Celebrities Worth Listening To

As a Los Angeles-based health practice, those of us at Dr. Feiz & Associates can hardly be unaware of the impact of a celebrity imprimatur on just about anything. That very definitely applies to our particular specialization of weight loss surgery in Los Angeles and Southern California.

As bariatric surgery is gaining more acceptance, more and more celebrities are taking advantage. That's not very surprising, but what may give some folks pause is the fact that they most of them seem to have a very sensible approach to the surgery and its impact. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, popular comedian Rosie O'Donnell and, most recently reality TV star E.J. Johnson, all seem to be saying the right things.

In the case of people like Ms. O'Donnell and Governor Christie, you might assume that getting as far as they both have in the fields of entertainment and politics usually requires above-average intelligence. E.J. Johnson, however, is part of a newer breed of celebrity whose initial claim to fame, at least, is purely genetic in that he is the son of basketball legend and businessman Magic Johnson.

Yet the 22 year-old NYU fashion student has been quoted saying that "A lot of people think it's the easy way out, but it's not...It's a step in the right direction, just a big push." In other words, while surgery might make it much easier to drastically reduce the amount of food you need, patients still need to learn to do their own healthy eating -- the surgery doesn't actually eat for them.

It would be easy to make generalizations based on this, but probably wrong. The simple fact of the matter is that weight loss surgery is clearly a very intelligent choice for severely obese people to make, so it shouldn't be too surprising when the people who make that choice turn out to be pretty smart.

A Pound of Prevention

If there's one thing we know at Dr. Feiz & Associates, it's the difficulty that obese people face in trying to conquer their issues with food and insufficient exercise. While the exact causes of obesity are not always clear, one fact we're pretty sure about: children with weight problems tend to become obese adults. The sooner you address the problem, the easier it will be to fight.

Still, simply telling children to stay on a regimen of exercise and healthy eating isn't going to do the trick. One important factor: parents teach by example. The good news is that people seem to be learning this important lesson; we had a new study this week showing the number of junk food calories families with children were purchasing have declined over the last few years. While some of this has been attributed to food manufacturers reducing portion sizes, some of it is also no doubt due to parents being aware that having too many empty-calorie treats in the house is a definite risk factor for childhood weight issues and, of course, lifelong obesity.

Through his patients, Dr. Michael Feiz has seen how difficult obesity is to fight as life progresses. Of course, it's fortunate that bariatric surgery has made it easier for countless adults to address those problems. Nevertheless, we all know that prevention always trumps cure. Whatever we can do to ensure that the young people in our lives avoid falling into the trap of lifelong obesity, the better.

5 Things You'll Enjoy More After Weight Loss Surgery

Severe obesity is a major health issue that often comes coupled with life threatening health concerns like stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. At Dr. Feiz & Associates, our goal is to improve quality of life with our world class weight loss surgery to give patients the results they need. After surgery and recovery, our patients begin to immediately experience major improvements to their lifestyle. Here are just a few examples of things you'll enjoy more:

1. Sleep: Sleep apnea is a common symptom associated with obesity. Shedding pounds will help you sleep better, and will make you feel better rested for the day. 
2. Your daily routine: In addition to better sleep, you'll feel like you have more energy because your body will be spending less of it to regulate your essential functions.This will help you get through the day, and handle your obligations more easily.
3. Walking: Walking can be a hassle; particularly for the obese because it causes their bodies a lot of pain. Getting your weight down to an appropriate level will mean walking won't hurt anymore, and you might even start enjoying it!
4. Shopping for clothes: You won't have to worry about finding extra, extra large sizes anymore.  You'll be able to walk into any clothing store, try something on right from the shelf, and walk right out wearing it. And you'll look great in it too!
5. Better eating: Though it may seem counter intuitive, but you'll actually enjoy food more if you're not obese. This is because obese people tend to associate meals with a sense of guilt that they associate with their weight. Healthy eating, and having your weight under control will eliminate these negative feelings and allow you to focus on what's important: how great it tastes.

It's time for you to gain the advantages. If you're looking for weight loss surgery in Los Angeles, contact Dr. Feiz and Associates today!

Is Obesity About Money and Class?

A study reported in yesterday's New York Times contained some mild good news about our nation's continuing obesity crisis and some fairly disturbing news. The good news, such as it is, is that the growth of the obesity epidemic is starting to slow nationwide -- only five states reported an increase. It's also appears to be leveling off among children.

The sad news is that obesity is still hitting poor people and minorities disproportionately when compared with others. With the growing abundance of cheap, high calorie/low nutrition food and the difficulty of obtaining healthy and safe exercise in less affluent communities, it's easy to see why severe obesity and the many attendant health problems that go with it, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, would tend to hit less well off families the hardest.

Poor neighborhoods are often crime ridden and parents don't have time to take children outside for safe supervised play; they may even restrict their children from leaving the houses out of concern for safety. Also, organized athletic activities -- from school sports for kids and teens to health clubs and exercise dance classes for grown-ups -- are less accessible because all of these things cost money to a greater or lesser degree. Moreover, educated people -- wealthy or relatively poor -- are more likely to take advantage of whatever options do exist to improve their health.

Of course, as one of the top options for weight loss surgery in California, Dr. Feiz and Associates is glad, at the very least, that weight loss surgery is more accessible to people at lower economic levels thanks to increases in health insurance, which often covers bariatric procedures. Still, prevention is always better than cure.

If you are severely obese and are considering a bariatric option, we're here to help. Please contact us at 310-855-8058.

Snapping Out of the Duldrums: How Weight Loss Can Lead to Confidence

It's easy to feel caught up in a rut, especially if there are aspects to your life you want to change, but feel are out of your control. It's common for people to go into survival mode at that point and start focusing their energy on simply getting through the day. Living day to day is better than shutting down completely, but it normally prevents you from being able to take the steps you need to make improvements. The best weapon for ending a rut is to take a step, any step, in a positive direction. 

Finding an area of self-improvement is a great start. Feeling better about how you look will trickle down and give you the confidence to tackle other areas of your life. Improving your self-image is all about results. If you don't like your wardrobe, you need new clothes, and if you don't like how much you weight, you need to lose weight. 

We all know that losing weight can be difficult, and there are a lot of ways to get there including  healthy eating and exercise. For some, this isn't enough which is why at Dr. Feiz & Associates we work hard to help people get the results they need. 

Once you start shedding pounds and begin to enjoy the positive benefits from weight loss, you'll experience a boost of confidence which you'll likely be able to utilize to continue positive progress through other issues. Weight loss patients consistently report improvements from everything from their employment status to their personal and romantic relationships. 

A little confidence is sometimes all it takes to make a big difference. Weight loss could be just the tool to give it to you. If you're curious about weight loss surgery in Los Angeles,contact Dr. Feiz today!               

4 Strange Mental Tricks for Weight Loss

Weight loss is such a difficult endeavor for most people because the roadblocks are mostly mental. Because the brain is a powerful thing, overcoming them is no easy task. If you aren't getting the results you're looking for, there are actions you can take that, though small, can have a major impact on your routine. Consider the following mental tips to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Use a smaller plate. This simple adjustment can go a long why in helping you with portion control. This is purely a psychological trick. At home, people tend to use large dinner plates when they serve a meal. Instead, try using something smaller like a salad plate. This will trick your eyes into making you think you're eating more by making the portion look larger. You'll find yourself getting fuller quicker, and eating less. 
2. Count your bites. You've likely heard that it takes twenty minutes for your brain to give the signal that you're full. That's why eating more slowly will cause you to eat less. Still, it's difficult to slow yourself down, especially if you're hungry. Try counting your bites. Keeping track of bites has been proven to cause people to slow down, and feel fuller quicker. It's a great trick for healthy eating.
3. Get good sleep. Poor sleeping habits have a negative effect on just about every aspect of your body. It will also contribute toward weight gain. When you're tired, you will be naturally drawn toward high-fat/high sugar food because they will give you a burst of energy. Also, pyschologically, you'll have a more difficult time stopping yourself from engaging in tempting, unhealthy behavior with a tired brain. 
4. Limit exercise. Here's an interesting one. We should all get at least a half an hour of exercise everyday, yet studies have shown that those who stick to a half an hour of strenuous work,VS those who do an hour, loss more weight. People who work out longer tend to have a higher desire to reward themselves with big portions of, or less healthy, food. Sticking to you recommended amount of exercise may keep you on your regiment more easily. 

At Dr. Feiz and Associates, we understand the challenge of weight loss. We also understand the importance of losing weight and the serious health risks associated with obesity. That's why we provide other options if diet and exercise don't give the results you need. Surgical weight loss is a proven and effective tool at your disposal that you should also investigate. To find out if it's right for you, contact us today for a consultation.

Eat For Health, Not For Weight

Although Dr. Feiz & Associates are known for skillfully performing weight loss surgery in Los Angeles, we want patients and others to learn how to eat for health, not for weight. Do not worry about eating foods that are low carb or low fat. An optimal diet is low in unhealthful carbs (both sugar and other refined carbohydrates) and low in fat (especially saturated fats and trans fats) as well as in red meat and processed foods.

WHAT you eat is as important as what you exclude — your diet needs to be high in healthy  carbs like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy products in natural, unrefined forms and some fish, like salmon. There are hundreds of thousands of health-enhancing substances in these foods. And what’s good for you is good for the planet.

Calories do count — fat is much denser in calories, so when you eat less fat, you consume fewer calories, without consuming less food. Also, it’s easy to eat too many calories from sugar and other refined carbs because they are so low in fiber that you can consume large amounts without getting full. Sugar is absorbed so quickly that you get repeated insulin surges, which promote Type 2 diabetes and accelerate the conversion of calories into body fat.

This way of living helps you lose weight and keep it off while enhancing rather than harming your health.