I just wanted to post a video from one of our many success stories, Brook. She was kind enough to share her story with the Indianapolis area by being featured in Clarian Bariatrics commericals. Brook is a great example of how weight loss surgery can change your life.
If you would like to learn more about the bariatric surgery process, please come listen to one of our Indianapolis-based surgeons discuss treatment options and much more at a FREE informational seminar. Dates, times and the ability to RSVP can be found by
clicking here.
Okay, this title immediately stuck out at me. After reading the article, I think the theory makes perfect sense. It's similar to the studies that prove talking to a fetus or listening to classical music can make a profound impact on learning later in life. What do you think? The first few paragraphs are below and full text can be found by
clicking here.
When Kathy Perusse had weight-loss surgery and shed 120 pounds, she may have done more than make her own life easier.
She went on to have two daughters, and she may have boosted their chances of avoiding becoming obese, like her two older children are.
That's the implication of research suggesting that something in an obese woman's womb can program her fetus toward becoming a fat child and adult. It's not about simply passing along genes that promote obesity; it's some sort of still-mysterious signal.
The idea has only recently entered conversations between doctors and female patients, and scientists are scrambling to track down a biological explanation. That knowledge, in turn, may provide new ways to block obesity from crossing generations.
I am a firm believer of following the program guidelines but I am not perfect,
I am human and I will make mistakes. I have made myself very aware of the consequences of what happens when I venture off the beaten path.
I have a “healthy” fear of dumping and hope that fear stays with me for a long time.
Reality has shown me that some people will never understand or support my decision to have Bariatric surgery and I have chosen to be at peace with that.
I want people to know that Bariatric surgery is no way the easy way out in fact it’s quite the opposite. This is a lifelong lifestyle change that takes hard work and dedication. This surgery not only affects me but also those closest to me.
No matter how much research I did before surgery, nothing could ever truly prepare me for the life changing events it would bring to me physically, mentally and spiritually.It takes 20 minutes for my head to catch up with my stomach. Slowing down to eat in this fast past world is challenging but a necessary part of my weight loss journey.
Learning to put myself first and take care of ME is still something I struggle with but strive to accomplish daily.
No Bariatric patient is a perfect mirror image of me. We are all very individual people with different experiences but seem to have the unspoken understanding of what the other has gone through.
No matter what my physical size or shape is, people will always have an opinion and the only one that truly matters is MINE!! What’s most important is how I feel about myself!
If it wasn’t for the love and support of my family and friends I would not be the person I am today.
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.
How are you doing with your program? Look at the tips below and see how you’re doing.
- Eat three good quality meals per day. Fill your plate with lots of protein and veggies. Meals should be centered around a protein source. Protein is important to maintain your body’s muscle mass, for healing and also makes you feel full for a longer period of time. Vegetables also fill you up with very few calories and provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs!
- Drink lots of calorie free fluids! Water, water and more water is always best. Try crystal light, decaf tea, and other sugar free beverages. Avoid caffeine and carbonation.
- Don’t snack! Mindless snacking leads to too many calories and can lead you back to bad habits. If you are going long time periods between meals (> 5 hours), try a protein based snack like a string cheese to keep you full!
- Plan ahead always! Life gets crazy sometimes. It’s important to know what you’re eating ahead of time. If you don’t, you’ll end up grabbing something you shouldn’t.
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.
If you have been anxious to learn more about how bariatric weight loss surgery can change your life, then join Clarian Bariatrics' Indianapolis surgeons and staff on Saturday, November 7 for a FREE informational seminar.
You, and your family and friends, are invited to learn more about the different types of weight loss surgery procedures (Gastric Bypass and Lap Band), learn about the insurance process and ask questions about the health risks caused by obesity.
The seminar is from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and we cannot wait to meet you! Learn more and RSVP,
by clicking here!
Cooking class is coming back! I hope you can join us on Tuesday, December 1 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but everyone must RSVP. Please e-mail me at achumble@clariannorth.com or call and leave a message at 317-275-7015 to save your space.
There WILL be liver-friendly dishes as well as things for those far out of surgery. We will be holding the class at Clarian Bariatrics' new outpatient clinic. Directions and maps can be found at www.clarian.org/bariatrics.
See you there!
The holidays are right around the corner! Holidays are different if you’ve had bariatric surgery or if you’re getting ready for it. Do you have a plan in place to make sure you have a Healthy and Happy Holiday? Then come to support group tonight!
Date: Tuesday, November 3
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Clarian Bariatrics
This group is perfect for all pre and post surgical patients and their support people. See you later!
Are you worried about Halloween tonight? It may be different while following the Liver Reduction Diet or having Bariatric Surgery. How do you celebrate Halloween while not giving into the candy temptation?
First, don’t buy it! Instead of having bags of candy to hand out to trick or treaters, try something else. Pencils, erasers, bubbles, play doh and card games are all sold in the Halloween section. This way, you can participate with out being tempted by candy and sweets.
If you insist on candy, buy something you don’t like to hand out and throw it away immediately when the last trick or treater leaves!
Focus on enjoying the holiday, not the candy and treats!
You have chosen a new way of life with weight loss surgery, a new way that isn’t supposed to include a lot of unhealthy eating. But as Halloween approaches, and other holidays follow
close behind, your sense will be assaulted more and more with holiday treats. Are they really treats? When you look at a piece of candy and think, “Oh that looks good! One won’t hurt,” you are not contemplating treating yourself, you are contemplating sabotaging yourself.
If you really don’t want to eat things that are unhealthy for you around the holidays, think of the candy as the damaging force it really is. No matter how much we love it, sugar is NOT good for us. Eating candy is like digging a hole. One bite can be the first shovel-full of dirt. Do you really want to risk falling into that hole?
Action for the day:Treat yourself by putting those unhealthy foods out of sight as best you can, and resolve to eat only satisfying, healthy foods today.
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.
Ever wonder what you can expect after bariatric weight loss surgery with Clarian Bariatrics? This video helps answer some of those questions!
Are you looking to gather more information on weight loss surgery? Have you wanted to ask questoins about bariatric surgery costs, types of weight loss surgery (including Lap Band and Gastric Bypass) and the Indiana insurance approval process?
Then consider joining us for a FREE informational weight loss seminar on Thursday October 29 at 6:30 pm in Cicero, Indiana at 1160 South Peru Street, State Road 19. You can register online at
ACallToChange.org.
Also, feel free to bring as many of your friends and loved ones along to hear our Indianapolis-based bariatric surgeons discuss the process. See you there!
Restrictive operations serve only to restrict food intake and do not interfere with the normal digestive process. To perform the surgery, doctors create a small pouch at the top of the stomach where food enters from the esophagus. Initially, the pouch holds about one ounce of food and later expands to hold more. The lower outlet of the pouch has a small opening to delay the emptying of food from the pouch and cause a feeling of fullness.
Restrictive operations for obesity include the Adjustable Gastric Ban (LAP-BAND), which restricts the size of the stomach using a band.
Although restrictive operations lead to weight loss in almost all patients, they are less successful than malabsorptive operations in achieving substantial, long-term weight loss. Some patients regain weight. Others are unable to adjust their eating habits and fail to lose the desired weight. Successful results depend on the patient's willingness to adopt a long-term plan of healthy eating and regular physical activity.
This operation is the most common and successful malabsorptive surgery. First, a small stomach pouch is created to restrict food intake. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch to allow food to bypass the lower stomach, the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine), and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). This bypass reduces the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs. It is the primary surgery performed by The Clarian Bariatric Center.
This operation can be performed either by a traditional open surgery or laparoscopically, a relatively new technology using a small video camera and a few customized instruments to perform surgery with minimal tissue damage. The Roux-en-Y technique is generally more effective in reversing health problems associated with severe obesity. Patients who have malabsorptive operations generally lose two-thirds of their excess weight within two years.
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.
It has been several months since I posted this video, but I have had some requests to re-run some of our "What to Expect" series. Look for a few this week and next, and remember to leave a comment if you have any questions about weight loss surgery procedures, bariatric surgery costs or Indianapolis surgeons.
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.
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