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Author admin Categories Bariatrics, Health, Weight Loss Posted on

BMI – Don’t let it Define You.

BMI – Don’t let it Define You.

 

Sam walked into my office and before he even sat down, blurted out that he was too fat to get insurance.  What? Like, What??  Sam was by appearances NOT overweight at all.  He was tall sculptured and looked vibrantly healthy.

 

Visibly concerned and upset. Sam was told that his BMI was too high.  He was very overweight bordering on obese and should do something about it if he wanted to get insurance coverage.   Still in absolute disbelief, I really wanted to swear at this stage, and I wanted to swear a LOT.  I knew where he was going.  It’s that damn BMI calculation again.   BMI don’t let it define you.

Without going into the semantics of the BMI calculator it was created some 200 years by Belgian Academic called Quetelet. Being flawed it is outdated and still unfortunately used by medical professions, insurance companies and governments.  I believe there was some form of update in America around 1985 but whichever way you cut it, BMI does not actually measure how fat you are. There is no differentiation between muscle, bone or distribution of fat throughout the body. Muscle as we know is very much denser than fat.

Hence this is the reason athletes, body builders, football players and boxers to name a few, may end up with a BMI reading that allocates them into the overweight and obese category.  This in itself shows the inaccuracy of BMI, yet we continue to be defined by it.

 

BMI – Don’t let it Define You.

 

As I listened to Sam unleash with vitriol that a flawed and outdated chart had in some way sealed his fate, I couldn’t help wonder if the physician actually looked at him at all.  Clearly, he is not overweight, he works out, he has muscles and a lot of them, but not overweight.  He questioned the result, he questioned they physician for his opinion of whether He thought he was overweight or not. – the answer was – This is the range you are in given the factors that determine your BMI from the Chart.  Where do you go from there? Sam asked.

Lucy recited how her walk of shame through the waiting room. The guilt the physician made her feel was a defining moment for her.  But could quite easily have destroyed her.

Lucy, who had lost some 23kg was told in no uncertain terms that she must be doing something wrong because her BMI has not reduced.  When she questioned the result, she was dismissed.  She was right to question the result it’s definitely wrong if it hasn’t changed after a 23kg loss.  I see clients getting a BMI reading and becoming obsessive about it because they are confused and overwhelmed.

 

BMI – Don’t let it Define You.

 

While Shaming people with a high BMI may not necessarily be the intention it certainly is the outcome for a large number of those who find themselves overweight or obese.  With an already fragile body image, shaming intentional or otherwise, actually has the opposite effect and can send some into a deeper state of overwhelm than they were before their BMI result.  Unfortunately, this is not uncommon.

Far more accurate means to measure fat, muscle and bone are available to us now.  It should be used instead of too much emphasis being placed on the BMI result.

Some fat is ok but too much fat in the wrong places is definitely a health risk.  Researchers note that the best measure for excess body fat involves the circumference of your waist.

BMI is also used as a  marker for those wanting or needing Weight Loss Surgery.  A lot of emphasis is placed on BMI in this instance by Surgeons.  Initially one needed a high BMI to qualify for Weight Loss Surgery.  Over the years the parameters have shifted with a lowering of BMI qualifiers allowing more people to participate in these programs.

Excess body fat around the middle has been linked to serious health issues including diabetes, stroke, certain cancers and heart disease.

 

BMI – Don’t let it Define You.

 

If you really want to know your body composition find a gym or health practitioner that has modern equipment giving you a detailed map of your body and body fat.   There are also mobile practitioners who will come to you with their equipment and perform the assessment in the privacy of your home or office.  No Shame, No Guilt, No Judgement.

My personal advice to Clients and others is to ditch the BMI.  Focus on what you can do to reduce your weight and regain health.   Seek out help from someone who gets you.  Someone who will guide and support you.

We clearly know if we are overweight or obese, its generally obvious.  Understanding and solution  would go a long way to encouraging weight loss and dealing with our obesity health crisis. Numbers from outdated charts are no longer relevant.

If you find yourself needing help with specific weight issues or want a free 30 minute strategy call please contact us at www.savvybariatrics.com.

www.savvybariatrics.com

You Deserve Great Friends – Regardless of Your Weight
Author admin Categories Bariatrics, Weight Loss Posted on

You Deserve Great Friends – Regardless of Your Weight.

You Deserve Great Friends Regardless of your Weight.

What COVID-19 has reinforced this year is our need for human contact and relationships.  It is so important to our psychological health and wellbeing-  an area we quite often overlook. You deserve great friends regardless of your weight.

This can be particularly true if you are overweight or those lacking confidence and self-esteem.  Being larger can indeed be isolating whether its self-imposed or implied by others.  Either way it re-inforces how bad we feel about our current situation.  I’ve been there, I understand it.  I could fill a novel with excuses mine and others, it just seemed to go hand in hand with being overweight.

I wonder how many times you have declined invitations to socialise ie: coffee catch up/weddings etc.. because you felt ashamed of your weight and size.  Granted years ago Fashion did not cater for the larger child or adult which added injury to insult. A legitimate excuse at that time I thought.  Now thankfully there is a myriad of beautiful Fashion available to the larger person alleviating the issue of nothing to wear and eliminating that excuse.

Relationships are a two-way engagement.  It’s important to nourish any good relationships you have and re-think those that do not serve you.

A well-meaning person in my life when I was in my early teens commented..”When you are thin, you look good in anything, when you are fat, no-one wants to chat”!!   So started my journey of non-acceptance of self unless I was a “certain size”.  You can imagine how devasting it was to hear that which was meant to shock me into action but actually had the opposite effect.

 

You Deserve Great Friends – Regardless of Your Weight

 

Quite often when we feel inferior or not worthy, we may attract and attach ourselves unconsciously to others, who, let’s be blunt here, are not good enough for US.  We accept second best in order to feel a sense of belonging and less lonely.  A legitimate psychological reason at the time.  So often I see clients actually defining themselves because of their weight or size.

A major contributor to this definition is the media and publishing houses.  We are bombarded with the bikini clad 50 year old and near naked Kardashians of all ages through all forms of media.  Did you know that when they publish magazines of stars without make-up, those are the most purchased issues of any magazine in the world?  TRUE.

 

You Deserve Great Friends – Regardless of Your Weight

 

We all want to see that these air-brushed people are really just like you and me without make-up and unwashed hair.  We want to know that they too are just like us and I can tell you from experience they are.  Just because someone is slimmer does not guarantee a wonderful life.  They too have relationship issues, eating issues, non-acceptance, confidence &self esteem issues.  I know, these people are my clients too.

The Most Important Relationship you have, is the Relationship you have with Yourself.

I want you to know that your weight or size does not define you.  You deserve wonderful relationships regardless of size, weight or anything else.

Sit down with pen and paper and look to where you may be judging yourself, defining yourself as not good enough because of your size or weight.  How many times is it actually you and not the other person?  It can be quite enlightening to do this exercise.  AND do not judge yourself, just be mindful, be aware of where you may be initiating those feelings of inadequacy and not good enough.

You Deserve Great Friends – Regardless of Your Weight

How many times might you have rejected a relationship/friendship with someone who was slimmer because of a pre-emptive thought of how could they possibly be friends with a person like me?  Have you felt like the token “fat friend” in a relationship?  Yes, interesting subject isn’t it?  One we will delve into more deeply at a later date.

Cherish your real relationships those ones that serve you, that nourish you.  Let the others go as they only serve to bring you down.  You deserve good friends regardless of your weight. If you need help in this or any other area or would like to comment, please contact us through our website.   https://www.savvybariatrics.com

 

You are Enough

 

https://www.savvybariatrics.com

Author admin Categories Bariatrics, Diet, Weight Loss Posted on

Am I Really Hungry?

Next time you are eating ask yourself that question “Am I really Hungry”?  If the answer is yes, then be aware of where you feel that hunger.  Real hunger is gradual.

 

Its physical and that physical sensation is felt in your stomach.  Real hunger is not triggered by emotions or circumstance, or even walking past a bakery.  It’s not triggered by being bored, stressed, upset or lonely.  Hunger is a real physical response in your body.   Unfortunately,most of us are oblivious to it.  Knowing the difference between real hunger and emotional hunger or emotional eating will help you take back control of food instead of feeling that food controls you.

So, what if the answer to that question is “No, I’m not actually hungry”, what do you do then?  I want you to ask yourself another question – “Why am I wanting to eat this?”  Are you bored, stressed, angry?  Is it someone’s birthday and you think you should have that piece of cake because others are?  Do you have a craving for that piece of chocolate?   Being aware at this stage that you are eating emotionally and not because you are actually hungry is liberating.  Listening to your body and being aware of what you are feeling BEFORE you eat will give you freedom.  You will be making an absolute conscious decision whether to eat or not.  At https://www.savvybariatrics.com we are dedicated to helping you know the difference.

 

Mindful or Mindless Eating?

We have been programmed since early childhood to eat at certain times regardless of whether we are hungry or not.  That’s just what we do, what we learned, and we pass it on to each generation.

How many times were you told to finish everything on your plate before you were allowed to leave the table or allowed dessert as a reward?  Were you told to hurry and eat because you had to get to school or do chores or homework.  Do you do the same thing to your children?  I’m guessing probably you do.

 

 

What this actually does is teach people to eat when they are not hungry and to eat fast.  A definite recipe for being overweight. Food was used as a reward, as a special treat.  Given to us to make us feel better when we have been upset or emotional, or a reward for making grades at school or achieving milestones.  Have you ever dieted, lost weight or reached your goal weight and then rewarded yourself with food?  Yeh, me too.

Notice how you eat.  First one finished at the table?  If you eat fast slow down.  It takes approximately 15-20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain that you have eaten.  People who eat fast are likely to eat 2/3 times more than they actually need in that timespan then hit the stuffed, bloated and feeling sick stage.

 

Cutting your food up, chewing at least 15-20 times, tasting it, savouring the flavour before swallowing, you will automatically eat less.  You will get to a stage of satiety where your brain will say STOP.  Am I Really Hungry?

 

Food left on your plate?  Worried about wasting food?  Wrap it up and eat it later if you are hungry.  Learn to reduce your portion size to what you actually eat mindfully to eliminate any food wastage.  If this is the only tool you use when eating I promise you, you will eat less, and lose weight.  It takes some practice but master the process and you will master your weight.  But it’s like anything – you have to do it.

We have an abundance of wonderful nutritional food available to us today and it seems to me we have lost the ability to enjoy, savour and really taste our food.  So, next time you are eating just notice if you are eating fast or slow and make a conscious decision to enjoy the process of eating, savouring the flavours and textures and making it an event instead of a quick fix.

 

If you need any help mastering your relationship with food in anyway, visit our website or call us and see how we can help you take control permanently.

 

www.savvybariatrics.com

 

Author admin Categories Bariatrics, Diet, Emotional Eating, Health, Weight Loss, Weight Loss Surgery, WLS Posted on

Mental Health Preventing Weight-Loss Surgery Success

Mental Health Preventing Weight -Loss Surgery Success

Bariatric Surgery, a broad term used to identify weight loss procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy, is popular for people trying to lose weight in Australia. 

Without psychological help before and after surgery, these procedures have been proven to lead to mental illness and weight regain. 

According to the AIHW, From 2014-2015, there were 9.7 weight loss surgery separations per 10,000 of the population, with Western Australia with the highest rate at 17.3. Furthermore, around 18,000 (79%) weight loss separations were for female patients and 4,800 for male patients. 

This growth in weight loss surgery can be linked-to ABS statistics (2017-18), which state nearly two-thirds of Australian adults are overweight or obese, over 12.5million people!

Gastrectomies are now becoming the last resort for people suffering from health conditions due to obesity, trying in desperation to achieve the quality of life they desire. However, despite the positives presented in this surgery for reducing weight, there is a lack of focus on what can go wrong, particularly if mindset patterns are linked in with the weight issue. 

There are physical and mental problems that can derail the success of weight loss before and after bariatric surgery. 

Bodies post-surgery are not able to absorb all the nutrients in food, with most people thinking the more nutritionally healthy  they eat, the better. However, this is wrong. To eat the right way, for example, using a gastric bypass diet like Roux-en-Y, you also need to consume the correct vitamin and mineral supplements.

What is most alarming, however, is the unsuccessful rate of these weight-loss surgeries due to mental health. 

A study in 2017 by the Current Obesity Reports, ‘Psychological Aspects of Bariatric Surgery as a Treatment for Obesity’ found that there is a higher prevalence of psychological co-morbidities in people who seek bariatric surgeries. There is a higher rate of people getting this surgery with mood disorders, psychological distress, eating disorders, anxiety, alcohol use, personality disorders and low self-esteem. 

Leaderboard for Julia Lorent the Savvy Changemaker

Now with a drastic change like Bariatric surgery, where a part of your stomach is removed, change in thought patterns are required so you can align your beliefs and self talk with your goals.

A lack of postoperative psychological follow up can lead to failure, heartache and even life threatening physical side effects. This is extremely unfortunate given the “postsurgical psychological challenges the procedure elicits” because of an inadequate psych support system. Often resulting in body image concerns, mood changes, stress, substance use, and weight regain. 

We often get calls from distressed patients who are vitamizing their food into liquid for emotional comfort.

Ice cream and even pizza, or chocolate. Thousands of dollars being spent on surgery only to risk physical damage to the internal organs is no fun and dangerous. Often the reasons lurking beneath are not simple and require the help of a professional to gain control over and renew the possibility of success. Doctors refer patients to us post surgery to help them address habits and attitudes, retrain thought patterns and change. We are passionate about helping you achieve your goal and our success stories are inspiring. Re-patterning the brain is possible and we see the positive outcomes daily. 

The study suggests that people can lose drastic weight and appear to have positive physical health improvements post-op. 

Leaderboard for Julia Lorent the Savvy Changemaker

Weight regain could be reduced with the right mental help before and after surgery, equalling a better quality of life. There is also the new you waiting. How will you feel with a different body and changing attitudes? Get the scaffolding ready to be successful. We are all only human, you don’t have to walk the path alone. We are here to help you feel empowered, confident and reassured.  CHANGE IS A PHONE CALL AWAY. 

Need help? Call today on 0412 810 078 to make your best life changes happen TODAY.

 

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