Do you love watching The Biggest Loser? Whether you love the show or not, most people can agree that the participants are inspiring in their quests to get healthy and lose weight. This past year, I’ve gotten quite a few comments and questions about the show and the exercises that are performed by the participants. I haven’t faithfully watched the past few seasons, so I can’t comment directly on the training programs in the show. However, I was
sent an article recently that reviewed the exercise programs and included an interview with Bob Harper (show trainer) about how realistic the show really is when it comes to what you see on the screen.
If you want to read Bob Harper’s comments and other personal trainers thoughts on the show, check out this
article.
A couple things I took away from this article:
- Remember that these participants are living outside of the “real world” during this show. Think about the changes you could make if you didn’t have to work, clean the house, or take care of your family. Their jobs during this special time in their lives are to exercise, learn how to eat right, and compete in weight loss. We ask you to do all these things, but we can’t keep you here overnight. Think about how successful you are for doing all of these things while living your real life!
- The exercise programs are typically extreme for the overweight population. These participants are thoroughly checked for medical issues before and during the show. They are not allowed to be a participant if they suffer from certain medical conditions. If you are ever questioning whether you should be exercising like them---think about whether or not The Biggest Loser doctors would clear you to participate.
- Although the whole concept of the show is very inspiring, you have to remember that the main goal of The Biggest Loser is TV ratings and entertainment. I am the first one to admit I come to tears every time I watch the show, but I always try to remember the “TV element” of the production. We don’t see everything!
- And most of all…if the show gives you positive and uplifting feelings and helps you start exercising, then keep watching! If it makes you feel inadequate or unmotivated like you could never exercise, then change the channel!
This article is just another reminder of how important it is to talk with your dietician to ensure that you are getting all the proper nutrients you need post-operatively. If you ever have a question about supplements, please call us at 317-275-7010.
Full text of this Reuters article can be found by
clicking here.
Weight loss surgery can help you lose weight, but it's also likely to leave you unable to absorb iron, a new study suggests: Iron deficiency is a common problem after stomach bypass surgery to treat severe obesity -- and standard iron supplements may not be enough to prevent it in some patients.
Researchers found that among 67 Chilean women who had undergone the most common form of weight-loss surgery, 39 percent developed low blood counts, also known as anemia, within 18 months of surgery. That anemia was most often due to a deficiency in iron, which the body needs to produce healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen.
In contrast, less than two percent of the women had been anemic before surgery, the researchers report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The following blog was written by Misty Hawkins. I'm writing today to give you an idea of which topics are covered in the Behavior Change Group offered by
Clarian Bariatrics.
Last Tuesday we focused on why people want to get Bariatric surgery and our unhealthy relationships with food. Now, I know that everyone's ultimate goal is to "lose weight" but what are the "real reasons" - how will losing the weight change your life for the better? Will losing weight help you live without as much pain? Will you be able to keep up with your family and children? Your reason could even be as simple as finally being able to shop in whichever clothing store you want…instead of being forced to go to the "plus size" stores!
I think at the heart of everyone's yearning to lose weight is the desire to get back in control of your life - and that means no longer letting food control you. Everyone in the group could give me an example of eating for the "wrong" reasons: Eating when they were angry or sad, eating when they were watching T.V. or studying, and even eating to make themselves happy. The problem is these are unhealthy ways to use food and often lead to weight gain and more unhappiness. You can often use your "real reasons" for losing weight to change your relationship to food and get back on track!
Come to our group to talk about these issues and learn to overcome unhealthy relationships! Next week, we will be talking about cravings and how to fight them! The Behavior Change Group is offered 7 PM to 8 PM every Tuesday night except for the fifth Tuesday of the month. I hope you'll stop by and see us and, if you like, you can share your story!
The following factors will be considered in determining if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery:
- You have tried to lose weight by changing your eating habits and exercise and are still severely obese.
- You are unable to perform routine daily activities without being seriously affected.
- You understand the procedure and the lifestyle changes you will need to make after bariatric surgery.
- You are motivated to make a lifelong behavioral commitment that includes well-balanced meals and physical exercise.
- You understand that this surgery won't solve all your problems, but can make you healthier -- and probably much happier.
Before patients undergo surgery for morbid obesity, they must qualify for our bariatrics program. Our basic program guidelines are:
- Being 100 pounds or more over your "ideal body weight," according to the established weight charts.
- Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 with no co-morbidities or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities.
- Being able and willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
BMI Categories:
Underweight: less than18.5
Normal: 18.5-24.9
Overweight: 25.0-29.9
Obesity (Class 1): 30-34.9
Severe obesity (Class 2): 35-39.9
Severe obesity (Class 3): 40-49.9
Super-obesity: over 50
Learn more by joining us at a FREE informational seminar this week! Learn more at
ACallToChange.org.
I saw this posting in the
Detroit Free Press and thought it was full of wonderful information for those individuals considering weight loss surgery in Indiana or elsewhere in the state. I will post the first few paragraphs below and you can find full text on questions related to
bariatric weight loss surgery by clicking the link.
Question: I am 5 feet 6 and weigh 240 pounds. I also have Type 2 diabetes. I know I need to lose weight, but knee problems have kept me from exercising, and weight-loss medications haven't helped. I'm now thinking about weight-loss surgery.
Answer: When diet, exercise and medication have little effect, the best option may be weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery.
An estimated 220,000 people had bariatric surgery in 2008, and nearly 30% of them had diabetes. For most, the surgery cures their diabetes, meaning their blood sugar returns to normal levels and they no longer need diabetes medications.
The two most widely used procedures, gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding, lead to substantial weight loss. Although slightly more risky, the bypass procedure leads to greater and faster weight loss. It's also more effective in resolving diabetes and other health complications than the banding procedure. In fact, diabetes resolves in more than 84% of people who undergo gastric bypass.
I will be posting two parts of a great motivational blog from one of our success stories, Bob. He is so great about providing ideas and suggestions to all of us at Clarian Bariatrics, and I think he has some awesome advice to contribute to our blog readers as well. Look for part two on Friday!Recently, I had a nice chat with a woman during the Heartland Walk for Health at the Indiana State Fair. Although she’s not a bariatric patient, she’s lost over 50 pounds since December through dieting. However, she’s been feeling a little “down” lately since her weight loss has slowed down. She’s hit the dreaded “WALL.”
I shared my post-surgery experience with her. I’m almost 18 months post-surgery and have lost about 155 pounds. And, I’ve seen at least a couple of plateaus in my 18 months. I told her this is common among those of us who have lost a lot of weight. Then I shared my approach for beating the “blues." I hope it’ll help her and maybe it might help someone else, too.
I call it…CELBRATE YOURSELF!
When you feel a little down because the weight loss has slowed, realize that your REAL goal is not to lose weight…it is to GET FIT. Your weight was just one of the things standing in your way of getting fit.
Then, think of some of the things you can do now, that you couldn’t do before your weight loss… and CONGRATULATE YOURSELF FOR IT! You’ve done a pretty good thing here. You should feel good about it. For example:
- I congratulate myself every time I mow the lawn now. A year ago I couldn’t mow the lawn!
- I built my wife a raised garden bed this spring. 1,800 pounds of stones and mortar, then shoveled in 2000 pounds of dirt. But, I built it as much FOR MYSELF as I did for my wife! Every time I look at it now I marvel at what I did. A year ago that wouldn’t have been even a dream!
- I can work around the garden for an entire day now. GOOD JOB! PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK! A year ago… no way I could have done that! (Unfortunately, I’ve discovered the poison ivy in my garden. But, a year ago I didn’t know I had it! WOW!)
I always educate people that weight loss is about changing your body composition rather than just losing pounds in body weight. To improve your health, fitness, appearance, and physical abilities—strength training and cardiovascular exercise are keys to success. Since our bodies use both fat and muscle for energy, it is possible to lose weight but still have a high body fat percentage if muscle mass is lost and not being replaced. Increasing your muscle mass through exercise will help you get rid of fat mass by boosting your calorie-burning power and avoid losing strength.
I recently met with a patient who has become a faithful exerciser after surgery, and at this appointment she proved the power of this significant point. About one month ago, we analyzed her body composition and discovered some areas on her body that needed special focus. After following her program the best she could for one month, we analyze her body composition again. The scale showed she had only lost 3lbs since our last visit. She was a regular exerciser and didn’t understand why the weight was coming off so slow. However, the analysis uncovered what was truly happening and what the scale wasn’t able to show. In one month, she had lost almost 20 lbs in body fat and gained almost 15 lbs in muscle mass! Her body fat percentage went from 36 percent down to 29 percent!
So while her total body weight didn’t seem to be decreasing…her body composition was changing dramatically for the better. She saw that even though her scale at home showed slow progress, her exercise routine had taken her strength, fitness, and overall body make-up to the next level. She left confident about how much exercise can ultimately help create a leaner (and not just simply lighter) body. So I encourage you to start exercising or keep exercising even if the scale doesn’t seem to show the immediate results you are looking for—because you might be building the muscle you need to truly help your body. Contact the
Clarian Bariatrics if you need more help making exercise a part of your life.
Previously, I wrote about how patients feel that they have an abundance of energy post operatively and part of that is of course due to their weight loss; however, another reason for such a dramatic change in energy may be in part that they are sleeping better.
A more restful, sound sleep will definitely allow you to awaken feeling more refreshed, and energized. Many patients tell me they are sleeping better once they have lost weight and are surprised that their obesity affected their sleep.
Then there are patients who are on C-PAP at night to sleep and as they loose weight, they are able to come off the C-PAP. This group is aware that their sleeping issues are a result of obesity related problems and are so relieved to watch their health improve as a benefit of their weight loss surgery.
Want to learn more about how weight loss surgery can change your life? Then join us at a FREE informational seminar.
Click here for more information.
The following factors will be considered in determining if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery:
- You have tried to lose weight by changing your eating habits and exercise and are still severely obese.
- You are unable to perform routine daily activities without being seriously affected.
- You understand the procedure and the lifestyle changes you will need to make after bariatric surgery.
- You are motivated to make a lifelong behavioral commitment that includes well-balanced meals and physical exercise.
- You understand that this surgery won't solve all your problems, but can make you healthier -- and probably much happier.
Before patients undergo surgery for morbid obesity, they must qualify for our bariatrics program. Our basic program guidelines are:
- Being 100 pounds or more over your "ideal body weight," according to the established weight charts.
- Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 with no co-morbidities or greater than 35 with serious co-morbidities.
- Being able and willing to make the necessary lifestyle changes.
Learn more by attending a FREE informational session. Sessions are held at Clarian Bariatrics' Indianapolis location and include discussions with surgeons and weight loss specialists about the types of bariatric surgery - including Lap Band and Gastric Bypass - and the costs associated with surgery. Visit our
Web site for more information and for dates and times.
It was much easier for our ancestors to burn calories all day long, because there weren’t as many sedentary activities back then. If you think about it, they didn’t have access to hundreds of TV channels or internet to keep them seated all evening long! Since these
things are readily available nowadays, it requires us to make an extra effort to burn calories throughout the day…especially if we are looking to lose weight! In addition to a structured exercise program, we can tap into some of the physical labor that our ancestors used to do while we continue to do our daily activities. Check out some of these ideas from the American Heart Association:
- Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it.
- Work in the garden or mow the grass. Using a riding mower doesn't count! Rake leaves, prune, dig and pick up trash.
- Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
- Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.
- When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk. Choose a hilly route. When watching TV, sit up instead of lying on the sofa. Better yet, spend a few minutes pedaling on your stationary bicycle while watching TV. Throw away your video remote control. Instead of asking someone to bring you a drink, get up off the couch and get it yourself.
- Stand up while talking on the telephone.
- Walk the dog.
- Park farther away at the shopping mall and walk the extra distance. Wear your walking shoes and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall.
- Stretch to reach items in high places and squat or bend to look at items at floor level.
- Keep exercise equipment repaired and use it!
I thought this article from the
Sustainable Industries e-zine was full of practical tips that all of us can apply to help combat the growing waistlines of ourselves and our coworkers. These tips are not new to bariatric weight loss surgery patients who learn many of these tricks pre and post-operatively. The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by
clicking here.
No matter what popular diet books say, losing weight is about eating fewer calories. New research recently confirmed this simple formula without equivocation. So why do most successful dieters gain weight back? And is this conundrum related to our obesity epidemic? The answer isn’t simple but it’s fascinating, and businesses can play a bigger role than they may think.
If you’re reading this article, chances are your company has already adopted many socially responsible business practices. But has overfeeding your employees gotten any attention? Perhaps it’s time to think about some new patterns in creative ways. We’ve got a lot to gain, and perhaps even more to lose.
The Clarian Bariatrics support group meeting for gastric lap band patients was held on Wednesday, May 20. This month's topic was "Developing a Positive Self Message."
Most self talk is negative. Negative self-talk may cause you to doubt yourself, create uncertainty, and perpetuate poor self esteem and poor self confidence. Since self-talk is mostly negative, this will work against you in the long run.
Change your self talk to positive self message. Changing to positive self-talk will give you a new message to help you overcome long-time fears and obstacles. You will become more confident around others and feel more in control. All you have to do is learn to talk to yourself and with a positive self message!
Create awareness of what and how you talk to yourself. Write down when you are self critical, negative, and judgmental. This will increase awareness when you becoming demeaning to yourself. Replace negative thoughts with positive and flexible messages.
Focus on what you can control!
Write down all negative self-messages and reword to make into positive self-message. For example - Negative self-message – “I will never be able to lose weight and keep the weight off.” Positive self-message – “I will take one day at a time and overcome difficulties the best that I can.”
With the hope of providing an incentive and sympathetic viewpoint for both our pre-operative and post-operative patients, I would like to share my personal experience. For me, too, weight control has been an issue for a significant part of my life. As all of you know, when one is overweight, the ability to lose weight is challenged by one's work schedule, family commitments, financial constraints, and apathy or sense of hopelessness.
I think television portrays the typical surgeon's schedule relatively well. So, I don't feel it necessary to explain why my work schedule makes it hard to eat right. At home, I have a two-year-old son and a working wife that deserve my time and attention. So, exercise and dining revolve around my schedule, but I try to follow their schedule whenever my work allows it. So, that leaves little time for either exercise or good dietary planning.
Financially, my family has not been impacted anywhere near as much as others, but our home is no different than most in our need to trim waste and limit excessive spending during this difficult economy. As many of you know, healthy eating is often more time consuming and more expensive.
Finally, like many, I had accepted my weight as a consequence of factors that were largely out of my control or would require so much effort to change that it wasn't worth it. Then, due to both financial and health reasons, I decided I needed to stop this train. So, in mid-January, my wife and I started the Liver Reduction Diet or LRD. The same diet that has been shown to each of you. In a manner of two months, I can say that we both have successfully lost 10 percent of our body weight. We have started packing our lunch, reducing our eating out, and limiting our carbohydrate consumption.
It isn't easy. But, it also isn't really that hard. There is no doubt that our success comes from wholesale change in our eating behavior and the support that we have provided one another. As you know, the hard part will be the maintenance of our weight loss. So, what do I want you to take home from this. Well, we all know that it's hard to lose weight. But, the tools, like the LRD, are there. I have had as many obstacles as all of you, but I used the tools and have had success. If I can do it, then so can you!
When it comes to exercise, there are many ways to measure your success. Different goals allow for different measurements, but for the purpose of this program, weight loss is a main goal that people have when it comes to exercising.
The first place we often look to check our progress is on the scale. Exercise is one of the best ways to burn fat and lose weight, and it usually shows on the scale. But when it doesn’t, it can be pretty frustrating! We often see frustrations grow with beginner exercisers who are following strength training programs because of the stages of change our bodies go through.
Many people have heard the common saying “muscle weighs more than fat.” This is a true statement and can actually play a role in how much the scale proves your progress. The simple fact is that muscles are heavy and dense (unlike fat which is more loose) so the beginning stages of a workout program often show a few pounds of weight gain.
Our muscles adapt the fastest at the beginning of a strength training program, so many people notice the gain right at the beginning. This can often be a discouraging factor when people are beginning exercisers, because they feel like they are seeing the opposite results!
Anyone can understand that kind of frustration. However, this is a natural phenomenon that takes place inside of our bodies for a reason--and this short-term sacrifice of seeing those few extra pounds in the beginning will pay off in many long-term benefits.
After working with quite a few patients the past few months, I am so impressed with the direct results exercise has had on their success after surgery. Patients who normally wouldn’t have had the passion to exercise decided to come forward for help, and it is paying off tremendously for them.
Upon completing their second round of physical fitness assessments after they followed the exercise program I gave them, we are noticing that these patients are losing weight at a faster rate than we normally see!
Their assessments are showing dramatic improvements in their strength, balance, coordination and loss in inches. Congratulations to you all who are working hard to improve your physical wellbeing through exercise---you deserve these results!
If you haven’t begun exercising after surgery, I hope this helps you understand the benefits that it can bring. Exercise is a crucial addition to making your surgery a success as you move forward. If you need help beginning an exercise program, please contact me at Clarian Bariatrics or via e-mail me at elight@clarian.org.
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is whether or not exercise will help with the extra skin that can result from bariatric surgery. And the answer I give is “Yes!”
Consistent strength training and muscle-building can help your skin reform while you lose weight. Since skin is a living organ, it does have the ability to change and reshape. While certain factors do play a role in how much skin can change (age, condition, genetics, etc.), it’s possible to decrease the amount
It is also important to strength train, because it is natural to lose muscle mass along with fat mass. Although weight loss is happening, your body may still be carrying more fat than muscle. So following a structured program will help you avoid losing muscle mass and help you replace fat with muscle. It all comes down to the basic composition of your body, and if you work to have more muscle than fat, you are on the right track.
The extra skin from losing weight is not just skin. There is still extra fat that is left on the body as well that is located in these extra folds of skin. If you are still having a hard time seeing this, it may help to take a look at pregnant women. Pregnant women who don’t gain excess body fat during pregnancy are not left with flabs of skin, which shows that skin has the ability to change shape. But furthermore, pregnant women who strengthen their core muscles have an even better chance of returning back to their original body sizes. This is not exactly the same situation as bariatric surgery, but the same principles still apply.
Obesity is a growing epidemic in Indiana and many of us are looking for the “quick fix” for our disease. I know first hand what it feels like to be morbidly obese, and to be terrified of how to get my weight under control.
I have a 45 minute drive to work each morning, and I was flabbergasted at the amount of weight loss pill commercials I heard in that time frame. I counted five different types of ads for the quick fix weight loss pill. We all have different circumstances of why we have obesity problems and many of us wake up one day and wonder “How did this happen to me?”
I’m asking all of you to be very mindful of the quick fix weight loss pills! We are promised a cure all to our obesity and the commercials make us think that the pounds will just melt away. I am the perfect example of a gastric bypass patient who tried all the fad diets, weight loss pills, not eating, all of the things that were more harmful than helpful to my obesity issues.
Think long and hard about what weight loss pills contain, why you lose weight, and how the quick fix is not pleasant and doesn’t last. Think about the damage you are doing to your body and know this is not a healthy decision. Remember we didn’t become overweight overnight. It took us many years to get to where we are today and no pill can fix that for us!
At
Clarian Bariatrics we are here for your weight loss support in a completely positive and healthy way! I encourage each of you to come to support group no matter where you are in your journey! We are here to support you and discuss the causes of obesity, how to help overcome our food addictions and be your best cheer leaders for your weight loss goals!
Please click on the image at the top right of this page for listings of all upcoming support groups and locations. If you are can not make it to support group and have questions please feel free to contact me directly or leave a comment below. Please call 317-275-7010 or toll free at 877-275-2555 or by e-mail at bariatric@clarian.org.
There are many medical conditions that can be resolved or improved by having weight loss surgery. People who have been dependent on insulin to treat diabetes have been freed from daily injections, blood pressure medications have been eliminated and major joint pain is a thing of the past. Patients also report improvements in their symptoms of chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and polycystic ovarian disease.
Are you or do you know someone who needs a CPAP or BIPAP machine at night for sleep apnea? Most post bariatric surgery patients no longer need these respiratory support systems as they lose weight. No longer do people suffer from swelling in their extremities and many report that the frequent and debilitating migraine headaches they once had are nearly non-existent.
Clearly, weight loss surgery is much more than how an individual looks or even feels and it cannot be denied that a significant improvement in health is expected and enjoyed.
It’s difficult to imagine that life won’t feel/be perfect once you’re well on your way to losing weight and finally seeing the numbers you’ve longed to see for many years. The truth is the challenges are there, and on some level always will be.
Once you’ve recovered from weight loss surgery and are on the meal plan for life of proteins and fluids and vitamin regimes, foods will still smell great, restaurants will still be in the picture, the grocery store can and will at times be overwhelming, and cravings of favorite foods/meals will come back. It’s hard to imagine how to pack protein into your ‘meal’ when you’re desiring something will little to no protein.
New habits are more difficult for some than others. For me, drinking water at such a volume per day is a challenge in that it’s something I’ve never done before. After a while, some days become better than others, fluids to the volume of 64 ounces/day might as well be 64 gallons…or so it feels.
Another challenge for me has been to learn to listen to my body versus finishing the meal amounts my head/eyes think I should have. Smaller plates, smaller portions to start…it’s all a process of creating and remembering the new you. The other day I placed a straw in my drink and haven’t done that since surgery. I guess it’s from years of using straws. I was as shocked and even asked myself (silently) “How did that straw get in there?”
Exercise is another challenge…time constraints with busy schedules, winter weather limits outside activities, etc. What will work best post-op is unique to each person/family, and I’m still figuring out what’s best for me.
Worth it? Absolutely. Currently, I’m minus 76 pounds in 9 months and feel terrific. The weight is definitely slowing down in how fast it comes off, but that was to be expected and I haven’t been too terribly disappointed with this. I’ve also reevaluated what I can do with increasing protein, exercise and fluids to kick-start the faster loss again…all in good time.
If you are considering bariatric weight loss surgery and found your way to
Clarian Bariatrics…man, are you in the right place! I could not imagine taking this journey with anyone else!
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