Jacksonville Weight Loss Center » Weight Loss Tips

How Can You Avoid Job-Related Weight Gain?

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:05:42 +0000

Is your job making you fat? Research shows that people who are stressed at work are more likely to gain weight. Many people cope with stress by overeating, with a tendency to reach for high fat and high sugar snacks. Others may cope with work stress by coming home and spending hours in front of the TV, feeling too tired and drained from a taxing day at work to do much else. This inactivity also contributes to weight gain.

In addition to our coping mechanisms contributing to obesity, the stress itself can cause biochemical responses that cause us to pack on extra pounds. Emotional and mental stress can trigger the release of stress hormones that have been linked to an increase in belly fat. Belly fat has been shown to be a risk factor for heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

How can you avoid job related weight gain?

Alleviate stress with activity during the day. Sitting at a desk all day isn’t burning any extra calories or helping you feel energized or focused. Schedule regular breaks during the workday to move. Take five minutes to walk up and down a flight of stairs or take a brisk walk around the block. Do a few simple stretches in the bathroom. These mini-breaks can help you refocus, burn calories, and feel less stressed.

Pack your lunch. Just as eating dinner at home can help you avoid unhealthy meals on the run, bringing your lunch and snacks from home can help you avoid vending machine junkfood during the day. If you find yourself turning to sugary snacks during the day when you’re stressed, be sure to pack plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain snacks.

Obesity Epidemic Calls for Different Approach from Doctors

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:45:48 +0000

As the obesity epidemic becomes more widespread, physicians may need to rethink how they treat patients who are overweight or obese.

Research continues to confirm that more and more Americans are battling obesity. Studies conducted in 2008 confirmed that at least 14% of people in every state in the country were obese, 20% of people in every state except Colorado were obese. Obese people face significant health risks that need to be addressed quickly in order to avoid premature death or chronic illness.

While obesity is on the rise, it’s also important for doctors to be on the lookout for overweight patients who can prevent obesity. Many experts recommend that doctors advocate a more active lifestyle for their overweight patients, emphasizing daily activity that can occur outside of structured exercise routines.

When patients have reached the point of obesity, doctors may need to recommend a weight loss specialist. The health concerns for obese patients are significant and encouragement to eat less and exercise more is rarely effective in the face of these risks. Medical weight loss centers specialize in helping obese people make dramatic changes. They can also help obese patients decide of bariatric surgery is a potential option. Weight loss surgery has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for obesity, especially when combined with an effective support system.

Tips for Exercising after Bariatric Surgery

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:36:34 +0000

Physical activity is an important part of life after bariatric surgery. For people who didn’t get a lot of exercise before surgery, becoming more active after bariatric surgery can be a challenge. These tips can help you overcome common obstacles to fitness.

4 Tips For Exercising After Bariatric Surgery

Wake up earlier: If your concerned about finding the time to exercise after bariatric surgery, try waking up 30 minutes earlier each morning. Take a brisk walk to start your day or do calisthenics in your living room.
Make use of your lunch break: If you struggle to get up early, considering using a midday break from work to get in shape. You can take a walk or check out exercise classes at a nearby gym. Many workplaces offer discounts on gym memberships. Ask your HR representative about any health initiatives your employer might offer.
Find activities you enjoy: It’s easier to do things we like, so don’t be afraid to try out different exercises to find something you enjoy. Maybe you prefer dancing or water aerobics to 30 minutes on an elliptical machine.
Look for small ways to move more: In addition to scheduling structured workouts into your life, look for small ways to be more active. Park in the back of the parking lot instead of circling to find a spot that requires less walking. Wash your dishes by hand instead of using your dishwasher. Ride your bike to work if possible or take the stairs instead of an elevator.

Commit to doing something each day after bariatric surgery that moves you towards the goal of becoming more physical active. You don’t have to run a marathon, but every bit of progress you make helps improve your health.

Gastric Banding Surgery Safe for Teens

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:43:04 +0000

Bariatric surgery has been proven to be an effective treatment option for adults who are morbidly obese, and new studies suggest that it may also be a safe solution for obese adolescents.

Two recent studies analyzed the effectiveness of weight loss surgery for helping adolescents lose weight as well as the risk and complications for younger patients. In one study, presented to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Robert Cywes a bariatric surgeon from Jacksonville, Florida looked at data from over 400 adolescent patients who underwent gastric banding surgery between 2005 and 2009. The study found that the average BMI of the gastric banding patients dropped from 43 to 35.7 six months after surgery, and continued down to 31.9 a year after surgery. None of the patients died during or after surgery and all operations were successfully completed laparoscopically. Other complications were extremely rare. Dr. Cywes states that his findings suggest that adjustable gastric banding is effective with an “acceptably low complication rate” in adolescent patients. He says, “Age should be less of an issue than obesity and health when considering patients for surgery.”

Another study presented at the same meeting examined the outcome of 17 gastric banding surgeries performed on morbidly obese adolescents. This study confirmed that gastric banding produced a significant reduction in weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and insulin resistance while bearing a very low complication rate.

These studies suggest that gastric banding surgery may be a safe solution for adolescents who struggle with childhood obesity. It is recommended that these younger patients undergo extensive education and preparation before having surgery to ensure that they’ll be able to make the necessary lifestyle changes following the surgery.

Risk Factors for Metabolic Syndrome

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:45:53 +0000

Metabolic syndrome, which is defined as a cluster of risk factors that increase your likelihood of having serious health conditions, is estimated to affect one in six people. If you have metabolic syndrome, you are more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

You may be at risk for metabolic syndrome if you:

Are 40 or older: Your risk for developing metabolic syndrome increases as you age. You are 45% more likely to develop metabolic syndrome if you are in your 60s, for example.
Have a family history of metabolic syndrome: You may not know if your family members have or have had metabolic syndrome, but your risk is increased if you have a family history. Your risk is also increased if you have a family history of diabetes.
Are prone to blood clots: Blood tests can be done to determine if you are at risk for blood clots or inflammation, which may also indicate that you are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome.
Have other chronic medical conditions: People who suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fatty liver, cholesterol gallstones, and lipodystrophy are more likely to also develop metabolic syndrome.

Symptoms of metabolic syndrome include high blood pressure and cholesterol, which can be hard to detect without visiting a doctor. A more visible symptom of metabolic syndrome is accumulating extra weight in your stomach. If you think you may be at risk for metabolic syndrome, contact your doctor to determine your risk and discuss preventative measures.

The Secret to Weight Loss Is an Active Lifestyle and Healthy Diet

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:44:18 +0000

If you want to maximize your weight loss goals, a combination of activity and diet is mandatory. Experts seem to disagree on what amount of exercise is necessary, but at a minimum, you should attempt to get at least 20 minutes of physical activity of a moderate intensity level every day. In addition to burning calories, daily exercise will strengthen your body and improve its performance over time. By increasing your activity to 40 minutes or an hour a day, you can see faster results, and the benefit to aerobic exercise is that its effects are cumulative. Whether you work out ten minutes at a time throughout the day or for an hour all at once, you will still realize the benefits.

It is generally agreed that even physical activity on a basic level, whether walking, bouncing, or tightening your muscles while standing, can be more beneficial than simply remaining sedentary. However, if you want to lose weight consistently and achieve your goal weight, you need to perform actual physical exercise while you also incorporate dietary changes. By reducing your portion size, cutting back on simple carbohydrates such as sugar, and eliminating unhealthy fats, you can cut back on the calories you consume. Combined with daily exercise, healthier eating habits will result in quicker weight loss that can also end up a long-term lifestyle change.

Tips for Overcoming Childhood Obesity

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:02:11 +0000

You may have heard that obesity rates among adults have doubled in the last 30 years, but did you also know that obesity rates have tripled in the same time period among children? The obesity epidemic, and the life threatening illnesses it brings with it, is affecting people as young as 2 years old. Resulting in weight loss surgery becoming a viable option. Find out how to overcome childhood obesity in your family.

4 Tips for Overcoming Childhood Obesity

Focus on healthy snacks: Recent studies suggest that the average child eats as many as 3 snacks per day, in addition to their 3 regular meals. This can add up to a lot of extra calories and unwanted weight. Focus on healthy snacks of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure that the food your kids are eating are improving, rather than harming, their health.
Practice portion control: Our societal perception of portion sizes has been skewed by large packages and supersized portions served to us in restaurants. Practice using smaller dinner plates at home and serving portions about the size of your (or your child’s) fist. When you go out to eat, consider sharing meals, requesting a to-go container, or ordering smaller portions.
Drink healthy: Replace sugary sodas and fruit cocktails in your kitchen with water, milk and real fruit juices. Focus especially on making sure everyone is drinking enough water during the day.
Get moving as a family: Young children who have limited TV time are less likely to be obese. Replace your family TV time with a walk, bike ride, or playing catch in the yard. Find a local fitness center that caters to families, or play a sport together. Setting an example of living a healthy lifestyle is the best way to get your children moving.

Understanding Weight Loss Surgery and Obesity

admin — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:16:00 +0000

One medical condition affecting Americans today is morbid obesity, a condition where someone is overweight by at least 100 pounds, with excessive amounts of body fat. If you are morbidly obese, you are at a high risk for many medical problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and even premature death. In addition, you may be presented with social and emotional obstacles in your daily life, although there are options like weight loss surgery available to help.

It is important to know that there are many factors that can affect your weight. Being morbidly obese or requiring weight loss surgery is not a judgment that you are weak, lazy, or a glutton. A combination of genetics, eating behaviors, hormones, and psychological factors can affect your tendency to gain weight at an unhealthy level. These factors can also make it more difficult for you to lose weight and sustain long-term weight loss.

Obesity can be treated by your physician using various resources, including nutritional and exercise guidance, counseling, and weight loss surgery. If you want to know whether or not you are morbidly obese, a simple online search for a body mass index calculator can help. A body mass index (BMI) calculator can estimate what you should weigh based on your height. If your BMI is above 30, you may be obese; if it is above 40, you may be morbidly obese. Your physician can also provide other tools to evaluate your BMI in conjunction with the level of your physical activity, your diet, family history, and other information, to determine if weight loss surgery is right for you.

How To Breathe After Lap Band Surgery

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:41:55 +0000

After having lap band surgery, you will need to start an exercise routine to help you lose weight while maintaining muscle mass. Your plan may include aerobic exercise, strength training, stretching, or all three! Whatever type of exercise you do after your lap band surgery, proper breathing will be important. Learn more about how to breath when you workout.

Breathe out during the hard parts. Experts refer to this as “exertion”, but the point is to exhale when you’re doing the most work. This won’t matter when you’re running, but if you’re doing a bicep burl, for example, you ideally want to breathe out when you contract your muscle. However, if you find that this feels completely unnatural, you can also try inhaling during the exertion portion of your exercise and exhaling during the easier parts. More important than when you breathe is the idea that you do, in fact, keep breathing. You never want to hold your breath when you exercise.

When you’re running or doing other cardio, try to create a consistent pattern with your breathing. Breathing in and out at a regular pace will help make sure you get enough oxygen. It may also give you something to focus on besides how far you’ve gone or how sore your legs feel!

Starting an exercise routine after lap band surgery is an important step towards reaching your weight loss goals. Remember that every little bit helps; take a deep breath, and get started!

Prevent Type 2 Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, and GERD

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:38:59 +0000

Some of the most common diseases affecting American adults today are type 2 diabetes, heart disease, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease), and high blood pressure. Learn how you can take control of your health and reduce your risk for these chronic illnesses. If you suffer from these diseases already, find out how bariatric surgery and other lifestyle changes can help.

Type 2 Diabetes:

Lose weight. If you can lose even 5% of your body weight, your blood sugar levels can improve, and if you’re able to lose 10% of your body weight, you may experience significant changes on your insulin and blood sugar levels. In addition, undergoing bariatric surgery such as Lap-Band has a high chance of reducing or even eliminating diabetes symptoms completely.
Watch what you eat. By changing your diet to a low or no-carb, low-sugar, high-fiber one, avoiding starches like breads and pastas and eating fibers like beans, nuts, bran and vegetables, you can facilitate diabetes-friendly weight loss.
Exercise daily. Aerobic exercise can improve your muscles’ ability to absorb glucose from your bloodstream, which can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Heart Disease:

Change your diet. Eat more fish and fiber and focus your diet around vegetables.
Avoid smoke. If you currently smoke, quit. If you are around smokers, make changes to avoid secondhand smoke.
Reduce your stress. Try calming techniques such as yoga, meditation, walking, and biofeedback to lower your stress levels and put less pressure on your heart.

GERD:

Adjust what you eat. Avoid fatty and spicy foods, chocolate, alcohol, and caffeine. All of these are known to increase your chances of experiencing acid reflux and negatively affect your esophageal sphincter. Eating smaller meals will also put less pressure on your esophagus and reduce the risk of damaging acid reflux.
Change your evening habits. By avoiding late-night meals or going to bed within two hours of eating, and by reclining your bed so your head is slightly elevated, you can alleviate many nighttime heartburn episodes.

High Blood Pressure:

Change your diet. Reduce your sodium intake, eliminate saturated and trans fats, drink less alcohol, and eat more fruits and vegetables.
Manage your stress. Get a good night’s sleep and try meditation and exercise to reduce your stress levels.

Many of these chronic illnesses are caused or made worse by obesity. Bariatric surgery has been proven to help morbidly obese people lose a significant amount of weight and resolve obesity-related health complications.