Community Forum

Supportive Spouses

2010-03-09T17:05:15-06:00

I just published a story to our blog (http://blog.moreoflife.com/Blog/bid/36494/Gastric-Band-Blog-Post-A-word-from-my-wife) about one of our patients and his wife’s story of watching him go through surgery and the first few days after surgery, and I thought this might be an interesting opportunity to share your tips on how you and your loved ones support each other while you go through an important life change like this.

March 11, 2010 Support Group

2010-03-04T15:47:36-06:00

Reminder:

March Support group at Genesis, 854 N. Socora at 7 PM. Hope to see many of you there. Lou

March 2010 Newsletter, Part 2

2010-03-04T15:43:46-06:00

Focus on Vitamins:
About Thiamine (B1) and Thiamine Deficiency
What does thiamine do?
Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an important nutrient for taking energy from food and turning it into energy for your brain, nerves and heart. It is needed by the body to process carbohydrates, fats, and proteins – but it is most important for how we process carbohydrates (sugars and starches).
What happens if my thiamine is low/if I don’t get enough thiamine?
Your body stores very little thiamine, so deficiency can happen very quickly – especially if you are not eating much or if you are vomiting for any reason.
Thiamine deficiency may be called Beriberi or Wernicke’s Encephalopathy depending on how it presents. When you don’t get enough thiamine, you may first have nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue and difficulty concentrating. You may also have weakness, sleepiness, changes in personality and memory, leg and foot cramping, burning feet, headache, constipation, and cramping.
If thiamine deficiency is severe, serious problems can result including loss of hearing, permanent nerve damage, coma, permanent brain damage, heart damage, liver damage, and death.
What are other symptoms?
Other symptoms of thiamine deficiency include:
Blurred or double vision Difficulty taking/swallowing
Facial weakness Amnesia, memory loss, dementia
Rapid heartbeat Faintness on standing up
Leg swelling Difficulty urinating
Numb/painful hands/feet Foot drop, leg weakness
Clumsiness, loss of balance, falling Loss of muscle

Where can I get thiamine?
Thiamine is found throughout the diet, but fortified cereals, beans/peas, nuts and pork are very good sources. Other sources are also milk, cheese, fresh and dried fruit, and eggs. Some foods can also inhibit thiamine absorption – the most important ones are coffee, black tea and alcohol. Thiamine is also found in dietary supplements. Almost all multivitamins have thiamine. It is also found in B-complex and alone in tablets or capsules. Thiamine has a sulfuric smell that many people find unpleasant, but it is normal. If you have thiamine deficiency, your doctor will probably ask you to take supplemental thiamin and watch your dietary intake.
Other important things
If you have thiamine deficiency, it is important that you follow up with your doctor for lab tests and other recommended care.

March 2010 Newsletter, Part 1

2010-03-04T15:42:08-06:00

Weight Loss Surgical Center
3460 N. Ridge Road, Suite 100 Wichita, KS
316 721-5591 wichitaclinic at moreoflife dot com
http://www.moreoflife.com

Banded Together Wichita Newsletter March 2010
Support Group:
Reminder:
The Thursday evening support groups will be held on the second Thursday starting in February. We will continue to meet at the Genesis Health Club, 854 N. Socora, Wichita, KS at 7 PM.
The Tuesday afternoon support groups are the third Tuesday at 1 PM in the office. Things to think about:
What are the obstacles you face in your journey to success? Make a list of the things that bother you the most in following band guidelines. Decide which you want to deal with first and devise a plan on how you can overcome the challenge. Often, some of the others will disappear by just focusing on one issue at a time.
Physical Activity:
Experts say lifestyle activities can be just as effective as working out at a fitness center. Here are some sample activities and the calories burned for an hour of participation.
Activity Calories
Ballroom dancing 210
Light housework 246
Badminton 265
Walking (normal pace) 300
Cleaning window (outside) 300
Mowing the lawn (push mower) 335
Raking leaves 340
Walking (brisk) 350
Tilling the garden 400
Picking up the pace of activity will burn even more calories, so if you mow your lawn in 45 minutes, for example, you would burn even more calories Small Bite of Inspiration: taken from Small Bites Daily Inspirations for Weight Loss Surgery Patients by Katie Jay and Julia A. F. Persing

Perform a miracle
Maybe you don’t feel like you have the energy or ability to work a miracle, but you do. Sometimes, one small change can bring about great things, and you can make one small change. Maybe you can get up 30 minutes earlier and do a yoga video OR you can fill out a weight loss food plan for the day.
Action for the day:
Are you ready to work miracles? Start today by making one small change. If you feel overwhelmed, make it one tiny change. BUT do it and DON’T GIVE UP on it. See what miracles your small change leads to over time!
Focus on Nutrition:
Food Journals: Food journals can be a great way to really analyze what you are eating. This is something that you can do periodically to determine whether you are following the guidelines or not. If you are following the guidelines, it helps you see your success through the lifestyle changes you have made since becoming a bandster. If you are not following the guidelines as well as you should, this lets you see the areas you need to focus on and helps your provider work with you on better choices as you continue making lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes with a band are a team effort between you and the provider you see for care. Be sure to bring the information to the visit as something that is a struggle for you may be something common among band patients and your provider may have lots of suggestions to overcome the hurdle that you have not thought of yet.

Power foods packed with antioxidants and other healthy nutrients.
Just 5 half-cup servings per day can reduce your risk of heart disease, boost your immune system, even lower your cholesterol.
Fruits Vegetables
Bananas Tomatoes
Kiwi Spinach
Berries Asparagus
Cantaloupe Garlic
Peaches Broccoli
Apples Kale
Grapefruit Bell peppers
Oranges Onions
Papaya Carrots
Apricots Squash

New opportunities for our patients:
 Weight checks: You may come in for weight checks anytime during office hours.
 Additional education materials: We have many patient education materials available. Be sure to ask about specific issues that you need more information on.
 Bariatric Advantage Vitamins: Bariatric advantage Nutritional Supplements have been formulated for the specific needs of weight loss surgery patients. We have received sample patient packets for our patients to try.
 Bariatric Advantage Meal Replacements: Bariatric advantage meal replacements have 27 gms protein and 7-8 gms carbohydrate with fiber making up 5 gms of the carbohydrate per serving. We will be receiving samples soon.
 Unjury Protein Products: Unjury is one of the most recommended protein supplements by the field of bariatrics. Each serving contains 20 gms protein. We also have sample patient packets for our patients to try.

Follow up for good band maintenance
Letters were sent out to patients we have not seen for at least six months. The band is your life long companion. It is important to have periodic follow up (at least annually) to maintain good band health. A yearly band check up can help prevent complications.
Sometimes, you have not been in for a while and are doing well BUT we like to hear from you anyway. Do not hesitate to call, email, or schedule an appointment to let us know you are doing well. If some things are not going so well, we need to know that too. We are here to help fine tune those little issues that sneak up in your lives and slow down your journey to success.

Liquid diet hints

2010-03-02T22:05:35-06:00

Just had another fill after not having had one for a few months, so I’m back on the drill going from clear liquid diet, full liquid etc. etc.

Had two innovations to share, and I’d like to hear anyone else’s tips on making things easier—the liquid diet days are kind of a drag.

* Good protein fix—Nectar protein powder comes in a lemonade that you can mix up in water and sip. Good news: (1) a quick way to get 23 grams of protein for only 90 calories, (2) It’s one of the most natural protein powders. Bad news: (1) about $36/container—pricey, like all protein powders, (2) has a bit of a funny taste. (BTW, the Nectar chocolate powder that you mix up with milk is REALLY good-tasting, when you graduate to full liquid.)

* Better-tasting chicken broth—I tried a lot of different chicken broths and bouillons, but they tend to be very watery and low on flavor. So this time, I bought a family-sized can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, separated out the noodles and chicken and heated that up. Yes, it’s got a little more fat in it than chicken stock, but the low calorie count on clear liquid diet days doesn’t make that much of a problem. It’s much more satisfying to make a meal of, and you can hold onto the noodles and chicken to have in a couple days when you need mushy food.

Cheers!
Grace

Independence LAP-BAND Support Group

2010-03-02T09:43:39-06:00

Here’s some info from Adam L. at our Independence Center clinic about their weight loss support group this week:

Weight Loss Surgical Center
Banded Together Support Group

Wed. Mar 3rd 6:00pm

Clinic located in the Independence Center.
Southeast entrance of the mall.

Open to YOU, Friends, Family, Co-workers, Pre-Op, Post-Op,still deciding…

Weight Loss Surgical Center’s Independence LAP-BAND Support group for everyone who wants to come have fun and learn a few things along the way. The meeting is about you and what you want to talk about. This month’s starter topic will be “Keeping the life resolution” but feel free to bring any topics you want to share or talk about.

Contact: Adam Lepker (816)423-8964 or alepker at moreoflife dot com with any questions, comments, suggestions or topics that you would like researched for the meeting.

If you have ever wanted to try a support group but were afraid this is the time to start. The folks that have come so far are all great and tell me they now feel like they are not on this journey alone.

December Des Moines LAP-BAND Support Group

2009-11-10T15:49:56-06:00

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!

March Des Moines Weight Loss Support Group

2010-03-01T14:29:15-06:00

I talked with Danielle in Des Moines today, and she is planning on getting our Des Moines Weight Loss Support Group going again in March.

It will be Thursday March 11, 2010 at 6:00pm. at 6750 Westown Parkway, Suite 135, in West Des Moines.

Discussion topics include:

◊ How to get the most out of your band: using the tool correctly

◊ There’s more to weight loss than just losing pounds: celebrating non-scale successes!

Bruce and Danielle request that you note the time is earlier than the group previously met. If you have any questions before the meeting, contact them at 319-309-3519 or email them at blovejoy at moreoflife dot com for Bruce and dvaughn at moreoflife dot com for Danielle.

Getting Back On Track

2010-02-23T19:03:26-06:00

For those of you that have been at the last two OP meetings, you have heard my confessions of not really wanting to drink anything except, milk, oj and hot chocolate and the fact that I allowed an awful week to get the best of me and ended up gaining 5 lbs. Actually, the 5 lb. gain is probably long overdue in rearing its ugly head as I started some bad behaviors during my birthday 4 weeks ago and just hadn’t given them up yet.

As of yesterday I am getting back on track. Yesterday I did 60 minutes on the elliptical and burned 400 calories. Today I tried a different kind of elliptical for 20 minutes and burned 200 calories. I think I will stick with the new one, especially since it really did kick my butt and quads. In addition to these 20 minutes I spent about 15 doing some weights. Should have spent some more time on the weights, but school work was (and still is) calling. I also drank about 72 ounces of liquid yesterday and have had 56 so far today, and water with additive as well as plain old water were a part of both days.

When I weighed this morning I had not lost anything since Saturday, but I am going to blame that on my kitten since she kept pouncing on the scale and batting at it which made it hard to get a good reading. I know she only weighs 4 pounds right now because I weighed her on Sunday right before I put the dress on her that she hasn’t learned to like yet, but her 4 pounds can be painful when she jumps on me and her front paws land right on top of my port as my port does not have any padding over it. Tomorrow morning I am going to weigh before I let her out of the bathroom and into my bedroom.

Weight GAIN in the first month—HELP!

2009-07-07T08:00:32-06:00

Okay, I know I’ve heard that the time between the surgery and the first adjustment isn’t about losing weight, but I still want to know what people’s experiences have been. I started out losing 1-2 pounds a day! Then in the last week that abruptly stopped. Then yesterday I gained two pounds in one day! This, on a day when as far as I can tell I did everything right, (only took in about 1,000 calories and did some walking as I’ve been doing every day). Obviously, this is a little depressing.

What have others experienced? Is this kind of thing normal, or should I worry that I’m not doing something right? (BTW, I should mention that my net weight loss is still good—I’ve lost 13 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks. It’s just this plateau and today’s uptick that worried me.)

I hate to hit the panic button, but I didn’t do all this so I could gain weight. Help!