Bad Eating Habits and Bariatric Surgery

Even if you have never heard of head hunger, anyone who struggles with his or her weight and weight loss will probably have a pretty good idea what this term actually means. While it may sound simple to overcome for some, the daily struggle with head hunger and other bad eating habits is a very real and difficult problem.

Someone once wrote on their blog that head hunger and comfort eating are best friends, two peas in a pod, so to speak. In many ways, they are more similar to identical twins, with some very minute differences. Friends or twins, neither are very nice.

Let’s look deeper into these terms for clarification and understanding on why they can be so problematic, whether you have undergone Bariatric surgery or not.

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Head Hunger

Head hunger refers to that urge to eat when you are not hungry. This can be explained as eating when you are bored, depressed, stressed out, lonely, anxious or other psychologically triggered moods.

Some believe that head hunger can also be triggered by environmental triggers, such as munching on finger foods at a party or eating peanuts or potato chips while sitting in a busy bar. Other triggers include certain people such as a relative who makes you feel subconscious, or a restaurant, where you eat simply because everyone else is eating.

Comfort Eating

Also known as emotional eating, comfort eating occurs when people eat to satisfy a mood rather than a physical need. Eating to fill an emptiness is sometimes jokingly referred to as ‘eating your feelings’ but the problem is real for a lot of people. Comfort eating and head hunger are very similar habits that must be broken.

Comfort Foods and Poor Nutrition

Everyone has their favorite comfort foods. Some of the more popular choices include pizza, chocolate and ice cream, commonly eaten because of the same or similar psychological triggers as mentioned for head hunger.

People do not only reach for comfort food during times of sadness; there are many who participate in comfort eating when they are happy or nervous too.  Comfort eating and head hunger are among the reasons that many are now obese, and why some are prime candidates for Bariatric surgery.

Binge Eating

Binge eating is very dangerous for your health, especially if you are a diabetic. Binge eating can easily be described as eating something to excess, such as a whole box of snack cakes or an entire box of ice cream, for example. Someone who has the bad habit of binge eating may or may not watch what they eat some of the time, before binging uncontrollably on a large amount of food.

Night Time Eating

While it is not healthy to eat at night, supper is only the beginning for night time eaters. Within two hours of having their evening meal, they are back in the kitchen, scrounging for something else to eat. This munching, sometimes called grazing, will continue over the course of several hours.

Typically, foods eaten at this late hour are those considered to be unhealthy, high in saturated fats and calories, and containing excessive amounts of sodium. Leftovers are then enemy to night time eaters, who will return to the kitchen and finish them off.

Physical Hunger

Little explanation is necessary for you to understand the meaning of true physical hunger. Typically, your stomach will churn and growl, reminding you that it is time to refuel your body. You may also experience hunger pangs which can progress into a sharper pang that is slightly painful.

Avoid the Bad Food Habits

While the best thing you can do is struggle to break bad eating habits, there are some other ways to control these negative eating conditions, such as:

  • Use self-control at the grocery store by refusing to buy your favorite binge foods, or the foods that give you the most comfort.
  • Do something you enjoy whenever you feel emotionally or physically stressed, such as a new hobby or pastime.
  • Go for a walk and enjoy the outdoors or take a long comforting bubble bath.

Weight Loss Surgery and Bad Eating Habits

Weight loss surgery is not a quick miracle fix, but rather a tool which can be used to cure bad eating habits and replace them with healthy choices. If you are obese and have experienced weight gain due to any of the above mentioned eating habits, you may be a candidate for Bariatric surgery. Find out now.

No, Bariatric Surgery hasn’t Failed You!

Occasionally, you may hear someone say that Bariatric surgery did not work for them. This is simply not true and not possible. Your weight loss surgery didn’t fail… you simply aren’t using this tool correctly.

Yes, Bariatric surgery is simply that, a tool intended to help you find the road to good health. It is not designed to do the work for you. Without significant lifestyle, behavior and diet changes, you will not see the results you were hoping for.

gain weight after bariatric surgery

Reach your potential with Weight Loss Surgery

Giving up? This is common among those who do not achieve the weight loss levels they had hoped for after Bariatric surgery. However, when it comes to your health and happiness, defeat should never be an option.

Regardless of the type of weight loss surgery you chose initially, and no matter how long ago since your procedure was performed, you absolutely CAN get back on track. Don’t give up on the results you were initially hoping for.

How? Well, first you need to set some new weekly weight loss goals. Write them down and get them into your spirit. You are going to do this!

 

Do you have those goals written down yet? Keep them clear, simple and most of all… doable. When you meet one goal, move to the next on the list. This is how you get back to basics of Bariatric surgery, and how you get back on track. Learn more here on keeping a weight loss journal.

If you mess up, don’t be too hard on yourself. Suck it up and start over. Negative habits from an unhealthy lifestyle won’t disappear overnight.

 

Now that you can see your goals, fight to meet them and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Family, friends and support groups are some of the best help when you need strength and focus, and may even help you with accountability.

Taking care of YOU has to become your number one goal. Remember this when setting your goals and making a choice for change.

 

Not sure which goals you should be focused on? These are just a few of the many great ideas for Bariatric patients who want to see their weight loss goals realized. Decide which ones will help get you back on track!

#1 – Water, Water, Water

You need 64 ounces of water per day. Period. This is non-negotiable. If you aren’t hitting this number, water is your first goal.

#2 – No Drinks: Before, During, After Meals

Avoid temptation to drink before or during meals. Instead, wait up to two hours after a meal to have a drink. This will keep you from becoming hungry too soon.

#3 – Take Your Vitamins

This is not rocket science; nor is it negotiable. Your body needs help absorbing the vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health and nutrition now. This will also increase your energy, allowing you to become more active and burn fat at a faster rate!

#4 – Up Your Protein Consumption

You need a minimum of 65 grams of protein per day, whether it comes from food or protein drinks and shakes. Remember, during meals you should consume your protein servings first, before you can fill up on carbs.

#5 – Moderate Meals at Appropriate Times

Say no to snacking and grazing. Instead, enjoy three meals and a small nutrition snack, taking your time to chew each bite well. Give up trying to eat fast food entirely.

#6 – Push Yourself to Get Up and Exercise

Set an exercise goal, starting with twice or three times each week for 20 to 30 minutes per day. Slowly increase this amount until you are exercising thirty minutes daily.

Starting Over with Weight Loss Surgery

It may seem crazy, but if you need to start over, go back to the very beginning and put yourself on the post-op diet of liquids only. Slowly, progress to step two, which was pureed foods. Next, work your way up to soft foods. This will allow your pouch or sleeve to return to its post-op state – a great place to start again.

If you have tried this and you feel like there may be something wrong with the original surgery,  you may qualify for a bariatric surgery revision.  Chat with our online coordinator to schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons experienced in Bariatric Surgery Revisions.

After Bariatric Surgery: Your After-Care Plan

After Bariatric Surgery

Your weight loss surgery is behind you and that’s great! However, the next phase of the Bariatric surgery process is equally as important. Your after-care is required so the doctor can monitor your progress and help you maintain your health while losing a substantial amount of weight. This is a pivotal time when Bariatric patients must follow a strict diet and work toward a healthier lifestyle.

Keeping close contact with your after-care doctor ensures that your surgery will be successful. Each time you visit the doctor’s office and discuss the details surrounding your decision to have weight loss surgery, or stand on the scale where your pre-op weight was recorded, you are reminded of your goals and how far you have already come. Speaking with your favorite nurse or another patient in the waiting room are all forms of support that will help you on your weight loss journey.

 

The After-Care Phase of Weight Loss Surgery

Typically, the after-care phase includes a dieting outline that must be followed after Bariatric surgery. This is the absolute most important part of post-surgery monitoring and your doctor must be there to provide support and help you make the right choices. These diet choices can speed up the weight loss process, whereas incorrect choices will further impede the weight loss you so desire.

Other ways your doctor can help is by assisting you with the right exercise routine, one that begins easy and slow. Gradually, under your doctor’s after-care, you will be able to participate in more physically demanding exercise and activities. Vitamins and supplements are also a way of life for the Bariatric patient. These will help you maintain a nutritious diet and keep you energized rather than run down or tired. Regular examinations by your doctor can prevent any vitamin or mineral deficits from occurring that might affect your health adversely.

 

Why Cant’ I Manage My Own Progress?

Bariatric patients who are in the after-care phase may think the hardest part is over.  Many are surprised to learn that, after Bariatric surgery,more difficult phases will follow. After Bariatric surgery,  the work is not over but rather, just beginning. Successful Bariatric patients will still require numerous follow-up appointments and progress reports, which might seem unnecessary at the time.

Patients should never try to conduct their own after-care treatment, as research has shown that those who are actively engaged with their doctor will achieve the greatest results. The statistics show that Bariatric patients who continued with their after-care plan were able to lose as much as 35% more weight than those who did not. In addition, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery reports that those after-care patients were far m0re successful in keeping the weight off for good.

 

You have made it this far; why not see your Bariatric journey through?

Five Cool Facts about Bariatric Surgery

Are you considering Bariatric Surgery as a weight loss option? You will find a lot of information about weight loss surgery which can take some time to research and read. However, there are some really cool facts for you here, extracted from years of research to help you understand the history of Bariatric surgery and how popular it has become today as a valid and safe weight loss option.

Five Bariatric Surgery Facts

#1 – The youngest known weight loss surgery patient to date was only twelve years old.  In a small number of cases, a child could potentially require assistance with weight loss in order to treat other serious health conditions.  Bariatric surgery is the last option for children who are dealing with comorbidities, and are at greater risk due to obesity. Weight loss surgery in children does not interfere with the body’s normal growing and developing processes, but it does reduce the chances that the child will become an obese adult. Only a doctor can decide if weight loss surgery is the right choice for a child.

#2 – The most obese country in all of the world is NOT the United States of America.  You’ve probably heard this exaggeration for years but it simply is not true. While the U.S. does struggle with weight issues with more than 30 percent of Americans carrying around a BMI of 30 or better, the most obese country is actually an island in the South Pacific called Nauru. On this small island, more than 94 percent of the population is obese. Other obese countries include the United Kingdom and Mexico.

#3 – Japan and South Korea are the two countries with the least number of obese people.  This is due to cultural differences and differences in what is considered attractive by a society as a whole. While the U.S. holds at number three in the list of obese countries, the average weight across America for men and women combined is about 180 pounds or 81.928 kilograms. This is approximately 20 kilograms higher than the average weight in 1970, nearly five decades ago.

#4 – In the U.S. and Canada, twenty-five weight loss surgeries are performed every hour, on average!  This number is a bit larger than Europe, which averages 7.6 per hour, and Asia with only 1.5 per hour. Of these Bariatric surgeries reported in the study, nearly 90 percent were performed using a minimally invasive surgery technique called laparoscopy. This popular method is used for two types of weight loss surgeries: Gastric Banding and Gastric Bypass. The least common Bariatric surgery was the Biliopancreatic Diversion with duodenal switch, according to these numbers.

#5 – The very first recorded weight loss surgery was performed in ancient Greece.  The patient was a man named Dionysius, who was believed to have lived a very extravagant life. These early records suggest he was quite a tyrant …and quite obese due to his lifestyle. You would not want to trade places with Dionysius though, because today’s easy in-and-out laparoscopic method is amazingly painless when compared to the method he endured, which called for the insertion of long needles through the belly and hips. Bariatric surgery became a valid choice for Americans starting in 1954, changing the way people viewed obesity treatments.

These are just five of the many interesting facts about Bariatric surgery, which is just the beginning of all the cool and interesting details that surround obesity and weight loss surgery. Put those fabrications and false facts about Bariatric surgery to rest when you learn the real facts.

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Excellent New Habits after Bariatric Surgery

After Bariatric Surgery, you will begin to look around your kitchen with new eyes, and as you make your weekly grocery list, there will be so many things you will no longer want to buy. Don’t worry – it will get easier as the days go by and soon, you will have some healthy new habits to add years to your life, but how can you speed those new habits along, helping make sure you see and enjoy the results of weight loss surgery long term?

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New Habits after Bariatric Surgery

Here are some quick kitchen tips for those of you who want to make your kitchen weight loss friendly after Bariatric surgery and help speed those new habits along. Don’t be discouraged if you make a mistake. It took a lifetime to learn all of these unhealthy eating habits, so don’t be too hard on yourself! Every day is a clean slate and a fresh start on your road toward a healthy weight and proper nutritional habits.

 

Buy Bottled Water after Weight Loss Surgery

While you may have wonderfully tasting well or tap water that runs into your glass for free, you are probably willing to admit that you aren’t drinking the required number of glasses per day. After Bariatric surgery, it is highly recommended that you purchase bottled water and store it in the refrigerator or another cool location.

You will find that using purchasing bottled water will motivate you, and help you keep track of your daily water intake goals. You may be able to get your family involved with a little competitive cross referencing with the other water drinkers in your home. Do not mistake distilled water for healthy bottled water, which is not nearly as healthy and beneficial for your body.

 

Boiled Eggs after Bariatric Surgery

After weight loss surgery, you will have to follow a very specific diet until your stomach has healed and you are no longer on a liquid, puree or soft food regimen. Once you have been approved for regular food, you will be looking for high protein recipes that meet the needs of your new lifestyle. Breakfast can be especially difficult since you no longer need to eat toast, biscuits, sugary sweet cereal or greasy pork bacon and sausage.

However, what you can have are protein rich eggs. Most nutritionists will tell you that eating at least one hard boiled egg each morning for breakfast will increase your energy levels by 70 percent. This is because protein is fuel for the body and eggs are a fast, affordable and easy source. Make a new habit of keep a small container of hard boiled eggs in the refrigerator. You will find that this is a fast and convenient breakfast that you will learn to appreciate. Sprinkle some paprika on them for a bit of flavor if you do not like them plain, as this spice is a great source of vitamin E.

 

Individual Sweeteners Packets for Bariatric Patients

After Bariatric surgery, you will no longer be able to enjoy sugary sweet drinks and treats. You can, however, have artificial sugar. If one of your old habits included drinking sweet iced tea, Kool-aid or coffee with sugar, you should consider purchasing artificial sweeteners in individual packets. While drinks won’t taste nearly as sweet, you will find that over time, you can train your taste buds to enjoy less.

Another great benefit of pre-measured packets is you can see exactly how many calories you are drinking and how much progress you’ve made. Also, these pre-measured packets can be carried in a purse or pocket, making it easy to maintain your new habit wherever you go.

Zipper Seal Bags for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

After you have undergone Bariatric surgery, portion control becomes an important issue and plastic zipper seal bags can be a huge help in the storing and cooking process. While you can save significantly by buying in bulk, you should re-package all meat and food items into zipper seal bags that contain only enough for the number and size of the meals you will need.

Not only will you avoid over-eating and later raiding the fridge for leftovers, you will also find that packages used to make one dinner meal might stretch much further now. It won’t take long before you are hooked on buying and using these household helpers.

 

What are some other items to help build new habits after Bariatric surgery?

 

 

 

Foods to Avoid after Weight Loss Surgery

Five  Foods to Avoid after Bariatric Surgery

 

Bariatric surgery is not an instant solution to losing weight, as you will still have to make the right food choices. Once your doctor tells you it is okay to eat solid foods, you will not be able to eat anything you like. There are several foods and drinks that you should never consume again. Here are the top four foods to avoid after weight loss surgery.

five foods to avoid after bariatric surgery

Breads, Pasta, Potatoes and Rice

 

Heavy starches such as bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta are no longer comfort foods after weight loss surgery. In fact, attempting to eat from this food group can be quite uncomfortable. These foods can form a paste in the throat, making it difficult to swallow. If this happens, there is a fair amount of discomfort and the food may be rejected.

In a few Bariatric cases, breads, potatoes, rice and pasta have blocked the stoma, which is the entrance to the stomach pouch. It is best to give these high-starch foods up entirely, as avoidance will accelerate your weight loss. If you choose to consume one of these foods, do so rarely and in extremely small portions. Take small bites and eat very slowly, remembering not to drink anything thirty minutes before or after your meal.

 

Dry or Tough Meats

 

No matter what type of food you eat, it is important to chew well, taking your time with each small bite. This ensures that you can easily swallow and digest your meals correctly, which is especially important after Bariatric surgery. Because you will not be drinking beverages or water with your meals, it can become even more difficult to swallow some meats.

Lean meats are ideal for your new diet because you need adequate amounts of protein. Avoid meats with fat or gristle, and meats that are tough or hard to swallow  It is recommended to take bites the size of a pencil eraser, choosing meats with a sauce or gravy rather than dry. Foods to avoid include steak, ham, pork chops, and hot dogs.

Other dry foods will also be difficult to swallow such as nuts, granola and dry cereal. Eat these foods slowly and with great caution after Bariatric surgery. As your body heals, you may find that some of these foods become easier to consume.

 

Caffeinated, Carbonated and Alcoholic Beverages

 

The first advice you will probably hear after weight loss surgery is this: Don’t Drink Your Calories! Bariatric patients must avoid drinking beverages with sugar, fructose or corn syrup such as sodas, energy drinks, and fruit juices.  These high calorie beverages will sabotage your diet and could lead to Dumping Syndrome, which is very uncomfortable.

After Bariatric surgery, you should consume at least 64 ounces of water daily and avoid beverages with carbonation, which can expand your new stomach pouch. Opt for decaffeinated drinks such as coffee or tea since caffeine can lead to dehydration. Dehydration can quickly become an issue with your new smaller stomach.

Alcohol should be avoided, since these high calorie drinks offer no benefit to your body. Focus on drinks that offer the added vitamins and minerals your body needs. It is also important to remember that, after weight loss surgery, you may become intoxicated much more quickly.

 

Fatty, Greasy and High Calorie Foods

 

Fatty, greasy and high calorie foods should be avoided after weight loss surgery, as these may lead to nausea and sabotage your weight loss. Avoid high calorie, high fat foods such as bacon and sausage, butter, bologna, and whole milk.

You should also avoid foods that offer little or no nutritional value such as candy, chips, pastries, popcorn, rice cakes and similar. Consuming the wrong foods can lead to issues such as weight gain or undernourishment. After weight loss surgery, these foods are dumped into the colon soon after they are consumed, causing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cold sweats and weakness.

 

After Bariatric surgery, you will want to select low-fat deli meats and cheeses. Consuming too many bad food choices can make you feel ill or experience the effects of Dumping Syndrome. Making wise choices will be key in getting the results you deserve.

Fast Food after Bariatric Surgery

Eating fast food is not the ideal choice after having weight loss surgery due to the excessively high calorie options and unhealthy offerings of most menus. Bariatric patients on a low sugar, low fat diet will find that fast food restaurants are not conducive to meeting current weight loss goals. However, there are rare occasions when you will find that a quick fast food meal is necessary.

 

Is Fast Food Okay for the Bariatric Patient?

You will be surprised to learn that, on rare occasions, fast food may help keep you on the path to healthy weight loss. You can easily curb your appetite with a healthy fast food option when you choose wisely. Here are some instances when fast food becomes the Bariatric patient’s friend.

bariatric Fast Food

Starving and Away from Home

After weight loss surgery, your regular eating habits are easily thrown upside down after missing just one meal. There will be times when you will be away from home and unable to buy or prepare a proper meal, one that meets the exact needs of your diet plan. You will become extremely hungry and look for public dining options. Allowing yourself to become exceptionally hungry can be difficult to control, and often leads to overeating.

Once you have allowed yourself to reach the ‘starving’ point, you will be in danger of eating far too much. A good example of this is going to the grocery store without eating first. You will sabotage your budget by buying more food than you would have if you had eaten.

You can avoid reaching this point by purchasing a small sensible meal at a fast food restaurant. It is very important that you choose the healthiest menu options available, avoiding foods that are not advised after weight loss surgery. Many fast food restaurants are beginning to offer yogurt, apple slices and other healthy alternatives, drastically reducing the calorie count for your meal.

Other tips include avoiding the drive-thru window and dining inside so you will eat more slowly, leave off the bun, order grilled food instead of greasy fried options, and avoid carbonated beverages. Water is your best option, consumed thirty minutes before or after your meal.

Reminder of Your Life Changing Decision

Food should never be considered a reward when you are dieting but dining out occasionally can be rather fun. When you choose healthy options at a fast food restaurant, you are reminded of how far you’ve come and how much you’ve changed. As your body becomes accustomed to healthier, more sensible choices, the cravings for fast food will diminish entirely.

After weight loss surgery, many Bariatric patients will decide to remove fast food from their diets entirely. With each new, healthier dining choice made, your attitude and palate also changes. You may find, after a little time has passed, your best-loved fast food menu items have become less satisfying than you recall, describing them as too greasy, too salty and/or too sweet.

Consume Fast Food in Moderation  

It is important to realize that fast food can damage your weight loss goals if consumed on a regular basis. Common sense is required with every meal chosen by those who have undergone weight loss surgery. Fast food is not off limits to Bariatric patients, when eaten in moderation.  If you make seldom visit fast food restaurants and make only smart menu choices, you will continue to meet or exceed your weight loss goals.

Recording Your Weight Loss Journey

Motivate Yourself with a Weight Loss Journal

There are numerous ways to find support after weight loss surgery. If you live in a more populated area, there are support groups you can visit weekly, if not daily. Rural dwellers have a more limited access to support groups but several active online weight loss groups can be found that really helps you chase away that feeling of being alone in your journey.

One of the best ways you can motivate yourself is with the help of a weight loss journal. Keeping track of your weight loss and other milestones, including what you eat, can really helpyou on your weight loss surgery. It is best to start keeping a record of your journey from the moment you decide to have weight loss surgery, but it is never too late to start recording your progress.

Additionally, the journaling process could be helpful long after you have reached your desired weight to help keep old habits at bay and remain focused. If you make a commitment to the record keeping process, journaling is also a great way to maintain your ideal weight and prevent any risk of weight gain after Bariatric surgery.

Interested in Sharing your Bariatric Journey with National Bariatric Link?

We would love to post your story to motivate our weight loss surgery community!  

We are always looking for guest bloggers, want to blog your weight loss journey with National Bariatric Link, please contact us!!

Journaling your Weight Loss Journey

Keeping a record of your weight loss journey can be done in several ways. Choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and will motivate you the most. If keeping a written record such as a joJournaling WLSurnal or a blog, don’t shy away from cameras. Snap those before and afters with pride because you are dedicated to your journey.

The most common choices for keeping a weight loss record include the following: keeping a written journal much like a diary, writing a blog, creating a dedicated social media fanpage such as Facebook, vlogging (which is video blogging), or picture blogging on Instagram. It doesn’t really matter which method you choose so long as you are comfortable and consistent.

When you begin the journal, be sure to log in, write or make your videos as much as possible. Set a minimum requirement for yourself as well. This is a habit which must be properly formed and your schedule may not always be regular.  You can easily balance the journaling process with your lifestyle once keeping a record has become a habit.

Sharing Your Weight Loss Journey

The weight loss journal is a record of your weight loss journey, so share the details that will motivate and build your confidence.  If you aren’t comfortable sharing certain information, then don’t! Using your own personal preferences and making your own rules regarding details will help to create a journal that keeps you focused and hopeful. Below are some of the most commonly shared details in a weight loss journal:

Your Diet: food choices, vatamin and supplement information, nutrient and calorie intake, protein sources

When You Eat: describe portion sizes, hunger times, cravings, giving in to temptation, getting back on track

Your Exercise Plan: what works and what doesn’t, trips to the gym, stamina increases, favorite exercise products

Personal Weight Loss Goals: goals, plans, hopes and dreams, weight before and afters, personal measurements

Your New Life: new sleeping habits, relationship changes, family life, activities you were unable to do before

 

Whether you decide to write or record long emotion-filled journal entries or jot down a quick list of updates, the weight loss record will help keep you focused after weight loss surgery. Search the internet for other recorded weight loss journeys for inspiration and ideas. Be sure to visit YouTube where you will find an entire weight loss community devoted to journaling their results to help not only themselves, but others as well.

Interested in Sharing your Bariatric Journey with National Bariatric Link?

We would love to post your story to motivate our weight loss surgery community!  

We are always looking for guest bloggers, want to blog your weight loss journey with National Bariatric Link, please contact us!!

Family Dynamics with Weight Loss Surgery

 

Significant Weight Loss Brings Many Changes for You and Your Family

First, the decision to undergo weight loss surgery is a personal one that should be decided upon with the assistance of your doctor and nutritionist. However, the results will be life-changing for you and this will affect your family as well. Your new boost in confidence will bring out a new attitude and outlook, one that your family members may have never experienced before. While the many health benefits are great motivation, this new and improved family life may well become your most favorite result of weight loss surgery.

family weight loss issues

Most people who suffer from obesity deal with many other mental and physical issues, robbing their happiness and leaving depression in its place. Some patients feel as if they aren’t the same person anymore and report that family activities have been reduced to a minimum since obesity has stolen their ability to enjoy normal activities.

After bariatric surgery, your pounds slowly slip away and a new life emerges – one that is greatly enriching to you and your family. Friendships flourish as you have more energy and time to enjoy those around you. For your consideration, here are just a few of the many benefits that can be enjoyed after undergoing weight loss surgery by both you and your family.

 

Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

Relatives will spend less time worrying and more time making memories with you. Whether you realize this or not, your spouse and children worry about your health and the risks associated with obesity and whichever additional health complications you may suffer from. Children hope that you will be present at all future landmark events: graduations, weddings, the births of your grandchildren as well as many other special occasions. Your family loves you and wants only your happiness and health – even if that means weight loss surgery.

 

Your family will becomes more healthy and health-conscious after your weight loss surgery experience. You will become a role model regarding your family’s health. Research has proven that those who have undergone weight loss surgery noticed positive health benefits for their family members as well. Researchers believe that this happens because the patient’s new and healthier lifestyle extends to the family in regards to meals, activities and even attitudes.

 

You will spend more quality time with your spouse and children. After bariatric surgery, you can expect to feel better and have more energy to invest in relationships with those you love. You will also show an increase in mobility and stamina levels which will lead to more freedom and activities, providing the ability to do things you could have never done before such as camping, sports and amusement parks.   

 

By making your own list with pen and paper, you can probably add several more items to this list. Take your list when you visit the doctor to discuss your options regarding weight loss and if bariatric surgery is right for your situation. There are many more benefits of weight loss surgery regarding your family, depending on your individual situation. In your world, your children and your spouse are the most important people in your life. This is exactly how they feel about you as well. Weight loss surgery improves the relationships in your life as a brand new YOU emerges.

 

Obese Children and Sleep Apnea

Comorbid Effects of Obesity in Children – Sleep Apnea

Childhood obesity is believed to affect approximately thirteen percent of children from six to eleven years of age and fourteen percent of adolescent children age twelve to nineteen years of age. These numbers continue to climb annually, putting these groups of children at risk for type 2 Diabetes, heart disease and even hypertension. Another risk that we fail to remember when considering the comorbid effects of childhood obesity is Sleep Apnea. According to statistics collected by the Surgeon General, Sleep Apnea is another risk of childhood obesity. Sleep Apnea can be serious and even life-threatening if not managed properly.

Childhood obesity

What is Sleep Apnea?

Characterized by short, involuntary pauses during sleep, Sleep Apnea can happen several times per night. Children who suffer from Sleep Apnea find it hard to get a good night’s rest as with each pause in breathing, the average sufferer will abruptly awake, often gasping for breath.

Without restorative sleep, children with Sleep Apnea are tired and often feel the need to sleep all through the following day. Attention spans shorten and children become more sedimentary. This often leads to a decrease in grades, sports and other activities. While overweight children are at high risk for Sleep Apnea, thin children are not completely safe from this condition.

 

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Obese Children

Often times, the symptoms of Sleep Apnea are overlooked or explained away as children are labeled as attention deficit or hyperactive. Some common daytime symptoms to watch for in children include: hyperactivity, inattention, behavior problems and sleepiness.

Children with night time symptoms of can exhibit the following Sleep Apnea issues: snoring, restless sleep, breathing with only the mouth, pauses in breathing during sleep, and difficulty waking up in the mornings, even after a full night’s rest.

 

Treating Sleep Apnea

Childhood obesity is not the only cause of Sleep Apnea in children. Common causes can include enlarged tonsils or adenoids and some dental conditions such as a serious overbite while less common causes include tumors or growths obstructions in the airway. Down and Pierre-Robin Syndromes may also cause Sleep Apnea symptoms because of enlargements affecting the jaw and tongue.

Whether child or adult, obstructive Sleep Apnea may cause a bevy of serious and even life threatening complications. Some of these complications include cardiovascular disease and accidents as well as premature death.

It is vitally important for parents of obese children to watch for signs and symptoms of Sleep Apnea – especially labored snoring or pauses in breathing. If any of these warning signs are present, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician to discuss the possible causes and ask for the appropriate medical examinations.

While it is doubtful that your child will need to undergo weight reduction surgery, this is a growing possibility that may be considered. Your pediatrician will help with weighing the options and making an educated decision that is best for the health of your child. One great benefit is that in many cases after weight reduction surgery in children, doctors have found that the body is able to slowly heal itself from several results of obesity. 

Lastly, when dealing with obese children, it is important to be attentive to the possible onset of health issues such as Sleep Apnea without singling children out. Always be supportive and use tact as children know when they are obese and need both love and support.