You've heard the old saying, “time flies”. As I look back at myself pre-WLS, my weight was over 240 pounds and my general health was rapidly declining. Fast forward to today, the time as a WLS post-op has flown by. I made the decision that enough is enough and began
Obesity is a serious disease affecting millions of people worldwide and the percentages continue to increase. This is significant since obesity is associated with other medical problems that negatively impact patients’ quality-of-life and risk of death (heart disease, for example). Given this trend, obesity treatment has been likewise increasing. I
There is no magic bullet for weight loss. Whether you’ve had bariatric surgery, participate in a medical weight loss program or are working to lose weight on your own, there is no single step you can take that will guarantee that you’ll lose weight and keep it off. However, modifying
Tens of thousands of people have had success losing weight and improving their health with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (lap-band). For those who haven’t met their weight loss goals, or who have had a band-related complication, a revision is an option: conversion to a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), Roux-en-Y
Many people associate carbohydrate-rich foods by providing energy. However, as most weight loss surgery patients know, the post-operative diet is limited in carbohydrates due to their ability to cause weight regain. Fortunately, there are several other foods that are capable of providing you with long-lasting energy, despite having a lower
Weight loss surgery patients undergo a dramatic change in lifestyle following surgery. While many of the changes are for the good, there are several things that can be onerous. I have heard several patients complain about taking daily vitamins stating that while not difficult, it is annoying. Sometimes it is
As a child, appointments with my pediatrician, shopping for new pants, and visiting relatives, all triggered a feeling of dread because they shared a common theme – each experience was certain to bring up the fact that I was overweight. Moving into adolescence and adulthood, my weight would go up
Have you been diagnosed with iron deficiency after having bariatric surgery? If so, you’re not alone. Iron deficiency, already the most common mineral deficiency in the United States, occurs at an even higher rate among weight loss surgery patients and is a particular concern for post-operative RNY Gastric Bypass patients.
Bariatric surgery patients often have concerns about hernias. Basically, a hernia is a defect or a hole where there should not be one. The most common hernias I see in bariatric patients are hiatal hernias, ventral hernias, umbilical hernias, and internal hernias. Causes of Hernias Hernias are caused by a
