Are you looking for a way to get some exercise in this weekend?
Walk the Talk will be getting together for the last charity walk of the season. Come join us as we participate in the St. Jude Children’s Research 5K on Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m. The walk will be held at Northwestway Park located at 5253 W 62nd St, Indianapolis 43268. This walk will be a paved path that is 1.6 miles long. It is a beautiful park that will make a great location during this time of year!
By walking in this 5K event, we can help the doctors and researchers at St. Jude find lifesaving cures for desperately ill children in communities everywhere. By walking, we can bring hope to the patients and families that walk through the doors of St. Jude everyday in search of a cure.
If you would like to join us in this cause, please sign up on our
team page, and click on Sign up to Walk. During your registration, it will ask you to “Join a Team”---look for our Clarian Bariatrics Walk the Talk team! Everyone who joins the team will receive a free Walk the Talk t-Shirt! We hope to see you there! Feel free to call me at 317-275-7017 if you have questions
When searching for a weight loss program, the first place to start is by asking your family physician for a recommendation. Your doctor should be able to provide you with several options for programs that other patients have found to be successful.
Ideally, you should do a lot of research, ask a lot of questions, and find a weight loss program that you are comfortable with (even excited about participating in!)
Here are the basic things you should consider when researching weight loss programs:
- How much weight do you wish to lose? Your program should encourage you to set realistic and attainable goals.
- How much support will you receive from the program? Find a program that offers support in ways that suit your lifestyle (online classes, personal counseling, support groups, etc.)
- Can the program be customized to meet your lifestyle? The program you choose should fit the way you live. If they simply make you eat things you don't like, it will be hard to stick with it.
- What kind of maintenance program is provided? The best programs include a maintenance regime that focuses on helping you change your eating and exercise patterns.
If you would like to learn more tips about searching for a program,
please click here.
October 2009 marked my two year re-birth date! I’m still learning to be a Bariatric patient even after two years into my weight loss journey. Some thoughts I’d like to share:
Bari bellies are a sensitive piece of real estate! It is crucial that I respect my piece of real estate and give it the proper nourishment/vitamins it needs. Protein, protein and more protein along with hydration or I’m feeling down in the dumps!
A lifestyle/behavior change is a necessary daily practice. If I choose to continue my old behaviors I’m choosing to sabotage myself. Life happens and when it does I have the choice to repeat my old behavior or make the better/healthier choice in those moments. These are times when I find myself reaching out to a friend.
I still have good days, great days and bad days.
I truly believe in having “Safe People” in my life who understand what I’m going through as a Bariatric patient. I need people who can relate with me physically, emotionally and spiritually to help support me while being genuine.
I have to be mindful of head hunger because it is always lingering. Each day is different and sometimes it can be very challenging to overcome the head hunger. This is another time when I know I need to change the scenery or reach out for help.
Honesty and open communication is essential with my surgeon, dietitian, and my support people along with myself. Being sincere helps me stay on track and not self-sabotage. Denying the truth only hurts me.
Handful Harry is a demon on my shoulder who will probably always exist and is a constant reminder to me that the operation was performed on my stomach not my head.
Check out Part II on Friday!
I have a demon that was a huge part of my life before surgery and I like to call him Handful Harry. Harry was the little gremlin always sitting on my shoulder just waiting for me to grab a handful of something. That something was anything from crackers to Reese’s pieces. Harry sat patiently waiting for me to grab a handful of food and once that happened I was doomed. He would constantly babble on and on over and over “One more handful won’t hurt.”
Over the course of my journey I have worked on taming that animal through therapy and self-help in hopes to never hear his voice again. There are times when I can feel Mr. Harry peaking over my shoulder in anticipation of me grabbing a handful. This is something I personally struggle with and is a constant reminder to me that the operation was performed on my stomach not my head.
This is a perfect example of a time when having a bariatric friend is a saving grace. When those head games start and you go into panic mode make a call, journal what's going on and how you feel, get on your local website forum and call out to your bariatric extended family. Get support in whatever form you need it! Find a local support group and attend as often as you can.
What personal struggles are you facing? What steps do you need to take today to conquer your demons? I am here to help whenever I can no matter how far you are in your journey, no matter what type of surgery, where you live or what program you are in.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
Let Clarian Bariatrics help you "Plan for a Successful Holiday Season." Join us for support group on Tuesday, November 3 at 6 p.m. as we discuss "Healthy Holiday Eating" at the outpatient clinic.
It is not necessary to RSVP. See you there!
Walk the Talk will be getting together for the last charity walk of the season. Come join us as we participate in the St. Jude Children’s Research 5K on Saturday, November 21 at 9 a.m. The walk will be held at Northwestway Park located at 5253 W 62nd St, Indianapolis. This walk will be a paved path that is 1.6 miles long. It is a beautiful park that will make a great location during this time of year!
By walking in this 5K event, we can help the doctors and researchers at St. Jude find lifesaving cures for desperately ill children in communities everywhere. By walking, we can bring hope to the patients and families that walk through the doors of St. Jude everyday in search of a cure. If you would like to join us in this cause,
please sign up on our team page.
Everyone who joins the team will receive a free Walk the Talk T-Shirt! We hope to see you there!
Laparoscopic surgery is a less invasive surgical option because it eliminates the need for a long incision to open the abdomen. With this procedure, a small video camera is inserted through small incisions made in the abdominal wall, and the surgeon views the procedure on a video monitor. This helps the surgeon to achieve better visualization.
Studies have shown that this type of surgery offers the following benefits:
- Less pain.
- Easier breathing and increased lung function.
- Fewer wound complications.
- Faster recovery times.
Laparoscopic procedures produce similar weight loss to open surgical methods. However, not all patients are candidates for this approach.
Looking for help getting started with exercise? The American College of Sports Medicine teamed up with MyExercisePlan.com to help people take the necessary steps to creating a lasting exercise program. Check out this website to do self-assessments, watch exercise videos, and use some helpful tools that will promote your success.
http://www.myexerciseplan.com/assessment/
Ever wonder what you can expect after bariatric weight loss surgery with Clarian Bariatrics? This video helps answer some of those questions!
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!
The following is from WebMD the Magazine.
Nearly 800,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed in the United States each year. Yet many people with type 2 diabetes don’t realize they have it. Do you know if you’re at risk for getting diabetes? 5.7 million Americans have diabetes but don’t know it.
1. How old are you?
2. Are you overweight? Yes No
3. Do you have a family member with diabetes? Yes No
4. What is your ethnic background?
5. Do you exercise at least three times a week?
Answers: #1 Risk goes up with age: type 2 diabetes s more likely for people age 45 and older who are overweight. However, greater numbers of people younger than 40 – including teens and people in their 20’s are getting the disease because of rising U.S. obesity rates.
#2 Being overweight can hamper your body’s ability to use insulin properly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
#3 Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes raises your risk.
#4 Certain ethnic groups have a higher risk. Native Americans, Alaska Natives, African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-American, and Pacific Islanders are more prone to getting type 2 diabetes.
#5 Being inactive – for example, exercising fewer than three times a week – can increase your chances of developing type 2. Talk to your doctor about starting or increasing a fitness plan to get more exercise into your life.
Clarian Bariatrics can help. If you are, overweight with type 2 diabetes and have tried diet control without success call us at 317-275-7010 for more information.
Below is another popular educational video that we produced to help potential patients understand the risks and rewards of Indiana weight loss surgery. Remember, if you have additional questions, please call us at 317-275-7010 to sign up for a FREE weight loss surgery seminar.
Lance Armstrong is a hero to anyone who knows what it’s like to be faced with physical challenges. He is a great role model and shows us that nothing is impossible. Although he is widely known for his amazing Tour de France accomplishments, he faced his own physical challenges after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that spread throughout his
abdomen, lungs, and brain. Lance proved to us all that effort, education, and a positive spirit can help one overcome anything. He also learned that a healthy lifestyle that included good nutrition and exercise helped him overcome his physical challenges. He made a commitment to share his experiences and help others overcome challenges through his Livestrong Foundation.
One of the neat ways Lance has reached out to help people is through his site
www.livestrong.com. This site is a network of people who care about living healthy and want to make sure they always strive to take care of themselves and the world around them. This site is totally free (you can upgrade if you want) and provides you with wonderful online nutrition/activity logs, exercise videos, and so much more. I’m a big fan of the fitness section (
http://www.livestrong.com/fitness/). Check out this site if you want to join the movement to live healthier! And make sure to add me as a friend!
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.
Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.
This Saturday, October 17 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. you are invited to visit our outpatient clinic on the northwest side of Indianapolis and have your questions answered about bariatric surgery costs, causes of obesity and sustainable weight loss options at the hands of our skilled Indianapolis staff.
If you are interested in attending, please fill out our
online registration form or call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 (toll free) to reserve your spot.
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!
Join us for an educational seminar to speak with our Indianapolis surgeons, nutritionists and past patients to learn how bariatric weight loss surgery can help you gain control of your weight, regain health and start a new life.
The next FREE seminar will be held at Clarian Bariatrics' INTECH Park location on Thursday, October 8 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. If you are interested in attending, please fill out our
online registration form or call 317-275-7010 or 877-275-2555 (toll free) to reserve your spot.
WebMD the Magazine featured in its September issue a segment called “Ask the School Nurse.” There were four sections under "Make the Grade – Get Kids Off to a Healthy Start This School Year," with these tips for good nutrition, reduced stress, regular exercise and healthy habits. I have put them below:
Lunchbox Lessons
Primary colors. Load up their lunchboxes with a colorful mix of fruits and vegetables to keep them energized and ready to learn. Apples, pears, berries, dried fruit, baby carrots, cauliflower and edamame are easy to pack – and fun to eat.
Fluid motion. Drinking plenty of fluids helps active children stay hydrated. But not all drinks are created equal. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids who drink one can of soda a day increase their obesity risk by 60 percent. Offer water and limit soft drinks (some can pack 150 calories per 12-ounce can).
The whole truth. Whole grains are an important part of a health diet for kids. Offer whole-grain, low-sugar cereals at breakfast and low-sodium whole-grain snack bars or crackers in their lunch box. Try making sandwiches with whole-grain bread (look for “100 percent whole wheat” to get the most grains).
Dairy queen. Strengthen their bones and brains with non- or low-fat dairy foods, including yogurt and flavored milk (choose products with no more than 30 grams of sugar.)
Do you have any tips to share?
I saw this editorial in the Pensacola News Journal and thought it was full of excellent information. The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by clicking on the
link.
Obesity causes all sorts of health-related problems ranging from high-blood pressure to diabetes to heart disease. New research now shows that being fat is quickly becoming the second-leading cause of cancer behind smoking.
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The news is especially bad for women in Western countries in coming years as the obesity epidemic continues to put them at higher risk. Colorectal cancer, breast cancer in menopausal women and endometrial cancer accounted for 65 percent of all cancers linked to being fat.
Scientists still aren't sure why being fat boosts cancer risks, but suspect it is connected to hormones. As people become fatter, they produce more hormones like estrogen that help tumors grow. People with big bellies also have more acid in their stomachs, which can lead to stomach, intestinal or esophageal cancer.
Each year, Clarian Bariatrics likes to give thanks to our community physician partners for the resources they provide us in giving patients a new life. In the past this has been a holiday greeting card, but we wanted to take a different approach this year and highlight some of our success stories in a Thanksgiving card. This is where you come in!
As one of our patient successes, we are asking that you please submit a photo (or two) that features you doing something you never thought possible. This could be participating in a competitive race, modeling the latest fashions or spending quality time with friends and family – anything at all! We will need about 150 images to create the card, and can think of no better way to give our thanks than to “show off” how amazing our patients are.
We are asking that the photos please be submitted electronically. Unfortunately, we will not be able to scan photos as the resolution is not high enough for printing. Please send your photo(s) or questions directly to Andy Pollen at apollen@clariannorth.com by October 2. If you submit a photo and do not get a verification e-mail that it was received, please send it to clarianbariatricscb@gmail.com. Sometimes our spam filters block out attachments from non-Clarian e-mail addresses!
We thank you in advance for you help!
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