For the last 7 weeks I’ve been playing by the WLS rules: Eat Protein First, No Snacking, Lots of Water and Exercise. I set out to do this, in part, because of the pressure I feel as author of this website to be a good example for my readers. The other reason was the scale – the number was going up and I needed to get control of that. Some remarkable things happened during this time:
I did not experience a single dumping or vomiting episode.
I never even suffered from dizziness or feeling “off”.
I found that my food intake decreased, as if my little pouch was tightening up slightly.
I lost 4 pounds and am right back in my “safe weight zone”.
My energy level has been fresh and constant – no highs or lows.
I’ve been able to sleep well and wake refreshed.
My clothes fit better and I feel better in them.
What do you think about that? I’m pretty pleased with myself for being able to return to a more steady healthier lifestyle. Frankly, it just wasn’t that hard to follow the rules. In fact it felt liberating to follow the rules and not live in fear of the unpleasant consequences of poor food choices. Now, I’m not saying I did perfectly – I did snack on the protein bars like our contributor Kim has suggested and I missed some exercise sessions here and there. But for the most part I was committed to doing right and enjoying myself in the process.
I think I’m going to keep playing by the rules and live well after WLS!
How about you?
LAWLS Bookstore
Monday, July 18, 2005
Play by the WLS Rules & Live Well
LivingAfterWLS Newsletter Catalog
Special Edition Published Today
July 18: You Have Arrived: Beating the Snack Monster featuring the essay, "If nobody ever saw me eating, Then it couldn't be my fault I was fat" and healthful snacking strategies for LivingAfterWLS.
July 5: You Have Arrived: Issue #2: with the essay "Our Daily Bread" and helpful food information. Also introducing our new contributor, my husband, J.Bailey.
June 24: A Special Edition “You Have Arrived” Independence Day Special featuring the essay “Let Freedom Ring, It’s Independence Day” and three WLS friendly menus with recipes.
June 10: A Special Edition “You Have Arrived” for Pre-Ops featuring the personal essay “The Window of Opportunity & Other Things I Wish I Understood Before Surgery”.
June 1: Premier Newsletter “You Have Arrived” featuring the article “If WLS Was the Easy Way Out Then Why Am I Struggling”
Email kayebailey@livingafterwls.com if you wish to receive any of these issues and be included on our subscriber list for future issues.
Warm Wishes to Carol, Lynn, Maureen & Shelly
Warm wishes this week go out to four of our LivingAfterWLS community members who will undergo surgery: Carol, Lynn, Maureen & Shelly. Our thoughts are with you for a safe and speedy recovery.
Congratulations & Welcome to Your New Life!
Congratulations & Welcome to Your New Life!
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Kabuki’s Kitchen: Snack Treats
Today in Kabuki’s Kitchen we’re featuring snacks – safe snacks for living after gastric bypass surgery. One is a protein dense savory baked chickpea snack – you’ll be surprised how scrumptious this treat is. Then to help cool off in the dog days of summer, a frozen sugar free pop. Give these recipes a try. And as always, many thanks to Kabuki Dancer for sharing her recipes and beautiful spirit with us.
Sugar-Free Popsicle
Chickpea Crunches
Sugar-Free Popsicle
Chickpea Crunches
Call For Recipes
Hey Loyal LivingAfterWLS Readers - we are still adding to our recipe collection. Have you created a wonderful recipe suited to our very specific afterWLS needs? Why not share it with the community - drop me an email
I've updated the Recipe Index if you want to look back at some of the great recipes we've published lately.
I've updated the Recipe Index if you want to look back at some of the great recipes we've published lately.
WLS Subscriber List Milestone:
300 and Counting
Today we received the 300th subscriber to the LivingAfterWLS sites. Thanks everyone for subscribing and spreading the word about our project here. I look forward to continued community interaction and support as this web project continues to grow and we celebrate LivingAfterWLS.
Thanks to you all,
Kaye
Here is a reminder of all the site has to offer:
LivingAfterWLS.com is the “Mother Ship” the main website for us. Lots of articles and information – the site is updated twice a month.
LivingAfterWLS.blogspot.com is the daily journal or “web log” or "blog" for LivingAfterWLS. This site offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback. I try to add new things daily. This site contains success stories and recipes as well as general information and WLS inspired topics.
“You Have Arrived” newsletter is the monthly newsletter for our site available exclusively by subscription (unless you receive it from a friend, and we like that!) Each month one or two special editions are also issued.
Bloglet daily updates are an automatic service you can subscribe to through the livingafterwls.blogspot.com site. Once a day you receive an email "bloglet" letting you know the blog is updated and introducing the topics of the day. A bloglet subscription automatically gets you the newsletters.
Link for our full subscription policy.
Thanks to you all,
Kaye
Here is a reminder of all the site has to offer:
LivingAfterWLS.com is the “Mother Ship” the main website for us. Lots of articles and information – the site is updated twice a month.
LivingAfterWLS.blogspot.com is the daily journal or “web log” or "blog" for LivingAfterWLS. This site offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback. I try to add new things daily. This site contains success stories and recipes as well as general information and WLS inspired topics.
“You Have Arrived” newsletter is the monthly newsletter for our site available exclusively by subscription (unless you receive it from a friend, and we like that!) Each month one or two special editions are also issued.
Bloglet daily updates are an automatic service you can subscribe to through the livingafterwls.blogspot.com site. Once a day you receive an email "bloglet" letting you know the blog is updated and introducing the topics of the day. A bloglet subscription automatically gets you the newsletters.
Link for our full subscription policy.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
What Are Nutritionally Void Foods?
After WLS we must concentrate on eating nutrient rich food. Nutritionally void foods cannot be part of the regular diet after surgery because they can cause dumping, vomiting and/or weight gain. In addition, the body is taxed by the bypassed system and to put foods into it which are difficult to process and digest only taxes the body further keeping us from feeling optimum health.
In traditional dieting we learn to avoid “unhealthy” foods – those that tend to least resemble their original natural ingredients and have the most added refined and artificial additives. After gastric bypass we MUST avoid these foods, it’s not a suggestion – it is a way of life.
Top of the list of foods that must be avoided are “white foods” – white sugar, white flour and white fat. There are many foods that include all three items as primary ingredients including soft drinks, most breads, crackers, pasta, pastries and pastry fillings, cakes, frostings, margarine and bread spreads, jellies, sweets and candies, frozen dinners, hamburger and hotdog buns, snacks, doughnuts, pizzas, pies, candy bars, and cookies—all of which are common snacks and convenience foods. Indeed, many of these combine all three whites together—white sugar, flour, and fat! Furthermore, these foods frequently contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, texturizing and processing agents, and other additives that further detract from their nutritional stature and your health.
“White sugar” includes refined sugar cane or sugar beets having virtually all B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential nutrients removed. Corn syrup is also a “white sugar,” made from processed cornstarch and essentially devoid of other nutrients.
“White flour,” analogously, is whole wheat flour minus its nutrient-packed wheat germ and fibrous bran. Nutritionally speaking, white flour a ghost-like shadow of its original whole grain.
“White fat” can include rendered animal lard, vegetable oils “hydrogenated” to make them hard at room temperature, and refined tropical fats such as cottonseed oil. Hydrogenation is a chemical process that transforms natural fats into more saturated “trans”-fatty acids that do not occur naturally and are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease.
In traditional dieting we learn to avoid “unhealthy” foods – those that tend to least resemble their original natural ingredients and have the most added refined and artificial additives. After gastric bypass we MUST avoid these foods, it’s not a suggestion – it is a way of life.
Top of the list of foods that must be avoided are “white foods” – white sugar, white flour and white fat. There are many foods that include all three items as primary ingredients including soft drinks, most breads, crackers, pasta, pastries and pastry fillings, cakes, frostings, margarine and bread spreads, jellies, sweets and candies, frozen dinners, hamburger and hotdog buns, snacks, doughnuts, pizzas, pies, candy bars, and cookies—all of which are common snacks and convenience foods. Indeed, many of these combine all three whites together—white sugar, flour, and fat! Furthermore, these foods frequently contain artificial colors, artificial flavors, preservatives, texturizing and processing agents, and other additives that further detract from their nutritional stature and your health.
“White sugar” includes refined sugar cane or sugar beets having virtually all B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential nutrients removed. Corn syrup is also a “white sugar,” made from processed cornstarch and essentially devoid of other nutrients.
“White flour,” analogously, is whole wheat flour minus its nutrient-packed wheat germ and fibrous bran. Nutritionally speaking, white flour a ghost-like shadow of its original whole grain.
“White fat” can include rendered animal lard, vegetable oils “hydrogenated” to make them hard at room temperature, and refined tropical fats such as cottonseed oil. Hydrogenation is a chemical process that transforms natural fats into more saturated “trans”-fatty acids that do not occur naturally and are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease.
12 Things You Can Learn From A Two-Year Old
I love this article by Nancy Hill and hope you enjoy too! #6 is my personal favorite!
I think if you asked any child about the adults around them, they'd probably say we're a little wacky and seem to be stressed out a lot of the time. Here are a few simple things they can teach us...
1. Nap when you're tired.
2. Eat when you're hungry.
3. Don't starve yourself, it makes you tired and cranky. Eat little bits often to keep fueled up.
4. Stubbornly refuse to eat even one more bite once you're full. If you're full after a few bites, gleefully throw the rest away.
5. Leave the table with a satisfied, full belly and an eagerness to dive back into your delicious life.
6. Be picky and only eat foods you love. If it doesn't taste great to you, clamp those lips shut and refuse to eat until something better is found.
7. Be in awe over how amazing and wonderful your body is. Notice how it moves, hugs, plays, loves, heals, and enjoys life.
8. Run, jump, skip, play. Move your body because it's so much fun and it feels good. Be amazed at all the incredible physical things your body can do.
9. Wear clothes that are comfy and that make you feel good.
10. Appreciate the people around you for who they are rather than for how they look.
11. Hang out with fun, friendly people and stay away from mean, critical ones.
12. Feel great about yourself because, well, why wouldn't you?
If you don't have a two-year old around right now, seek one out and watch them for a day. Their simple enjoyment of life, and their absolute respect for their own bodies is something to aspire to.
©2005 Nancy Hill has helped thousands get free of the dieting nightmare with her ebook, "Undieting - 11 Simple Steps to Reclaim Your Body and Your Life." Sign up now for the free 7-day email course at Undieting Free Course and discover how to get your life back.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
I think if you asked any child about the adults around them, they'd probably say we're a little wacky and seem to be stressed out a lot of the time. Here are a few simple things they can teach us...
1. Nap when you're tired.
2. Eat when you're hungry.
3. Don't starve yourself, it makes you tired and cranky. Eat little bits often to keep fueled up.
4. Stubbornly refuse to eat even one more bite once you're full. If you're full after a few bites, gleefully throw the rest away.
5. Leave the table with a satisfied, full belly and an eagerness to dive back into your delicious life.
6. Be picky and only eat foods you love. If it doesn't taste great to you, clamp those lips shut and refuse to eat until something better is found.
7. Be in awe over how amazing and wonderful your body is. Notice how it moves, hugs, plays, loves, heals, and enjoys life.
8. Run, jump, skip, play. Move your body because it's so much fun and it feels good. Be amazed at all the incredible physical things your body can do.
9. Wear clothes that are comfy and that make you feel good.
10. Appreciate the people around you for who they are rather than for how they look.
11. Hang out with fun, friendly people and stay away from mean, critical ones.
12. Feel great about yourself because, well, why wouldn't you?
If you don't have a two-year old around right now, seek one out and watch them for a day. Their simple enjoyment of life, and their absolute respect for their own bodies is something to aspire to.
©2005 Nancy Hill has helped thousands get free of the dieting nightmare with her ebook, "Undieting - 11 Simple Steps to Reclaim Your Body and Your Life." Sign up now for the free 7-day email course at Undieting Free Course and discover how to get your life back.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Reading the Food Pyramid After WLS
A “normal-tummy” looks at the food pyramid from the bottom up – six to eleven servings of grains, then fruits and vegetables – then the protein groups: meat and beans and the milk group. The fats, oils and sweets are incidental.
After gastric bypass we can read the pyramid from the top down. Scoot to the side the fats, oils and sweets – we don’t eat those anymore. Start with the protein groups – remember the rule – protein first! Then have a sample from the fruits and vegetable groups. Then, only if there is room, a taste from the grains group. Fats and oils will be incidental to the diet; sweets should rarely be eaten. It is unlikely a tiny tummy will ever meet the food pyramid quantity guidelines – six to 11 servings from the grains group is totally unrealistic for a bariatric patient. However, WLS patients can gain significant nutritional benefits and satiation from incorporating foods from every group into their small meals. The key is to create a healthy eating pattern using the Food Guide Pyramid as a reference point for making sound nutritional choices.
Nutritional Benefits of each group:
Meat & Beans Group: Meat, poultry, fish and beans are the healthful and hearty members of this food group. Fifty percent of food intake after WLS will be protein from the meat and beans group. Animal proteins provide a rich source of B vitamins, iron and zinc. Nutritionally, it is best to choose meats low in fat and calories – lean round steak, skinless poultry, fish and shellfish. Legumes – including soy-based products – are a great meat substitute because they provide protein and have added fiber without the extra cholesterol, fat and calories found in meats. However, legumes are often difficult for the patient to eat – they quickly fill the tiny tummy causing discomfort. Some patients report an intolerance for beans and legumes that leads to vomiting. Test your own tolerances and learn what your body likes.
Milk Group: Milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt comprise the milk group. These foods are calcium rich and contain protein and other vitamins and minerals. But these foods can also be high in fat. Most bariatric patients report a very good tolerance for low-fat cottage cheese and mozzarella cheeses. Patients should use caution as they introduce foods from the dairy group back into their diet: many patients report dumping or lactose intolerance from foods in this group.
Fruit Group: Fruits are nature’s gift of sweetness to us, and a bonus, most fruits are low in fat and calories, but great sources of soluble fiber and antioxidants. Unfortunately, the natural sugars in fruit can cause a sugar (glucose) imbalance and dumping. The fiber in fruits – particularly citrus – can cause discomfort to the tiny tummy. Small bites must be taken as a patient re-introduces these foods to the bariatric system. Most patients report favorable results eating melon. Berries with seeds – such as raspberries or strawberries – should be avoided immediately after surgery to avoid lodging the seeds in the healing stomach seam. After healing is complete, many patients enjoy berries in their diet. Apples have also received favorable results from gastric bypass patients.
Vegetable Group: Vegetables add vitamins, fiber and flavor to the diet. When meats are braised vegetables can be added to the pot to add flavor and nutrition and a bit of natural moisture. Vegetables should be served in the purest form, lightly steamed without added creams or sauces. Raw vegetables, including leafy salads, can be difficult for the tiny tummy to digest, and when poorly chewed may cause a temporary blockage of the stomach exit. Some raw vegetables may cause gas or bloating after gastric bypass surgery. As always, use caution when introducing foods to the diet after gastric bypass.
Grains Group: This is the group of comforting energy giving carbohydrates we love to eat – the pastas, breads, rice couscous and other grains. As morbidly obese people most of the foods we loved (sweets, breads, pastas) came from this group, but as recovering obese people we must carefully control our intake of these foods. Science is proving that these foods are most quickly converted to fat and stored by body. The less food we intake from this group, the more our body is forced to use the stored fat. When introducing foods from this group try the purest forms: oatmeal cereal, one or two bites of whole-wheat bread, one bite of rice. Be very careful with grains and carbohydrates from the grains group: these foods can cause discomfort, dumping or worse – weight gain.
Fats & Oils: Fats are extremely concentrated forms of energy that contain little water and carry a lot of flavor. The body needs fat to function properly. Dietary fat carries fat-soluble vitamins Рvitamins A, D, E and K Рfrom food into the body. Bariatric patients report lost desire for high fat foods. In addition, high fat greasy foods are poorly tolerated and cause nausea. Patients will achieve a better quality of health by focusing on foods made with unsaturated fats and reducing the saturated fat intake in the diet. A way to include more unsaturated fat in the diet is to saut̩ with olive oil instead of butter. Canola oil should be used in baking. Replace bacon bits on salad with slivered almonds or sunflower seeds Рnuts are a wonderful source of natural unsaturated fat. Avoid eating potato chips or processed crackers; they are made with hydrogenated oils Рa lethal fat. Use avocado slices in place of cheese on sandwiches. Have fish Рparticularly omega-3 rich salmon or mackerel Рfor your protein a couple of times a week.
After gastric bypass we can read the pyramid from the top down. Scoot to the side the fats, oils and sweets – we don’t eat those anymore. Start with the protein groups – remember the rule – protein first! Then have a sample from the fruits and vegetable groups. Then, only if there is room, a taste from the grains group. Fats and oils will be incidental to the diet; sweets should rarely be eaten. It is unlikely a tiny tummy will ever meet the food pyramid quantity guidelines – six to 11 servings from the grains group is totally unrealistic for a bariatric patient. However, WLS patients can gain significant nutritional benefits and satiation from incorporating foods from every group into their small meals. The key is to create a healthy eating pattern using the Food Guide Pyramid as a reference point for making sound nutritional choices.
Nutritional Benefits of each group:
Meat & Beans Group: Meat, poultry, fish and beans are the healthful and hearty members of this food group. Fifty percent of food intake after WLS will be protein from the meat and beans group. Animal proteins provide a rich source of B vitamins, iron and zinc. Nutritionally, it is best to choose meats low in fat and calories – lean round steak, skinless poultry, fish and shellfish. Legumes – including soy-based products – are a great meat substitute because they provide protein and have added fiber without the extra cholesterol, fat and calories found in meats. However, legumes are often difficult for the patient to eat – they quickly fill the tiny tummy causing discomfort. Some patients report an intolerance for beans and legumes that leads to vomiting. Test your own tolerances and learn what your body likes.
Milk Group: Milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt comprise the milk group. These foods are calcium rich and contain protein and other vitamins and minerals. But these foods can also be high in fat. Most bariatric patients report a very good tolerance for low-fat cottage cheese and mozzarella cheeses. Patients should use caution as they introduce foods from the dairy group back into their diet: many patients report dumping or lactose intolerance from foods in this group.
Fruit Group: Fruits are nature’s gift of sweetness to us, and a bonus, most fruits are low in fat and calories, but great sources of soluble fiber and antioxidants. Unfortunately, the natural sugars in fruit can cause a sugar (glucose) imbalance and dumping. The fiber in fruits – particularly citrus – can cause discomfort to the tiny tummy. Small bites must be taken as a patient re-introduces these foods to the bariatric system. Most patients report favorable results eating melon. Berries with seeds – such as raspberries or strawberries – should be avoided immediately after surgery to avoid lodging the seeds in the healing stomach seam. After healing is complete, many patients enjoy berries in their diet. Apples have also received favorable results from gastric bypass patients.
Vegetable Group: Vegetables add vitamins, fiber and flavor to the diet. When meats are braised vegetables can be added to the pot to add flavor and nutrition and a bit of natural moisture. Vegetables should be served in the purest form, lightly steamed without added creams or sauces. Raw vegetables, including leafy salads, can be difficult for the tiny tummy to digest, and when poorly chewed may cause a temporary blockage of the stomach exit. Some raw vegetables may cause gas or bloating after gastric bypass surgery. As always, use caution when introducing foods to the diet after gastric bypass.
Grains Group: This is the group of comforting energy giving carbohydrates we love to eat – the pastas, breads, rice couscous and other grains. As morbidly obese people most of the foods we loved (sweets, breads, pastas) came from this group, but as recovering obese people we must carefully control our intake of these foods. Science is proving that these foods are most quickly converted to fat and stored by body. The less food we intake from this group, the more our body is forced to use the stored fat. When introducing foods from this group try the purest forms: oatmeal cereal, one or two bites of whole-wheat bread, one bite of rice. Be very careful with grains and carbohydrates from the grains group: these foods can cause discomfort, dumping or worse – weight gain.
Fats & Oils: Fats are extremely concentrated forms of energy that contain little water and carry a lot of flavor. The body needs fat to function properly. Dietary fat carries fat-soluble vitamins Рvitamins A, D, E and K Рfrom food into the body. Bariatric patients report lost desire for high fat foods. In addition, high fat greasy foods are poorly tolerated and cause nausea. Patients will achieve a better quality of health by focusing on foods made with unsaturated fats and reducing the saturated fat intake in the diet. A way to include more unsaturated fat in the diet is to saut̩ with olive oil instead of butter. Canola oil should be used in baking. Replace bacon bits on salad with slivered almonds or sunflower seeds Рnuts are a wonderful source of natural unsaturated fat. Avoid eating potato chips or processed crackers; they are made with hydrogenated oils Рa lethal fat. Use avocado slices in place of cheese on sandwiches. Have fish Рparticularly omega-3 rich salmon or mackerel Рfor your protein a couple of times a week.
Happy Birthday Kim Stover!
From me and the LivingAfterWLS community, Happy Birthday Kim! We enjoy your upbeat inspiration and frequent contributions to the site and wish you many years of celebration in your new life!
Happy Birthday!
Kaye
Happy Birthday!
Kaye
Monday, July 11, 2005
Making Right Our Nutritional Wellness
It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow after gastric bypass surgery:
The first are the patients who realize WLS is a second chance to make right their nutritional wellness and they exchange the eating habits and poor food choices that made them obese for a smarter way of eating. These patients become champions of healthy ingredients and wholesome eating making conscious choices for how they fuel their bodies. They are non-stop learners in constant quest for information to aid in their health and wellness. They are actively engaged in their own nutrition to improve their health and make strong their bodies against disease. These patients have tremendous success in long-term weight maintenance following massive weight loss.
The second are the patients who rely solely on the restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass to lose weight. They half-heartedly follow the program during the phase of rapid weight loss and little by little the old habits that made them obese sneak back into their daily living. You’ll hear these patients say, “I can eat anything I want, just less of it” and they laugh. But the joke is on them because sure enough, these patients will regain weight and suffer from poor nutritional health.
Perhaps the people in the “old habits” school think it’s a waste of effort or energy to try and eat healthy – after all, we eat such little portions. Perhaps they think health food is seaweed and tofu and icky stuff like that. Perhaps they simply don’t have the information necessary to affect positive healthy change in their diets.
Dr. Bernard Jensen in Guide to Body Chemistry & Nutrition writes, “The old saw “what you don’t know can’t hurt you” just isn’t true when it comes to body chemistry, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Ignorance leads to poor nutritional choices, chemical deficiencies and the kinds of diseases that prey on an undernourished body and shorten the life span. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes all take a terrible toll on life in this country, and all three of them are strongly influenced by food patterns and lifestyle habits. . . The right kind of knowledge can always lead us to a better life.”
In the next few days we will bring some of that knowledge to this site so that we may all be students of the first school of WLS patients and make right our nutritional wellness. We will discuss:
- Vitamin & Mineral supplementation
- WLS friendly nutrient dense food sources
- Identifying nutritional deficiencies
- Identifying nutritionally void foods & how-to avoid them
- Resources for healthy recipes & nutritional information
Dr. Jensen writes, “Hippocrates said, “Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food.” In my opinion, the kitchen is more important to our health than the doctor’s office or the local hospital. If food selection, preparation and cooking are done wisely, intentionally and properly, very little time will need be spent visiting health care facilities.” Dr. Jensen, by the way, wrote Guide to Body Chemistry & Nutrition at age 92.
Before WLS surgery I believe it is fair to say many of us “let food be our comfort” and indeed we were well comforted – that’s why we needed surgery. If we can change that thought to “let food be our medicine” and treat it as such, perhaps our relationship with food will improve, our bodies will become healthier and the quality of life will exceed expectation.
It has been noted by many a bariatric counselor that patients are resistant toward learning a healthier way to live. One nurse told me, “Some people want to have doctors take care of them. They don’t want to take responsibility for their own lives.” But she noted the patients who are eager to learn good nutrition do not regain weight, do not fight the emotional demons of weight fluctuations and they enjoy boundless physical wellness. They never suffer from obesity again.
Dr. Jensen states, “There are arguments, disagreements, people defending their right to eat what they love. I tell them I don’t blame them and encourage them to make the change because it’s the right thing for them to do.”
I hope you’ll stick around this week and take interest in the topic of nutritional wellness. I look forward to sharing lots of great information so we can all live healthy and well after weight loss surgery.
Best wishes,
Kaye
LivingAfterWLS Contributor Completes First Race
One of our frequent contributors, Kim Stover, finished her first official race yesterday, a 5K. She finished in under 49 minutes and placed #430 out of nearly 600 participants. With her permission I’m sharing her beautiful accomplishment. I know you will be as touched and inspired as I was to read her story!
I completed my first official race today (July 10, 2005). What a thrill! Have you ever done one? This was a 5k/10k. I opted for the 5k since it is just a bit more than I usually do on my daily walk. It was odd to walk without the dogs! I was sort of lost being by myself.
The energy was incredible at the race and I actually started out jogging. Everyone else was doing it, so I joined in. I had my number pinned on (had to scope out the other gals to see where to pin it on my shirt. Turns out that it goes right below your boobs) my iPod was going and my adrenaline was pumping! I just wanted to scream, "Look at me! Look at me!". I refrained, but came pretty close to popping a couple of times.
I didn't have a goal, other than to just finish the race and not come in last place. There were almost 600 competitors and I was in the pack. My young cousin, who inspired me to enter, was there with her Team in Training for leukemia. She passed me up out of the gate and that was fine by me. She is 10 years younger, so I used that excuse to justify her better pace.
At one point, I realized that I was keeping the same pace as this 70ish man and thought, "I'll be damned if Grandpa is going to beat me at this thing". So now my goal was not just to finish, but to beat the old guy. I can do this. I started to find my stride...who knew that I'd ever have a stride...and ended up passing my younger cousin. This was one of the moments that I almost let out a "Look at Me!".
I jogged a little, but walked most of the course. They closed down streets for the race so it was nice to not have to worry about traffic. About 3/4 of the way through, I had my Oprah moment and started to cry. Hold yourself together girl! You can't fall apart now! I gathered myself and continued on, feeling really good. My body was working for me. I could feel the muscles in my arms aiding in my movement. Circuit training was paying off. I could feel my spine in perfect alignment. Yoga was paying off. My breath was controlled and my heart rate was good. Amazing. I could now see the finish line. What? It's over?
Okay...now I know that they take your picture as you cross the line, so what's my plan? Sunglasses on my face or on my head? Is my number laying flat? What's my fanny pack doing? The clock! As I looked up, I could see the digital clock ticking away the seconds. It read 48 minutes and some odd seconds. In two seconds, I decided that my goal was to finish in less than 49 minutes.
I kicked it into high gear and sprinted across the finish line. I did it! Here comes the second "Look at Me!" moment. OH MY GOD! The picture! What was I doing when the picture was taken??? I can't wait to see it. I'm sure that my face is all screwed up with me mouthing the words, "Look at Me" silently to myself. I probably would have cried at this point, but I knew that I had to stretch. Then my cousin crossed the finish line and I had to greet her with open arms.
No time for crying, as free stuff was being handed out! Tons of vendors attended. First stop, Alhambra water. The best water I've ever had. Second stop, goodie bag...I'll look through that later. Third stop, Emerald Nuts. Had to be the best mini cup of mixed nuts that I've ever eaten. I savored ever single nut, one nut at a time. Chew, chew, chew. The salt, the fat, yum. It was like the first bit of soft food that I got to eat after being on liquids post-op. Gosh, wasn't that the best scrambled egg? I refrained from getting a second cup of nuts. Fourth stop, PW Markets. They had a huge display of fresh fruit. I surveyed what was being offered. Apples, oranges, plums and apricots. I picked up an apricot and took a bite. By far the best apricot I've ever eaten. I only had half, since I'm so sensitive to sugar and tossed the remaining half with a grimace. Hard to throw away such good food. More water! It was as if I just finished filming a series of Survivor.
This was by far, one of the best moments of my life. A simple 5k. I cried on the way home. A good ugly cry, by myself, in my car. Life is perfect. I came home to three wagging tails, only to take them on a mile and a half walk! They needed it and I was still riding high. Quite the day for me.
I DID IT! By Kim Stover
I completed my first official race today (July 10, 2005). What a thrill! Have you ever done one? This was a 5k/10k. I opted for the 5k since it is just a bit more than I usually do on my daily walk. It was odd to walk without the dogs! I was sort of lost being by myself.
The energy was incredible at the race and I actually started out jogging. Everyone else was doing it, so I joined in. I had my number pinned on (had to scope out the other gals to see where to pin it on my shirt. Turns out that it goes right below your boobs) my iPod was going and my adrenaline was pumping! I just wanted to scream, "Look at me! Look at me!". I refrained, but came pretty close to popping a couple of times.
I didn't have a goal, other than to just finish the race and not come in last place. There were almost 600 competitors and I was in the pack. My young cousin, who inspired me to enter, was there with her Team in Training for leukemia. She passed me up out of the gate and that was fine by me. She is 10 years younger, so I used that excuse to justify her better pace.
At one point, I realized that I was keeping the same pace as this 70ish man and thought, "I'll be damned if Grandpa is going to beat me at this thing". So now my goal was not just to finish, but to beat the old guy. I can do this. I started to find my stride...who knew that I'd ever have a stride...and ended up passing my younger cousin. This was one of the moments that I almost let out a "Look at Me!".
I jogged a little, but walked most of the course. They closed down streets for the race so it was nice to not have to worry about traffic. About 3/4 of the way through, I had my Oprah moment and started to cry. Hold yourself together girl! You can't fall apart now! I gathered myself and continued on, feeling really good. My body was working for me. I could feel the muscles in my arms aiding in my movement. Circuit training was paying off. I could feel my spine in perfect alignment. Yoga was paying off. My breath was controlled and my heart rate was good. Amazing. I could now see the finish line. What? It's over?
Okay...now I know that they take your picture as you cross the line, so what's my plan? Sunglasses on my face or on my head? Is my number laying flat? What's my fanny pack doing? The clock! As I looked up, I could see the digital clock ticking away the seconds. It read 48 minutes and some odd seconds. In two seconds, I decided that my goal was to finish in less than 49 minutes.
I kicked it into high gear and sprinted across the finish line. I did it! Here comes the second "Look at Me!" moment. OH MY GOD! The picture! What was I doing when the picture was taken??? I can't wait to see it. I'm sure that my face is all screwed up with me mouthing the words, "Look at Me" silently to myself. I probably would have cried at this point, but I knew that I had to stretch. Then my cousin crossed the finish line and I had to greet her with open arms.
No time for crying, as free stuff was being handed out! Tons of vendors attended. First stop, Alhambra water. The best water I've ever had. Second stop, goodie bag...I'll look through that later. Third stop, Emerald Nuts. Had to be the best mini cup of mixed nuts that I've ever eaten. I savored ever single nut, one nut at a time. Chew, chew, chew. The salt, the fat, yum. It was like the first bit of soft food that I got to eat after being on liquids post-op. Gosh, wasn't that the best scrambled egg? I refrained from getting a second cup of nuts. Fourth stop, PW Markets. They had a huge display of fresh fruit. I surveyed what was being offered. Apples, oranges, plums and apricots. I picked up an apricot and took a bite. By far the best apricot I've ever eaten. I only had half, since I'm so sensitive to sugar and tossed the remaining half with a grimace. Hard to throw away such good food. More water! It was as if I just finished filming a series of Survivor.
This was by far, one of the best moments of my life. A simple 5k. I cried on the way home. A good ugly cry, by myself, in my car. Life is perfect. I came home to three wagging tails, only to take them on a mile and a half walk! They needed it and I was still riding high. Quite the day for me.
Warm Wishes Needed
Hello Everyone LivingAfterWLS!
This week we have three members starting their new lives with weight loss surgery. Please send your warm wishes to Bobbie, Daria and Mary Ann! Best of success to you all.
Speaking of success - - We still need success stories for the site. Friends like Bobbie, Daria and Mary Ann and the rest of us need refreshing inspiration to keep us motivated and on track in this LivingAfterWLS life. Please consider sharing your success story today! Email me: kayebailey@livingafterwls.com
Best wishes,
Kaye
This week we have three members starting their new lives with weight loss surgery. Please send your warm wishes to Bobbie, Daria and Mary Ann! Best of success to you all.
Speaking of success - - We still need success stories for the site. Friends like Bobbie, Daria and Mary Ann and the rest of us need refreshing inspiration to keep us motivated and on track in this LivingAfterWLS life. Please consider sharing your success story today! Email me: kayebailey@livingafterwls.com
Best wishes,
Kaye
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Whose Clothes Are THESE Little Things?
Have you found yourself asking that when you are taking care of your very own “little” clothes since losing weight with gastric bypass weight loss surgery? Men and women alike, after experiencing massive weight loss, enjoy a wonderment, a shock & awe, as they see their new clothes which appear to be so small. Can this really fit me? we ask. Or sometimes we simply state, “Oh, this will never fit me.” We still see ourselves as large and morbidly obese.
I was telling some friends about a dress I’m wearing to a party this evening. “My dress is so sexy - I am looking at it thinking can I really wear that thing? (as images of the Little Fat Girl wedged into a sausage casing fill my demented head). The dress is knee-length navy blue knit, one shoulder and very fitted - think Marilyn Monroe! I'm wearing red strappy 4" sandals and a red beaded handbag! I'm dying here! Can this be ME?????”
It’s been over five years since I’ve lost my weight, yet I still cannot believe this dress will fit me. In many ways I hope the excitement and thrill never fades. On the other hand wouldn’t it be nice to accept myself as I am now and quit picturing the Little Fat Girl when I see myself?
My friend and our frequent contributor Kim, wrote to me, “It is funny how we can't imagine ourselves in our clothing. I had shrunk a white T-shirt (it was a dry flat number and I accidentally tossed it in the dryer). It came out looking like a shirt for a 9-year-old. I figured that I'd put it on and wear a blouse over the top...sort of wear it like a cami. Was I surprised when it was actually big on me. It just floors me and I know that it will be a long time for me to finally realize what size I actually am.”
The funny thing, when I hold up that last pair of giant pants I can’t imagine that they ever fit me. So where is the happy medium and how do I truly picture myself?
Another friend is the mother of a WLS patient. After hearing about my dress Maxine responded, “I look forward to seeing my daughter in your shoes! And when she goes out for a gala event and pasta alfredo is an entree and she chooses the palate cleanser because she knows how dayyam good she looks and feels.and what it took for her to become who she is. So much too look forward to Kaye”
Yes, Maxine. So much to look forward to!
Do your clothes look too small? Share your thoughts by clicking the comments button.
I was telling some friends about a dress I’m wearing to a party this evening. “My dress is so sexy - I am looking at it thinking can I really wear that thing? (as images of the Little Fat Girl wedged into a sausage casing fill my demented head). The dress is knee-length navy blue knit, one shoulder and very fitted - think Marilyn Monroe! I'm wearing red strappy 4" sandals and a red beaded handbag! I'm dying here! Can this be ME?????”
It’s been over five years since I’ve lost my weight, yet I still cannot believe this dress will fit me. In many ways I hope the excitement and thrill never fades. On the other hand wouldn’t it be nice to accept myself as I am now and quit picturing the Little Fat Girl when I see myself?
My friend and our frequent contributor Kim, wrote to me, “It is funny how we can't imagine ourselves in our clothing. I had shrunk a white T-shirt (it was a dry flat number and I accidentally tossed it in the dryer). It came out looking like a shirt for a 9-year-old. I figured that I'd put it on and wear a blouse over the top...sort of wear it like a cami. Was I surprised when it was actually big on me. It just floors me and I know that it will be a long time for me to finally realize what size I actually am.”
The funny thing, when I hold up that last pair of giant pants I can’t imagine that they ever fit me. So where is the happy medium and how do I truly picture myself?
Another friend is the mother of a WLS patient. After hearing about my dress Maxine responded, “I look forward to seeing my daughter in your shoes! And when she goes out for a gala event and pasta alfredo is an entree and she chooses the palate cleanser because she knows how dayyam good she looks and feels.and what it took for her to become who she is. So much too look forward to Kaye”
Yes, Maxine. So much to look forward to!
Do your clothes look too small? Share your thoughts by clicking the comments button.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Something Fishy on the Grill
Since weight loss surgery gives us a second chance of leading healthy lives it behooves us to pay attention to what we eat and incorporate things in our limited diet that can aid our health and longevity. Fortunately for us one of the healthiest things we can eat is also gastric bypass friendly: Fish.
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids.
This time of year is great for including fish in the diet because it can quickly and easily be cooked outdoors on the grill. Consider these safe cooking tips when grilling fish:
Skewer small shellfish such as shrimp or scallops on metal or water-soaked wooden skewers or cook them in a grill basket.
Grill fillets over medium to medium-low heat. Fish can cook quickly and it is easier to slow down cook time and monitor to not overcook.
Turn fish only once. (Flipping back and forth will break fish apart.)
If using a marinade, allow fish to soak up flavor for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate while soaking in marinade.
If you are going to use the marinade as an extra sauce on top of the cooked fish or seafood, the marinade liquid must be boiled by itself for at least 5 minutes to cook out any bacteria that may be there from when the fish was soaking.
To grill shellfish in the shell, such as oysters, mussels and clams, place them directly on the hottest part of the grill. They're done when the shell opens. Discard those that don't open after about 5 minutes.
Three Tempting Grilled Fish Recipes:
Grilled Shrimp with Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa
Mediterranean Sea Bass
Simple Salmon
The American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week. Fish is a good source of protein and doesn’t have the high saturated fat that fatty meat products do. Fatty fish like mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon are high in two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids.
This time of year is great for including fish in the diet because it can quickly and easily be cooked outdoors on the grill. Consider these safe cooking tips when grilling fish:
Skewer small shellfish such as shrimp or scallops on metal or water-soaked wooden skewers or cook them in a grill basket.
Grill fillets over medium to medium-low heat. Fish can cook quickly and it is easier to slow down cook time and monitor to not overcook.
Turn fish only once. (Flipping back and forth will break fish apart.)
If using a marinade, allow fish to soak up flavor for at least 30 minutes. Refrigerate while soaking in marinade.
If you are going to use the marinade as an extra sauce on top of the cooked fish or seafood, the marinade liquid must be boiled by itself for at least 5 minutes to cook out any bacteria that may be there from when the fish was soaking.
To grill shellfish in the shell, such as oysters, mussels and clams, place them directly on the hottest part of the grill. They're done when the shell opens. Discard those that don't open after about 5 minutes.
Three Tempting Grilled Fish Recipes:
Grilled Shrimp with Tomatillo and Avocado Salsa
Mediterranean Sea Bass
Simple Salmon
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Kabuki's Kitchen: Seafood & Melons
Today in Kabuki's Kitchen we're whipping up a melt-in-your-mouth delicious seafood casserole and serving it with seasonal melon for a high-protein, great tasting summer seafood taste. Enjoy!
Kabuki's Coastal Seafood Bake
Seasonal Melons
Link for more WLS Friendly Recipes.
Kabuki's Coastal Seafood Bake
Seasonal Melons
Link for more WLS Friendly Recipes.
7 Ways to Combat Evening Snacking Habit
Since old habits die hard I found this article about snacking in front of the telivision quite revealing. Take a look and see what Kathryn Martyn, owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com has to share with us - it applies even when we are LivingAfterWLS.
By Kathryn Martyn, M.NLP
Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TV
There is much in the news today about obesity and you can be assured that the food industry fully intends to place the blame squarely on the individual, despite the fact they spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year in an effort to entice us to buy more and more of their products. Children are especially vulnerable to the advertising for cereals, snack bars, crackers, cookies, candy, and fast foods. Colorful packaging, and now even colorful foods to encourage the little shoppers to badger their parents into buying the "convenient" snack packs for them. "Mommy I want it" is exactly the result advertisers are paying to obtain. They know that many adults will give in to the child's demands, just to "keep the peace."
If you live in modern society, you can't escape advertising. How many times have you been happily minding your own business when suddenly the TV screen flashes a big, juicy, something! Your stomach may start gurgling, your mouth starts watering, and the launch sequence for hunger has begun. Once the countdown starts, nothing can stop the launch into the kitchen, or for the seriously dedicated, out the door to go get something to eat. This can happen only an hour after a big dinner. The ads are designed to do this, and they work well as we prove with our food dollars every day.
Count the Food Ads
Next time you watch TV keep a note pad nearby and make a little hash mark every time you see a commercial that encourages you to eat. You'll also notice there are certain ads that seem to trigger the hunger response more than others. What is it about those ads? Do you start to mentally taste the food? Does it remind you of happy occasions? It can even remind you of unhappy occasions which then drives you to want something to eat because you "deserve" it.
Notice whether it is the people in the ad, the message itself, the words they use, even the background music or scenery? See if you can pin-point what, exactly, it is about the ad that draws you in. Notice what you don't like about ads that simply do not interest you. Play college student and do this as homework, and if you can get your kids to do it with you, all the better.
My son has come to me many times to tell me about something he's seen on TV and now wants me to buy. He gets caught up in the half hour infomercials and becomes so convinced their product is the single best thing, that it's difficult to change his mind.
Evenings are an especially rough time for dieters because of the over abundance of advertising for food. Seeing delicious things to eat can create the sensation of hunger until it becomes a patterned response. Turning on the TV then begins to make you hungry, even without the food cues.
7 Ways to Combat Evening Snacking Habit
1. Mute the commercials or switch to another channel (channel surfers already do this anyway). Not watching or hearing the ad can help enormously. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.
2. Use commercial break time to do housework. You'd be amazed at how much clutter you can clear in three or four minutes, and every hour you get at least four of these breaks.
3. Mute the ads and keep your hands busy until your show comes back on with a project like knitting, reading or finishing that book you've been writing.
4. Start a new business (then you're probably not in front of the TV anyway).
5. Step outside and breath some fresh air for a few minutes.
6. Exercise during the ads. Stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, do this for a full minute. It's a great leg exercise. Use a kitchen chair rather than the couch to be kinder on your knees.
7. Move to another seat in the room. Sometimes just getting up from your usual spot in the room (the coach, or your favorite chair) and moving to another location can help, so can getting a glass of water. Sometimes it's thirst.
Be Willing to Experiment and You can Overcome the Allure of the Food Ads
The worst thing you can do is simply watch and then attempt to combat your growing desire to eat. Once the idea that you're hungry is planted, it becomes much more difficult to change your mind. Instead stop the idea from occurring in the first place by finding something else to do instead of watching another Burger King commercial.
Advertising only works when we're paying attention, either watching or listening. I've no quarrel with advertisers, I advertise my services too, but watching one hundred ads all featuring food after dinnertime is a bit much for anyone to endure. Food ads are designed for you to simply sit and be mesmerized by the flashing words, snappy slogans, colors and lights. Pay closer attention, or pay none at all, but either way you'll gain a much greater understanding of how advertising influences you.
~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of the free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com
Get The Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
7 Ways to Stop Nighttime Snacking in Front of the TV
By Kathryn Martyn, M.NLP
Stop Being Influenced by Food Ads on TV
There is much in the news today about obesity and you can be assured that the food industry fully intends to place the blame squarely on the individual, despite the fact they spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year in an effort to entice us to buy more and more of their products. Children are especially vulnerable to the advertising for cereals, snack bars, crackers, cookies, candy, and fast foods. Colorful packaging, and now even colorful foods to encourage the little shoppers to badger their parents into buying the "convenient" snack packs for them. "Mommy I want it" is exactly the result advertisers are paying to obtain. They know that many adults will give in to the child's demands, just to "keep the peace."
If you live in modern society, you can't escape advertising. How many times have you been happily minding your own business when suddenly the TV screen flashes a big, juicy, something! Your stomach may start gurgling, your mouth starts watering, and the launch sequence for hunger has begun. Once the countdown starts, nothing can stop the launch into the kitchen, or for the seriously dedicated, out the door to go get something to eat. This can happen only an hour after a big dinner. The ads are designed to do this, and they work well as we prove with our food dollars every day.
Count the Food Ads
Next time you watch TV keep a note pad nearby and make a little hash mark every time you see a commercial that encourages you to eat. You'll also notice there are certain ads that seem to trigger the hunger response more than others. What is it about those ads? Do you start to mentally taste the food? Does it remind you of happy occasions? It can even remind you of unhappy occasions which then drives you to want something to eat because you "deserve" it.
Notice whether it is the people in the ad, the message itself, the words they use, even the background music or scenery? See if you can pin-point what, exactly, it is about the ad that draws you in. Notice what you don't like about ads that simply do not interest you. Play college student and do this as homework, and if you can get your kids to do it with you, all the better.
My son has come to me many times to tell me about something he's seen on TV and now wants me to buy. He gets caught up in the half hour infomercials and becomes so convinced their product is the single best thing, that it's difficult to change his mind.
Evenings are an especially rough time for dieters because of the over abundance of advertising for food. Seeing delicious things to eat can create the sensation of hunger until it becomes a patterned response. Turning on the TV then begins to make you hungry, even without the food cues.
7 Ways to Combat Evening Snacking Habit
1. Mute the commercials or switch to another channel (channel surfers already do this anyway). Not watching or hearing the ad can help enormously. Remember, out of sight, out of mind.
2. Use commercial break time to do housework. You'd be amazed at how much clutter you can clear in three or four minutes, and every hour you get at least four of these breaks.
3. Mute the ads and keep your hands busy until your show comes back on with a project like knitting, reading or finishing that book you've been writing.
4. Start a new business (then you're probably not in front of the TV anyway).
5. Step outside and breath some fresh air for a few minutes.
6. Exercise during the ads. Stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, do this for a full minute. It's a great leg exercise. Use a kitchen chair rather than the couch to be kinder on your knees.
7. Move to another seat in the room. Sometimes just getting up from your usual spot in the room (the coach, or your favorite chair) and moving to another location can help, so can getting a glass of water. Sometimes it's thirst.
Be Willing to Experiment and You can Overcome the Allure of the Food Ads
The worst thing you can do is simply watch and then attempt to combat your growing desire to eat. Once the idea that you're hungry is planted, it becomes much more difficult to change your mind. Instead stop the idea from occurring in the first place by finding something else to do instead of watching another Burger King commercial.
Advertising only works when we're paying attention, either watching or listening. I've no quarrel with advertisers, I advertise my services too, but watching one hundred ads all featuring food after dinnertime is a bit much for anyone to endure. Food ads are designed for you to simply sit and be mesmerized by the flashing words, snappy slogans, colors and lights. Pay closer attention, or pay none at all, but either way you'll gain a much greater understanding of how advertising influences you.
~~ Kathryn Martyn, Master NLP Practitioner, EFT counselor, author of the free e-book: Changing Beliefs, Your First Step to Permanent Weight Loss, and owner of OneMoreBite-Weightloss.com
Get The Daily Bites: Inspirational Mini Lessons Using EFT and NLP for Ending the Struggle with Weight Loss.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Lazy-Dazy Summer Making You Soft?
Time To Get Moving
I am considering my present physical activity and state of health and I'm not happy with where I am. I'm a little out of shape compared to a few months ago and that means one thing: Time to kick-up the effort for exercise. In the summer it's easy for me to lose perspective and think outdoor activity is enough to keep me in shape. Unfortunately this summer my outdoor activity seems to be more sitting in the shade visiting rather than actively moving my body. So for myself and for others in the same lazy-dazy-summer-boat here's a previous article on why exercise is so important for LivingAfterWLS.
Myth: Gastric Bypass Patients Don't Need to Exercise to Lose Weight
By Kaye Bailey
Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient brag that they didn’t have to exercise to lose weight. It’s true; patients will lose weight without lifting a finger. In fact, for many, the lack of physical effort required to lose weight is an appealing part of weight loss surgery. But patients who do not use the time of rapid weight loss to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle are doing themselves a grave disservice.
Obesity cripples the body. Bone tissues are compromised, joints are swollen, the vascular system is inadequate and the skeleton overburdened. Some morbidly obese people are so crippled from carrying excess weight they are confined to wheelchairs and scooters. They yearn to walk painlessly through a park or museum. When pre-operative patients imagine life after weight loss surgery I suspect there is no wheelchair, scooter or walking stick in that dream. Patients dream of mobility and strength in their bodies.
As weight is lost, the burden on the bones, joints and vascular system is decreased. And the body is a magnificent machine – given proper nutrition and physical motion it will rebuild its broken framework. The systems will become strong and vital.
The most effective way to heal the body from the ravages of obesity is to exercise.
Patients don’t have to jump up from the surgical bed and run a marathon; in fact, they never have to run. But they have to move their body: walk, stretch, bend, inhale and exhale. Patients who want to take full advantage of weight loss surgery must engage in daily physical exercise.
Exercise, however defined, is the most effective, most enjoyable, most beneficial gift one can bestow on themselves while recovering from life threatening, crippling morbid obesity. Patients who initiate an exercise regimen quickly after surgery report long-term success at weight. Exercisers seldom report weight regain.
There has never been a better time to become fit. Exercise philosophy has changed. Gone are the days of “make it burn” and “no pain, no gain.” Exercise experts say move your body 30 minutes a day, and the benefits will resonate throughout your being. Injuries are down and exhaustion isn’t the objective. Consistency is all that’s required. Fitness is no longer considered an exact science – we are given permission to find what works and enjoy it. Incorporate cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training into the exercise program: the three work in combination to help you become healthy, agile and maintain metabolism.
If quality of life is to be preserved – or restored – exercise is required. The body was designed to require a certain minimum level of physical activity. When physical activity is absent obesity results. Our bodies do not thrive when they are sedentary. It is therefore crucial to deliberately incorporate movement into our lives.
More than any other time in your life, following surgery the body is ready to respond to the benefits of physical motion. Surgery is the first step to better health and controlling obesity by restricting food intake. Following surgery is the golden opportunity to muster all the discipline possible and take a stand for a healthier, happier, longer and more productive life. Patients must exercise more than we have in the past and more than is convenient.
I implore patients, “Do not make the mistake of delaying your exercise program until the weight is gone. If you fail to exercise during the phase of rapid weight loss your skin will sag, your energy will lag and your metabolism will slow. Weight loss will be more difficult to accomplish. You will miss an opportunity to feel good about yourself as you set realistic fitness goals and achieve them. You will miss the euphoria from oxygenated cells. You will betray yourself.”
Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Myth: Gastric Bypass Patients Don't Need to Exercise to Lose Weight
By Kaye Bailey
Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient brag that they didn’t have to exercise to lose weight. It’s true; patients will lose weight without lifting a finger. In fact, for many, the lack of physical effort required to lose weight is an appealing part of weight loss surgery. But patients who do not use the time of rapid weight loss to incorporate exercise into their lifestyle are doing themselves a grave disservice.
Obesity cripples the body. Bone tissues are compromised, joints are swollen, the vascular system is inadequate and the skeleton overburdened. Some morbidly obese people are so crippled from carrying excess weight they are confined to wheelchairs and scooters. They yearn to walk painlessly through a park or museum. When pre-operative patients imagine life after weight loss surgery I suspect there is no wheelchair, scooter or walking stick in that dream. Patients dream of mobility and strength in their bodies.
As weight is lost, the burden on the bones, joints and vascular system is decreased. And the body is a magnificent machine – given proper nutrition and physical motion it will rebuild its broken framework. The systems will become strong and vital.
The most effective way to heal the body from the ravages of obesity is to exercise.
Patients don’t have to jump up from the surgical bed and run a marathon; in fact, they never have to run. But they have to move their body: walk, stretch, bend, inhale and exhale. Patients who want to take full advantage of weight loss surgery must engage in daily physical exercise.
Exercise, however defined, is the most effective, most enjoyable, most beneficial gift one can bestow on themselves while recovering from life threatening, crippling morbid obesity. Patients who initiate an exercise regimen quickly after surgery report long-term success at weight. Exercisers seldom report weight regain.
There has never been a better time to become fit. Exercise philosophy has changed. Gone are the days of “make it burn” and “no pain, no gain.” Exercise experts say move your body 30 minutes a day, and the benefits will resonate throughout your being. Injuries are down and exhaustion isn’t the objective. Consistency is all that’s required. Fitness is no longer considered an exact science – we are given permission to find what works and enjoy it. Incorporate cardiovascular, flexibility and strength training into the exercise program: the three work in combination to help you become healthy, agile and maintain metabolism.
If quality of life is to be preserved – or restored – exercise is required. The body was designed to require a certain minimum level of physical activity. When physical activity is absent obesity results. Our bodies do not thrive when they are sedentary. It is therefore crucial to deliberately incorporate movement into our lives.
More than any other time in your life, following surgery the body is ready to respond to the benefits of physical motion. Surgery is the first step to better health and controlling obesity by restricting food intake. Following surgery is the golden opportunity to muster all the discipline possible and take a stand for a healthier, happier, longer and more productive life. Patients must exercise more than we have in the past and more than is convenient.
I implore patients, “Do not make the mistake of delaying your exercise program until the weight is gone. If you fail to exercise during the phase of rapid weight loss your skin will sag, your energy will lag and your metabolism will slow. Weight loss will be more difficult to accomplish. You will miss an opportunity to feel good about yourself as you set realistic fitness goals and achieve them. You will miss the euphoria from oxygenated cells. You will betray yourself.”
Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
Friday, July 01, 2005
Happy Independence Day Weekend
Message From Kaye
Hello everyone and Happy Independence Day Weekend. I’m sending out warm wishes for a safe and happy holiday celebration. If you missed the special edition of our newsletter “You Have Arrived – Independence Day Special” drop me an email kayebailey@livingafterwls.com and I’ll send it to you. There are three great menus with WLS friendly recipes for holiday celebration.
Normally our monthly edition of the newsletter would be published today. However with the holiday weekend at hand I’ve delayed publishing until Tuesday July 5. The edition features my essay “Our Daily Bread” and introduces a new contributor to the site – I can’t wait for you to meet him!
To my loyal readers I express heartfelt gratitude for being with me the last few months. The site experienced and unprecedented surge in growth that has left me awed and humbled. Take a look at the numbers:
Site traffic grew 263% in June over May
Subscriber list grew 470% in June over May
Reader comment increased 86% in June over May
Wow. Thank you so much for the support and vote of confidence. I look forward to seeing the site grow into a full-fledged support community. The feedback and encouragement from you has been so rewarding. There are so many people with inspiring stories, common struggles and a strong desire to be living after WLS. Thank you for finding this site and encouraging and inspiring me.
Some of the topics discussed in June hit home with so many of us. Snacking and weight regain are two topics we discussed, and we will continue to discuss because they present such challenge and frustration to us. A special edition of “You Have Arrived – Sensible Snack Solutions” is scheduled for publication the week of July 13. This is an essential topic to us that it warrants it’s own newsletter – I look forward to presenting it to you.
Thanks again for the support and kindness. Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday weekend. I’ll return to regular daily posting on Tuesday, July 5th.
Best Wishes,
Kaye
The LivingAfterWLS Suite
Making Sense of It
As we are working toward a full-fledged community here at LivingAfterWLS we’ve brought into play several elements. Just to keep things straight here’s a little rundown on what we have to offer:
LivingAfterWLS.com is the “Mother Ship” the main website for us. Lots of articles and information – the site is updated twice a month.
LivingAfterWLS.blogspot.com is the daily journal or “web log” or "blog" for LivingAfterWLS. This site offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback. I try to add new things daily. This site contains success stories and recipes as well as general information and WLS inspired topics.
“You Have Arrived” newsletter is the monthly newsletter for our site available exclusively by subscription (unless you receive it from a friend, and we like that!) Each month one or two special editions are also issued.
Bloglet daily updates are an automatic service you can subscribe to through the livingafterwls.blogspot.com site. Once a day you receive an email "bloglet" letting you know the blog is updated and introducing the topics of the day. A bloglet subscription automatically gets you the newsletters.
Link for our full subscription policy.
LivingAfterWLS.com is the “Mother Ship” the main website for us. Lots of articles and information – the site is updated twice a month.
LivingAfterWLS.blogspot.com is the daily journal or “web log” or "blog" for LivingAfterWLS. This site offers readers the chance to comment or leave feedback. I try to add new things daily. This site contains success stories and recipes as well as general information and WLS inspired topics.
“You Have Arrived” newsletter is the monthly newsletter for our site available exclusively by subscription (unless you receive it from a friend, and we like that!) Each month one or two special editions are also issued.
Bloglet daily updates are an automatic service you can subscribe to through the livingafterwls.blogspot.com site. Once a day you receive an email "bloglet" letting you know the blog is updated and introducing the topics of the day. A bloglet subscription automatically gets you the newsletters.
Link for our full subscription policy.
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