Tag Archive for: bariatric surgery

dreamstime_xxl_7134854To continue the theme of our last few posts, we’ll continue exploring different diets. Previously in our last few posts, we discussed The Mediterranean Diet, Three Diets You’ve Probably Never Heard Of, and Meal Plans For Changing Your Diet After Surgery. Luckily, there is no shortage of diets in our society, so if you didn’t find one for your there are always more to try. The diets discussed in this post are geared specifically toward losing weight, weight control, and are also helpful even after you’ve had bariatric surgery. Weight Zen is a facility for bariatric surgery and weight loss surgery located in New York; if you have any questions, please, don’t hesitate to reach out. After going through weight loss surgery, your bariatric surgeon gave you a list of do’s and don’ts, but what about for the rest of your life? Now, that you’ve changed your life, keep it that way. Take advantage of having your weight under control, and make sure you can continue on this new path of life. Read about three great weight loss diets below.

Three Weight Loss Diets To Try

HMR Program

The HMR program stands for health management resources. The main goal of this diet is to keep off the weight or lose weight by reducing your caloric intake. You reduce your caloric intake by replacing what you would generally eat with more fruits and vegetables. This diet encourages healthy lifestyle changes and physical activity. One of the things that you should take into consideration is that everything you put into your body and the physical activity you do is all on you; it’s personal accountability for how much weight you want to lose. The HMR program encourages meal replacement with lower calorie items. For instance, instead of pancakes and french toast for breakfast, you could try eating low-calorie shakes, nutrition bars, or oatmeal that are HMR approved. By eating healthier and adding more fruits and vegetables, your caloric intake is lower. Combining eating healthy with physical activity means you are going to be able to control and lose weight. Even the smallest physical activity will help you to achieve your weight loss goal.

Volumetrics Diet

Similarly to the HMR program, this diet is also not as well known. The focus for this diet is specifically losing weight, unlike the HMR program that focuses on a better, healthier lifestyle. What you should know about food is that some food has less energy dense than other types of food. By directing your palette toward eating food with less energy, you’re eating less calories without actually eating less. Let’s break it down: by eating low-density food you will lose more weight. Low-density food has less calories but is higher in volume, so you don’t have that never-ending hunger while dieting. Focus your food intake on vegetables and fruits to fill you up and understand this diet is about getting more volume out of what you eat instead of eating more.

dreamstime_xxl_27254680Raw Food Diet

The raw food diet is pretty much what it sounds like. This diet doesn’t just focus on controlling your weight, it also focuses on improving your health and making the environment better. If you want to help the world and your body, this diet is for you. Here’s a tidbit about raw food: it is filled with nutrients and natural enzymes to help your body and assist it in losing weight. This diet has been around for several hundred years, stemming from when a doctor was able to cure jaundice by eating raw apples. Raw food is not cooked, microwaved, genetically engineered, processed, irradiated, or exposed to chemicals. The food you would focus on are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and herbs all in their natural state. When you follow this diet, you are able to cut down on half of your caloric intake, in comparison to when you follow a cooked diet. However, it’s important to note that this diet is not usually rich in the all-important protein!

If you are looking to get weight loss surgery or want to talk to a bariatric surgeon, contact us today.

dreamstime_xxl_57748543You are going to need to start exercising if you are going to undergo bariatric surgery or if you have already completed it. When you start on your road to weight reduction surgery you need to lose some weight before you can be accepted for the surgery. On the other hand, you also need to start exercising once you have completed your surgery. Going through bariatric surgery is a long process, one that might seem daunting, but you can do it. At Weight Zen, located in New York, we can provide more information about weight control and bariatric surgery. Come check us out and see if bariatric surgery is for you.

Fun Tip One: Competition

A little competition never hurt anyone. In fact, it helps people more than you think. A great way to begin losing weight for your surgery or after your surgery, is by competition with your friends. Go exercise with your friends and see how much better you become day after day. Start off slow with walking around the block with a friend or a group of friends and slowly work up to harder and harder activities. See how you and your friends last against each other and feel great doing it. You don’t have to be alone in your weight loss journey, encourage your friends to get healthy with you. As you become better in shape, you can also begin competing in different challenges such as how many miles you can do in a week or how many pushups you can do at once.

Fun Tip Two: Explore

Wherever you live I’m sure it’s gorgeous and fun. If you live in the country, go out and explore, if you live in the city, go check out a new part of it. No matter where you live, there’s some areas to explore. Check out a historic part of your city or go into the woods and try an easy nature trail. Wherever you go make sure you continuously move and remember to take in the people, view, or the beauty of being in nature. Walking is easy on your body and you can burn a few calories as you experience new things.

Set a goal to start exercising three times a week and see the changes in you. Combined with weight control you’ll feel like a new person.

dreamstime_xxl_9388348It’s easy to gain weight. There are so many delicious foods that contribute to weight gain, such as sweets, sugary drinks, and complex carbohydrates. When you only have so much time in a day, it can be difficult to fit in exercise. Losing weight can be very difficult when you don’t have the time to eat correctly or exercise.

Weight Zen is a comprehensive weight loss facility located in New York that offers bariatric surgery and nutritional counseling to help you control your weight. There are many surgeries that will help you get back on track to being healthy again. With our help, you can start taking better care of yourself. You may wish to look into our weight loss surgeries to help you control your weight. Below are a few health issues complicated by being overweight.

Circulatory

Your circulatory system is how your blood and lymph travel through your body. This system includes the heart, lymph, blood, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels and glands. If you don’t lose weight, you can suffer from blood clots, poor circulation, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart attack. When you gain weight, you put more pressure on your legs and knees as well, so there is swelling in those limbs. You are also more prone to lymph node cancers and peripheral artery disease. Peripheral artery disease is a condition that causes blood vessel reduction to move through the limbs. This means that poor circulation may cause pain in your limbs, specifically your legs. By not taking care of yourself, you may be facing poor circulation and pain in your limbs as well as possible heart problems.

Respiratory

The respiratory system consists of the organs that help your breath. The organs that are involved in the respiratory system are responsible for taking in the oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide. When you are overweight, your respiratory system won’t work as well. You could develop asthma, sleep apnea, pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary embolism. Sleep apnea is when your breathing stops and starts while you sleep. It’s very dangerous because you stop breathing. Pulmonary hypertension is when you have high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the heart. Lastly, pulmonary embolism is when your lungs become blocked due to a blood clot. When you are overweight or obese, your respiratory system doesn’t work as well, and you may face breathing problems.

Psychological

This one might be surprising; what does weight control have to do with psychological issues? If you are overweight or obese, you may be facing many psychological issues, such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Our culture plays a part in triggering low self-esteem and depression for people who are overweight or obese. When you live in a culture that tells you what beautiful is, it’s very hard to ignore it. Unfortunately, there’s a very low emphasis on being healthy in our society. Many people have eating disorders because they want to be beautiful and skinny, so they don’t think of the health repercussions. If you are at an unhealthy weight and think you are depressed or you suffer from anxiety, reach out to someone who can help. Developing eating habits that could be considered a disorder will not fix the problem. Get healthy the right way, by exercising and dieting or by talking to a doctor about weight loss surgery.

dreamstime_xxl_47131645Reproductive

This also might be a surprising health problem you might not think about. For women, being overweight can lead to polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, and irregular menstruation. It can also lead to ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and breast cancer. For men, being overweight can lead to prostate cancer, infertility, and erectile dysfunction. You may have read our article on PCOS earlier.  To refresh: Polycystic ovarian cancer or PCOS can cause the hormones to become out of balance and for the body to produce more testosterone than it should. If you are overweight and are trying to conceive, it can be hard to do so if you have PCOS.

If you’re overweight and any of these conditions sound familiar, talk to a doctor or nutritionist about weight loss and weight reduction surgery. Call us today to begin changing your life.

dreamstime_xxl_55456048

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, then you likely know that we spend a lot of time and dedication to helping patients before and after bariatric surgery in our New York office. We put a focus on helping you know your body and its needs. While this can be difficult to do at the beginning, with organization and discipline, it becomes easier.

With that in mind, we want to take a look at food diaries today, which can be a great tool after your bariatric surgery.

What Is A Food Journal?

Simply put, a food journaling is a way to keep track of what you eat. Food journals are recommended by many nutritionists for people who are struggling to lose weight. This helps you assess the amount of food you consume as well as when you’re consuming it and perhaps how you feel when eating. It’s a great way to count calories and take note of habits in your diet and lifestyle.

Understanding Eating Habits

As you begin to adjust to life after your weight loss surgery, it’s highly likely that you’ll take notice of many changes to your lifestyle and diet. Keeping a food journal is a great way to keep tabs on those pesky cravings, what you’ve eaten during the day, how often you’re eating and how you feel throughout the day.

When you keep a food journal, make sure you’re keeping track of the following:

  • What did you eat?
  • How much did you eat? (This is why measuring is so important.)
  • When did you eat?
  • Where did you eat?
  • How did you feel while you were eating?

While this may appear trivial on the surface, having a food journal that keeps track of the above information on a daily basis is very beneficial in the long run.

Track Your Nutritional Needs

People often notice in their food journals that they’re eating too much of one food group and neglecting others. As you accumulate to food logs, you’ll be able to see trends and take note of any nutritional needs you should be meeting but aren’t. By working with our nutritionist Megan Wolf, you’ll be able to alter your diet as needed and tailor a plan that fits your exact needs.

Monitoring Your Health On A Daily Basis

We understand that your life can be different for a little while after your bariatric surgery. Being able to monitor your health on a daily basis is not only important to you, but to your doctor and nutritionist, too. If you notice issues with constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, abdominal pain, or indigestion, make sure you take note of it. Patterns of these types of issues may indicate certain foods that do not agree with you, or it could be a sign of a something that needs to be addressed further.

Contact Weight Zen Today For More Information

If you’re interested in bariatric surgery in New York and want to make sure that you get great, long lasting results, make sure you contact Dr. Rosen at Weight Zen to schedule a consultation and discuss your options. Our entire team looks forward to connecting with you and helping you meet your weight loss and health goals.

In our last blog, we began to cover some of our favorite tips we love giving patients who struggle with staying motivated with their weight loss efforts after undergoing bariatric surgery at Weight Zen in New York. Today, we’re back with a few more helpful tips to help you kick those bad habits once and for all.

More Tips To Kick Bad Habits After Weight Loss Surgery

Plan your meals

Plan all of your meals around a solid source of lean protein, such as salmon, tuna or chicken. Then, pair your protein with low-starch veggies such as asparagus or green beans. Don’t hesitate to utilize seasonings, such as dry rubs and spices, to keep your meals exciting and to add some variety.

Trash the triggers

Kick your food triggers out of the house for good. If it’s hard for you, ask your family members or a close friend to help you by keeping tempting foods in another cabinet or even putting them in another fridge out in the garage.

Create a support system

Call a family or friend meeting where you have an honest conversation with everyone about which foods you need to stay away from and which ones are okay for you. When you cut back on refined starchy foods and sweets, it will be hard at first, but stay the course and drink plenty of water. You’ll notice positive results and begin feeling better day by day. You’ll be so happy you stuck it out!

If you’re struggling to stay the course with your weight loss efforts, contact Weight Zen today, and let us help you kick those bad habits with our support groups and multidisciplinary approaches.

It’s easy for old habits to creep back in.  Whether you’ve already undergone bariatric surgery in New York at Weight Zen, or you’re simply considering it, it’s important to understand this concept. Life after weight loss surgery still required hard work and determination to lead a healthy life.  You’ll need to stay motivated in order to keep up with healthy habits.

Today, we’re going to give you some tips to finding a balance within your family, work, and health so that bad habits don’t creep back in and ruin all your hard work.

Tips To Get Rid Of Bad Habits For Good After Bariatric Surgery

Want to let go of those bad habits? Not sure how? Follow these tips to move forward with healthy habits!

Re-ignite your motivation.

What is the catalyst that keeps you moving forward? What drives you? If you have a beautiful vacation coming up, you’re more likely to stick to your guns for those upcoming beach days, right? Perhaps the motivation that brought you success for things like vacations and jobs in the past is what can still drive you forward now. However, it may be possible that the catalyst has changed or doesn’t motivate you in the same way. That means it’s time to find a new motivator to spur you into action! Ask your post-bariatric friends on Facebook how they stay focused, speak to Dr. Rosen or Nutritionist Megan Wolf, or join one of our support groups here at Weight Zen.

Set a realistic plan for yourself.

Most people don’t follow through with their New Year’s Resolution plans because they aren’t realistic. It works the same way with weight loss goals after bariatric surgery! Your realistic weight loss plan should absolutely include meal planning so that you can plan ahead for busy days and stressful events. This will ensure that you’re eating the best foods for your body and that you’ll be able to keep your blinders up when temptations arise. We’ve all forgotten to pack a lunch for work and felt ravenous throughout the afternoon. Stay one step ahead of the game and your hunger by meal planning and setting realistic goals.  Nutritionist Megan Wolf can help you set a great meal plan.

Focus on your four key areas.

When we see patients who have fallen off the weight loss bandwagon after bariatric surgery, we always encourage them to focus on the following four key areas:

Water

While water is certainly easier to drink for some more than others, we encourage our patients to take small dips all day long.  Water is cheapest but so valuable.  Drink water more often, and you’ll find that you aren’t as hungry as you may have thought you were.  Additionally, it’s important to remember that we can confuse the feelings hunger and thirst.  Because of this, Nutritionist Megan Wolf always suggests that our patients drink water if they aren’t sure if they are hungry or not.  We want you to drink when thirsty, and eat when hungry – not eat when thirsty.

Meal structure

The second area we suggest focusing on is establishing a routine meal structure. While we know life happens and it’s not always possible to hold to your routine, you should still make every attempt to do so. Have you become relaxed about breakfast? Put your car keys in the fridge next to your cheese stick so you don’t forget to eat it. Make sure you’re consuming breakfast within the first 90 minutes of waking each day to keep your metabolism going and help control blood sugar and hunger.

Food choices and protein

Never underestimate how beneficial it is for you to make the best possible food choices. We recommend protein at every meal and snack.  While we hate the word fail – and would never use it when describing our patients – the old saying, “failure to plan is planning to fail” is very true in regards to any type of weight loss plan. If you want to see serious results, you have to make changes. Set days to make your meal plans, cook, and stick to them.

Exercise

Once you’re able to exercise after your bariatric surgery, start doing so. We see all patients 10 days after surgery and Dr. Rosen will clear you for exercise when you are ready.  Exercise schedules are also extremely important when it comes to weight loss plans because it’s not going to happen by accident. If you want to get back on track with your weight loss, set an exercise schedule, and stick to it. Having a hard time finding motivation? Hire a personal trainer – an incredibly worthwhile investment.

Consult With Your Bariatric Surgeon or Nutritonist If You’re Struggling With Bad Habits

If you’re struggling with bad habits after your bariatric surgery, we encourage you to contact us. We have a commitment to helping you with your weight loss needs, and that’s why we offer multidisciplinary therapies and support groups to leave no stone unturned when it comes to giving you the weight loss help you deserve.

dreamstime_xxl_39116267Here at Weight Zen, Dr. Rosen has helped hundreds of patients who suffer from obesity and weight control issues achieve a healthier life. We receive many calls from potential weight loss surgery candidates who are simply unsure about whether they are a candidate for bariatric surgery in New York. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the basic standards of the ideal bariatric surgery candidate.

Are You A Candidate For Bariatric Surgery?

If you’re significantly overweight and you’re looking to make a lifestyle change, you may be the perfect candidate for bariatric surgery at Weight Zen. Research supports the advantages of bariatric surgery for people who have a BMI between 35 and 39.9 with obesity-related health issues, such as obstructive sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and other obesity-related health conditions. You could be a candidate for bariatric surgery if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • You weigh more than 100 pounds of your ideal body weight.
  • You have a BMI of more than 40.
  • Your BMI is more than 35, and you experience severe negative health effects, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, due to being severely overweight.
  • You’re unable to achieve your weight goals for any sustained period of time even though you’re on a medically-supervised diet.

Are you interested in how to proceed from here? Do you want to schedule a consultation with Megan Wolf, our New York nutritionist or Dr. Rosen, our New York bariatric surgeon? Contact us today to get started. We look forward to connecting with you and helping you achieve better health.

Weight Zen’s Beneficial Weight Loss Surgery Methods

Once labeled as a quick and extreme fix to obesity, bariatric surgeries are now accepted and viable methods for weight loss. The variety of surgery options that are now available prove the credibility of the procedures. With each type of procedure delivering a variety of health benefits, bariatric surgeries help hundreds of thousands of Americans every year.

The Most Common Bariatric Surgeries include:

Gastric Bypass

Though gaining popularity during the last two decades, the procedure was actually developed and introduced during the 1960’s. After observing unintended weight loss in patients who had a portion of their stomach removed due to ulcers, surgeons based gastric bypass on this phenomena. It is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the world.

Currently the procedure uses the Roux-en-Y limb of intestine. The process involves two components. First the top of the stomach is divided from the rest and a pouch is made from that portion that is approximately on ounce in size. The small intestine is then bisected, with the bottom end brought up and connected to the stomach pouch. The disconnected top portion of the small intestine is then connected to a section of the same organ further down the intestine line. This allows the needed acids and enzymes to mix with ingested food for proper digestion.

Gastric bypass surgery offers significant long-term weight loss by restricting the amount that one can consume and through gut hormone changes that reduce appetite. Results often show a loss of 60 to 80 percent of excess weight.


Sleeve Gastrectomy

Removing 80 percent of the stomach, sleeve gastrectomy surgery leaves a stomach pouch that is shaped much like a sleeve or banana. Like gastric bypass, the sleeve helps restrict food volumes but this weight loss surgery’s optimal results stem from the effect it has on gut hormones. Patients enjoy quick, significant weight loss without having to bypass of the food stream or the placement of foreign objects.


Adjustable Gastric Band

Using an inflatable band, the stomach capacity is reduced significantly with Lap-Band or gastric banding surgery. The procedure causes no malabsorption as the food is digested and absorbed as it normally would be. One major advantage that Lap-Band surgery has over other procedures is that no cutting of the stomach or rerouting of the intestines is required. Some patients are able to return home the same day as the procedure and, with the band being adjustable and removable, patients are able to adjust or even reverse the surgery if needed.

Weight Zen is the comprehensive weight management program run by Dr. Daniel J. Rosen. Offering educational courses, nutrition counseling, wellness workshops and weight loss surgery in order to help others achieve a healthier way of life through whole body wellness. Find out more about why we’re a Top Rated Local® bariatric surgeon in New York by reading what our patients have to say about us.

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dreamstime_xxl_15116074Food is one of the best parts of life. There are so many options no matter what you like. After your surgery, your bariatric surgeon and nutritionist probably told you what you could and could not eat. You likely went over a plan for food, but what about when you are finally back to eating a “normal” diet? Below are a few diets you may not have heard of, but may be just the diet you need in your life. Even if you haven’t gone through bariatric surgery, consider these three diets.

The DASH Diet

The DASH diet was originally designed to help lower blood pressure. If you are overweight and suffering from high blood, you may consider trying the DASH diet for weight control. This plant based diet has a heavy emphasis on fruits, vegetables, and is balanced with the appropriate amount of protein. . If you have high blood pressure, consider taking advantage of this diet. The DASH diet is one you can follow for the rest of your life.

The TLC Diet

Does cardiovascular disease run in your family? Do you have heart problems? This diet was created by the American Heart Association to help decrease the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This diet is based on reducing saturated fat in your diet. Saturated fat, is found in whole-milk dairy, butter, cheeses and fried foods. When you eat too much saturated fat, your cholesterol increases too, which can lead to cardiovascular issues.  The TLC diet helps to limit your saturated fat intake which can help to control cholesterol.

dreamstime_xxl_38437127The MIND Diet

If you’re worried about developing Alzheimer’s, want to prevent Alzheimer’s from happening to you and your family, or simply to enhance your brain function with certain healthy foods, this diet may be for you! The MIND diet may lower your risk for cognitive decline.  This diet focuses on the ten brain healthy food groups: leafy vegetables, vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, and wine. If you want to work on strengthening your mind and your heart, this diet might just be perfect for you.

At Weight Zen, located in New York, we want you to have the body and mind you’ve always imagined. If you are looking for weight loss surgery, weight loss or  general health and wellness, Weight Zen can help you. Contact us today to begin changing your life.

dreamstime_xxl_60747427You may or may not have heard about the Mediterranean Diet. This diet has recently become more and more popular. After you’ve had your bariatric surgery at Weight Zen, located in the heart of New York City, you probably talked to your bariatric surgeon and nutritionist about what foods you can consume and what you can’t. As you acclimate back to eating a normal diet, or if you want to try dieting before you turn to weight loss surgery, you may consider this diet.

What is the Mediterranean Diet?

This diet is seen as one of the healthiest diets because of what it focuses on. The Mediterranean diet is the diet that is consumed in the Mediterranean in countries such as Greece, Turkey, Albania, Croatia, Israel, Syria, Tunisia, Slovenia, Monaco, Morocco, Libya, and other countries are located.

What Foods Are Involved in the Mediterranean Diet?

The foods that are involved in this diet are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and legumes. For protein, lean protein is chosen such as fish and poultry versus the red meat that the American diet is heavily focused on. Red meat also has saturated fat, which is what leads to heart problems. Red wine is included in moderate amounts. When you shop for this diet – and other healthy diets like it –  make sure to stay on the perimeter of the grocery store. You may have noticed when you go to the grocery store, most of the healthiest foods are on the edge of the store versus the inside. If you find yourself with lots of junk food in your cart, try to stay away from the aisles and only shop on the edge of the store where the vegetables, poultry, and fruits are offered.

dreamstime_l_14561359Why Should I Consider This?

Research shows the benefits of eating a Mediterranean diet. Weight loss, decrease in depression, and control of blood glucose levels, are all positive outcomes when following a Mediterranean diet. In addition, there have cases of reduction in heart and Alzheimer’s disease.

If you need to control your weight or have just went through bariatric surgery, then you may want to consider this diet. If you are in need of weight loss surgery or want more information, reach out today to schedule a consultation.