NFL Training Camp Spotlights a Lap Band Success Story

With Wimbledon over, the World Cup coming to a grand finale and Major League Baseball's All Star game on deck, it can seem Americans are up to their necks in sports. However something major still looms: the start of training camp for the upcoming National Football League season.

American football, with the NFL as its showcase, is arguably the most popular sport in the nation. With training camps set to start at the end of the month, players and most involved with the professional league will have the spotlight shined brightly on them.

Fans can wonder if their favorite player did anything special over the off-season to gain an edge once real games begin in early fall.

Someone who made the news recently was New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan, who had a lap band surgery in 2010. Since then, he says he's lost 130 pounds.

Before the surgery, a doctor asked him how many people he knows who weigh 350 pounds who are over 50 years old. "Not many," Ryan responded.

The doctor replied, "Yeah, because they don't exist." Ryan told CBS Sports that it was then he knew he had to do something.

That something was lap-band surgery for significant weight loss and the associated health benefits.

Oils for Heart-Healthy Cooking

As a bariatric surgeon, Dr. Michael Feiz is well aware of the obesity crisis facing the nation, and he has tips for those considering ways to lose weight. One of the main points of advice from Dr. Feiz for those interested in weight loss is to eat healthier meals, and to prepare them at home. That leads to the question of which cooking oils to use, as there are dozens, and they are not all as good for you! 

Remember that all oils are a significant source of fat, which is their primary nutrient. Fats are an important component of a healthy diet, but it’s important to know that they have a high concentration of calories compared to proteins and carbohydrates. Be aware of the two types of fat when comparing oils: saturated and unsaturated. This can help you determine which oil is the best or healthiest to use.

Percent of Saturated Fat: use this handy graph to help you choose products with the least amount of saturated fat. Look for the <3

The healthy fats are unsaturated, which may help lower cholesterol levels in the blood when used in the place of saturated fats. Unsaturated fats are divided into polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, and come from vegetable oils, fish oils, and oils derived from nuts, seeds, and avocados. Saturated fat is considered unhealthy and The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat consumption to less than seven percent of total daily calorie intake. Saturated fat can raise bad cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease. Saturated fats occur naturally in many foods, including animal sources such as chicken skin, lard, and beef tallow and plant-based foods such as tropical oils.

If you are interested in learning more about cooking oils, look at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's article on "Cooking with Healthier Fats and Oils." 

To learn more about the health benefits of weight loss and bariatric surgery, please visit Dr. Feiz' website at www.drfeiz.com.

Beyond Measurable Success

By Callie Ellis

It’s been an incredible few weeks since my weight loss surgery with Dr. Feiz. I have had some highs and some lows but what I have learned about myself is immeasurable. Unlike my weight loss…29 lbs and counting! Also, I can walk a mile straight without heavy breathing. Yay!

I also bought a treadmill now that my walking has improved.

Something else I found interesting was that after my gastric sleeve procedure my spleen has shrunk. On top of weight loss, another health benefit is my immune system will be stronger and my body will detoxify itself better. Since I work as a customer service representative for Costco (they are the best!), heavy lifting is going to be a problem so I decided to take a month off from work while it sorts itself out. I don’t know about anyone else but for me life after weight loss surgery keeps getting better and better. Now I have a month to focus on my new routines, meal planning, and gym time. Let’s all become exercise buddies! I will be posting pictures soon and I will let you know how it is going.

 

Totally Worth It!

It has been one week exactly since my gastric sleeve surgery with Dr. Michael Feiz, bariatric surgeon extraordinaire! That is seriously how I feel about him. It was a glamorous first couple of days in the Beverly Hills recovery center I was staying at, but home to mom I went on Thursday.

I have to admit, I lost the paperwork and I may have misunderstood some of the post-surgery instructions so I wasn’t feeling my best initially. Thank goodness for the staff at Dr. Michael Feiz and Associates, Rebekah cleared away all questions. Today is a whole other story.

What was also very interesting today, is that my brain is already thinking differently. We did a run to a fast food restaurant which I used to love, but instead of my usual crave, I said NO to the bad food. It’s hard to describe because I am still getting used to the idea of healthy eating, but my brain knows the food isn’t worth it.

Check me out prepping my healthy meals as I return to work this Friday. I love my new life!

By the way, did I mention that I have lost 23 lbs in one week! YES. 23 lbs of LOST WEIGHT! Yup, totally worth it! 

Manners Matter

Dr. Michael Feiz, a board certified bariatric weight loss surgeon, commented that the NY Post story http://m.nypost.com/p/news/local/labor_big_real_heavy_sleeper_jl3C7gI710FI3XqpEl5o3O about a man who, based on the photos, may be suffering from health issues associated with obesity, should have been written about with a bit more sensitivity, regardless of political opinion.

Obesity is a complex illness which should be responded to with care and consideration, not vilification notes Dr. Feiz. Surgical weight loss procedures such as the gastric sleeve can help an obese person return to a safe healthy weight.

TWO MORE DAYS!

by Callie Ellis

I am so excited for my weight loss surgery with Dr. Feiz this Wednesday. It's all I can think about!!

The Lap Band is in the News!

Yesterday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie shared with the world that he had weight loss surgery back in February. Here at Dr. Feiz and Associates, we are so happy that he has taken control of his health. It's an exciting time for him and his family on the start to a healthier life! Gov. Christie had the lap band procedure and you can learn more about it at drfeiz.com or call 1-800-868-5946 to schedule your free consult today! 

Watch a sneak preview of his interview with Brian Williams Here!

Dr. Feiz Must Read Summer Book: Big Brother

BIG Brother by Lionel Shriver is a fictional story about a sister trying to rescue a man who is eating himself to death.

I feel that this story told by an acclaimed prize winning author who has sadly experienced the very real death of her own 'big brother' Greg, four years ago at age 55 due to obesity related causes is important. Obesity is a very complicated subject and sometimes it is the literary experience that helps us better understand how a life can be cut short without medical intervention of this easily correctable condition.

With at least 2.8 million adults dying each year as a result of being overweight or obese, this book resonates with me personally in an emotional and impactful way. As a weight loss surgeon I understand how this epidemic of obesity can be stopped as I experience similar real life stories daily.

The reviews are calling it entertaining, gripping and intelligent. I know I am going to read it. What do you think?

Source

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!  

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.    

Obesity's Consequences for Society

As bariatric surgeons, we sometimes can't help but observe the controversies that occur over the obesity issue in America today. The subject of weight loss in Los Angeles and all across America seems to stay in the media day in and day out. While op-ed pieces such as this lament the lack of solutions to these problems, there are patients who have found their solution with the help of a skilled bariatric surgeon.

Scott W. Atlas of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote a controversial op-ed piece today, pointing out some of the connections between smoking and obesity as health risks. I leave it to you to determine if the comparison is fair: 

He points out that smoking is stigmatized, and smokers themselves are socially ostracized in spite of the fact that they are making a personal decision. Perhaps consequently, rates of smoking in the U.S. have declined by 20 percent in the past 15 years alone, while the obesity rate has increased by 48 percent. Mr. Atlas seems to be of the opinion that weight loss is just as pressing an issue as smoking. Is this a fair conclusion to draw?

Furthermore, Mr. Atlas feels that obesity is not just a personal risk, since 5-10 percent of medical spending is obesity-related, and half of this amount is spent by Medicare and Medicaid, in other words, the taxpayers. He quotes an estimate of $550 billion over the next 20 decades if obesity could be curbed. 

He concludes that "Facilitating clinical trials and streamlining approval of innovative treatments are also important." Bariatric procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy, however, are already approved, and already achieving startling success.

Italian Doctor Puts His Faith in Gastric Bypass

A 10-year study out of Naples, Italy, suggests that long-term weight loss results from gastric bypass are "statistically superior" to those of gastric banding. This small-scale study out of San Giovanni Bosco Hospital offered that lap band patients had a mean loss of excess body weight of 46%, while gastric bypass patients had one of 69%. While, yes, gastric bypass has been more effective here, we should not forget that both of these results are incredible and these patients have begun to live healthier lives, regardless of their numerical weight loss.

That being said, gastric bypass isn't always the appropriate bariatric surgery for everyone. Your weight loss surgery needs to be customized for your specific goals and health concerns. Also, some surgeries inherently come with more complications, so lesser-invasive procedures (such as a sleeve gastrectomy) should be considered for those with severe health issues. Dr. Feiz and his associates are available to answer your questions about any type of bariatric surgery, so come to them to discuss your options.

Follow-up meetings after bariatric surgery extremely important

Weight loss surgery continues to be prominent in the news as more studies are published and celebrities come forth about their own experiences. These stories praise the bariatric surgery and the resulting weight loss, yet some don't emphasize enough the importance of following up with your doctor post-surgery.

Dr. Feiz is a board certified plastic surgeon who truly values post-surgical meetings. After your gastric sleeve or lap band in Beverly Hills, you should not hesitate to schedule regular follow-up meetings. These meetings are essential to ensure that the surgical changes are monitored. However, regular consultations with a doctor also:

• Support the dietary aspects of the weight loss process and ensure nutritional health.
• Allow exercise regimens to be monitored.
• Provide care for the patient's mental health, giving them a compassionate person who listens to their concerns.
• Let doctors act as resources for the latest news on bariatric surgeries.
• Strengthen the patient-surgeon bond.

Information is very important for healthy post-surgical weight loss. Call Dr. Feiz and his associates for a free consultation to find out if you qualify for bariatric surgery. If you do, don't forget to follow-up!

Become a Patient Ambassador

Happy patients of Dr. Feiz might be eligible for award, and gifts like a free iPod or an Am Ex gift card. Ask about becoming a patient ambassador. All ambassadors have to do is spread the word around the Internet on Facebook, Twitter, blogs and elsewhere. Spreading the news about a doctor you can trust for bariatric surgery, and helping others on their weight loss journey, can have great rewards.

In June, our patient ambassador was Felice Trager, but we’re looking for someone for July, and every month thereafter. Contact us today and send us the names of potential nominees.

B vitamins

Deficiency of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) has been recognized as a
common problem in bariatric surgery patients for many years. Increased
provision of vitamin B12 is part of the supplementation plan for gastric
bypass patients due to decreased production of intrinsic factor. In the
gastric sleeve patient, the fundus of the stomach is removed, and it is
presumed that less intrinsic factor is made with this procedure.
Deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause pernicious anemia, nerve degeneration
and peripheral neuropathy. Pernicious anemia is a condition in which the
body does not make enough of a protein called “Intrinsic Factor,” which is
required for absorption of B12. Besides weight loss surgery, other common
causes of pernicious anemia include a weakened stomach lining (atrophic
gastritis) and autoimmune conditions where the body attacks the cells of the
stomach that make intrinsic factor. Provision of 500mcg or more oral or
sublingual B12 is usually sufficient to prevent deficiency; however, some
patients may require monthly injections of B12 to maintain desirable levels.
Stomach acid is required to absorb naturally occurring cobalamin; however,
forms that are added to foods or used in supplements do not require acid for
absorption.

Thiamine (B1) can be deficient in weight loss surgery patients who have lost
weight very rapidly or who have frequent vomiting.Serious effects of
thiamine deficiency include Wernicke’s encephalopathy, affecting gait, and
peripheral neuropathy. If not caught quickly, repletion of thiamine levels
may not completely reverse the symptoms. It may take 3 to 6 months for
symptoms to resolve after repletion. Daily supplementation is advised as the
body has limited stores of thiamine. IV repletion is effective with doses of
100mg for 3 to 14 days followed by an oral supplement maintenance dose of
around 20 to 100mg per day to maintain adequate stores.

Most prescription and over-the-counter renal vitamin preparations contain B
vitamins at levels at or above the RDA. Some may also contain vitamin E,
iron, and trace minerals. These supplements do vary, so careful selection of
an appropriate product is desirable.


http://www.drfeiz.com/home.html

http://www.drfeiz.com/sleeve-gastrectomy-surgery.html

*Abstract*

Weight loss surgery has demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of
diabetes, obesity, and hypertension; all of which are noted to be primary
causes of chronic kidney disease and eventual end stage renal disease.
Weight loss can help limit the progression or resolve chronic kidney
disease. As the number of patients in the United States with chronic kidney
disease and end stage renal disease increases, weight loss surgery is
becoming more recognized as a treatment option either to help deminish
progression of chronic kidney disease or to prepare for kidney transplant if
weight loss is needed to qualify for transplant candidacy. This article
presents some unique considerations for renal patients with the various
weight loss procedures; both on nutrition status and potential
vitamin/mineral deficiencies or excesses. Monitoring lab values are also
recommended to help determine optimal vitamin/mineral supplementation before
and after surgery.


http://www.drfeiz.com