You need to learn to just say no to your old coping strategies. If someone makes inappropriate or rude comments about your weight or if a salesperson doesn’t help you, then speak up and say that you expect to be treated the same as any other person would, and that you don’t appreciate what is going on. Do not become aggressive and say disparaging things about the other person, but don’t let them walk all over you either. Other important steps to take toward becoming more assertive include using more hand gestures and looking people in the eye.

It is also important to start acting like a thinner person, as this can help you get in the right mental state. Sometimes people still have a picture of themselves in their head as an overweight person, even when they are no longer heavy. Make an effort to act like thin people do, which includes not letting your weight be the main topic of conversation. Steer the conversation away from this topic if it comes up, without being rude about it. Instead talk about your plans and what you have been doing lately.

“Seeing Is Believing!”

At the age of 23 and a few months after the birth of my second child, I unexpectedly had to have a total hysterectomy. This is when I began to gain the largest part of my weight. I was weighing approximately 200 pounds and I began having headaches. So I decided to get my eyes examined. That is when my world turned upside down.

I was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension & Psuedotumor Cerebri, (high fluid buildup in the brain and a false tumor in the optic nerves of my eyes). I was sent directly from there to have the first of many spinal taps, to relieve the pressure in my brain. The headache subsided, for a little while. At that time, my Neurologist said that “most” (not all) cases were from being overweight! That moment began my “unsuccessful” journey of dieting. After I turned 40, I began having more issues with my vision, thinking that it was just simply age related; I again went to have my eyes examined again, only to find out that I had lost approximately 75% of the vision in my Left eye. I had another spinal tap, with no relief or visual improvements what so ever! Something HAD to be done!

At this point I had been taking several medications to help control my blood pressure and the “brain-pain” which were supposed to make me lose weight… (NOT!) The next option was to have a Shunt inserted in my brain… this was NOT something that I was ready to have done. I started doing research about weight loss surgeries and signed up for one of the seminars with Dr. Cywes. I weighed out my options, did my research, and ultimately found the BEST doctor that I could have hoped for. Thus, My “Journey” to Success began! During one of my evaluations, I was asked why I wanted to have surgery, and my answer was not because I wanted to be smaller or look “sexy”… I simply WANTED to be Healthy and to literally “SEE” my grandchildren grow up! Dr. Cywes and his Team have helped me to Achieve Success and allow me to SEE how successful this program truly is!

I had the Vertical Sleeve surgery done in October 2010. When I started the program, I weighed in at 222 pounds wearing a size 20/22. I am now maintaining my weight at 140 pounds and now wear an average size 5, since April 2011. I no longer take ANY of my medications and I am 95% Symptom Free from my IH/PTC.

To Dr. Cywes and The Entire Team, I owe My Deepest and Greatest Appreciation for the opportunity to “See” and Share My Success!

Trampoline workouts involve high intensity exercise, so they help you to burn a lot of calories and lose weight. However, they don’t put a lot of stress on your joints, making them a good alternative for people trying to avoid high impact exercises like running. Not only do trampoline workouts help you burn calories, they also help to strengthen your muscles, including your abdominals and core muscles as well as your thighs and other leg muscles. You will slim down and get toned at the same time.

These workouts can also add some variety and keep you motivated to exercise. Motivation is a common problem for people when it comes to exercise. Most people do not get the recommended amount of exercise, which is approximately 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise most days of the week for people trying to maintain their weight and twice that for people who are actively trying to lose weight. Once your body is ready to start working out after weight loss surgery, give jumping a try to enhance your weight loss efforts.

A recent study evaluated two groups of people and evaluated the health of their gums. One group had weight loss surgery, and the other group did not have any weight loss treatment. The group that had weight loss surgery had a bigger improvement in the health of their gums as compared to the group with no weight loss. The researchers think that the possible reason for the healthier gums might be due to the fact that weight loss tends to reduce a person’s insulin dependence, and inflammation throughout the body melts away with the fat. Since gum disease is a condition of inflammation, it makes sense that inflammation of the gums could be reduced with weight loss.

Lap Band surgery is a safe and effective method that can help those who have struggled to lose weight finally begin living a healthier lifestyle. In addition to gum disease, weight loss and bariatric surgery can treat or reduce your risk for developing type-2 diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and cardiovascular disease.

• Get rid of stuff that you have not used within a year: One of the biggest reasons why people have so much clutter is because they hold on to old, broken, and useless items. The rule of thumb is to get rid of anything that you have not actually used or worn within a year because chances are that you never will. Try to sell the items first online, or have a garage sale, give them to friends, or just donate them to charity.
• Start with small clutter free areas: An easy way to declutter your life is to start arranging small areas around the house that will be completely free of clutter. It could be a closet, the dining room table, or your nightstand. Starting with a small area is a great way to feel instant accomplishments that will help motivate you to move onto more cumbersome regions.
• Clean up 2-3 times per week: Keeping your house clean does require some effort on your part, so plan to clean up about 2 or 3 times a week in the beginning. You could hire someone to help out or you could have your family members that live with you help as well.
• Put stuff back where you got it: In order to prevent clutter in the first place, all you need to do is put everything back where you got it and never leave anything strewn about around the house. By giving every object a home you can make sure to avoid clutter and relieve the burden of constantly cleaning your home.

Decluttering your life can accelerate your progress on your weight loss journey and improve your life in many ways, so get rid of the clutter today.

Don’t let your goals for 2012 fall by the wayside. Follow these simple steps to make your New Year’s Resolution last all year round.

• Write your goals down. It is very nice to think about things that you want to accomplish, but too often simple thoughts will leave our heads. By writing down your goal you can hold yourself accountable for attaining them, instead of forgetting them long before Valentine’s Day.
• Split up your goal. Instead of making one huge goal, such as losing 150 pounds, think instead about the steps that are necessary to get you there. Try breaking your goal into twelve simple steps. If you are hoping to lose a lot of weight, then think about different habits that you can focus on, and dedicate one goal to every month of the year. This is a great way to renew your resolution every month as we refresh our calendar pages.
• Find support and advertise your goals. It is easy to let our New Year’s goals become forgotten when we are the only one who knew about them. Talk with your friends about your goals, you may find that they share similar hopes and you can even work towards attaining them together!

I have battled with my weight all my life, and in March 2010 I reached an all-time high of 335 pounds. I had heard about gastric surgery and explored my options. An RN in Gainesville referred me to Dr. Cywes and I attended a seminar. I signed up for the process and my lap-band was installed in July 2010. Since then I have lost 105 pounds and my goal of 195 pounds is in sight.

My blood pressure has dropped from 220/140 to 120/72 and my total cholesterol is 131. Dr. Cywes did more than just perform the operation. He taught me more about weight loss and food than I had ever known before. I truly believe that I would not be alive today had I not met Dr. Cywes.

“Just take the first steps toward what you want and trust that the next step will become clear and the next obstacle will somehow melt away”

Here are some tips to begin running:

• Food as Fuel: When you begin any exercise routine, you need to look at your food intake as fuel for your workouts. While carbohydrates are touted as being important for runners, the average American takes in more than enough in their daily diet, especially for a beginner’s program. However, ensure that you consume a small snack anywhere from 2 hours to 30 minutes before you begin a running workout to provide your body with enough energy. Be sure to hydrate throughout the day, drinking a minimum of 64 ounces of water each day, and bring along water during your run.
• Start with Walking: It is nearly impossible to go from a sedentary lifestyle to running every day. Start with brisk walks for a few weeks until you feel comfortable adding in a few minutes of running at a time. Many people continue to run and walk in intervals for months, which is still an excellent way to burn calories and lose weight.
• Track Your Progress: Before you begin a running regimen, weigh yourself and take measurements. This gives you a way to track your progress over time, and see how much weight you have lost in each month or even week. If you are working hard but not seeing the results you want, consider contacting a bariatric surgeon in Jacksonville, who can discuss further options to aid your weight loss.

You can’t count on the airport having food that is appropriate for you to consume, and the food service on the plane, if there is any, most likely will not have very good options either. Bringing some fruit, nuts, cheese and lunch meat along with protein powder to mix with bottled can help with this. By having snacks you can ensure that you will have something appropriate to eat during your wait in the airport and during the plane ride. Although you may not have much trouble finding food you can eat once you reach your destination, it is a good idea to put some snacks that are high in protein such as protein bars, nuts and protein powder in your suitcase just in case you are unable to find something better.

Once you get where you are going, make sure that you do not skip breakfast or any other meal. Carrying bottled water along with protein bars and protein powder while you are out sightseeing means you will always have a meal handy. If you eat out at restaurants, then make sure that you choose food that is low in calories but high in protein and fiber.

Don’t let your trip be an excuse not to exercise, as this is important to offset the extra calories you are likely to consume while you are on your trip since you have to rely on restaurants for many of your meals. When planning a vacation, try picking a spot that involves a lot of sightseeing by foot, as all of the walking will help you burn calories while you have fun.

It is not unusual for people to feel anxious or depressed during this time of year. There are so many of us that are bombarded with different events such as holiday dinners and parties, family or friend gatherings, and the stress of traveling. The feelings could be worse for those who have lost a loved one, live far away from family or have been through a divorce.

Here are a few tips to help you get through the holidays:

1. Keep your regular routine

Stick to your daily activities, changing your routine could add to additional stress. If you have been walking a mile every day, stick to that. Don’t let situations prevent you from doing your regular routine.

2. Think Moderation

Do not indulge in the treats (carbohydrates) and alcohol. Indulging in these is only a temporary fix to any stress or anxiety you are feeling. Remember, stick to your regular routine and try to incorporate some physical activity. Going for a walk to relieve stress and anxiety is much more satisfying than the cookies and candy.

3. Be realistic, try not to expect the “ideal” holiday

Remember to be realistic about the holidays. Try not to have too high of expectations for when family gathers together. We often get disappointed when situations don’t live up to our high expectations.

4. Stay Connected

Spend time with friends and family who appreciate you. If you need support during this time of year, ask them.

5. Throw guilt out the window

Don’t put an unreasonable amount of pressure on yourself to be happy, to rejoice or even enjoy the holidays. If you can’t make an event, say no and don’t feel guilty. Give yourself a break.

6. Don’t be alone, if you don’t want to

If you find yourself alone this holiday season, try to volunteer somewhere, like in a soup kitchen, or with children who are in group homes or the elderly in various facilities. Helping others often makes us feel better about ourselves. You will appreciate their company and they will appreciate yours.

7. Focus on today, not yesterday

Sometimes being around family and friends brings us back to our old habits and how we used to be. Remember who you are today and how far you have come in your journey. Walk away if you need to and give yourself a pep-talk. Don’t let others influence you to become who you were in the past.

8. Just say no

It is ok to say no if you are asked to do something that is more than what you are capable of. Remember that this is your holiday too, and that you can decline an invitation or say no to a favor.

9. Ask for help

During the holidays we often try and take on too much and do too much on our own. It’s ok to ask family and friends for help. Whether it be for decorating, shopping, cooking or for support, just ask.

10. Start a new tradition

Instead of having a cookie exchange this year, try doing an ornament exchange with friends, family and co-workers. After dinner, go for a walk and enjoy the people you are with. Starting new traditions is a great way to spend the holidays.

11. Be good to yourself

If you are feeling stressed or anxious, then go and pamper yourself. Do you what YOU want to do and take care of yourself.

Remember, the holidays only come once a year and only last a few weeks. Remember to take care of yourself and you will be able to get through it.