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.
Friday, July 15, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, July 1, 2016
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!
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!
Friday, June 24, 2016
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.
Friday, June 17, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, June 10, 2016
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.
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.
Friday, June 3, 2016
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.
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.
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