There are a lot of misconceptions about food selections after bariatric surgery. The general idea is to make healthier choices that support a well-balanced diet. Maintaining good health is more than balancing the scales—it is about learning to balance life. And as we all know, life is not always perfect. 

Most of the time, most of us are in situations where we have the opportunity to make healthy choices. Although it may not always be exactly what we "want", making good choices is about bringing our mindset towards food back into balance. This week I've been traveling and I haven't always been in situations that allowed the ideal food selections. Life doesn't always give us "ideals" so we need to learn to make the best choice when life is not perfect.  

Take pizza for example. Do we cut out pizza for life? Certainly not. I didn't choose pizza during my weight-loss phase, but I did add it back during maintenance. I don't eat pizza often, but I do eat it on occasion. I have learned how to make adjustments that allow me to remain compliant and not swing from over indulgence to total deprivation. Here are a few tips for eating pizza.

foundational tips: 

Make pizza an occasional choice. 

Choose thinner crust or whole wheat when available.

Cut down on the bread by moving the toping ingredients (especially the protein of two small slices to one slice.)

or Eat the toppings and not the crust. 

topping it off:

Don't skip the protein: choose leaner proteins, such as chicken, tofu, or ham. 

Add heathier toppings such as veggies.

When omitting the bread, add fruit, such as pineapple or tomato.

Go light on the cheese, or when making it at home, choose lowfat cheeses and add plenty of veggies.

Be successful. Practice making healthier choices for life, and enjoy food, even when life isn't "ideal.", and yes even after weight-loss surgery. Yes, you can. You have many more miles to go!

Regular

exercise is

important

during

weight-loss,

however

it is

essential for

long-term

weight

 maintenance.

      Colleen Cook

Losing weight brings many changes, one of which is getting adjusted to a new body image. Unveiling the one once hidden under oversized clothing and low self-esteem doesn't happen automatically. Neither is it as simple as looking in a mirror. 

Seeing yourself in a new body is not just about wearing a new physical body, but reclaiming a healthy mental image as well. I call this part of the “emotional weight” that has to be lost in order to succeed in this new lifestyle.

Being overweight most of my adult years, I came to accept my body image as overweight and believed things would never change. After losing 164 pounds, I had changed on the outside but my mind still said I weighted 300 pounds.

I came to realize that I had to change what I believed about myself as radically as I had changed my outside appearance and physically anatomy. It started with retraining my mind to match my new body. I had to identify the former truth that was no longer relevant and replace it with the new  truth—I had changed, I was different. Mindset changes are as necessary as physical ones! Cheers to the new you. 

Kim Joyner, Bariatric Coordinator at our local medical center shares the following inportant information on heart disease and sleep apnea. Thanks, Kim. 

Approximately 85% of sleep apnea among bariatric patients is directly related to their morbid obesity.

However, approximately 15% is TRUE sleep apnea apart from morbid obesity.  If you have stopped using your C-PAP without re-evaluation, you could be part of the 15%.  Please plan to get re-tested ASAP.  It is a simple process that can be done in your own home. 

To those in the 85%, bariatric surgery has greatly reduced your risk factors for cardiac disease.  CONGRATULATIONS.  This is one of the reasons we celebrate weight loss at support group meetings. 

February is HEART AWARENESS month. Our support meeting, February 1st, will focus on heart disease and obesity.  It will be thrilling to see from where you have come.  Also, we will have a special treat.  Karen Juma, RN, NHRMC Nurse Educator will demonstrate CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver, and other lifesaving tips at the close of our meeting.  I hope to see each of you in February as we celebrate Heart Awareness!  I am so proud of you guys.

For further information about sleep apnea, obesity, and heart disease, go to: http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=660713

submitted by: Kim  F. Joyner, Bariatric Coordinator

Shampoo Warning 

Please share with all your friends.

I don't know WHY I didn't figure this out sooner! 

I use shampoo in the shower.

When I wash my hair, the shampoo runs down my whole body,

and printed very clearly on the shampoo label is this warning,

"FOR EXTRA VOLUME AND BODY."

No wonder I have been gaining weight!

Well, I have gotten rid of that shampoo

and I am going to start using Dawn dish soap instead. 

Its label reads,

"DISSOLVES FAT

THAT IS OTHERWISE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE."

Problem solved.

If I don't answer the phone,

I'll be in the shower.