Some Bariatric Surgery-Safe Soups

It's been unpleasant the past few days here in Los Angeles: chilly and rainy. As opposed to discussing the latest news about bariatric surgery, we here at Dr. Feiz and Associates will just share a few recipes for some weight loss surgery-friendly soups to get you through this wintery (for California) weekend.




A great recipe, full of vegetables and a lot of protein. Quinoa is a favorite here for sure. Make sure you're ready for solids and tomatoes before partaking, though.

An easier recipe that can be tailored for those who are past the soft-food stage. Pear and butternut squash (which is seasonal right now) sound like an intriguing combination, for sure.

Lentils, full of fiber and protein, are a staple for many patients after bariatric surgery. Feel free to puree this for easier digestion. This is also OK to share with vegetarians!





Helping patients make the correct dietary choices after a weight loss operation—whether it be lap band or gastric sleeve surgery—is an incredibly important part of Dr. Feiz's job. He ensures that every patient who has a question about their new body, whether it's a small question about food or a major health concern, has it answered. That way, none of Dr. Feiz's patients feel alone during their journey for weight loss in Los Angeles. Call Dr. Feiz and Associates today at 310-817-6911 to discuss bariatric surgery options during a free consultation.

Band-to-Sleeve Conversions are Expertly Performed by Dr. Feiz

By now, many of our patients and followers have read about our January Patient Ambassadors, sisters Stacy and Robyn Harris. Both received bariatric surgeries from Dr. Feiz in the recent past. Today, both have reached their weight loss goal, with Stacy losing approximately 85 pounds and Robyn losing about 45 pounds. Congratulations, Harris sisters!

Both patients received gastric sleeve surgeries, but more specifically, Stacy Harris' 2011 surgery with Dr. Feiz was a lap band to sleeve conversion. Several years ago, Stacy received the FDA approved lap band, but in later years, she felt that sleeve gastrectomy was her real weight loss solution. It takes a highly knowledgeable and extremely skilled surgeon to complete the band-to-sleeve revision operation. There is the possibility that scar tissue is present as a result of the band or the chance that the band has eroded over the course of time. Sleeve gastrectomy is offered as a solution to this erosion, and ultimately, for the patient’s permanent weight loss. Bariatric expert Dr. Feiz has performed many successful band-to-sleeve surgeries for patients like Stacy. She and other band-to-sleeve recipients now experience extreme success with gastic sleeve.

To find your ideal bariatric solution, contact Dr. Feiz & Associates today!

The Dubious Power of the Calendar

Talk to anyone who works at a gym and they'll tell you the busiest time of the year is right about now -- and we imagine it's the same for people who work in health food and nutrition stores. The first few weeks at the start of a New Year are always when people suddenly seem to feel the urge to make positive changes in their life such as getting more exercise and eating in a healthier manner. Many of them swear they'll lose X pounds by the end of the following year. Very few even get close to their goal if it's too ambitious.

One problem is that lingering effect of New Year's seems to wear off sometime around Valentine's Day. The fact of the matter is that there would be slightly less need for weight loss surgery if it were easy for us human beings to keep up that somewhat forced burst of energy many of us feel in early January. The problem is that's it's artificial. If you've ever made a truly big change in your life, you know that it has to be powerful and it has to come from within.

Also, of course, some changes are harder to make than others. Making the kind of permanent changes in your dietary habits that are necessary to loose significant amounts of weight -- and to keep it off permanently -- is extremely difficult for reasons that can't be cured by the calendar.  It's just a fact of life that, at least at this point, a sleeve gastrectomy is a vastly more powerful tool for getting patients to significantly reduce their dietary intake than a mere psychological boost from the time of year. The forces that make us want to consume more calories than we actually need are simply too deep and too powerful for most people to fight in a permanent way.

As the saying goes, "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is unable." People may be able to make relatively small improvements on their own, keeping more fit and loosing maybe ten, twenty, or thirty pounds -- and that's great. But it really does appear for the time being that, for the majority of people with truly large amounts of weight to lose, all the calendar-based psychology in the world will never be remotely as effective as obesity surgery.

Bariatric Surgery is Never Just About Looks

Dr. Michael Feiz, leading expert in bariatric surgery, frequently consults with potential weight loss surgery patients in his Los Angeles-based office. While many of these patients are concerned about their physical appearance, they generally seek obesity surgery from Dr. Feiz to have a healthier life. During one of Dr. Feiz' free consultations or seminars, he'll regularly share many of the health benefits from receiving a bariatric procedure.

The following image from the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) shows the full body health results that can be achieved from a weight loss procedure, including sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Dr. Feiz, in his numerous years as a weight loss expert, can back up the claims made in the picture. For example, he'll very often see the cessation of depression issues, sleep apnea, and even diabetes. To learn more, call Dr. Feiz' office at 310-817-6911 or go to www.drfeiz.com to schedule and appointment.

From asmbs.org

Patients Develop Healthy Habits During the Post-Surgery Diet

Those who are not familiar with bariatric surgery speculate that once a person undergoes the gastric sleeve surgery, he or she won’t receive adequate nutrition, not only in the first weeks, but into the future. When the patient follows the advice of Dr. Feiz & Associates, he or she will glean all of the necessary nutrients during the post-surgery diet. The dietary directions given by our clinic aren’t just provided to aid a person during the recovery period - or to be a source of frustration - but to recondition the patient so they are not prone to emotional eating or poor dietary choices in the long-run. It’s really about developing healthy habits.

There is definitely a methodology to the post-surgery diet. Dr. Feiz advises the patient to stick with clear fluids for a portion of time, like Jello or diluted juices. Next, the patient is instructed to move on to soft foods. This includes pureed meats, fruits, and vegetables, as well as soups. While puree is not the most exciting texture, proteins and greens must be consumed this way for easy digestion. When the time is right, Dr. Feiz instructs the patient to move on to solid food, with caloric guidelines in place. At this stage, the patient develops a new favorite-foods list and recipe catalog, truly understanding that food can be healthy and delicious.

Postponing gratification in this way benefits our patients for years to come. Remember, sleeve gastrectomy reduces the physical hunger instinct, but it does not clear the patient of bad eating habits. The patient literally restructures the way he or she thinks about food during the post-surgery diet with Dr. Feiz and his staff as a resource at every step.

Happy Holidays and a Healthier New Year

First of all, we'd like to wish every single person reading this a happy holiday next week. Whatever holidays you celebrate, at the very least it's a day or two off and enjoying it is something we all deserve.  Heaven knows, most of us work hard enough and, with everything that's been happening, there's plenty to be concerned about. Still, for people who have had or are considering weight loss surgery, the holidays can be a special source of stress.

Every year around this time there are many, many articles published about how to "survive" holiday events and special meals for folks who are concerned about their weight. We certainly understand that it's important to keep any holiday indulgences under control, especially for people who have recently had any type of obesity surgery. At the exact same time, there is a tendency to possibly over dramatize the dilemmas of holiday consumption and loose track of the actual holiday itself.

Really, whether you're contemplating or have recently had a sleeve gastrectomy or another bariatric procedure or are simply trying to slim down or keep your weight under control, the ultimate solution is to get things into a healthier balance. Food -- even food we think of as "fattening" or less than terribly healthy -- has its place as long as we don't turn what should be an occasional treat into a regular habit. The tendency of those of us with weight issues is to put too much emphasis on eating -- or not eating -- these treats. There is more to life than consuming things or not consuming them.

The secret is to simply enjoy a multifaceted life filled with activities you love -- and people you love too. Most of us tend to overindulge the most when we're bored or unfulfilled.So, though we realize achieving total fulfillment is rather a tall order for anyone, making the most of our lives in every way we can manage really should at least be the goal for all of us. As for holiday meals, here's a thought: What's more important to you, the food on your table or the people you're sharing it with?

Happy holidays, everyone.

Sleeve Gastrectomy Impacts the Family Unit in Meaningful Ways

This week, our clinic recognizes our December Patient Ambassadors, husband and wife team Roger and Mayra Rosales from Oxnard, California. Their story has now been shared in hundreds of publications throughout the country. A year ago to the week, the two received gastric sleeve surgeries from Dr. Feiz & Associates. Although it has only been a year, the benefits of their surgeries have been extremely far-reaching. The two are younger adults (Roger is 30 and Mayra, 29), but prior to the surgeries, both spoke of being sick and often dealing with back pain and headaches. These days, the two feel quite healthy, keying in on exercise and healthy eating as a result of working with Dr. Feiz and his team. At this point, Roger has lost 150 pounds, and Mayra has lost 80!

The health benefits of sleeve surgery and the FDA-compliant LAP Band are obvious; but a case like the Rosales' demonstrates the impact weight loss surgery has on familial relationships. During our recent talk with Mayra, she related that her nine-year-old son was embarrassed by her excessive weight. Now, he often invites his mother to his school events and has even told her that some of his classmates thought she was his older sister! Additionally, the gastric sleeve surgery really fanned the flame of romance for the couple. These days, Mayra and Roger regularly make time for weekend date nights.

Through listening to the Rosales' story, we see that bariatric surgery can improve the overall happiness of the family unit. If you would like to read more about sleeve gastrectomy from Dr. Feiz, visit the gastric sleeve surgery page on our website.