Archive for May, 2012
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
I have always REALLY struggled with my self-esteem. I have struggled with my weight through most of my teenage years and into my 20s. Then it spiraled out of control after having children.
I could NOT get the “baby weight” off and gradually continued to put on more and more weight.
Although I strived to be a good wife and mother, I often felt like I was an embarrassment to my husband and children. I was FAT!
One time, we were returning home from vacation and picking up our baggage at the airport, where a news crew was filming. We didn’t know what the news report was about, but later that night, we watched the evening news to see if we were on TV. To my HORROR, the lower half of my body made the news—from behind!
The news crew was doing a segment on obesity and overweight people needing two seats on planes. I was never interviewed; they just filmed anyone overweight who happened to be walking through the airport that day. I was so hurt and mortified that my big, fat self made the news. I knew I needed to do something!
For me, that something was bariatric surgery. I wanted to look good…and not only for myself. I have a WONDERFUL husband who loved me just as much at 240 pounds as he does now. But he deserved to have the wife he married, not one who was twice as heavy. Although surgery has not made my self-esteem perfect, it has definitely given me my life back. .
My road to surgery was not easy financially. When we had difficulty with our insurance coverage, I was crushed and scared. I was afraid that my dream of surgery was not going to happen. But with the help of the wonderful staff at Team:Bariatrics, my dream did come true, without the help of our insurance company. We took out a home equity loan on our home and paid privately. This might not be the right solution for everyone, but it was what I needed to do—for my husband, my kids and for myself.
One of my biggest dreams was to be active with my children. I wanted to be able to run next to my youngest child when she learned to ride her bike. I can do that now! I also set a goal to run a 5K and, one year after surgery, I did. I was SO PROUD of my achievement and myself.
Team:Bariatrics was a blessing in so many ways. They’ve given me a second chance at life! Dr. Murphy, Dr. Gerig, Kathy, Sue Loucks and the WHOLE staff are THE BEST TEAM EVER! .
THANKS again!
Cassie, Team:Bariatrics patient
Tags: Bariatric surgery, decision, encouragement, exercise, gastric band, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, goals, lifestyle, motivation, obesity
Posted in Bariatric Surgery | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012
 Use it on grilled meats, pair with good vinegar for salad dressings, or blend with mashed potatoes.
1 cup pure olive oil (extra virgin)
1 cup basil leaves (packed)
1 cup spinach
1. Place clean, fresh basil and spinach in a blender.
2. Heat oil to 130˚F (check with cooking thermometer).
3. Have ready an empty bowl with a fine mesh strainer and set inside a bowl of ice water.
4. Add oil to the blender and blend until smooth.
5. Strain the oil mixture from blender through the strainer into the empty bowl (which is cradled in the ice bath) to quickly cool the oil. Put in a bottle.
Each Serving, 1 Tablespoon: 120 Calories, 2 g Saturated Fat, 10 gm Monounsaturated Fat, 103 mg Omega-3 Fatty Acids, 0 mg Sodium, 30 mg Phytosterols
Provided by Today’s Diet & Nutrition
photo by: http://www.atthefarmersmarket.com/
Tags: food, health, nutrition, recipes
Posted in Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
If you’re looking for inspirational support, knowledge about food, or tips on how to get fit and stay that way, there’s a site that can guide you through your weight loss journey.
In fact, there are so many resources available; it can be difficult to figure out which sites are worth a second look so we put together a list of some of the most useful websites. It’s been proven that you can lose more weight when you have support from your community, and joining one or more of these sites can give you the extra push you’ve been looking for.
- Calorie Count
This site lets you keep track of your calories, browse food, recipes and exercises. You can even ask food related questions to registered dieticians. And of course there’s an app so you can take all of this on the go!
- Spark People
A community and support based website, where you can create customized fitness programs, meal plans and search through recipes, articles and more!
- LIVESTRONG
We all remember those little yellow bracelets, but when you visit the Livestrong website you’ll find more than that. Keep a food diary, count calories, explore fitness ideas and join the Livestrong community.
- FitDay
Watch your fitness and health progress with this great website. Read success stories from other members, create a free account to keep track of your food intake and exercise.
- Weight Watchers
Jennifer Hudson has shown us that it works, and now Charles Barkley is helping to get men to join. This large community makes your weight loss journey easier by providing its famous point system, recipes and fitness features.
- Obesity Help
Browse forums, check out before and after photos of other members (for an extra boost of motivation), build a personal profile and share your story with others in this online weight loss surgery community.
Photo thanks to OmniTech
Tags: health, inspiration, lifestyle, motivation, obesity, Online, Spark People, support, weight loss
Posted in Lifestyle | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012
Making the decision to invest in bariatric surgery is a serious one. Especially in these challenging economic times, spending any amount of money could seem frivolous, irresponsible or even impossible.
There’s no question that the cost is significant. However, we’d encourage you to think differently about the decision.
What does it cost you not to make the choice?
In the financial world, there’s a term “ROI,” or “Return On Investment,” that describes what an investor might get back for the amount of money spent on a venture.
When we make the decision to pay for college, it’s an investment in our career prospects. When we put a down payment on a house, it’s an investment in our environment and security. When we set aside money for retirement, it’s an investment in our future.
But what about the foundation of who we are? Without health, all of those things could quickly become irrelevant.
Obesity is expensive: It costs on average $9,434 per year for out-of-pocket from failed diets, lost wages, medicine and doctor visits. It’s also the second leading cause of preventable death.
We can take out a mortgage on a home. But what about our body, the physical self that houses who we are and how we live? Health and well-being are worth the investment. The ROI? Life.
Making some budgetary changes could make more money available than you might realize. How much money do we spend on things that immediately disappear? For example, just eliminating a daily cup of coffee at your favorite coffee shop can save $1,000 or more per year.
And by becoming healthier, you could increase your career prospects. Interviewers make snap judgments with first impressions. By investing in losing weight, you will gain confidence and boost the chances of getting hired, as well as increase your earning potential. You’ll also have more stamina and ability to work better and longer, increasing your chances of promotion and even higher wages.
Talk to Team:Bariatrics about what options are available for financing a healthy decision.
If you need some inspiration, listen to some success stories or join us on Facebook. Each person believed in the investment in themselves – that their lives were invaluable. And the return on their investment was priceless.
Photo by redjar via Flickr.
Tags: Bariatric surgery, change, decision, gastric band, gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, goal setting, health, journey, life changing, obesity
Posted in Bariatric Surgery, TEAM:BARIATRICS | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012
Are you in charge of providing a snack for a birthday party at school or work? The challenge may be that you want to serve something that everyone will love and yet still be healthy enough that there will be no guilt in eating or serving it! Consider these options:
1. Rice Cakes and Fruit – arrange them in bowls and garnish a few with frosting
2. Mini Carrot Pineapple Muffins with low fat cream cheese frosting
3. Newton’s Fruit Cake – place Fig Newton cookies around the outside of a pan and fill with dried or fresh fruits. Add sprinkles and then adhere candles to the tops of the cookies. (see the picture above) 85 calories cookie/fruit
4. Dip Me Sheet – place a variety of fruits such as apple slices, strawberries, and pineapple, or vanilla wafers with pumpkin, caramel, or chocolate dip in an attractive square pan. (Pumpkin dip recipe below)
5. Rice Krispies Treat Bowl – Make your own or take the easy way out by buying Kellogg’s – arrange these in a bowl and garnish the middle one with frosting, sprinkles and a candle. 90 calories each.
Prep: 10 minutes Chill: 1 hour
15 ounce can pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
6 ounces fat free greek yogurt, plain
8 ounces fat free cool whip
Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.
Makes about 12 servings.
Nutrition Facts per ½ cup serving: Calories 102, Saturated Fat 0 g, Protein 2 g, Carbohydrate 25 g, Fiber 1 g, Sodium 25 mg
ARTICLE COURTESY OF INDIANA HEALTH UNIVERSITY, NUTRITION NUGGETS NEWSLETTER, NOV. 2011
Photo by: Susi’s Kochen Und Backen Adventures
Tags: Birthday, commitment, food, health, lifestyle
Posted in Bariatric Surgery, Nutrition | No Comments »
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