One of the common co-morbid conditions is sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is prominent with people that struggle with obesity. The airway of someone that is obese can become obstructed by large tonsils, enlarged tongue and increased fat in the neck, all pressing on the airway when the pharyngeal (throat) muscles
Celebrating Bill's RNY Journey! Things were not going well for me. I was not in good shape, literally and figuratively. I was 350 lbs, and I had been for the past 20 years. I was diabetic, maxed out on oral meds, and not under control. I was about to turn 39, and I
There is no doubt that living in a society in which we are constantly surrounded by highly palatable foods makes not overeating a challenge for most of us. Head hunger Now, an interesting paper by Charles Spence and colleagues from Oxford University, published in Brain and Cognition, makes a strong
First of all, let's be realistic. Life is too short to go for the rest of your life without ever drinking a soda again. Don’t get me wrong--soda is a terrible thing to put into your body with any regularity. Concentrated sugar (or the chemical sweeteners in diet varieties) mixed
In 2010, I began experiencing extreme swelling (edema) and tightness in my legs, feet and ankles especially in my left leg. My left leg became darker and I could create impressions when I pressed on my skin (pitting). I sit most of the time at work so the swelling worsened
Five years ago, at the age of 54 years old, the prospects of a 55th birthday seemed bleak. I weighed 404 pounds and my health was failing, obesity was putting my life at risk. Countless diets and weight loss plans had not worked. But on October 4, 2010, I underwent Roux-en-Y
I love green beans and grew up with the ubiquitous green bean casserole at the holidays. I have looked for ways to have something with some of the same elements, but without the goopy high sodium soups, and often over cooked, limp green beans. I also did not want the
Celebrating Rhonda's VSG Journey! I have been overweight my entire life. I grew up being called "Thunder Thighs" by my brother, who was a body builder. Even at around 140 lbs when I graduated high school, I was teased about being fat. I did diets over the years, even twice
This winter looks like it is going to be a very cold one! There’s no time like the present to start to winterize essential items, and that includes your health. Your body works hard to maintain your body temperature and works even harder when we are losing weight. As we exercise,
A client shared a photo, and the image stays with me. It’s a young girl, standing tall on a balance beam. So proud. So beautiful. I imagine she just danced gleefully, her 9 year-old limbs performing a both exquisite and adorable routine. Although young, she is powerfully connected to her own wild, divine,
