us to overeat in the first place.

Even so, it's important for bariatric surgery patients to remember to be mindful about the things they eat and the amount of physical activity we incorporate in our lifestyles. It's crucial to remember that weight loss always requires some significant effort and commitment. While the thought of having to make efforts to have healthier lifestyles and eating habits after a weight loss procedure may seem daunting to patients who have not yet received a procedure, they generally find their up to the task. That's the good news.

Don't Stress Out About It (Too Much)

Here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, we know that studies that can seem a bit confusing come out on a regular basis. A new one about the relationship between a tendency towards stress and anxiety being linked in some way to obesity got us thinking about how hard it is to figure out just what it is that triggers the overeating which is responsible for obesity, and also about how challenging it can be to achieve the truly healthy lifestyle we need to defeat it.

Indeed, aside from the matter of whether or not anxious people are more likely to be obese than calmer folks, there's the interesting everyday matter of what tends to trigger overeating. Yes, "stress eating" is a very common phenomenon, experienced by obese and non-obese individuals alike, who find that food tends to calm their anxieties.

Others, however, including at least some people with weight issues, actually tend to eat less and may even lose some weight when they are under some amount of stress. These people experience the equally common phenomenon of losing their appetite entirely when they are deeply worried about something. Indeed, for many people with weight issues, it's not so mcuh stress which can make them overindulge, it's boredom. At the same time, it's important to remember that not all stress is a bad thing; it can help us make important changes in our life and, at the right levels, can actually increase our enjoyment of life. It's all a matter of getting the right balance.

With all these subtleties and differences between individuals, it's no wonder that understanding how obesity works, and how to deal with it, has proven so incredibly difficult. Fortunately, we at least know that bariatric surgery really does seem to be the one thing that helps severely obese individuals to permanently reduce their food intake without being constantly distracted by excessive food cravings. At least there's one thing we don't have to stress out about!

Exercise Anyway!

For people trying to lose a lot of weight mostly by exercising a lot, the news has not been good. Evidence seems to indicate that, while exercise is certainly helpful for controlling weight -- and is absolutely excellent at improving our health and staving off the worst impacts of obesity -- it is not as powerful in terms of weight loss to try to expend more calories through exercise as it is simply to ingest fewer calories in the first place.

Here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, we understand why people are not thrilled by this. For many of us, it actually seems easier to increase our level of exercise than it is to eat a great deal less -- and that's because, as we've seen time and time again, while exercise tends to become a habit, curtailing our diet actually gets harder and harder over time for most individuals.

This is why so many people manage to lose a very large amount of weight ultimately regain their weight. It's very much as if the body and the brain, driven by certain key hormones, really wants us to regain the weight and will do everything in our power to persuade us to overeat so that we return to our prior weight. This is why procedures like the gastric sleeve have proven to be such a godsend to severely obese patients; they seem to actually change the metabolic processes that make weight loss so difficult for the large majority of patients.

Even so, whether or not you're are a candidate for bariatric surgery, we strongly advise everyone -- and especially those struggling with obesity -- to work exercise into their daily lives. (Though, of course, if you've been completely inactive, you should consult a physician before embarking on a vigorous new regime.) For nearly all of us, it's one of the best favors we can do for ourselves, with a lot of proven physical and psychological benefits. For those of us with obesity, however, it's one of the few countermeasures we can take that can reduce a great many of the worst impacts of being  overweight.

Health is not always an either/or situation. Sometimes it's more of a "yes, but..." In this case. it's "yes, exercise probably won't cure your obesity by itself" and "but, even if you remain obese, it will make your obesity-related health problems possibly a great deal less severe and, if you lose weight, it will help you stay that way and be as healthy as possible." In other words, just get out and do something. Regardless of whether or not you lose weight, you'll be a lot better off.

It's All in Your Head

Earlier today we were looking at a tasty looking recipe for a low-calorie dish using spaghetti squash in place of actual spaghetti. Of course, squash is a vegetable (well, technically, a fruit) and pasta is a grain-based dish; there really aren't all that many similarities except that it's long and stringy. Still, cover it with the right sauce and it can be a very nice part of a low-cal healthy lifestyle, even if lacks a lot of the yummy starch most of us crave. For us humans, it seems, a lot can be accomplished by fooling ourselves in minor ways with what really amounts to psychological tricks.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're keenly aware that there's no underestimating the psychological side of weight loss. We're not just taking about psychology in the usual sense of dealing with how our thoughts and emotions impact our desire to overeat, we also mean that the only way we know we're hungry -- and we mean physically hungry, not just desiring food in order to pass the time -- is through our brains. Every time we eat, whether we're eating just the right amount to nourish our bodies or far too much, our brain is at the center of the experience.

An example of this that we often discuss involves the production of a hormone called ghrelin. In a person without obesity, this hormone performs the essential function of telling an individual that food is needed. However, obese individuals seem to produce more of it and, worse, its production actually increases when we begin to lose weight. So, our brain actually thinks we need food even when we don't and we feel as if we haven't eaten nearly enough. No wonder the statistics on weight loss are so depressing.

Fortunately, it turns out that bariatric surgery, such as a gastric sleeve, has a pretty big impact in terms of reducing these deceptive and dangerous signals. Specifically, by removing a large portion of the stomach, we also appear to reduce the production of ghrelin, which apparently makes it a lot easier to stick to the reduced calorie regimen we need to lose significant a lot of weight and keep it off over the long term.

So, in a funny way, when it comes to dealing with obesity, the way to a person's brain is largely through their stomach!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend is upon us and while we may take the day to relax and perhaps indulge in some home-made comfort food, it's important to remember that your journey to weight loss should never take a day off. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates understand that there are a variety of reasons that people struggle with obesity and although undergoing a bariatric surgery can certainly help a patient lose a significant amount of weight, the work very definitely doesn't stop there.

Though it's true that a bariatric surgery has proven to reduce lower levels of hunger inducing hormones and has also shown to improve a variety of health complications related to obesity, we still advise our patients to implement a nutritious and healthy diet as well as some exercise into their lifestyle after surgery. The sole purpose of a weight loss surgery isn't just to help you lose the excess weight, it's also about helping you keep it off in the long run and improving your overall quality of life. 

Indeed, a gastric sleeve surgery is an extremely effective method of weight loss, however, paired along with better food choices and more physical activity, you'll not only maintain your ideal weight and enjoy the many health benefits, but you'll feel good doing so too.

Our health is a lifetime project that requires our daily attention, even on holidays. 

The Blame Game

It's human nature to want to blame something or, better yet, someone, for any serious problem we may find ourselves facing. However, when it comes to the question of obesity, even though it's the primary focus of our work here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, it's extremely difficult to tease out one single factor that's truly responsible for the increasing problem of obesity.

To be sure, the fact that calories, particularly empty calories bereft of nutrients, have never in human history been more easily available or cheaper is certainly part of the equation. So is the fact that most of us have sedentary occupations and struggle to find time and motivation to participate in physical exercise. Still, these factors impact almost everyone, but only some of us become obese. That's why some people like to blame alleged character flaws in obese people. The reality, however is that there really seems to be no particular type of person who becomes obese.

Honestly, however, all we know for sure at this point is that, once we become obese, it's extremely difficult to lose the weight. Our bodies appear to be set up to want to maintain our weight -- whatever weight that may be -- and they do everything they can to thwart our attempts to reduce our size, including manufacturing hormones which make us feel ever more hungry and slowing down the rate at which we burn calories.

When it comes to finding an ultimate cause, obesity remains largely a health mystery. Fortunately, we at least have one working solution in bariatric surgery. We've now proven through countless studies and massive anecdotal data that these procedures not only make it a lot less comfortable to overeat, procedures such as a gastric sleeve surgery render metabolic changes that seem to help patients do what many of them previously thought was next to impossible: losing significant weight and keeping it off in the long run.

So, yes, we're not at all sure what to blame obesity on, but at least we have one effective solution.

Food for Thought

There's been lots of talk lately about the effects of bariatric surgery on the brain, particularly in terms of its response to food. We all know that part of the reason why most patients are unable to achieve long lasting results is because of the difficulty for many to keep on making healthier food choices over a long period of time. Yes, it can be incredibly hard to overcome our desires to overindulge in food at times, however, weight loss surgery can change that.

The good news is that recent studies have shown that weight loss surgery procedures, such as a gastric sleeve, not only limit the amount of food that is able to be consumed by severely obese patients, but can also radically change their entire relationship with food. The studies also point out that bariatric surgery patients showed lowered levels of activity in the brain's reward centers when they were exposed to images of food.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we work hard so that our patients can safely and successfully lose weight and most importantly, keep it off in the long run. With extremely effective and cutting-edge weight loss surgery procedures showing even more promising results thanks to these studies, you can really see that a healthy lifestyle is achievable.

Choose the Right Tool

There's no getting around it, weight loss is hard; people who think anyone with an obesity issue can easily adopt a healthy lifestyle when it comes to eating have almost certainly never faced a serious battle with their own weight. So, it's no wonder that so many of us keep looking for, and buying, products that claim to make losing weight easier in some way, or which even advertise nearly miraculous properties in terms of helping consumers win the battle of the bulge. The problem is that these products are rarely even mildly helpful and are, more often than not, a complete waste of money and time. Worse, a large number of them can actually be dangerous or, at least, unhealthy.

We obviously spend a great deal of time thinking about weight management here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, and while there are options for people in all kinds of situations, they are relatively limited. For those of us with a relatively small amount of weight to deal with, the battle is hard but achievable with a serious commitment to the right mix of a lower calorie diet and a healthy amount of exercise.

For those of us who are definied as severely obese, however, the challenge is all that much greater and many find it essentially insurmountable. For these people, sooner or later, the pangs of hunger that only increase as we lose weight become too hard to fight. Fortunately, bariatric surgery is the one tool that really has been proven to truly help. It's not a magic bullet that makes losing weight a breeze, but patient after patient has found that it lowers the hunger pangs enough to make redefining your relationship with food more easily doable.

Choosing the right tool is important in any job and, for severely obese people, we now have at least one that really does seem to work in most cases.

Finding the Right Balance

Following the hubbug around "The Greatest Loser" reality show study some months back, many of us latched onto the fact that contestants exercised between four and eight hours a day. Of course, that much exercise is not only impractical for those of us with jobs, families, and other responsibilities, it's actually dangerous without serious medical supervision. Worse, as the contestants on the show have learned since, it's unsustainable on a number of levels because of lower metabolic rates following that kind of a weight loss.

At facilities like Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're learning every day about how effective weight loss procedures have been in helping severely obese patients to finally defeat obesity. While we've long since proven that these procedures work, we're still learning exactly why it is that a bariatric surgery seems so much more effective than traditional approaches. Of course, the issue is not that simply eating a great deal less and exercising more doesn't work, it's that the "eating a great deal less" part of the equation seems to be nearly undoable over the long term because of hormones that go into overdrive and push us to resume our old dietary ways.

What we've found, though, is that procedures such as the gastric sleeve fit in with a truly balanced and healthy lifestyle, particularly as they help patients deal with the incessant hunger pangs that sabotage the vast majority of traditional weight loss attempts. The good news is that, with a weight loss procedure, while a healthy amount of exercise is very strongly encouraged, you won't need to exercise an abnormal amount just to lose weight, because you'll be able to consume few enough calories to first lose and then maintain your weight while still living a happy and well-balanced life.

The Pokémon Cure?

Earlier this week we came across a Forbes piece entitled 'Pokémon GO' May Be This Generation's Cure For Obesity." The article describes how it's writer, who was apparently so uninterested in exercise he had, it appears, broken up with a girlfriend rather than accompany her to the gym, starting walking more than he was used to while playing the game. It doesn't really explain how the game could be any kind of a cure for obesity.

Now, don't get us wrong, we strongly encourage our patients at Dr. Feiz & Associates to exercise in any way that they can, and walking is great. It can definitely help with weight loss somewhat, but its health benefits go far beyond the relatively very few calories we burn off when we exert ourselves. At the same time, there are more studies indicating that exercise might be more important for helping to reverse the bad health outcomes of obesity rather than actually causing weight loss.

The point here is that some non-obese readers will undoubtedly argue that people who obtain a bariatric surgery are somehow being lazy because, they might say, all obese individuals really need to do is to find a reason to get out more and walk. The problem is that exercise, as wonderful as it is for both our physical and mental health, does little to reduce the desire to overeat that motivates our patients to get such procedures as the gastric sleeve.

Of course, anything that motivates people to exercise, including Pokémon GO, is a good thing. For children, it's possible the game could be very useful we're sure, in terms of getting kids in the habit of exercising, and possibly could help prevent obesity in adulthood. But, at least for adults, whose weight and eating habits are pretty much set, we're pretty sure a video game craze is not going to single-handedly cure many cases of severe obesity. On the other hand, if an obese person starts exercising more because of the game and continues the habit throughout their life, it really could be a lifesaver. So, we're definitely for people going out in search of cute monsters if that's what gets them to take a walk...just don't expect capturing that capturing Pikachu will make you thin!

An Active Life

We all know that exercise has a variety of health benefits. It can help with weight loss and improve the appearance of our bodies. However, severely obese patients oftentimes struggle to engage in physical activity that can help them reach their weight loss goals. That's why, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates recommend bariatric surgery to our qualifying patients. Besides the proven health benefits provided by weight loss surgery, losing a significant amount of weight also makes engaging in exercise a possibility for the patient.

In addition, increased mobility also motivates a severely obese patient to engage in social interactions that they might ordinarily shy away from. Indeed, a great improvement in the overall quality of life can be possible with a bariatric surgery.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we know that losing weight is not just about looking good. Helping our patients feel happy and healthy is also a big part of our focus. Our cutting-edge weight loss surgery procedures, such as the gastric sleeve, can help a patient do more than successfully lose weight. Changing your life with weight loss surgery is possible and we are here to help.

A New and Improved Quality of Life

It is common knowledge that obesity can significantly reduce the quality of a person's life. Excess weight can make it physically difficult to complete simple daily tasks and the variety of health conditions that obesity is linked to can prevent individuals from leading happy and healthy lives. That's why, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates are dedicated to helping those that need to lose a significant amount of weight through our various cutting-edge and extremely effective weight loss surgery procedures.

There is no doubt that diet and exercise are an important part of losing weight. However, for many reasons, individuals who are severely obese may find it difficult to stick to an effective diet plan and may also be physically unable to exercise. With the help of bariatric surgery, diet and exercise become easily achievable and an individual can then begin their life-changing journey towards a long-lasting weight loss.

We at Dr. Feiz & Associates have an outstanding group of highly experienced and extremely skilled medical staff that provide support to our patients every step of the way. Although several of our proven and cutting-edge weight loss procedures like the gastric sleeve help a patient effectively lose weight and look amazing, weight loss surgery is also likely to drastically improve their overall quality of life with the numerous health benefits they can experience.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we care about improving all aspects of our patients' lives through weight loss surgery. It's always amazing to hear how our patients are able to enjoy physical activities, see their children and grandchildren grow and feel happy and healthy after undergoing weight loss surgery. We understand that weight loss is not just about looking good, it's about feeling your best and enjoying what life has to offer.

Tips and Tricks

Most of the people who come to us here at Dr. Feiz & Associates have tried just about every approach to weight loss there is before finally deciding to take the surgical route. Indeed, as effective and safe as bariatric surgery now is, it's not surprising that most people would prefer to take some other approach to weight loss. It's a major step that alters the body in a very real way.

So. Why do people take this approach. It's not that -- as some might say -- "diet and exercise don't work"; they work great and are, indeed, the only way there is to actually lose weight. It's just that the body and brain are designed to maintain our present weigh, whatever it is, and very, very few of us are able to resist the urge to eat more than we need to lose significant weight, and then to keep on maintaining that weight loss.

Of course, there is an industry devoted to helping people lose weight. Indeed, while tips and tricks, as well as emotional support and coaching, can be somewhat helpful for people trying to lose, say, 10 or 20 pounds, when it comes to really dealing with severe obesity, they are of pretty limited assistance. Right now, however, there is one exception.

Bariatric procedures like a gastric sleeve have helped a great many people to lose weight and keep it off. That's because they actually get to the root of the problem by actually reducing our desire to eat so that we can focus on the task of relearning how to eat property, without being distracted by constant and unending food cravings. It's no trick, but the best tip we have for severely obese people is that it might pay to look into the bariatric approach.

Advice For a Happy and Healthy 4th of July

The 4th of July calls for celebration and relaxation. Family gatherings and barbecues can oftentimes distract us from our healthy diet regimens and, although we may give ourselves permission to eat foods we normally wouldn't eat this coming weekend, it's important to remember not to overdo it. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates emphasize the importance of staying on the right track for your health and ultimate weight loss goals.

Although bariatric surgery makes exercise and eating healthier foods a lot easier for you to incorporate into your daily routine, it's ultimately up to you to keep yourself on the right track. Keeping your weight and health goals in mind throughout the holiday weekend can really help you fight the urge to overindulge in unhealthy foods.

It's also very important to remember to keep a healthy lifestyle year round. You might be on vacation but your health, meal plan and food choices shouldn't be left on the back burner for too long. If you stay on target and continue to make conscious decisions to eat right, you'll definitely be able to fully enjoy any holiday season with your family and loved ones. After all, your health is important to them too!

So whether you're traveling this Independence Day weekend or planning on hosting your own barbecue party at home with your loved ones, don't forget to put your health first. Remember all that you worked hard for and the commitment you made to your health and well-being. Stick to what is best for you and your weight goals and you will stay on the right path. Most importantly, have fun!

Keep on Truckin': One Man's Weight Loss Journey

Just this year, loving husband and devoted father, Lorne Johnson made one of the most important decisions of his life. Prior to his weight loss surgery with Dr. Feiz on May 20th, 2016, Lorne Johnson was worried that his weight might keep him from being around for his family further down the road. Lorne didn't specifically suffer any health issues prior to the surgery, however, he knew he had to make some changes now or deal with complications in the future.

Before this point, Lorne was very discouraged and wasn't sure whether weight loss surgery was right for him. He had struggled with his weight his entire life and even though he was able to lose weight without surgery before, Lorne had trouble keeping it off.

"I'm tired of being the big guy in the room...it's time for me," he said. So with that in mind, Lorne Johnson made an appointment with Dr. Feiz. Upon meeting him, Lorne knew that he had made the right choice. "His team made a huge difference in my life," he said. He liked the fact that Dr. Feiz was friendly, approachable and immediately treated him "like family."

After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, Lorne was able to notice the difference in the way he looked and felt in the first couple of weeks. Today, weighing in at 272 pounds only a few short weeks after his procedure, Lorne lost a whopping 32 pounds. He couldn't believe how fast he was losing the weight.

A constantly on the move truck driver living in San Jacinto, CA,  Lorne Johnson says that he greatly values the time he gets to spend with his beloved family. Intriguingly, one of his many passions includes cooking. Coming from a large Italian family, Lorne was always surrounded by wholesome, homemade food. However, undergoing the weight loss surgery didn't diminish his passion and love for food. Lorne loves to cook, and after having his the surgery, he understands that he has a greater responsibility to his health than ever before. He continues to experiment with healthy food ingredients in the kitchen and shares his delicious home-cooked meals with his family today.

"My goal weight is 210 or 200," says Lorne. He still has a little ways to go but he is very excited for the future.

There's Only So Much Time...

If you follow the news around weight loss medicine and bariatric surgery, you are likely to see a fairly steady stream of stories about brand new techniques. Some of them might seem promising, others might seem very unattractive for any number of reasons. However, one thing they all have in common is that they are new and, therefore, far from proven.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we've seen first hand the good results that procedures like the gastric sleeve can achieve for the large majority of patients. We also see the growing mountain of evidence proving just how effective they are. Of course, it's only natural for patients to wonder if the grass might be greener on the other side of the weight loss fence. There's nothing wrong with that, and a bit of curiosity is never a bad thing. At the same time, severe obesity is an urgent health issue and there really isn't time for patients to wait, hoping for some kind of perfect medical miracle which will likely never arrive.

Right now, only proven bariatric procedures truly seem to help patients achieve the kind of consistently healthy lifestyle that's required to defeat severe obesity over the long haul. Your health is on the line and, honestly, there is only so much time.

What Type 2 Diabetes Can Actually Mean

There's been a great deal of good news recently about the impact of bariatric surgery on type 2 diabetes, in terms of improving or, in many cases, actually reversing the illness. Still, one issue that just about  all medical professionals come across when trying to persuade patients of the importance of preventing diabetes is that the disease itself, though all too real, can seem like something of abstraction.

The problem is that, on the one hand, type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness that can be managed if patients work hard at maintaining a truly healthy lifestyle. (Easier said than done, of course.) On the other hand, at least in its early stages the disease is typically asymptomatic. Moreover, while most people understand in an abstract way that diabetes makes you prone to more health problems and can easily shorten your lifespan, that's not the same thing as truly understanding what it can do to you.

So, we'll take a second to describe just two specific complications that most people might not know much about but which can be truly devastating. One issue that frightens many diabetics, once they start to develop symptoms, is that the nerve damage that can be caused by diabetes can often threaten the extremities, with far too many patients losing all or part of their feet in particular. Especially as people are aging and concerned with being able to stay active, this consequence is easy to understand.

One that's less well known, but actually far more devastating, is the fact the diabetes, especially in combination with high blood pressure (another very common obesity comorbidity) can essentially destroy kidney function. This puts patients in the terrifying position of having to choose between death and kidney dialysis. While dialysis saves lives, it is a hugely draining and time consuming process that takes about 12 hours a week and has many side-effects, many of which can be unpleasant. While many of us might find it bearable as a temporary stop-gap on the way to a kidney transplant, transplants are difficult to obtain and many older patients in particular might not even be candidates.

Of course, that's just two particular scenarios. Diabetes can also spur such debilitating conditions as strokes, Alzheimer's/dementia, blindness, hearing loss, not to mention the usual laundry list of life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. All of these conditions not only reduce lifespans, their impact on quality of life can be far more severe than you might imagine.

Fortunately, if patients are able to defeat their severe obesity, type 2 diabetes really can be reversed or, at least, greatly lessened in severity. Obviously, that's something we're able to help out with at Dr. Feiz & Associates, If you'd like some help defeating your severe obesity, we're here to help.

Portion Control

When it comes to incorporating a healthy diet in order to maintain our weight, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates emphasize balance and portion control. Just because we're filling ourselves with plenty of fruits and vegetables and stay away from junk food, it is still very possible to overwhelm ourselves with too much high calorie fruits.

While bariatric surgery can help diminish the urge to overeat, it is still important to remember to practice portion control with anything we consume. Including a healthy amount of protein as well as some complex carbohydrates into our meal plans is perfectly fine as long as we eat in moderation.

Undergoing a Lap Band or a gastric sleeve procedure can help an individual lose weight, however, it is up to the patient to make healthy food choices to maintain their weight for the rest of their lives. There is such a thing as eating too many fruits and vegetables. By choosing to include a variety of foods and practicing portion control, patients can keep a healthy weight for their entire lives.

A Weight Loss Surgery Enthusiast...for a Reason!

Jessenia Reyes is enthusiastic when it comes to the possibilities of weight loss surgery, and it’s easy to see why. Prior to her surgery with Dr. Feiz in July of 2013, her dreams of motherhood seemed remote. Weighing 220 pounds at only 5’1” and with multiple health problems, the health risks associated with gaining as much as 40 additional pounds seemed too much to bear.  Just a few years later, however, she is over 90 pounds lighter and has two highly successful pregnancies behind her.  Specifically, she lost all of her baby-weight both times and is now the proud mom of two healthy and adorable daughters Lila, 1½, and Mila, 3 months.

Discussing the matter today, Jessenia is clearly an effective evangelist for bariatric procedures and a supporter of those who obtain it. “I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she says without being prompted. 

Clearly, her persuasive powers may have encouraged others in her sphere to explore a weight loss surgery. That includes her sister, who has lost some 70 pounds, but that’s only the beginning. A manager of multiple car-washes with a husband in the armed forces, Jessenia tells us that five of her clients have obtained the procedure, and she has also offered support to a number of her fellow military wives. She’s also pen pals with a number of other post-surgical patients of Dr. Feiz.

Still, what may be most interesting to people considering a weight loss procedure is the internal change that allowed Jessenia to achieve her ideal weight. She says that, since the surgery, her entire relationship with food has changed. It just doesn’t have the same power over her as before. “Today, sometimes the smell of food, which before would have made me want to eat, just kind of makes want to leave it alone. I used want to eat meat all the time, but now just a very small amount is fine with me. A lot of the time now, I just eat off the kids’ menu.”

Jessenia, who had a gastric sleeve procedure, may very well be benefiting from the hormonal benefits involved with the procedure. Sleeve gastrectomies typically remove roughly 75-85% of the stomach, which also appears to drastically reduce the body’s production of ghrelin, an important, appetite-inducing hormone. Regardless, she also knows that the change following a weight loss procedure is not only physical.

“Social support is really important. Sometimes people can be discouraging, but I’ve been lucky that my husband has been really supportive. Really, everything has been good for me since getting my gastric sleeve. No complaints at all.”

Don't Believe the Hype

The struggle to lose weight and improve one's health is nothing new. So, if you’ve followed or dabbled with a fad diet, you’re certainly not alone. And if you actually lost weight with one of them, the pounds probably didn’t stay off for long, did they? What happened? Even in our era of unparalleled knowledge of the human body, we are sometimes still uncertain about what works and what doesn't, although that’s changing. It all comes down to leading a healthy lifestyle that’s rife with physical activity and the right portions of food you enjoy.

But we all know this. Yet we still see similar trends and fad diets come and go. And while we now have a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet and lifestyle, people with significantly high amounts of weight to lose experience a great degree of difficulty in achieving their weight loss goals. Fortunately, bariatric surgery is the only approach proven to help people with severe obesity lose weight and keep the pounds off.

We at Dr. Feiz & Associates have a comprehensive understanding of the struggle that obese patients endure in their weight loss journeys. When diets fail and exercise doesn't seem to be helping, bariatric surgery, while not a cure-all or miracle pill, is actually proven to work.

Eye of the Beholder

It's a bit of a cliche to say that perception is everything, but it is an awfully big part of just about everything we do in life. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we are particularly concerned with, naturally, how people perceive food and representations of food. We were thinking about this as we contemplated a picture of a pile of cheeseburgers and fries that accompanied a recent Facebook post.

Here's what interesting: While the picture clearly was meant to be less than appealing, it was before lunch and we found ourselves thinking about those cheeseburgers in a way that was clearly not intended. That, in a nutshell, is the problem that obese people have. We might know intellectually very well that certain kinds and amounts of food are very bad for us and, over time, will make us less happy as well as less healthy, but their short-term appeal overrides just about everything...even if we know the foods themselves might not even taste particularly good!

Fortunately, it's those kind of impulses that procedures like the gastric sleeve can help us deal with. Like all forms of bariatric surgery  it makes the available stomach area a great deal smaller, making overeating acutely uncomfortable. However, by removing roughly 75-85% of the stomach itself, it also greatly reduces the production of an appetite stimulating hormone called ghrelin. While patients still have to do a great deal of the work of weight loss on their own, reducing the number of powerful brain signals which cause us to be driven to eat food that we would be able to easily avoid if we were in our right mind, is an enormous help.

The Wonders of Water

We at Dr. Feiz & Associates try to do our best to stay on top of news and scientific breakthroughs in the weight loss community. One concern that has recently come up is whether the old adage of drinking more water prior to meals helps in dieting. In fact, a recent study in the journal called Obesity suggested that there may be some validity to this tip. In the study, men and women were placed on hypocaloric diets (1200 calories per day for women and 1500 for men). 30 minutes prior to each of their three daily meals, they were instructed to drink 500 ml  (2 cups) of water. Interestingly, while participants in both the water and non-water groups lost a significant amount of weight (11-17lbs) as a result of the diet, those who consumed more water before their meals actually lost an additional 4.4 pounds! So, in accordance with these findings, doctors may soon be recommending patients to consume approximately 2 cups of water prior to most meals. And because many people find themselves to suffering from the minor symptoms of dehydration, this may be a solid all-around health practice.

Whether you're seeking bariatric surgery options to reduce excess body weight, or are simply trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, we encourage all former, current, and prospective bariatric patients to follow health- and weight-loss related news. Remember, if you or a loved one is struggling with severe obesity, we're here to help.

Human After All

Ultimately, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates strive to help our patients cultivate a healthful and responsible relationship with food. The problem is that, in our industrialized, Western society, cheap and heavily-processed foods are often within reach, and this has led to unprecedented obesity rates that continue to rise worldwide. It doesn't help that advertisers have been trying to ritualize the consumption of French fries and get us hooked on sugar-laced cereals since the premier of Sesame Street. Many would be surprised to hear the fact that, while modern humans have walked this earth for approximately 200,000 years, for the majority of this time, our ancestors lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. This means that we were physically active about four to eight hours a day and ate a diet that consisted of various meats, fruits, berries, and nuts. We're not saying that obesity didn't exist at this point in human history, but it's safe to say that these people weren't dying prematurely from obesity-related health issues such as type 2 diabetes and heart failure.

The point is, in order to take up or lead a healthy lifestyle, we need to reevaluate our habits, lifestyles, and diet and consider their impact. We can take up new activities to reconnect with our biology, such as going on brisk, 30-minute walks a couple times a week to activate our metabolism and boost our mood. We can spend weekend hours prepping large batches of healthy foods to take with us to work during the week to avoid the detrimental temptation of fast food and its processed counterparts. We can read books by authors like Michael Pollan and learn more about how our ancestors prepared meals, and where the ingredients came from. In this digital age, we have more access to information than ever before. We just need to make use of it.

So, whether you're seeking bariatric surgery options to help undo some of the impact of obesity and other civilization-related health concerns, or simply looking for coaching services to control your eating, we're here to help.

The Power of Habit

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we avidly keep up with scientific research and developments, especially those that pertain to weight loss and nutrition. On this note, we'd like to underline the importance of adopting eating habits and weight loss behaviors that can lead to success. Of course, the most effective practices are often the hardest to establish, especially on a long-term basis. But some of these habits can be easy to start implementing. For example, one thing we may recommend post-bariatric surgery patients is to habitually weigh themselves to ensure that they're meeting their weight loss goals.

One way to instill such a habit is to associate it with a current habit. For example, when it comes to regular weigh-ins, consider buying a scale and using it every time you brush your teeth. Another habit linked to weight loss is, of course, controlling our eating. It can feel tempting to have just one or two more bites of a meal or dessert before we stop. In such cases, we may advise some patients to always ensure they have a low-calorie option handy in the refrigerator, such as celery sticks or apple slices, so that they have something to munch on instead. Sometimes the attraction to food is more about the mouthfeel rather than filling up, so this can be effective way to satisfy such a craving.

We at Dr. Feiz and Associates look forward to helping you attain your weight loss goals. So, whether you're considering a gastric sleeve procedure or the Lap Band, get in touch with us for a consultation to find out which option is best for you.

Let the Good Times Roll

For reasons that are probably all but genetically coded into us, whether we're talking about the traditional birthday cake, a Thanksgiving dinner, or a wedding buffet, we humans associate eating and celebration. Of course, at Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're primarily concerned with helping severely obese people learn to eat a great deal less than they have become accustomed to Even but there's no denying that our inborn association between good times and eating perhaps just a little bit more of high-calories foods than is good for us can complicate attempts at weight loss.

The good news is that a bariatric surgery can help to greatly diminish the nagging need to overeat, and will make truly excessive overeating on any occasion quite uncomfortable. Still, many of us find it difficult to say goodbye once and for all to the kind of feasting we might well associate with celebrations going back to early childhood. The trick is to try and uncouple the unhealthy act of overeating from the very healthy impulse to enjoy good times with the people who matter the most to us. That's a little bit easier said than done, which is why many patients find psychological and nutritional support to be very helpful After all, a Lap Band or a gastric sleeve can start the job of weight loss, but the patient has to finish it.

No Reservations

Honestly, is there anything more enjoyable than a hearty, home-cooked meal? Unfortunately, in a world where we often find ourselves working longer days with less free time, cooking an entire meal can sound downright daunting. Whether you've had bariatric surgery or are still considering it, cooking even simple recipes from whole, even organic ingredients is a great way to reestablish a healthy and natural relationship with food. Besides, maintaining a healthy lifestyle means not being afraid to try something new.

So, one of these days, why not try making a pizza or an artisan salad from scratch? You may be surprised at how your creations compare with those served up at fast food or traditional restaurants. There are multitudes of food blogs, YouTube channels, and cook books available at the library to fuel your inspiration. Additionally, follow our Dr. Feiz & Associates page on Facebook or Google+, because we often share links to high-quality, low-calorie recipes from every corner of the Internet.

We believe that cooking your own meals, along with other health habits such as exercise is a great way to help control obesity. Of course, if you or a loved one is struggling with severe obesity, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at Dr. Feiz & Associates - it may be one of the most importance decisions you can make.

The Best Medicine?

It's definitely true that obesity and bariatric surgery are no laughing matters. On the other hand, since it is April Fools Day, it might be a good time to look at the benefits, including the health benefits, of a sense of humor.

Such sources as WebMD have referenced a number of studies which found that laughter appears to have some of the same benefits as exercise, including boosting the heart rate and burning some extra calories in a healthy manner. There may also be some benefits in terms of blood sugar and immune response. Since we all know that humor releases tension, it's not surprising that there may also be benefits in terms of relaxation and sleep.

These are not small matters for anyone -- particularly those of us struggling with obesity and it's many health impacts. At the same time, it's important to keep things in perspective. At least right now, the impacts of laughter can't be quantified in the same way that, say, a gastric sleeve can. Also, it can be easy to overstate these matters. The laughter and health connection was first seriously suggested in the 1980s by writer Norman Cousins, who was dealing with a seemingly incurable and very painful condition.  He found that laughing hard watching old Marx Brothers movies and "Candid Camera" TV shows seemed to reduce or even eliminate his pain for an hour or two, allowing him to sleep.

Cousins himself was careful not to exaggerate what he had noticed, but the results were frequently exaggerated -- to the point where many people seemed to believe that the writer had laughed his way out of cancer. In reality, while his condition did improve, taking time to laugh was just a small part of a detailed health regimen -- and the condition he suffered from wasn't actually cancer!

Nevertheless, there's no denying that, while we can't yet prove that laughter adds years to your life, we can be pretty sure that, as the old saying goes, it adds a lot of life to your years. We at Dr. Feiz & Associates heartily recommend it!

The Heart of Things

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we are not only simply concerned about helping our patients meet their weight loss goals, we also want to help them improve their overall health and well-being. This is why, when taking into consideration the life-saving benefits of bariatric surgery, we cannot recommend it more to qualified patients who are struggling with severe obesity. Of course, we want you to look your best, and one of the ways to do this is to shed some excess body weight. But few people seem to realize that bariatric surgery can not only improve your life; it can extend it outright.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States - even higher than that of cancer and respiratory illnesses. So anyone with severe obesity who has experienced heart failure - or at risk for it - would do well knowing that weight loss surgery procedures such as the gastric sleeve can not only reduce your weight, they can reduce your chances of an untimely end. We don't mean to sound grim by any means, we simply want people to know that living with severe obesity is more than an inconvenience - it's a bona fide way to shorten your life.

Weight loss surgery procedures are the most effective means for people with severe obesity to improve both the quality and length of their lives. If you or a loved one is struggling with severe obesity, don't hesitate to get in contact with us at Dr. Feiz & Associates. It may be one of the most importance decisions you can make.

Type 2 Diabetes: Your New Normal?

Here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, we have been keeping a close watch on the frequent waves of research showing a positive correlation between successful weight loss surgeries and the improvement, and in some cases complete remission, of type 2 diabetes. This is important because, as obesity rates continue to increase nationally, more and more people are dealing with this illness.

Now, doctors typically treat diabetes as a chronic condition which can be managed with reasonable success, and patients often take the news in stride. However, the costs of not managing diabetes properly can be extremely severe, and not all patients are able to handle it with equal success; as weight increases, so do diabetes-related problems. Indeed, even many patients are not fully aware of all the ramifications of this illness.

Particularly in combination with hypertension, another extremely common comorbidity, diabetes can be highly destructive to the health of a great many key organs, including the kidneys and the heart. This can result not only in a reduced lifespan, but a vastly lower quality of life in ways that patients don't often contemplate. For example, while many of us might worry about dying prematurely because of a heart attack, few of us take into account just how difficult it can be to have to go on dialysis due to kidneys that have failed because of diabetes and high blood pressure, or that diabetes can lead to the loss of limbs in a number of cases.

Of course, the good news is that bariatric surgery can make weight loss a great deal easier and, as has been proven through an ever-increasing number of studies, it really can make all the difference when it comes to either reducing blood sugar-related problems, or even eliminating diabetes entirely. For severely obese people, reaching a healthy weight can seem like an almost possible dream and, while bariatric procedures are far from magical, they make significant weight loss seem a lot more possible.

To find out whether a procedure such as a gastric sleeve or a Lap Band might be a key part of your the solution to your health issues, please feel free to give us a call.

No Quick Fixes

From meal subscription plans to bitter drink mixes, we've received a number of questions regarding consumer products which promise quick weight loss results. For one, because none of these products are regulated or even approved by the FDA, no one can say for sure whether they are effective, or even safe for people to try. Yet, it isn't surprising that many people struggling to lose weight are attracted to snake oil cures that are advertised on many television channels and Internet sites. What's more, because it can be so difficult to make progress in losing weight and keeping it off, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates understand the feeling of hope a new purchase, idea, or perspective can bring. 

But it's important to have a level-headed approach, especially when it comes to living with obesity and the health complications it can bring about. Procedures like the gastric sleeve, which are scientifically proven to be effective in combating obesity, are the best option at your disposal.

Unlike infomercial pitchmen and other dubious personalities, we at Dr. Feiz & Associates can safely say that bariatric surgery patients can expect to lose between 40 and 60 percent of their excess body weight within the first year after their procedure. What other weight loss product can promise that? If you're still struggling with yo-yo dieting or severe obesity, please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Stop Reminding Me...or Not!

If you ever hear someone say that they obesity epidemic comes down to just one root cause, be very suspicious. The fact of the matter is that the reason that procedures like the gastric sleeve have become the gold standard for obesity treatment is that severe obesity, especially, is so complex, only by directly addressing the issue of appetite and by making it physically uncomfortable to overeat can real progress apparently be made.

Still, of all the usual culprits that people mention when they discuss obesity, the last one we would ever think of is that people are not being reminded enough of their weight problem. Yet, a Colorado study recently found that Spanish language text messages sent to type 2 diabetes patients seemed to support a healthy lifestyle to the extent of encouraging modest weight loss. While this is obviously no magic bullet for dealing with severe obesity especially, it is interesting that these reminders had any impact at all. After all, in a society as obsessed with weight issues as ours, it's not likely that people with weight issues ever forget about them for any length of time.

Perhaps it's the sense that someone cares enough to send these messages that's encouraging people to take positive steps towards weight control. Or maybe it's that the text messages disrupt our usual self-talk and jar us into taking real action to prevent overeating. Text messages are, of course, very far from a substitute for the right kind of bariatric surgery, but they are food for thought.

Nothing is Easy

It's human nature to want to look for easy ways out of tough problems, it's just a shame that they almost never exist. Here at Dr. Feiz & Associates, we're constantly advising the public that, while weight loss surgery can make significant, long-term weight loss a great deal more doable, it's far from an easy way out. The hard work of changing our entire relationship with food still requires effort and commitment, even if a weight loss surgery such as a gastric sleeve quiets the urges to overeat that sabotage the vast majority of weight loss efforts.

We were thinking about this when we encountered the story of a "detox" tea that was being touted on social media as something of a weight loss aid. Such questionable products are, obviously, nothing particularly new or out of the ordinary, though it's always good to remind ourselves to be skeptical about what we read online.

A different type of "easy" way out, one with a great deal more scientific backing, is offered by a spate of recent news stories suggesting that research is indicating that a very small weight loss might have relatively large health benefits. Clearly, any amount of sustained weight loss is a very good thing, but for an individual who might be as much as 110 pounds or more overweight, losing just ten pounds might be a great start, but it still leaves them with 100 pounds to lose and the probability of a great many very serious health problems associated with that remaining weight.

Clearly, no one gets a bariatric surgery to lose just five, ten, or 20 pounds. Even so, as we all know, losing even a few pounds can be difficult for anyone.So, yes, there simply is no such thing as an easy way out.

Losses and Gains

A new study looked into the efficacy of using financial incentives as a motivator for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The results were unprecedented. In the study, researchers promised one group of overweight people a daily cash bonus for walking a certain number of steps. The other group was also promised a cash bonus, but each day that they didn't meet their exercise quota caused them to lose a portion of the bonus. This second group actually worked harder to meet the quota, which indicates that people are more motivated by the fear of loss than the pleasure of gain.

It is interesting yet unsurprising that people are more motivated by financial factors rather than the health benefits of exercise. We believe that part of the challenge is that, when it comes to weight loss and exercise, the results aren't always finite and easy to observe. Looking back at the study, it is satisfying and not insurmountable to complete a physical task, check a box, and relax. But being on one's own to create and maintain a fitness plan can be overwhelming and difficult to maintain, especially when unexpected stressors and events threaten the balance of routine.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates,we fully understand the power and value of exercise. That is why, when our patients come to us for bariatric surgery services, our dedicated dietitian may recommend exercise or yoga routines for patients as part of our comprehensive post-op follow-up program. Ultimately, for people struggling to reduce the impact of severe obesity, bariatric surgery may be the best solution.

More Life in Your Years

We human beings like numbers, so it's only natural to focus on the length of a person's life as a measure of health success. Moreover, there's no getting around the fact the recent statistics bolstering the contention that bariatric surgery extends patients' lifespan is very good news. At the same time, as anyone who has close relatives who are getting on in years is keenly aware, it's not just the length of a person's life that matters, it's the quality.

Indeed, to paraphrase the old saying, the benefits of a truly healthy lifestyle are not just about the years in a patients' life, but the life they enjoy in those years. That's an important distinction because medical science has actually had a great deal of success in keeping people alive well into their later years, but we all know the difference between people who are leading full and happy lives well into their seventies, eighties and nineties (and sometimes beyond) but we also see people who are just barely existing in their later years.

From the pain of arthritis to the threat of heart and kidney failure, the diseases that are exacerbated or outright caused by obesity may or may not lead to an early death, but they definitely can make a person's later years a great deal more painful and less joyful. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we encourage severely obese patients to consider a weight loss procedure not merely as a means to extend their lifespan, but to help make sure that they are healthy enough to enjoy those additional years.

It Makes the World Go 'Round

If you're a fan of old musicals, you know that two things have credited with the continued spinning of the earth. "Money, Money" from "Cabaret" tells us that it's cash that makes the world go 'round. It's an argument that can, at times, seem pretty convincing. Arguing to the contrary is a song from the old Broadway show, "Carnival!," "Love Makes the World Go 'Round." Don't worry, sentimentalists! At least from the point of a view of a healthy lifestyle, we're going to argue for love as being the primary motivator of, well, just about everything important in life, including weight loss.

Love, of course, has all kinds of manifestiations. Yes, most people's minds go straight to romantic love, and it's true that, for some people, improving their social life is major motivator for obtaining a bariatric surgery. Others are concerned that their health problems could create a problem in their marriage. At the same time, however, affection for a special man or woman is just one type of love.

The love of parents for their children is an equally powerful motivator that we also see a great deal. Many patients come to us concerned that they will not be their children later on in life due to obesity related health problems. They want to be their for their children's graduation, weddings, and also would like to meet their grand-kids. Others have more immediate concerns that they are already having a hard time keeping up with their energetic offspring due to their weight.

Whether your motivated by your love of a spouse, children, family and friends (very possibly including your pets!), or simply the wonder and joy of life itself, all of us at Dr. Feiz & Associates are obviously here to help. For further information on a gastric sleeve, Lap Band, or other type of procedure, please give us a call.

Success after Bariatric Surgery

A recent article we've stumbled upon sheds light on the lifestyle related challenges facing patients after bariatric surgery. I was particularly interested in the story of Shirley the nurse, who had been obese her entire life. But after having had bariatric surgery, she ended up smaller than she'd been in her entire life. At the moment, she's 60 years old and able to run marathons! It's absolutely heartwarming.

As I see it, it underlines the importance of a healthy lifestyle following bariatric surgery.
has been performed. For starters, the patient will obviously need to adjust his or her current eating habits in order to witness significant results. The good news is that, after having either the gastric sleeve procedure, the Lap Band, or any other form of bariatric surgery, the patient will notice that he or she feels fuller much faster, even with consuming a much smaller portion of food. Both of these procedures work by reducing the capacity of the stomach. An added benefit to the gastric sleeve is that it significantly reduces production of the hormone ghrelin, which sends that notorious "I'm hungry!" signal to the brain. Therefore, it has a two-fold effect.

So, even though the surgical procedures set patients on the path to success, they'll need to keep moving one foot in front of the other, literally and metaphorically, in order to attain their weight loss goals.

Cure-alls and Fad Diets are Nothing New

The struggle to lose weight and improve one's figure is nothing new to our generation. In fact, an interesting yet very telling article sheds some light on dieting trends in America since the 1800s. It appears that everything from whale-bone corsets, cigarette smoking, and even vibrating belts have been marketed and sold to improve peoples' lives - with the promise that such devices and habits would help people meet their weight loss goals.  Even in our era of unparalleled knowledge of the human body, people are still uncertain about what works and what doesn't. 

Yet we still see similar trends and fad diets come and go. And while we now have a better understanding of what constitutes a healthy diet and lifestyle, people with significantly high amounts of weight to lose experience a great degree of difficulty in achieving their weight loss goals. Fortunately, bariatric surgery is the only approach proven to help people with severe obesity lose weight and keep the pounds off.

We at Dr. Feiz & Associates have a comprehensive understanding of the struggle that obese patients endure in their weight loss journeys. When diets fail and exercise doesn't seem to be helping, bariatric surgery, while not a cure-all or miracle pill, is actually proven to to work.

Weight Loss and Mental Health

Lately, there has been a great deal of press coverage of a recent study indicating that bariatric surgery may offer some hope for severely obese patients who are also dealing with depression, and perhaps other psychological issues relating to eating. This is good news, of course, but there's no getting around the fact that the close relationship between our physical and mental health makes for a highly complex topic, so there's not always a direct correlation between a successful weight loss procedure and positive outcomes for issues like depression.

That's one reason why, whether a patient is receiving a gastric sleeve or a Lap Band, it's important for patients to have realistic expectations. At times, patients may tend to ascribe nearly all of the difficulties they face in life to their obesity. However, when it it comes to psychological matters especially, it's often the case that patients are surprised to find that many of the issues they were facing before their procedure are still a problem even after they have lost all of their weight. For example, while losing weight might well help an individual feel somewhat more confident, there are still plenty of thin people whose self-esteem could use a little support.

At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we place great importance on providing careful follow-up regarding progress both in terms of weight loss and their overall well-being and state of mind. Overall, while bariatric surgery is no magic wand, we're happy to say that we've found that weight loss procedures have led to consistently good results in terms of patients overall happiness, as well as their health.

Good Health is Not Out of Reach

While it is certainly true that our society puts a lot of cosmetic value on being slim, the majority of bariatric surgery patients are concerned about their health long before these more superficial concerns come into play. Of course, successful weight loss patients can reap the rewards of both of these benefits, dropping both inches from their waistline and potentially dangerous medical conditions from their bill of health. Patients of Dr. Feiz & Associates have seen tremendous health benefits from their bariatric surgery including remission of type 2-diabetes, and significant reduction in the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

To many, this reality of living a healthy lifestyle seems simply out of reach. Yet, Weight loss surgery has been proven time and time again to help patients lose a significant amount of weight, even if they had failed many previous attempts at diet and exercise. While every patient is different, and no results are guaranteed, potential patients should start by learning more about weight loss surgery by calling our offices today, and asking about one of our free seminars.