Tag Archives: Bariatric weight loss surgery

Choosing the Right Weight Loss Surgery: Your Journey Begins

Hey there, explorers of a healthier you! When it comes to taking charge of your health and feeling amazing, weight loss surgery is like a treasure chest of possibilities. But wait, how do you even begin to figure out which surgery suits you best? Fear not, because in this guide, we’re here to make it super easy for you to pick the perfect path to your goals.

Exploring Different Weight Loss Surgeries:

Think of weight loss surgeries as different superheroes, each with a unique power to help you. We’ve got the stars of the show: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and gastric banding. They’re all awesome in their own way, so let’s dive in and see which one suits you.

Gastric Bypass Surgery: How It Works and Who It’s For:

Imagine a magical route that helps you eat less and absorb fewer calories. That’s gastric bypass for you! It’s like the superhero of rapid weight loss. If you’re dealing with obesity and health issues like diabetes, this might just be your ultimate sidekick.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery: What to Expect and Why It’s Cool:

Meet the surgery that’s all about balance. Gastric sleeve surgery trims down your stomach, making it a pro at controlling your hunger. If you’re looking for steady progress and dealing with a lower BMI, this hero might be your perfect fit.

Things to Keep in Mind:

Okay, hold up! Before you dive into surgery, let’s chat about a few important things. Your health history, your dreams, and your expectations—they’re all part of the superhero squad that guides your decision.

Health and History: Which Surgery Is Safe for You?:

Picture this: a superhero team of doctors who want to know everything about you. Your medical history and previous surgeries are like clues they need to recommend the best superhero surgery for you. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Expectations: What’s the Deal with Weight Loss?:

Here’s the scoop: different surgeries bring different weight loss results. Some give you speedy changes, like a superhero dash. Others offer a steady, reliable transformation. It’s all about what suits your style and pace.

Perks and Considerations:

Let’s talk benefits and things to keep an eye on. Just like every superhero has strengths and weaknesses, these surgeries have their own superpowers and challenges.

Fast vs. Steady: Comparing Surgery Results:

Imagine losing weight super fast or taking it slow and steady. Gastric bypass is like a speedy rollercoaster, while gastric sleeve is your trusty turtle—consistent and sure. It’s your call: zoom ahead or stroll towards your goals.

Possible Hiccups: Understanding Risks and Healing:

Hey, even superheroes have their moments, right? Surgery comes with potential risks like infections or bleeding. But with your healthcare team watching over you and following their advice, you’ve got this!

Getting Personal:

Let’s talk about having a friendly chat with a bariologist. They’re your sidekick—your expert on this weight loss journey. They’ll make sure you have all the info you need to choose your superhero surgery wisely.

Bariologist: Your Trusty Guide to Super Surgery:

Meet the bariologist, your partner in crime-fighting weight loss. With their help, you’ll figure out which superhero surgery suits you. They’ll guide you through the maze and help you pick the path to your goals.

Getting Ready for Surgery: It’s Not Just About Your Body:

So, you’ve chosen your superhero surgery. High-five! But before the big day, let’s get your mind and heart in on the action too.

FAQs: Your Curious Questions, Answered:

  1. Q: Can anyone get weight loss surgery?
    • A: Almost! Your health history and individual situation matter. Talk to a doctor to find out if it’s the right fit for you.
  2. Q: How much weight will I lose after surgery?
    • A: It varies! Some surgeries bring quick results, while others take their time. It’s about finding what clicks with you.
  3. Q: Are there risks with surgery?
    • A: Like any adventure, surgery comes with risks. But with experts by your side, you’ll face them like a superhero!
  4. Q: How do I get ready for surgery mentally?
    • A: Get in the superhero mindset! Believe in yourself, surround yourself with support, and get excited about the positive changes ahead.

Ready to Fly: Benefits of Super Surgery:

  1. Health Boost: These surgeries can tackle health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure—getting you closer to your healthiest self.
  2. Feeling Awesome: Imagine having more energy and moving with ease. That’s the magic of shedding weight!
  3. Long-Term Success: Superhero surgeries teach you new habits that last. You’re not just losing weight; you’re gaining healthy habits for life.
  4. Experts Have Your Back: With a bariologist on your team, you’re not alone. Their expertise helps you make the best choices for your journey.
  5. A Supportive Community: Join a squad of fellow superheroes on similar journeys. They’ll cheer you on and share their wisdom.
  6. Transformation Inside and Out: It’s not just about the outside. These surgeries can boost your confidence and mental well-being too.

Conclusion: Your Super Journey Awaits:

Choosing a superhero surgery is a big deal, and you’ve got all the tools to make the best choice for you. Trust your medical team, lean on your bariologist, and remember—it’s your superhero journey, and the best part? You’re the hero of your own story. So, what are you waiting for? Let the adventure begin!

What is Mindful Eating?

What is Mindful Eating?

 

Mindful eating is a practice that has gained popularity in recent years as people seek to improve their relationship with food and their bodies. It involves paying attention and being present in the moment while eating, without judgment or distraction.

The goal of mindful eating is to cultivate a non-judgmental awareness of your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations while eating, to develop a healthier relationship with food. This can involve slowing down while eating, savouring each bite, and paying attention to feelings of hunger and fullness.

Many of us have busy lives, and we often eat on the go or while multitasking. We might eat while watching TV, working on our computers, or scrolling through social media. This can lead to mindless eating, where we don’t pay attention to our food, and we might eat more than we need to without even realising it.

Mindful eating is the opposite of mindless eating. It involves being fully present in the moment while eating and paying attention to the experience of eating. This can help us tune in to our bodies’ needs and recognise when we’re hungry or full.

 

Some common techniques for practicing mindful eating include:   

  • Eating slowly and chewing each bite thoroughly: Taking the time to chew each bite of food thoroughly can help you savour the flavours and textures of your food.
  • Paying attention to the taste, texture, and smell of your food: Focusing on the sensory experience of eating can help you enjoy your food more fully and appreciate its qualities.
  • Eating without distractions such as TV or phone: When you eat without distractions, you can fully focus on your food and your body’s signals, rather than being pulled in different directions by external stimuli.
  • Tuning into your body’s hunger and fullness signals: Mindful eating involves paying attention to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness. This can help you eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full, rather than overeating or under-eating.
  • Being aware of your emotions and thoughts around food: Mindful Eating also involves tuning in to your emotions and thoughts around food. This can help you identify triggers for emotional eating or unhealthy food choices and develop strategies for coping with those triggers.

 

Practising mindful eating will help you improve your overall eating habits, reduce overeating, and increase your enjoyment of food.

 

What is Mindful Eating?  Mindful Eating is a powerful practice that can help you improve your relationship with food and your body. It also may help you lose and maintain weight by becoming aware of your body’s signals and develop a more balanced approach to eating and nourishing your body.

If you have any queries or would like to know how we can help you on this amazing life changing journey, please contact us or book a free strategy call via our website www.savvybariatrics.com

Stay Savvy

 

Managing Easter Chocolate Temptations

 

 

Managing Easter Chocolate Temptations, cravings and consumption of Easter eggs after weight loss surgery can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can enjoy the holiday without derailing your weight loss progress.

 

In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips for managing chocolate cravings and enjoying Easter eggs after weight loss surgery.

 

 

Plan Ahead

Before Easter arrives, plan ahead for how you’ll manage your chocolate cravings and consumption of Easter eggs. Consider setting goals for how much chocolate you want to consume and plan your meals and snacks accordingly. You may want to consult with your weight loss surgeon or dietitian to develop a plan that’s right for you.

Choose Small Portions

When it comes to Easter eggs and other chocolate treats, portion control is key. Instead of indulging in a large Easter egg or box of chocolates, choose small portions that fit within your daily calorie and protein goals. For example, you could enjoy a small Easter egg after a high protein meal or split a larger Easter egg with a friend or family member.

Opt for Dark Chocolate

If you’re going to indulge in chocolate, opt for dark chocolate over milk chocolate. Dark chocolate contains less sugar and more cocoa solids, which can provide health benefits such as reducing inflammation and improving heart health. Just be sure to choose dark chocolate that’s at least 70% cocoa solids to maximize the health benefits.

Don’t Forget Protein

After weight loss surgery, getting enough protein is crucial for maintaining muscle mass and supporting weight loss. When you’re indulging in Easter eggs or other treats, don’t forget to include protein-rich foods in your meals and snacks. Good sources of protein include lean meats, fish, eggs, Greek yogurt, and protein shakes.

Practice Mindful Eating

Mindful eating is a technique that involves paying attention to your hunger and fullness cues and savouring the taste and texture of your food. When you’re indulging in Easter eggs, try to practice mindful eating by taking small bites, chewing slowly, and focusing on the flavours and textures of the chocolate. This can help you feel more satisfied with smaller portions and reduce the risk of overeating.

Find Alternative Easter Activities

Finally, consider finding alternative Easter activities that don’t revolve around chocolate and sweets. You could plan an Easter egg hunt with non-food prizes or organize a family game night or movie marathon. By focusing on activities that don’t involve food, you can reduce the temptation to indulge in Easter treats.

 

In conclusion, managing chocolate cravings and consumption of Easter eggs after weight loss surgery can be a challenge, but with the right approach, you can enjoy the holiday without derailing your weight loss progress.  To find out how we can help you manage your chocolate cravings go to our website www.savvybariatrics.com.

 

Remember to plan ahead, choose small portions, opt for dark chocolate, don’t forget protein, practice mindful eating, and find alternative Easter activities. Happy Easter!

 

Stay Savvy

 

 

Because, Because I Can

Because, Because I Can

I’m sitting here on a wonderful sunny day with a pot of freshly brewed tea in a regal looking cup and saucer fit for a queen.  Peaceful, warm. Feeling a slight breeze and very content with my lot.  Then I realise I’m eating this delicious long pastry with cream, jam, and fabulous pink icing on top.  It looks spectacular.

 

I bite into this artwork of pastry in anticipation it will taste amazing. My reality is, I can’t even taste it.  If there is a taste, it’s one of those overly sweet sugary types. You know the ones, they have you wondering just how many teaspoons of sugar you are consuming in that one piece of deliciousness.

 

There is no enjoyment in eating this.  I am somewhat disappointed.  So, I ask myself WHY?  Why are you eating this?  Because I can.  Because no one can tell me not to.  Because it’s there.  Because it just looks so damn good.

 

Because, Because, Because,  Because, Because.

 

For me, the epitome of being slimmer, was being able to sit down in a café enjoying a coffee and a sweet treat without being judged by anyone for doing so.  Just being there, being normal, feeling normal.  Feeling confident. Because slim people could do that.  I wanted to do that.

 

So much of my life what I ate was scrutinised by my father.  He meant well.  He really did.  However, his actions and over concern for my weight initiated a myriad of issues including, secret eating habits and buying of “forbidden” food.  Thus began the installation of a relationship with food that was totally toxic and secretive. They were hard years.  They were sad years.

 

As I look back at this pastry thingy, I wonder if I am eating it out of rebellion?  Just to reinforce that no one is the boss of me, and I can eat whatever I want?  Maybe, maybe not.  WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT I HAVE A CHOICE.   DO I need it?  NO.  Do I want it?  NO. Am I hungry?  NO. What will I get from eating it?  NOTHING.

 

So Why did I order this artistic masterpiece of pastry?  Habit.

It’s what I used to do in My Fat Life. I ate unconsciously.  What triggered this hiccup?  Feeling somewhat flat and isolated due to a health issue and it had been some time since I was able to frequent a cafe.  It’s very normal to revert to what made us feel safe or secure in the past.  It cocoons us.  The question is do we stay in the cocoon because it feels familiar and safe in the moment?  For me, luckily, my years of training and working with bariatric weight loss clients kicked in exactly as it was supposed to.  Having control over the seductiveness of that pastry is a major triumph.

 

You want to know if I continued to eat it don’t you? 

I didn’t.  I had no want to.

 

Soaking up the glorious sun I continued to enjoy the flavour and aroma of my freshly brewed tea in my regal style crockery.  Content knowing that I can choose to eat what I want without guilt, shame, or judgement. Because, Because I Can.

 

Living and eating consciously is what I do now.  I moved out of that cocoon.

 

Stay Savvy

 

PS. :   If you want to live and eat consciously schedule a free strategy call and let’s have a chat

 

 

 

Regain after Bariatric Surgery

Regain After Bariatric Surgery

 

Are you experiencing Regain after Bariatric surgery? Regardless of what you call it Regain, Stalled, Plateau it sends feelings of dread and failure through your system.  It can be avoided and is not something you have to suffer.  Regain, Stalled or Plateau does not mean you have failed.  It’s merely an indication that you need some assistance and professional intervention to address what is happening and a plan to get moving again towards your desired goal.

Approximately 60-80% of Bariatric Surgery recipients will experience regain at some stage of their journey.  It is not unusual for people even at 3 months post-surgery to experience regain or plateaus.  It would be easy at this stage to just give up.  However, you had weight loss surgery because you wanted a better healthier life for yourself, and you deserve that. As devastating as it can feel you can move through this.

 

Progressing through the stages of Bariatric Surgery you will resume a level of normal eating.  It is usually at this stage that those old eating habits of overeating, emotional eating and even bingeing will begin sneaking back into your eating regime.  The roller coaster of emotions will begin.  Increased numbers on that damn scale and clothes getting a bit firmer will heighten the stress of feeling out of control.

The worst thing you can do at this stage is accept the regain and give up on yourself.  Guilt, shame and embarrassment of finding yourself having to deal with this again can be overwhelming and it doesn’t need to be. This is the time in your weight loss journey where we need to acknowledge what happened, what, how and why we veered off course.  Believe me its fixable.  We deal with it, learn from it and adjust the process going forward.

 

Tips for Getting Back on Track

A few quick tips you can implement right now to adjust and get back on track to achieve your ideal weight loss goal.

  • Reach out and seek help from a professional in the area. If you are resisting getting help let go of any shame, guilt or embarrassment that may be holding you back.
  • Replacing 1 or 2 meals with a Protein Drink to kickstart your metabolism can work wonders to Reset your Programme.
  • Avoid impulse buying of comfort and inappropriate food by Planning & Preparing all meals in advance.
  •  Write down why and when you began to slip back into old fat brain thinking.  What triggered the relapse?  What happened that steered you off your course? Knowledge is power. It’s important to get this out of your head and not ruminate over it.

Healthy living program Melbourne

 

Our Minds are so powerful.  It is so critical to Change your Mindset and your relationship with food to ensure permanent successful weight loss after your Bariatric Surgery.  Changing that Fat Brain Mindset changes our brains neural pathways, reorganises our thoughts to create new habits and behaviours that ensure sustainable weight loss success.

 

Stay Savvy