Eliminating “Forever Chemicals” as Part of Your Post-op Weight Loss Plan
You have undoubtedly received plenty of advice on diet and exercise. You have a post-operative manual from your practice, giving you the blueprint for how to lose weight consistently and safely over time. You are also motivated, partly by your decision to have weight loss surgery, but also because you’ve seen the dramatic results early on. However, calories in and out may not always be the end of the story, and we must look at the weight loss process overall to give ourselves the best chance to lose weight quickly and maintain that weight loss over the long term.
Who Needs to Know You Are Considering Bariatric Surgery?
Let’s cut right to the chase. The decision to have bariatric surgery is a very personal one. Many factors come into play when you make that decision, and whom you tell is, frankly, entirely up to you. We have some patients that wish to tell everyone they know about their decision, while others don’t say a word to anyone but their medical team. Either way is acceptable, but there are a few considerations:
If you keep your decision about bariatric surgery close to your chest, be sure you have some kind of support system available to you. This can include your bariatric practice, but it’s also important to have a support system outside your surgeon’s office. The support can come online or in person, or you may have a small group of trusted friends that also had bariatric surgery and are willing and able to keep your decision between you.
What Decisions Go Into Having Bariatric Surgery?
You’ve probably agonized over decisions far smaller than having a life-altering surgery. No one can question that this decision is one of the biggest you’ll ever make. But what factors should go into deciding to have bariatric surgery or continue with the status quo? While we are bariatric surgeons, we do not, by any means, believe that bariatric surgery is suitable for everyone. Hopefully, considering the following will help you make the right decision.
GERD and Long-Term PPI Use
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are often very appropriate and effective for measurable acidic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease GERD. PPI use may be less appropriately prescribed in situations of functional dyspepsia (where recurrent indigestion has no apparent cause) and where motility problems of the GI tract may be responsible for heartburn symptoms often overlapping with symptoms of actual acidic GERD. Allergic esophagitis may also mimic GERD, and treatment with PPIs may have been attempted.
From a Bariatric Patient: 6 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Bariatric Surgery
As a person who prides herself on her ability to research any topic to death, I thought I knew everything there was to know about bariatric surgery and recovering from it before I walked in the hospital doors. In some cases, I was happy; in others, less so, to learn, I could not have been more wrong. Everyone has a different experience when they go through bariatric surgery, so I can’t promise you that my exact experience will be the same as yours. Some people lose hair; some don’t. Some wind up with excess skin after weight loss, and some people’s skin bounces right back. Our bodies are different, so it makes sense that our response to surgery will be different too.
One thing is certain – the information your medical team gives you before surgery is your best friend. They taught me some things I didn’t take seriously enough and some that I incorrectly assumed would not apply to me. If I could go back and do it all over, I would tell myself to listen to my medical team and give myself a heads up about the following six things:
Why You May Not Qualify for a Joint Replacement if You Are Morbidly Obese
Morbidly obese patients simply have not had as much access to joint replacement surgeries as their regular BMI counterparts. It is not uncommon for an obese patient to go to an orthopedic surgeon and be told to come back after they have lost weight. This is incredibly frustrating for patients who suffer from what can be debilitating joint pain. They could have been struggling to lose weight for years, and now the pain in their joints makes it difficult or impossible to exercise. They know, more than anyone, that what’s holding them back is a disease and one that is decidedly undertreated even in modern medicine.
The orthopedic surgeons denying a joint replacement to morbidly obese patients are not trying to discriminate or fat-shame. They have valid reasons backed by research as to why they don’t want to perform a joint replacement on obese patients with certain BMIs. Research has shown that obesity makes a patient less than ideal for joint replacement surgery.
Five Reasons Many Patients Finally Decide to Have Weight Loss Surgery
Deciding to have weight loss surgery is not easy. Many people consider it for a long time before eventually making the decision. Before taking the first step, many factors must be considered – watching a seminar or calling a bariatric surgeon. Several steps need to be taken, and criteria met before you can qualify as a candidate for weight loss surgery. But the decision is transformative. Like all life-changing decisions, there are risks and benefits to consider. You will also want to evaluate your reasons or motivation for getting weight loss surgery. Everyone should explore why they want to undergo weight loss surgery before diving into the surgical process. Here are five reasons most patients finally decide to have weight loss surgery.
Why Diet and Exercise So Rarely Works in Obese Patients (And Why Bariatric Surgery Does)
Have you struggled with continuous dieting and exercise but not seeing results? You are not alone; many others have and are dealing with the same issue. For most people, especially those suffering from obesity, losing weight is more complicated than eating less and exercising more. Genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors all play a role in weight loss. These factors can make weight loss difficult and cause frustration and desperation to pursue unhealthy extremes in losing weight. Sadly this often leads to more weight gain and longer-term medical complications. Losing weight is not always a matter of willpower or motivation, so categorizing people who are obese as lazy or unmotivated is simply untrue.
Is It Better to Skip a Meal or Eat Fast Food as a Bariatric Patient?
The simple answer to whether to skip a meal or opt for fast food is that neither is optimal, but we all know life happens sometimes, and some circumstances are out of our control. There is a lot of preparation and education required before undergoing bariatric surgery. After surgery, you will have to continue to follow up with your doctor and may want to consider seeing a nutritionist. They can still be challenging even if you prepare for situations such as skipping a meal or eating fast food. The best thing you can do is prepare as much as possible but also be flexible. Let’s dive deeper into the problematic scenarios you may find yourself in before and after weight loss surgery and tips on handling them.
Scenario #1 – I’m Working on Losing Weight Before Bariatric Surgery…is it Better to Skip a Meal or Eat Fast Food?
Moderation – The Key to Success After Bariatric Surgery
One of the hallmarks of a successful post-bariatric surgery life and indeed keeping weight off, even without bariatric surgery, is moderation. Over the past several decades, with ever-increasing portion sizes and the hectic life most Americans lead, restraint can go by the wayside. Consuming too few calories can be, in its own way, as destructive as consuming too many. Similarly, working out too much can be as bad as not working out enough. That’s why we preach moderation.
Moderation is not an art form, nor is it a science. It is simply a choice that we, as consumers, must make each day. Even after bariatric surgery, with all the dietary limitations, it is not necessary to cut out every food item we enjoy. That’s just not sustainable. Instead, it’s important to consume them in moderation. Take low-calorie desserts, for example. While they may not be ideal for weight loss, they are appropriate at certain times and can be a treat to celebrate an achievement or milestone.
