Lite & Smart DIMENSIONS™ Patient Blog

For patients who do not quite qualify for bariatric surgery (ie no comorbidities, low BMI), we will be starting to offer Optifast, a medical weight loss program. The average weight loss across the 18 week program is 52 lbs. If you are interested please feel free to contact our office.

Yesterday I blogged about Dr LePort’s rule of “one bite every 10 minutes” for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. This is necessary to protect the pouch and anastamosis from stretching.

But eating more slowly has many other benefits for anyone trying to lose weight.
1. You taste and enjoy your food more
2. You give your body a chance to recognize feeling full, which results in eating less.
3. You experience a greater sense of control .
4. You have more time to think about how much food you really want to eat.

Our rushed schedules and busy lifestyles have caused many of us to make it a habit to eat on the run, in the car, and at our desks at work. It is crucial to weight loss and personal well being to take the time to sit and enjoy a meal.

Lately there have been some questions posed to me by patients and Diane LeMont, our program psychologist, about Dr LePort’s recommendation that patients who have had bariatric surgery try to eat their meals very slowly, over at least 30 to 45 minutes. He has always recommended the adage, “one bite every 10 minutes”. Some patients are claiming that they have never heard this advice, or that the dieticians are not stressing this in class. I want to reiterate in this forum that Dr LePort still advises patients to eat in this fashion to preserve the size and shape of their pouch and anastamosis.
Remember, many insurance companies are not covering revision or second bariatric surgeries for weight gain. It is vital that patients eat slowly, chew their food well and stop eating when they feel full to maximally protect the pouch and stoma from stretching!

Ever wonder why we call it “Morbid Obesity” ?
Morbid obesity is defined as having a BMI over 40, ( or weighing approximately 100 pounds over your ideal weight) There are over 300,000 deaths every year in this country that are associated with morbid obesity Diet and exercise are successful 2% of the time once a person is considered morbidly obese. Surgery is successful 50-80% of the time. Call to find out more about these life saving/changing surgeries!

There is a popular book I read a while back called “French Women dont Get Fat” by Mireille’s Guiliano. This book talks a lot about the cultural differences in the way that the French and Americans view food, and the rituals surrounding eating. It is a good read, and one that will hopefully make some of you think about your own relationship with food and eating. The main crux of the book is that eating should be a celebration, each meal to be savored- the freshest ingrediants, a beautiful presentation, and taking the time to really enjoy what is on your plate. For many Americans, dinner is drive through fast food on the way to the next event.
Food for thought?

Many dieticians recommend keeping a food diary for patients who are trying to lose weight. This is especially helpful for patients who are at a weight plateau, or for patients who feel that they are not losing fast enough. In our busy society, many of us have developed bad habits of eating on the run, and often are not aware of the actual quantities of foods that we consume in a day. A journal or diary is a good way to make yourself more aware of what you eat. Both the Realizemysuccess and Lapband websites have food diaries you can utilize. There are also a lot of other helpful tips on these sites.

Surgical Associates is starting a medical Optifast program this fall. It will be an 18 week weight loss program and will include a weekly behavioral health module, as well as an exercise component. We are very excited to be able to help patients who are battling obesity but do not qualify for, or desire weight loss surgery. Please call the office and speak to Ellen to get details. 714-861-4666

I wanted to share some tips that are being recommended by the makers of the lap band.
1. Eat only three small meals a day
2. Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly
3. Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
4. Do not drink while you are eating
5. Do not eat between meals
6. Eat only quality foods.
7. Avoid fibrous food
8. Drink enough fluids during the day
9. Drink only low calorie liquids
10.Exercise at least 30 minutes a day

Hopefully all of you lap band patients out there will find these tips helpful!

A recent study ranking obesity by state written by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation showed that Mississippi is number 1,with 33% of the population classified as obese . They also ranked number 1 in the percentage of the population being treated for hypertension at 34%. These numbers and their health implications are staggering.
California, which many people consider to be a health conscious state came in with 24% of the population considered obese. That is almost one in every four people!
Surgical weight loss is considered the most successful treatment of morbid obesity. Please call the office to find out more about this life saving treatment for obesity.

NASH (nonalcoholicsteatohepatits) is often a “silent” liver disease. It resembles alcoholic liver disease, but occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol. The major feature of NASH is fat in the liver, along with inflammation and dammage. Most people who have NASH feel well and not aware they have a liver problem. However, NASH can lead to liver cirrhosis.
NASH is becoming more common,possibly due to the increasing numbers of the population who are obese or morbidly obese. In the past 10 years, the amount of adults who are obese have doubled, and the amount of children who are obese have tripled!
At this time, NASH ranks as one of the major causes of liver cirrhosis in America, right behind hepatits and alcoholic liver disease.
While there are currently no specific treatments for NASH, people with this diagnosis should reduce their weight, follow a balanced diet, increase activity and avoid alcohol and unnecessary medications. Weight loss may improve the liver tests in people with NASH, and may sometimes reverse the disease to some extent.
NASH is a little known condition of morbid obesity, which can lead to liver dammage,cirrhosis, and early death