Community Forum

Wichita Support Group

2012-02-03T09:01:53Z

Our attendance has been dwindling at support group. I am in the process of completing a questionnaire to better meet your needs to increase attendance at support group meetings. Ongoing support is a vital part of your success in your weight loss journey and we in the Wichita office and all of Weight Loss Surgical Center want you to utilize all the resources available for the best outcomes. Please be thinking about what day and time would work best for you as well as topics for upcoming meetings that you believe would be beneficial to you as you make lifestyle changes. If you all ready have some specific ideas or needs please email me that information at lmiller at moreoflife dot com

February 2012 Newsletter, Part 2

2012-02-03T08:56:57Z

Nutrition
Protein is important in healthy nutrition. We emphasize protein intake because it helps patients lose weight safely. If you do not get enough protein in your diet, your body will break down lean body mass (muscle) for energy rather than fat. Protein sources should be high in protein content and low in calories. Check your protein sources for high content and low calories. Limit your protein sources from nuts and dairy (especially cheeses that are not non-fat) to 1-2 servings per week rather than main sources for your protein intake.
Physical Activity
How do you rate the benefit of aerobic activity from your physical activity plan? Your aerobic fitness is only improved if you increase your exertion during the activity. The rate of perceived exertion scale (RPE) indicates your subjective sensation of effort and identification of fatigue, which is highly correlated to your heart rate. Another gauge of effectiveness is that you should be able to talk but not sing.
RPE Scale: Optimal level is 11-15. You must be working at this level to benefit from aerobic exercise.
6 7 very, very light exertion
8 9 very light exertion
10
11 fairly light exertion
12
13 somewhat hard exertion
14
15 hard exertion
16
17 very hard exertion
18
19 very, very hard exertion
20
Recipes
White Chicken Chili Makes 12—1 cup servings
1 medium onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced
2 T. olive oil 2 15-oz cans Cannellini or white beans, drained
2 T. flour 1 cup corn
1 t. cumin 4 c. diced, cooked chicken
2 14.5 oz cans chicken broth 1 4.5 oz can diced green chilies
1-3 t. chili powder ½ t. oregano
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat until onion is tend. Puree one can of drained beans and set aside. Stir the flour into the onion mixture and cook for one minute. Add chicken, corn, chilies, broth, cumin, chili powder, oregano, beans, reserved bean puree, and once cup water. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Nutrition per serving: Calories 169, Protein 16 g, Fat 7 g, Carbs 10 g, Sugar 1 g, Sodium 309 mg
Spiced Salmon with pepper relish Makes 4 servings Serving size: 4 oz. fish, ½ cup relish
Relish
1 medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced (1 cup) 3 T. chopped red onion
1 medium yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced (1 cup) 2 T. minced parsley
1 T. fresh lemon juice ½ t. hot sauce
Salmon and rub
2 t. chili powder 1 t. ground cumin
½ t. paprika ¼ t. black pepper
1/8 t. cayenne pepper 2 t. canola oil
4 (4 oz.) salmon filets
In a bowl, combine the ingredients for the relish. Cover and set aside.
Preheat an oven broiler. Cover a broiler pan with foil. Coat the foil with cooking spray. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Brush the skinless side of each salmon filet with oil. Coat each salmon filet with the spice rub.
Place the salmon filets on the prepared broiler pain. Broil the salmon 6 inches from the heat source for 10 to 15 minutes or until desired doneness (fish should flake easily with a fork). Serve the salmon with the pepper relish.
Nutrition per serving: Calories 250, calories from fat 115, total fat 13 g (saturated fat 2 g, trans fat 0 g), cholesterol 80 mg, sodium 80 mg, potassium 570 mg, total carbohydrate 7 g (dietary fiber 2 g, sugars 3 g) protein 26 g, phosphorus 285 g.

February 2012 Newsletter

2012-02-03T08:55:12Z

Banded Together Wichita Newsletter February 2012 Volume 6 Issue 2
Support Group:
March 1, 2012
Individuals are looking to start support groups in the Dodge City/Garden City, ElDorado/Augusta, Liberal, Hutchinson, Salina, and Winfield/Arkansas City areas. If you are interested contact Lou at lmiller at moreoflife dot com for more information and contact persons. Things to think about:
One of the best ways to deal with your health is to have specific goals to move you forward. Use the smart principal to set your goals. Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Many times our goals are vague or not realistic or not attainable in the time frame we want them to occur. Don’t set yourself up for frustration or failure by making them too hard to reach. Small steps that are specific are attainable and rewarding.
Small Bite of inspiration: taken from Small Bites Daily Inspirations for Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Katie Jay and Julia A. F. Persing
Own your truth
The truth may be you are not dinking all your water, or you may be skipping your morning protein supplement because you do not want to take the time. The truth may be you don’t take your mult-vitamin because you don’t like it. You may be too tired and want to give up so you tell yourself you’re just backing off a little. You let yourself off the hook and decide you’ll recommit next week when you are not so tired (or busy, or sad, or stressed).
These choices are a red flag that you are slipping away from your commitment to overcome obesity. If you are finding more and more that you don’t want to do the things that make and keep you healthy, you should consider getting back to basics and seeking help. Waiting will only make your situation worse.
Action for the day
Is there something you know you need to be doing that you have been avoiding? Make a plan to get yourself back on track. Own your truth today.

Several articles in the Obesity Help magazine, Winter 2012 were really mind stimulating with regard to being accountable for our health and well being. I am going to just mention a couple which were in the issue. One article titled “My two favorite words in Bariatric Surgery: Personal Responsibility” discusses keeping weight off, staying happy, and focused on their weight loss journey and how issues need to be resolved in order for bariatric surgery to work as a tool for the individual. The most important part of this journey is to take personal responsibility for their health. Support from the provider is available as well as other people but until the person realizes that they have an obligation to themselves as part of the process, bariatric surgery will not work for them. Another article titled “After the Honeymoon: What you can expect after weight loss surgery (That no one tells you!)” discusses the facts that head hunger and cravings go away, energy levels increase, and you are able to move about more easily as you lose weight. However, over time some of the old behaviors and thoughts start to creep back in and the urge to see “what can I get away with” eating occurs. Here’s the big secret: Bariatric surgery can help you get thin, but it will not keep you thin. Without interventions that target and transform the mental, emotion, and behaviors (lifestyle) that contributed to your weight gain (obesity) in the first place, you are at a significant risk to regain the weight. A third article titled “Mind matters: Don’t stress to eat less” discusses the fact that many of us are stress/emotional eaters and we need to have a plan for stress management to cope with times of stress to decrease emotional eating. The article offers the following tips: Eat healthy meals with lean protein in each meal, use physical activity to release the stress and tension in your body, journal your emotions as this is a good way to become more aware of your triggers and behavioral response, get support from your bariatric providers, local support group, family and friends, or online support group, relax and re-group by taking a few minutes daily to unwind, reflect or just some peace and quiet, and be good to yourself by keeping a list of motivational quotes, sayings, or affirmations that make you feel good. Enjoy the “Me minutes” every day to help you overcome the obstacles in your weight loss journey.

February 2, 2012 Wichita support group and open house

2012-01-31T07:44:58Z

Reminder:

We moved to suite 110 recently and are having an open house and open forum for our support group. Come see our new space. Bring a friend/support person with you. We are excited to show off our larger space and our CEO, Doug Palzer, will also be joining us.

Lou

Wichita Support Group and Open house for January 12, 2012

2012-01-09T11:34:05Z

Due to an unexpected death of a very close family friend, The support group and open house will be postponed until February 2, 2012. The meeting will be held in our new office space at 3460 N. Ridge Road, Suite 110 at 7 PM. Same street address different suite (previous Continental Title space).

December Des Moines LAP-BAND Support Group

2009-11-10T15:49:56Z

December’s Des Moines LAP-BAND Support Group is scheduled for Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 7 p.m. All Weight Loss Surgical Center patients are welcome, as well as people who have had bariatric procedures of other types or from other practices. People who are interested in LAP-BAND surgery and have questions about what to expect are welcome, too.

I’ve created a Facebook event, so any Facebook users can RSVP and invite friends to attend, as well:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177871087186&index=1

Don’t forget to become a fan while you’re there!

Wichita WLSC clinic has moved to a new space

2011-12-29T15:39:25Z

We moved December 21 from our office space (Suite 100) just next door to Suite 110. We are still settling in but wish to invite all our patients to our January 12, 2012 Open House and support group meeting at 7 PM in our new space. Hope to see many of you with your support person(s) attend and see our new space.

Lou

why all the loan info

2011-10-28T20:21:15Z

Ok, I come here to look for open threads & draw support from others. I dont get why the whole site has been taken over by online financial loans. I understand if there is a thread for the topic but come on, the thread of what to expect post op, pre op or other threads that pertain to gastric banding has nothing to do with online home loans, perkins loans ect.

I hope this is not what this site is going to remain about.
Marvene-

My husband just got approved

2009-11-13T21:01:27Z

What can I expect for the pre-op, post-op, etc? I am one of those people that need to be prepared for anything. My insurance company has approved my husband for lap band surgery. I have already started to measure him. but need more suggestions, like grocery shopping, preparing for surgery, where to stay if we decide to stay the night in a hotel before the sugery (we living about 60 miles away) Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Wichita October 2011 Newsletter, Part 3

2011-10-04T11:32:29Z

Recipes
Healthy Snack for all ages:
Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Make sure to remove any fibrous strings from the celery and chew well to keep this band friendly. Trouble eating celery, substitute carrots or some sort of squash cut up in sticks.
Top low-fat plain or vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries, raspberries, or other desired fruit.
Want a smoothie for part of your dairy intake? Blend low-fat milk, a small banana and strawberries or other fruit for thirty seconds.
Spruce up your oatmeal with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.
Basil Chicken bites: 4 servings Serving size: 3-4 ounces
1 pound chicken breast tenderloins 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
¼ teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon salt (optional)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
cut tenderloins into bite-size pieces, about 2 inches long. Place pieces in a plastic bag along with basil, pepper, salt, and garlic powder. Shake well to coat. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken. Sauté over medium heat, turning frequently, until chicken is cooked through, about 10-12 minutes.
Nutrition information per serving: 168 calories
Carbohydrate: 0 grams, Protein: 24 grams, Fat 8 grams, Saturated fat: 2 grams, Cholesterol: 90 mg, Sodium: 341 mg with salt, 50 mg without salt, Fiber: 0 grams

Physical Activity
Winter will be here before we know it and can bring us weather that is not safe for outside activities. It is time to plan what you will do for your exercise goals this winter. In the meantime, enjoy the outdoors while we can with the cooler weather. There are several walks and runs organized this fall consider participating if you can. If you feel that you would be unable to participate as an entrant, see if you could volunteer to help as there would be benefit to maintaining physical activity if you are along the way of race to help others stay safe as well as cheer them on. Several of our patients are planning to participate in some of these 5K races. Let’s all cheer them on as they meet their goals by completing the race.