Space is still available for the Obesity Help Regional Seminar in Fairfield, and I’m excited to announce that I will be in attendance. If everything goes according to plan, I will blog from the all-day seminar Saturday, June 24.
The event, which will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2200 Gateway Court, will feature speakers on subjects ranging from cosmetic surgery to behavior modification. For information on the scheduled speakers, check out my June 15 posting.
Great opportunity
I’m excited to attend this seminar for a number of reasons. It’s a great opportunity to meet nutritionists, psychologists, surgeons and other professionals who understand the journey I am on. After all, the OH national seminar series isn’t named “Making the Journey Together 2006” for nothing. I love meeting experts in the surgical weight loss field for both personal and professional reasons. The wider my network of experts, the better equipped I become to write about bariatric issues that go beyond the scope of my own experience. A broad network also helps me to better serve the members of the monthly surgical weight loss support group I lead here in Tracy.
But on a personal level, attending this seminar excites me because it will enable me to meet and connect with other gastric-bypass patients — people who have already experienced what I have, people who are at the same spot in their journey as I am and people who hope to one day soon be on the same path as me. People like Karen Robb of Concord.
Son prompts woman to focus on health
Karen, a 36-year-old mother of an active toddler, had gastric-bypass surgery almost two years ago. She has since lost more than 170 pounds, going from 325 to 152. I can identify with Karen’s story. Her beginning and current weights are similar to mine, we both were overweight as long as we could remember, and both of us decided to have bariatric surgery because of children. For her, it was the 10-month-old son she already had; for me, it was the children I hope to have in the future.
“I decided to have the surgery around Christmas of 2003,” Karen told me in an e-mail yesterday. “My son was, at the time, 10 months old. He wasn’t quite walking yet, but he was sure getting around! I was in constant pain from my knees, feet and hips. I could barely stand up, let alone chase a toddler around the house.”
Karen says she had a fairly easy time getting insurance approval for surgery, and she went under the knife Sept. 20, 2004, which was also my very last birthday as a morbidly obese woman. Karen’s “re-birthday,” as she calls it, just so happens to be on the same day as my actual birthday. Yet something else we have in common.
Nothing comes easy
However, Karen is quick to point out that it hasn’t been all peaches and roses on her journey.
“I started out only being able to eat saltine crackers, because everything else made me sick,” she said. “I was so tired for so long. It was at least three months until I started to feel awake again.”
Even now, a year and eight months since surgery, Karen struggles with eating issues and is far from considering herself perfect.
“I have to work every day to use my tool in the correct manner,” she said. “Some days I do good, and some days I revert back to the old ways that got me up to 325 pounds. I just try to take each day as it comes and not regret what I did the day before.”
“I realize now that each day I get to wake up alive and not in pain and each moment I get to spend with my son is a gift. I try not to spend my days regretting what I should have done but instead trying to do what is right today and in the future.”
Wise words, if you ask me. But Karen has a lot of wisdom to impart. She exercises regularly and loves the way she looks in clothing, though she wouldn’t mind a little nip and tuck if she were to win the lottery.
I do not believe for a second that Karen is the only amazing person I will meet this weekend, but even if she is, my trip to Fairfield will be well worth the price of gas.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Kentucky Fried Killer?
I don’t generally blog about items that appear in the Tracy Press, because I figure if you found my blog, you must have already waded through the rest of the site. Let’s be honest, few people wake up every morning with a burning urge to read my musings. Well, that’s not necessarily true, but the people who do are most likely related to me and don’t count in this instance (no offense, Mom; you know I love you).
But I just couldn’t ignore Stephen Chapman’s column in today’s online Voice section regarding a government lawsuit against KFC. Chapman, a Creators Syndicate columnist who also writes for the Chicago Tribune, is considered a Libertarian. In my world, that means that some days when I read his column, I throw the paper down and tell anyone within earshot that he’s off his rocker. Other days, I throw the paper down so I can shake my fist in agreement. Today is a fist-shaking day.
Frivolous lawsuit
Today, Chapman takes the people at the Center for Science in the Public Interest to task for sticking their noses where they don’t belong — in the business of KFC and its use of hydrogenated cooking oil. If you don’t have the energy to read the full column, let me sum the CSPI’s core issue: Hydrogenated oil contains trans fats, which cause heart disease, and KFC should be banned from using it. According to Chapman and some scientists, the jury is still out on how evil, awful or terrible trans fats are.
I’m usually the first person to promote anything that might help our country fight its increasing battle with obesity, but there is such a thing as going too far. Generally, I’m willing to jump on any bandwagon that blames the fast-food industry for the declining health of our country’s citizens. But I’m no Pollyanna. I know that the fast-food industry only provides us with products that are lucrative. We are as much at fault for eating the industry’s high-calorie, low-quality food as the restaurants are for offering mega-size value meals.
The root of all evil?
Do I think fast food is evil? Not necessarily, but I don’t think it’s healthy. I’ve watched “Super-size Me” more than once. I believe there is a correlation between the obesity epidemic and our country’s increased reliance on fast food as the meal-time rule instead of the exception it used to be a generation ago.
There are days, typically when I’m suffering from a serious Jack-in-the-Box craving, when I think all fast-food establishments should be razed and replaced with eateries specializing in convenient healthy foods. But it doesn’t take me long to return to reality.
The fact is that we as a society need to start fighting our own battles instead of having the government do it for us. If we don’t want foods with trans fats, we need to stop eating at places we know serves them. The guy who prompted the CSPI lawsuit claims he didn’t know KFC used hydrogenated oil. Chapman points out that if this guy cared that much about trans fats, he would have asked. If enough people decide the danger of trans fats is too much to bear, KFC will notice a reduction in sales and profits. And nothing makes a company act faster than a dwindling bottom line.
Not only is government action in this case ridiculous on principle, it just doesn’t make financial sense. I’d rather my taxes go toward programs educating the public on a wide range of health issues than to fighting one corporation on one arguably minor point. In my book, this is right up there with the lawsuit against McDonald’s for serving hot coffee.
But I just couldn’t ignore Stephen Chapman’s column in today’s online Voice section regarding a government lawsuit against KFC. Chapman, a Creators Syndicate columnist who also writes for the Chicago Tribune, is considered a Libertarian. In my world, that means that some days when I read his column, I throw the paper down and tell anyone within earshot that he’s off his rocker. Other days, I throw the paper down so I can shake my fist in agreement. Today is a fist-shaking day.
Frivolous lawsuit
Today, Chapman takes the people at the Center for Science in the Public Interest to task for sticking their noses where they don’t belong — in the business of KFC and its use of hydrogenated cooking oil. If you don’t have the energy to read the full column, let me sum the CSPI’s core issue: Hydrogenated oil contains trans fats, which cause heart disease, and KFC should be banned from using it. According to Chapman and some scientists, the jury is still out on how evil, awful or terrible trans fats are.
I’m usually the first person to promote anything that might help our country fight its increasing battle with obesity, but there is such a thing as going too far. Generally, I’m willing to jump on any bandwagon that blames the fast-food industry for the declining health of our country’s citizens. But I’m no Pollyanna. I know that the fast-food industry only provides us with products that are lucrative. We are as much at fault for eating the industry’s high-calorie, low-quality food as the restaurants are for offering mega-size value meals.
The root of all evil?
Do I think fast food is evil? Not necessarily, but I don’t think it’s healthy. I’ve watched “Super-size Me” more than once. I believe there is a correlation between the obesity epidemic and our country’s increased reliance on fast food as the meal-time rule instead of the exception it used to be a generation ago.
There are days, typically when I’m suffering from a serious Jack-in-the-Box craving, when I think all fast-food establishments should be razed and replaced with eateries specializing in convenient healthy foods. But it doesn’t take me long to return to reality.
The fact is that we as a society need to start fighting our own battles instead of having the government do it for us. If we don’t want foods with trans fats, we need to stop eating at places we know serves them. The guy who prompted the CSPI lawsuit claims he didn’t know KFC used hydrogenated oil. Chapman points out that if this guy cared that much about trans fats, he would have asked. If enough people decide the danger of trans fats is too much to bear, KFC will notice a reduction in sales and profits. And nothing makes a company act faster than a dwindling bottom line.
Not only is government action in this case ridiculous on principle, it just doesn’t make financial sense. I’d rather my taxes go toward programs educating the public on a wide range of health issues than to fighting one corporation on one arguably minor point. In my book, this is right up there with the lawsuit against McDonald’s for serving hot coffee.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Lazy day at the lake
It was difficult to wake up this morning. Not only were we out late last night and needing to recover from that, but I had muscles I didn't know I had hurting significantly from yesterday's walk.
While everyone spent most of the day at the beach, Beau and I stayed close to the cabin. We lounged in the sun, with the hopes of adding a little color to my pallid complexion.
As the weather turned cool, we headed down to the Beacon Bar & Grill with Beau's cousins to listen to the live band and enjoy a round of rum runners.
The Beacon is known for its rum runners, a frozen concoction of cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and rum with a float of dark rum added for good measure. Rum runners were a weakness of mine in my college days, and I haven't had one since. With all of the juice, the cocktails contain way more sugar than I typically allow myself in a sitting. However, I've been experimenting with the concept of enjoying off-program treats in moderation. I still believe that such behavior is better compartmentalized during vacations and not as an everyday habit.
The rum runner was tasty, and the band, AM/FM, was quite good. And we all enjoyed an hour of grown-up time without children in tow.
We left the bar and headed back to the cabins to start dinner. Tonight's family meal consisted of barbecued steak, steamed green beans, chili, garlic bread, au gratin potatoes and more cantaloupe. What can I say? The cantaloupe was quite tasty. I ate a couple of inches of my medium-rare steak, a dozen green beans (fresh from my 3-year-old niece's garden), and a half-cup of chili. It was a protein-rich dinner that sat very well in my pouch.
Because I had to work tonight, we left shortly after dinner as everyone else was getting ready to celebrate a birthday. Though I dislike cake, I was glad to leave before it was served. The whipped cream frosting looked way too tempting.
While everyone spent most of the day at the beach, Beau and I stayed close to the cabin. We lounged in the sun, with the hopes of adding a little color to my pallid complexion.
As the weather turned cool, we headed down to the Beacon Bar & Grill with Beau's cousins to listen to the live band and enjoy a round of rum runners.
The Beacon is known for its rum runners, a frozen concoction of cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice and rum with a float of dark rum added for good measure. Rum runners were a weakness of mine in my college days, and I haven't had one since. With all of the juice, the cocktails contain way more sugar than I typically allow myself in a sitting. However, I've been experimenting with the concept of enjoying off-program treats in moderation. I still believe that such behavior is better compartmentalized during vacations and not as an everyday habit.
The rum runner was tasty, and the band, AM/FM, was quite good. And we all enjoyed an hour of grown-up time without children in tow.
We left the bar and headed back to the cabins to start dinner. Tonight's family meal consisted of barbecued steak, steamed green beans, chili, garlic bread, au gratin potatoes and more cantaloupe. What can I say? The cantaloupe was quite tasty. I ate a couple of inches of my medium-rare steak, a dozen green beans (fresh from my 3-year-old niece's garden), and a half-cup of chili. It was a protein-rich dinner that sat very well in my pouch.
Because I had to work tonight, we left shortly after dinner as everyone else was getting ready to celebrate a birthday. Though I dislike cake, I was glad to leave before it was served. The whipped cream frosting looked way too tempting.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Historic Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson Resort sits on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, about 15 minutes from the casinos in Stateline, Nev.
The rustic collection of winter and summer cabins is not what typically comes to mind when I think of a resort, but that doesn't mean that the place isn't without its charm. A haven for vacationing families, the resort features numerous cabins that can be reserved for a day or a week. Some families have waited years for a spot to open up, and once it does, they return year after year.
My husband's family has been vacationing in Camp Richardson every June for the last six years. All together, the family rents four cabins within close proximity to one another. Some stay a whole week, while others -- like my husband and me -- just visit for a couple of days over the weekend.
Today, we arrived shortly after breakfast. My in-laws had spent last night in the cabin and were quick to show us their incredibly uncomfortable bed. After a quick tour of their cabin, we visited Beau's Aunt Ramona in her cabin. Ramona's cabin, aptly named the Cadillac, is by far the most modern and spacious cabin of anyone in the family. Then again, Ramona has the biggest family, so the cabin is still close quarters for her brood.
Beau's parents took us on a brief walk around to help us get acquainted with the area. We walked down the water. Fun fact: The temperature of Lake Tahoe doesn't vary more than a few degrees throughout the course of the year, because it's the direct result of snow runoff. Today, it was a tepid 32 degrees. Beau waded in after what his mom thought was a dollar bill on the lake floor. Beau discovered it was just a rock, but not before getting chilled to the bone after about five minutes in the water.
Tour of the estatesCamp Richardson is actually a trio of sites, but the cabins are in the Tallac Historic Site, which features the Pope, Baldwin and Valhalla estates.
After Beau's refreshing dip in Lake Tahoe, his parents took us on a brief tour of the estates. For more information on the estates, click on the link in the preceding paragraph.
We enjoyed a leisurely two-mile walk among the estates and trails with Beau's parents before they turned back to the cabin for a nap. We continued on, walking about five miles before heading back ourselves for a bit of lunch and a nap.
Meal time and sleepy time
At the cabin, we scarfed down a quick lunch of ham-and-cheese sandwiches and laid down on the aforementioned rock-hard bed for a siesta. More than two hours later, I woke up, feeling as if I'd slept the entire night. Beau didn't wake up for two more hours.
Shortly after he woke up, we joined the family for a communal dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and Polish sausage with macaroni salad, chips and fruit. I ate about half a polish sausage, cantaloupe, a bite of macaroni salad and a few chips. I usually steer clear of pasta and potatoes, but I made an exception today for no good reason.
Fun downtown
We left Camp Richardson around 7 p.m. to meet some friends in town for fun at the casinos. Beau and I are notoriously terrible at gambling, so our cash was quickly played out at the slots in Harrah's and Harvey's. We then met our friends at the Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Harrah's. We hung out there for a few hours. The cantina was a fun atmosphere with a live band. It's said that one never knows when Sammy Hagar, proprietor of the Cabo Wabo Cantina and creator of the Cabo Wabo line of tequila, will walk in. The Red Rocker was nowhere to be found tonight, but that didn't stop us from having some fun on the dance floor.
The rustic collection of winter and summer cabins is not what typically comes to mind when I think of a resort, but that doesn't mean that the place isn't without its charm. A haven for vacationing families, the resort features numerous cabins that can be reserved for a day or a week. Some families have waited years for a spot to open up, and once it does, they return year after year.
My husband's family has been vacationing in Camp Richardson every June for the last six years. All together, the family rents four cabins within close proximity to one another. Some stay a whole week, while others -- like my husband and me -- just visit for a couple of days over the weekend.
Today, we arrived shortly after breakfast. My in-laws had spent last night in the cabin and were quick to show us their incredibly uncomfortable bed. After a quick tour of their cabin, we visited Beau's Aunt Ramona in her cabin. Ramona's cabin, aptly named the Cadillac, is by far the most modern and spacious cabin of anyone in the family. Then again, Ramona has the biggest family, so the cabin is still close quarters for her brood.
Beau's parents took us on a brief walk around to help us get acquainted with the area. We walked down the water. Fun fact: The temperature of Lake Tahoe doesn't vary more than a few degrees throughout the course of the year, because it's the direct result of snow runoff. Today, it was a tepid 32 degrees. Beau waded in after what his mom thought was a dollar bill on the lake floor. Beau discovered it was just a rock, but not before getting chilled to the bone after about five minutes in the water.
Tour of the estatesCamp Richardson is actually a trio of sites, but the cabins are in the Tallac Historic Site, which features the Pope, Baldwin and Valhalla estates.
After Beau's refreshing dip in Lake Tahoe, his parents took us on a brief tour of the estates. For more information on the estates, click on the link in the preceding paragraph.
We enjoyed a leisurely two-mile walk among the estates and trails with Beau's parents before they turned back to the cabin for a nap. We continued on, walking about five miles before heading back ourselves for a bit of lunch and a nap.
Meal time and sleepy time
At the cabin, we scarfed down a quick lunch of ham-and-cheese sandwiches and laid down on the aforementioned rock-hard bed for a siesta. More than two hours later, I woke up, feeling as if I'd slept the entire night. Beau didn't wake up for two more hours.
Shortly after he woke up, we joined the family for a communal dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs and Polish sausage with macaroni salad, chips and fruit. I ate about half a polish sausage, cantaloupe, a bite of macaroni salad and a few chips. I usually steer clear of pasta and potatoes, but I made an exception today for no good reason.
Fun downtown
We left Camp Richardson around 7 p.m. to meet some friends in town for fun at the casinos. Beau and I are notoriously terrible at gambling, so our cash was quickly played out at the slots in Harrah's and Harvey's. We then met our friends at the Cabo Wabo Cantina inside Harrah's. We hung out there for a few hours. The cantina was a fun atmosphere with a live band. It's said that one never knows when Sammy Hagar, proprietor of the Cabo Wabo Cantina and creator of the Cabo Wabo line of tequila, will walk in. The Red Rocker was nowhere to be found tonight, but that didn't stop us from having some fun on the dance floor.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Failing to plan means planning to fail
My husband and I are getting ready for a weekend trip to Lake Tahoe for his family’s annual summer vacation. Of course, I haven’t really given the trip much thought until today – when we’re supposed to be leaving.
That’s not exactly true. I thought about doing laundry, washing dishes, taking out the trash and packing. I’ve spent all week figuring out what to pack for a weekend of hiking, dancing and lounging on the beach, but I didn’t think of much else. Why is this a problem? Well, as I write this, I realize I haven’t spent any time finding out what we’re eating this weekend.
My husband’s family rents cabins along Camp Richardson, and they plan big group gatherings at mealtimes. I’ve asked repeatedly what we’re eating, and I’ve been told, “Well, you know. A little of this, a little of that.” That’s not helpful. I do know that for Father’s Day, there’s a family barbecue that features grilled steak. Otherwise, I haven’t a clue. I wasn’t overly worried about my lack of knowledge, because I figured there was bound to be something I could eat.
Then I read the monthly rant at bariatriceating.com last night. Susan Maria Leach, the site administrator and author of the rant, wrote about a recent vacation with her husband to visit family. Having had surgery five years ago, she didn’t pack special food for herself because she knew she could find something to eat just about anywhere. Unfortunately for her, she was wrong. Most of the restaurants the family visited during her trip didn’t offer anything that wasn’t deep-fried or smothered in gravy. And a family cookout only offered maple baked beans, dried-out hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, macaroni salad and birthday cake. She spent most of one day not eating, because she didn’t want to risk getting sick in public, and to make matters worse, she had to deal with relatives noticing her lack of eating and the hurt feelings that seem to arise around food.
Talk about a rude awakening. I quickly thought back to most of my food experiences around my husband’s family. In general, I, too, can find something to eat anywhere, but there are foods that just will not go down no matter how hard I try: hamburger, sausage, any form of dried or overcooked meat, scrambled eggs, pasta, rice and anything made with whole milk or cream. And then there are the foods that I do eat in a pinch but tend to make me ill: bread, sweets, gravy, fried eggs and potatoes.
As I thought about this, I also thought about the meals I’ve heard the family talk about having at past vacations: Spaghetti and garlic bread, barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, breakfast scrambles, tri tip, baked potatoes, etc. And suddenly, it became clear that I needed to pack food for myself to prevent me from being in a situation where my choice was to either not eat or eat food that I knew for a fact would make me sick.
So, I’ll spend some time today before we hit the road at the grocery store. I’ll pick up string cheese, lunchmeat, protein bars, and I’ll take along some of the protein powder samples I have on hand. I may not touch a single thing I pack, but that will be better than the alternative.
That’s not exactly true. I thought about doing laundry, washing dishes, taking out the trash and packing. I’ve spent all week figuring out what to pack for a weekend of hiking, dancing and lounging on the beach, but I didn’t think of much else. Why is this a problem? Well, as I write this, I realize I haven’t spent any time finding out what we’re eating this weekend.
My husband’s family rents cabins along Camp Richardson, and they plan big group gatherings at mealtimes. I’ve asked repeatedly what we’re eating, and I’ve been told, “Well, you know. A little of this, a little of that.” That’s not helpful. I do know that for Father’s Day, there’s a family barbecue that features grilled steak. Otherwise, I haven’t a clue. I wasn’t overly worried about my lack of knowledge, because I figured there was bound to be something I could eat.
Then I read the monthly rant at bariatriceating.com last night. Susan Maria Leach, the site administrator and author of the rant, wrote about a recent vacation with her husband to visit family. Having had surgery five years ago, she didn’t pack special food for herself because she knew she could find something to eat just about anywhere. Unfortunately for her, she was wrong. Most of the restaurants the family visited during her trip didn’t offer anything that wasn’t deep-fried or smothered in gravy. And a family cookout only offered maple baked beans, dried-out hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, macaroni salad and birthday cake. She spent most of one day not eating, because she didn’t want to risk getting sick in public, and to make matters worse, she had to deal with relatives noticing her lack of eating and the hurt feelings that seem to arise around food.
Talk about a rude awakening. I quickly thought back to most of my food experiences around my husband’s family. In general, I, too, can find something to eat anywhere, but there are foods that just will not go down no matter how hard I try: hamburger, sausage, any form of dried or overcooked meat, scrambled eggs, pasta, rice and anything made with whole milk or cream. And then there are the foods that I do eat in a pinch but tend to make me ill: bread, sweets, gravy, fried eggs and potatoes.
As I thought about this, I also thought about the meals I’ve heard the family talk about having at past vacations: Spaghetti and garlic bread, barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, breakfast scrambles, tri tip, baked potatoes, etc. And suddenly, it became clear that I needed to pack food for myself to prevent me from being in a situation where my choice was to either not eat or eat food that I knew for a fact would make me sick.
So, I’ll spend some time today before we hit the road at the grocery store. I’ll pick up string cheese, lunchmeat, protein bars, and I’ll take along some of the protein powder samples I have on hand. I may not touch a single thing I pack, but that will be better than the alternative.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Obesity Help Regional Seminar in Fairfield
Obesity Help is preparing for its regional seminar in Fairfield on June 24. The all-day event, held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2200 Gateway Court, will feature a vendor fair, lunchtime reception and lectures on topics related to weight loss.
Obesity Help is an Irvine-based corporation that serves the morbidly obese community through its extensive Web site and bi-monthly OH Magazine.
The June 24 conference will feature four speakers who are well known in the bariatric and weight loss community.
Dr. Monica Ganz has lost 320 pounds following gastric-bypass surgery and is the director of events and chapters for Obesity Help. Her lecture, "Learning to Think Thin" will address the need for post-ops to retrain their brains and go from "thinking fat to thinking thin."
Lori Cochrane is a behavior analyst, speaker, writer and mentor to bariatric patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass about five years ago. Her topic, "Bariatric Behavior: Rules of the Road for Long-term Success," addresses how to replace old behaviors with successful ones and how to enjoy positive change.
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen is owner of Body By Katzen and specializes in post-bariatric plastic surgery. His lecture, "Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss," will address the various types of body-sculpting procedures most common after drastic weight loss.
Lauralyn Bellamy had gastric-bypass surgery three years ago and has created Embody Success! Coaching, to teach others the tools that helped her achieve success. Her topic, "The Key to Overcoming Self-Sabotage in Weight Loss and the Rest of Your Life," is self-explanatory.
Keep checking back for more information on the Fairfield conference and other upcoming OH events. If you're interested in attending the Fairfield event, sign up soon; space is limited.
Obesity Help is an Irvine-based corporation that serves the morbidly obese community through its extensive Web site and bi-monthly OH Magazine.
The June 24 conference will feature four speakers who are well known in the bariatric and weight loss community.
Dr. Monica Ganz has lost 320 pounds following gastric-bypass surgery and is the director of events and chapters for Obesity Help. Her lecture, "Learning to Think Thin" will address the need for post-ops to retrain their brains and go from "thinking fat to thinking thin."
Lori Cochrane is a behavior analyst, speaker, writer and mentor to bariatric patients who had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass about five years ago. Her topic, "Bariatric Behavior: Rules of the Road for Long-term Success," addresses how to replace old behaviors with successful ones and how to enjoy positive change.
Dr. J. Timothy Katzen is owner of Body By Katzen and specializes in post-bariatric plastic surgery. His lecture, "Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss," will address the various types of body-sculpting procedures most common after drastic weight loss.
Lauralyn Bellamy had gastric-bypass surgery three years ago and has created Embody Success! Coaching, to teach others the tools that helped her achieve success. Her topic, "The Key to Overcoming Self-Sabotage in Weight Loss and the Rest of Your Life," is self-explanatory.
Keep checking back for more information on the Fairfield conference and other upcoming OH events. If you're interested in attending the Fairfield event, sign up soon; space is limited.
Step by step: Losses add up
The LA Times is following a brother and sister who tipped the scales at close to 600 pounds each before having Lap-Band surgery last year.
Lap-Band is an adjustable gastric band (think of a bicycle inner tube) that cinches the stomach to limit the amount of food eaten at one time and the speed of which it is digested. Lap-Band patients tend to lose weigh more slowly than gastric-bypass patients and the procedure is considered minimally invasive and is also reversible.
Sheila and Cyrus Tehrani refinanced their childhood home to pay for their procedures. After losing about 150 pounds in the last year, Sheila needed to have a panniculectomy -- or excess belly skin removed -- to help keep her active. The hanging apron of skin was impairing her ability to walk. During the procedure, doctors removed almost 50 pounds of excess skin and repaired a hernia Sheila didn't even know she had.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-superobese6jun06,1,7135581.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california
Lap-Band is an adjustable gastric band (think of a bicycle inner tube) that cinches the stomach to limit the amount of food eaten at one time and the speed of which it is digested. Lap-Band patients tend to lose weigh more slowly than gastric-bypass patients and the procedure is considered minimally invasive and is also reversible.
Sheila and Cyrus Tehrani refinanced their childhood home to pay for their procedures. After losing about 150 pounds in the last year, Sheila needed to have a panniculectomy -- or excess belly skin removed -- to help keep her active. The hanging apron of skin was impairing her ability to walk. During the procedure, doctors removed almost 50 pounds of excess skin and repaired a hernia Sheila didn't even know she had.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-superobese6jun06,1,7135581.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-california
Practicing what I preach
I've spent the last half-hour in my kitchen trying to figure out what to eat for breakfast and pack for lunch and dinner in preparation for a long night at work.
It's been over a week since I went grocery shopping. Though I bought a bunch of food, I didn't plan very well and didn't stock up on convenient, portable meal options for myself. I have lots of cheese, but no cold cuts to use as lower-fat protein sources. No cottage cheese, ricotta cheese or even low-fat cream cheese.
Here I've been blogging about re-evaluating my eating habits and being more diligent and I forgot the most important thing -- making sure my fridge and pantry are stocked with options conducive to staying on my eating plan.
It took some time, but I've found a few cans of tuna, which will be perfect to take to work today. I have a freezer full of chicken that I just need to thaw and cook up. I can cut up chicken breasts to add to a salad or mix up a batch of chicken salad. I also have my protein powder -- I just need to move it from the cupboard to the counter so I don't forget about it.
More now than I ever, I need to be diligent about planning and making sure I eat good-quality meals and not just what sounds easy on the fly. Now excuse me, I have tuna salad to make before I go to work.
It's been over a week since I went grocery shopping. Though I bought a bunch of food, I didn't plan very well and didn't stock up on convenient, portable meal options for myself. I have lots of cheese, but no cold cuts to use as lower-fat protein sources. No cottage cheese, ricotta cheese or even low-fat cream cheese.
Here I've been blogging about re-evaluating my eating habits and being more diligent and I forgot the most important thing -- making sure my fridge and pantry are stocked with options conducive to staying on my eating plan.
It took some time, but I've found a few cans of tuna, which will be perfect to take to work today. I have a freezer full of chicken that I just need to thaw and cook up. I can cut up chicken breasts to add to a salad or mix up a batch of chicken salad. I also have my protein powder -- I just need to move it from the cupboard to the counter so I don't forget about it.
More now than I ever, I need to be diligent about planning and making sure I eat good-quality meals and not just what sounds easy on the fly. Now excuse me, I have tuna salad to make before I go to work.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Evaluating eating habits
As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I'm nearing the end of my weight loss honeymoon period. In an effort to make the most of the next three months, I'm spending some time evaluating my eating, exercise and lifestyle habits to see where I can make improvements.
I've already recognized that I need to keep a tighter rein on my consumption of fat. This week, I'm paying attention to my portion sizes and how fast I eat. I definitely eat too fast, and eating too fast leads to eating too much.
Though I limit my carbohydrate intake, I enjoy Ry-Krisp crackers. Two crackers offer 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein and no fat. Spreading a half-ounce of cheese on top provides a protein-rich, filling meal. The problem is that when I don't take my time eating, I feel like I have room for two crackers and eat them easily. But then a hour goes by and my pouch starts aching. I sense that it's being stretched by too much food. The feeling is painful and encourages me not to make the same mistake again. Now, I know that my limit is one cracker -- eaten slowly.
As for exercise, I need to work on consistency. I know it's better to work out regularly twice a week than to hit the gym five days one week, two the next and then skip it for three weeks. But my perfectionist attitude, which helped get me to 335 pounds in the first place, prevents me from setting and maintaining realistic goals sometimes.
I've already recognized that I need to keep a tighter rein on my consumption of fat. This week, I'm paying attention to my portion sizes and how fast I eat. I definitely eat too fast, and eating too fast leads to eating too much.
Though I limit my carbohydrate intake, I enjoy Ry-Krisp crackers. Two crackers offer 3 grams of fiber, 1 gram of protein and no fat. Spreading a half-ounce of cheese on top provides a protein-rich, filling meal. The problem is that when I don't take my time eating, I feel like I have room for two crackers and eat them easily. But then a hour goes by and my pouch starts aching. I sense that it's being stretched by too much food. The feeling is painful and encourages me not to make the same mistake again. Now, I know that my limit is one cracker -- eaten slowly.
As for exercise, I need to work on consistency. I know it's better to work out regularly twice a week than to hit the gym five days one week, two the next and then skip it for three weeks. But my perfectionist attitude, which helped get me to 335 pounds in the first place, prevents me from setting and maintaining realistic goals sometimes.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Fighting against the grain
When I weighed 300 pounds, nobody even blinked when I chose my meals carefully. The same was true when I was 200 pounds. Now that I'm under 160, many people -- particularly those who knew me at my highest weight -- think I need to ease up on my vigilance.
"You should treat yourself," "You deserve a freebie," "Don't you ever just let go?" are comments I get a lot. I try to laugh off such comments, and that often works. But then there are times when such comments lead into evaluations about my current weight. A few well-meaning people have told me that they think I've lost enough weight and that I should stop now. And they use that opinion as justification of why I should have a slice of cheesecake or sample some ice cream.
I don't do so well when people feel the need to tell me how much I should weigh. One would argue that I should be able to tell people that my weight is none of their business. However, I have a hard time drawing such lines in the sand. After all, writing my column and this blog puts me in the spotlight. If I'm going to put myself out there publicly, I don't feel like I get to tell people to mind their own business. I realize this is untrue. I can make myself as private or public as I wish, but it's still hard for me to do.
Instead, I point out to people that with BMI of 28, I'm still considered overweight. I need to lose about 20 pounds before I'm even on the high end of normal. Of course, that usually leads to sideway glance, during which the person tries to picture me smaller than I am now. Then the person typically crinkles his or her forehead and says, "Wow...but that would make you too skinny. You don't want to do that, do you?" Usually, I shrug and say I'm undecided.
That's the truth; I am undecided. I'm very happy at my present weight. I'm healthy; I feel good; life is amazingly easy for me. And I don't feel like I have to work that hard to maintain this weight. But I also know that the more weight I lose within the next three months, the more I'll be likely to keep off forever. And that makes me want to maximize the remainder of my honeymoon period.
"You should treat yourself," "You deserve a freebie," "Don't you ever just let go?" are comments I get a lot. I try to laugh off such comments, and that often works. But then there are times when such comments lead into evaluations about my current weight. A few well-meaning people have told me that they think I've lost enough weight and that I should stop now. And they use that opinion as justification of why I should have a slice of cheesecake or sample some ice cream.
I don't do so well when people feel the need to tell me how much I should weigh. One would argue that I should be able to tell people that my weight is none of their business. However, I have a hard time drawing such lines in the sand. After all, writing my column and this blog puts me in the spotlight. If I'm going to put myself out there publicly, I don't feel like I get to tell people to mind their own business. I realize this is untrue. I can make myself as private or public as I wish, but it's still hard for me to do.
Instead, I point out to people that with BMI of 28, I'm still considered overweight. I need to lose about 20 pounds before I'm even on the high end of normal. Of course, that usually leads to sideway glance, during which the person tries to picture me smaller than I am now. Then the person typically crinkles his or her forehead and says, "Wow...but that would make you too skinny. You don't want to do that, do you?" Usually, I shrug and say I'm undecided.
That's the truth; I am undecided. I'm very happy at my present weight. I'm healthy; I feel good; life is amazingly easy for me. And I don't feel like I have to work that hard to maintain this weight. But I also know that the more weight I lose within the next three months, the more I'll be likely to keep off forever. And that makes me want to maximize the remainder of my honeymoon period.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Is the honeymoon over?
I've given a lot of thought to Friday's entry about cheese, not because I typically dwell over such things or because I mourn the need to limit my consumption of it. I've been thinking of it because the "honeymoon period" that follows gastric-bypass surgery is nearly over for me.
The honeymoon period is the 18-month window following gastric-bypass surgery in which the patient loses the bulk of his or her excess weight. After the honeymoon period, the gastric-bypass patient becomes more like the average person trying to lose weight. Watching the amount and type of food consumed becomes increasingly important, as does maintaining the positive lifestyle changes made in the preceding months.
One of the challenges is that as the honeymoon period nears an end, it's common to slip into old habits without even realizing it. And it becomes even more important to be vigilant about following the prescribed post-operative eating plan.
But the other challenge is that nearing the honeymoon period also means the post-op has lost a massive amount of weight and is nearing his or goal (assuming the weight loss went according to plan). Why is that a challenge? It's a challenge because our society seems to view weight management as a finite task. People understand the concept of losing weight, especially when morbidly obese people do it. But when a person goes from losing weight to maintaining the loss, people act as if the hard part is over. And if the hard part is over, that must mean that the easy part has begun. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The honeymoon period is the 18-month window following gastric-bypass surgery in which the patient loses the bulk of his or her excess weight. After the honeymoon period, the gastric-bypass patient becomes more like the average person trying to lose weight. Watching the amount and type of food consumed becomes increasingly important, as does maintaining the positive lifestyle changes made in the preceding months.
One of the challenges is that as the honeymoon period nears an end, it's common to slip into old habits without even realizing it. And it becomes even more important to be vigilant about following the prescribed post-operative eating plan.
But the other challenge is that nearing the honeymoon period also means the post-op has lost a massive amount of weight and is nearing his or goal (assuming the weight loss went according to plan). Why is that a challenge? It's a challenge because our society seems to view weight management as a finite task. People understand the concept of losing weight, especially when morbidly obese people do it. But when a person goes from losing weight to maintaining the loss, people act as if the hard part is over. And if the hard part is over, that must mean that the easy part has begun. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Suited for success
Originally published June 10, in Our Town for the Tracy Press.
This is my first summer at a normal weight. To celebrate, I promised my husband I would buy a swimsuit. He’s a water baby and has pouted for years that I won’t go swimming with him or hang out at our friends’ houseboats. I’ve never even gone on his family’s annual summer vacation at Lake Tahoe.
I can think of few things I dread more than wearing a swimsuit, but I’m pretty sure trying suits on in store dressing rooms is worse. I haven’t bought a suit in seven years. The only reason I bought one then was because I was visiting a relative in Hawaii, and she told me she’d leave me at the airport if I didn’t have a swimsuit in my suitcase.
I’m a planner, and as such, I’ve spent the last four or five months scouting swimsuit styles to see what’s out there and what might look good on me. Weight loss has changed my body into a bit of a pear shape, which makes standard one-piece suits not exactly suitable. The tankini was my greatest discovery. The suits can offer the coverage of a one-piece but the separate pieces can be mixed to offer the perfect fit.
I decided to take advantage of my favorite department store’s Memorial Day sale last week and blocked out a few hours in search of the perfect suit, or at least one that didn’t make me cringe to wear in public. Having already decided I wanted a tankini, I gravitated toward that section.
I fell in love with a selection of suits with brown bottoms and teal-and-brown tops. I was disappointed to see that the store was out of full-coverage bottoms, though. The only brown bottoms were swim skirts and low-rise bottoms, but I grabbed one of each, just in case. After all, the tops were that cute. Then I went to the black suit section and found a modest black set with full-coverage bottoms and top.
In all, I took about a dozen pieces into the dressing room. I set aside my favorite styles to try on. Two of the brown-and-teal tops were awesome. They were both halter-style, which experts say will emphasize the bust line and help balance a narrow upper body with a wider lower body. I also found the halter styles to be more supportive than standard swim tops.
Once I found what I thought was the perfect top, I tried on the bottoms. I went for the low-rise bottoms first, knowing ahead of time that they would probably be a no-go. I was right. I may be less than half the woman I used to be, but that does not mean my navel needs to be seen in public.
Next I tried on the skirt. The tag said swim skirts were good to “slim and hide hips and thighs.” Such skirts may cover the hips and upper thigh, but I strongly disagree that they function to “slim” or “hide” anything. The skirt wasn’t long enough to cover what I consider the most problematic part of my thighs. If anything, having the hemline fall at the widest part of my thighs just seemed to make me look even wider. And, as I remember from the bathing suit I bought seven years ago, when wet, swim skirts cling in all the wrong ways. The skirt was definitely out.
That left me with the lone black suit. I liked the bottoms on. They were basic and showed my entire thigh, but I figured I could wear a sarong if I didn’t want to be so exposed. The top, sadly, was not a halter-style. But it was flattering and supportive, and after waffling back and forth for a solid 10 minutes, I decided to go with it. I bought the top in a size 10 and the bottoms in a 12.
I have yet to wear it, but that family vacation in Tahoe is next week, and the suit is already packed.
This is my first summer at a normal weight. To celebrate, I promised my husband I would buy a swimsuit. He’s a water baby and has pouted for years that I won’t go swimming with him or hang out at our friends’ houseboats. I’ve never even gone on his family’s annual summer vacation at Lake Tahoe.
I can think of few things I dread more than wearing a swimsuit, but I’m pretty sure trying suits on in store dressing rooms is worse. I haven’t bought a suit in seven years. The only reason I bought one then was because I was visiting a relative in Hawaii, and she told me she’d leave me at the airport if I didn’t have a swimsuit in my suitcase.
I’m a planner, and as such, I’ve spent the last four or five months scouting swimsuit styles to see what’s out there and what might look good on me. Weight loss has changed my body into a bit of a pear shape, which makes standard one-piece suits not exactly suitable. The tankini was my greatest discovery. The suits can offer the coverage of a one-piece but the separate pieces can be mixed to offer the perfect fit.
I decided to take advantage of my favorite department store’s Memorial Day sale last week and blocked out a few hours in search of the perfect suit, or at least one that didn’t make me cringe to wear in public. Having already decided I wanted a tankini, I gravitated toward that section.
I fell in love with a selection of suits with brown bottoms and teal-and-brown tops. I was disappointed to see that the store was out of full-coverage bottoms, though. The only brown bottoms were swim skirts and low-rise bottoms, but I grabbed one of each, just in case. After all, the tops were that cute. Then I went to the black suit section and found a modest black set with full-coverage bottoms and top.
In all, I took about a dozen pieces into the dressing room. I set aside my favorite styles to try on. Two of the brown-and-teal tops were awesome. They were both halter-style, which experts say will emphasize the bust line and help balance a narrow upper body with a wider lower body. I also found the halter styles to be more supportive than standard swim tops.
Once I found what I thought was the perfect top, I tried on the bottoms. I went for the low-rise bottoms first, knowing ahead of time that they would probably be a no-go. I was right. I may be less than half the woman I used to be, but that does not mean my navel needs to be seen in public.
Next I tried on the skirt. The tag said swim skirts were good to “slim and hide hips and thighs.” Such skirts may cover the hips and upper thigh, but I strongly disagree that they function to “slim” or “hide” anything. The skirt wasn’t long enough to cover what I consider the most problematic part of my thighs. If anything, having the hemline fall at the widest part of my thighs just seemed to make me look even wider. And, as I remember from the bathing suit I bought seven years ago, when wet, swim skirts cling in all the wrong ways. The skirt was definitely out.
That left me with the lone black suit. I liked the bottoms on. They were basic and showed my entire thigh, but I figured I could wear a sarong if I didn’t want to be so exposed. The top, sadly, was not a halter-style. But it was flattering and supportive, and after waffling back and forth for a solid 10 minutes, I decided to go with it. I bought the top in a size 10 and the bottoms in a 12.
I have yet to wear it, but that family vacation in Tahoe is next week, and the suit is already packed.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Cutting the cheese
It's been almost 15 months since I had gastric-bypass surgery. In that time, I've gone from being able to consume 1 to 2 oz. of food in one sitting to comfortably accommodating 4 to 6 oz., depending on the type of food and time of day.
As I'm able to eat a larger quantity of food, I'm also beginning to realize the increased need to pay attention to the food I eat. Shortly after surgery, I focused mainly on getting in protein -- paying little to no attention to fat content. If alfredo sauce or butter helped chicken or fish slide into my pouch with great ease, then that's what I used. I also started favoring cheese as a quick, convenient protein source.
Many days, breakfast would consist of an ounce of cheese. I'd pack some cheese in my purse if I planned to be out all day and wasn't sure about where I'd be at meal times. An ounce of cheese is about 100 calories and offers 7 to 10 grams of protein. It was a wise choice for portable meals. However, I need to watch my consumption more closely. Reaching for cheese wasn't a problem when an ounce was all I could eat. Now that I can eat 4 ounces in a sitting, what used to be a 100-calorie meal could now be a 400-calorie meal if it only includes cheese. And fat is also an issue. One ounce of cheese has about 8 grams of fat. Four ounces of cheese would push me well over my day's fat limit.
Cheese isn't a new favorite of mine. Growing up in Hilmar, home of the popular Hilmar Cheese Co., my love for cheese began early in life (if you get the chance to visit Hilmar Cheese, I recommend sampling the Squeakers). I don't think it would be exaggerating to say that we go through five pounds of cheese a month in my house. Of course, I'm not the only one eating it. My husband loves snacking on quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese and crackers. He loves ham-and-cheese omelets for breakfast and always adds a couple extra cups of shredded cheese when he bakes a frozen pizza. I prefer to eat cheese out of hand or with a couple of Ry-Krisp crackers.
Now that I'm limiting my cheese consumption, I have to find other quick snacks. Cottage cheese and ricotta cheese are low-fat options that I may start using once again. I got my fill of both in the first weeks after surgery and lost my taste for them, but it's time to try them again. Protein drinks are another fast fix at meal time. And lunch meat still remains a great choice -- though it's another food I've grown weary of over the last few months.
I think I'll be writing more over the next few days about the way I'm altering my way of eating and how I view different foods. As always, I welcome any ideas, questions or feedback on the topic. This is yet another new phase in my life, and it's one I'm learning to embrace.
As I'm able to eat a larger quantity of food, I'm also beginning to realize the increased need to pay attention to the food I eat. Shortly after surgery, I focused mainly on getting in protein -- paying little to no attention to fat content. If alfredo sauce or butter helped chicken or fish slide into my pouch with great ease, then that's what I used. I also started favoring cheese as a quick, convenient protein source.
Many days, breakfast would consist of an ounce of cheese. I'd pack some cheese in my purse if I planned to be out all day and wasn't sure about where I'd be at meal times. An ounce of cheese is about 100 calories and offers 7 to 10 grams of protein. It was a wise choice for portable meals. However, I need to watch my consumption more closely. Reaching for cheese wasn't a problem when an ounce was all I could eat. Now that I can eat 4 ounces in a sitting, what used to be a 100-calorie meal could now be a 400-calorie meal if it only includes cheese. And fat is also an issue. One ounce of cheese has about 8 grams of fat. Four ounces of cheese would push me well over my day's fat limit.
Cheese isn't a new favorite of mine. Growing up in Hilmar, home of the popular Hilmar Cheese Co., my love for cheese began early in life (if you get the chance to visit Hilmar Cheese, I recommend sampling the Squeakers). I don't think it would be exaggerating to say that we go through five pounds of cheese a month in my house. Of course, I'm not the only one eating it. My husband loves snacking on quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese and crackers. He loves ham-and-cheese omelets for breakfast and always adds a couple extra cups of shredded cheese when he bakes a frozen pizza. I prefer to eat cheese out of hand or with a couple of Ry-Krisp crackers.
Now that I'm limiting my cheese consumption, I have to find other quick snacks. Cottage cheese and ricotta cheese are low-fat options that I may start using once again. I got my fill of both in the first weeks after surgery and lost my taste for them, but it's time to try them again. Protein drinks are another fast fix at meal time. And lunch meat still remains a great choice -- though it's another food I've grown weary of over the last few months.
I think I'll be writing more over the next few days about the way I'm altering my way of eating and how I view different foods. As always, I welcome any ideas, questions or feedback on the topic. This is yet another new phase in my life, and it's one I'm learning to embrace.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Concert in the park
For those in the Tracy area, tonight is the first installment of the weekly Performances in the Park at Lincoln Park. Tonight's performer, Megan Slankard is someone of whom I'm quite fond. Not only was she raised in Vernalis -- the community I called home when I first moved to this area -- but she began coming into her own as a performer when I was entertainment editor for the Tracy Press. And her younger sister, Lauren, was my very first intern.
My husband and I enjoy the weekly summer concert series, and like the local farmers market, it's an event we work hard not to miss. Not only is it a free way to have fun, but it feels good to spend a few hours on a Thursday evening out in the open air. Tonight, we've invited some friend from out of town to join us for a picnic dinner during the show. We hope they enjoy it as much as we do.
Personally, I look forward to comparing tonight's experience with last year's series. Last year was the first time we checked out the concert series, because my weight loss had finally reached a point where I could handle sitting on the ground and getting back up. Some challenges I experienced were my newly emerging tailbone getting sore and numb from sitting on the hard earth and the embarassment of everyone behind me getting a great view of my underwear because my pants were always slipping down. I remember I still got winded walking the four to five blocks from the park to where we had to leave our car. But by the end of the series, Beau no longer had to drop me off at the park before parking the car. I was physically able to walk the few blocks in both directions.
Since the last concert in late July, I have lost about 80 pounds. Last year at this time, I was wearing a size 20. Today, I wear a 10/12. I'm packing a sweatshirt in case the evening air turns chilly, an old comforter to provide a little more padding beneath my rear and a selection of cold appetizers and maybe even a little wine just to add to the experience.
I hope to see you there.
My husband and I enjoy the weekly summer concert series, and like the local farmers market, it's an event we work hard not to miss. Not only is it a free way to have fun, but it feels good to spend a few hours on a Thursday evening out in the open air. Tonight, we've invited some friend from out of town to join us for a picnic dinner during the show. We hope they enjoy it as much as we do.
Personally, I look forward to comparing tonight's experience with last year's series. Last year was the first time we checked out the concert series, because my weight loss had finally reached a point where I could handle sitting on the ground and getting back up. Some challenges I experienced were my newly emerging tailbone getting sore and numb from sitting on the hard earth and the embarassment of everyone behind me getting a great view of my underwear because my pants were always slipping down. I remember I still got winded walking the four to five blocks from the park to where we had to leave our car. But by the end of the series, Beau no longer had to drop me off at the park before parking the car. I was physically able to walk the few blocks in both directions.
Since the last concert in late July, I have lost about 80 pounds. Last year at this time, I was wearing a size 20. Today, I wear a 10/12. I'm packing a sweatshirt in case the evening air turns chilly, an old comforter to provide a little more padding beneath my rear and a selection of cold appetizers and maybe even a little wine just to add to the experience.
I hope to see you there.
Obesity in the news
I just Googled "obesity" and found a selection of interesting news stories that I'd like to share:
• The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga announced a health initiative today aimed at combating obesity among black women throughout the city. Read the story at: http://www.tfponline.com/absolutenm/templates/breaking.aspx?articleid=1786&zoneid=41
• The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation has awarded $40,000 to the Tennessee Pediatric Society Foundation in support of its Impacting Childhood Obesity Treatment & Prevention Program. Read the story at: http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2006/06/05/daily34.html
• London - British children as young as 5 are working out in "kid gyms" as fears about childhood obesity grow. Read the story at: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/article_1171082.php/British_children_seek_to_beat_obesity_in_kid_gyms
• ALBANY - As experts say childhood weight problems are increasing, two Assembly Democrats Wednesday called on schools to test for obesity and fast-food restaurants to detail nutritional information on menus. Read the story at: http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/NEWS01/606080343/1006
• As Americans keep getting bigger, hospitals are revamping themselves to accommodate an influx of obese patients. Read the story at: http://english.people.com.cn/200606/08/eng20060608_272044.html
• The federal government says 64 percent of Americans are overweight and 30 percent are obese. That has prompted the Food and Drug Administration, the F.D.A., to issue a report urging restaurants to help control obesity. Read the story at: http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-07-voa24.cfm
• The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga announced a health initiative today aimed at combating obesity among black women throughout the city. Read the story at: http://www.tfponline.com/absolutenm/templates/breaking.aspx?articleid=1786&zoneid=41
• The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation has awarded $40,000 to the Tennessee Pediatric Society Foundation in support of its Impacting Childhood Obesity Treatment & Prevention Program. Read the story at: http://nashville.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2006/06/05/daily34.html
• London - British children as young as 5 are working out in "kid gyms" as fears about childhood obesity grow. Read the story at: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/article_1171082.php/British_children_seek_to_beat_obesity_in_kid_gyms
• ALBANY - As experts say childhood weight problems are increasing, two Assembly Democrats Wednesday called on schools to test for obesity and fast-food restaurants to detail nutritional information on menus. Read the story at: http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060608/NEWS01/606080343/1006
• As Americans keep getting bigger, hospitals are revamping themselves to accommodate an influx of obese patients. Read the story at: http://english.people.com.cn/200606/08/eng20060608_272044.html
• The federal government says 64 percent of Americans are overweight and 30 percent are obese. That has prompted the Food and Drug Administration, the F.D.A., to issue a report urging restaurants to help control obesity. Read the story at: http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-06-07-voa24.cfm
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Strict parenting linked to overweight kids
Finally, there's a study that has proven what I've known all along: "Clean you plate!" admonishments lead to kids becoming overweight.
The study of 872 families was conducted by Boston University School of Medicine and published in the June issue of Pediatrics, released Monday. Researchers studied the effects of parenting styles on children's weight and found that authoritarian parents were more likely to have obese kids than authoritative parents.
Though none of us can undo the damage done by our parents at the dinner table, we can heed the advice of researchers and break the cycle with our own children by offering flexibility within a firm set of boundaries.
Read an Associated Press article on the study and view video footage at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060605/ap_on_he_me/diet_parenting_2
The study of 872 families was conducted by Boston University School of Medicine and published in the June issue of Pediatrics, released Monday. Researchers studied the effects of parenting styles on children's weight and found that authoritarian parents were more likely to have obese kids than authoritative parents.
Though none of us can undo the damage done by our parents at the dinner table, we can heed the advice of researchers and break the cycle with our own children by offering flexibility within a firm set of boundaries.
Read an Associated Press article on the study and view video footage at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060605/ap_on_he_me/diet_parenting_2
The sweet smell of successful marketing
Candy makers are seeing the power of marketing on consumers.
It's been years since miniature versions of full-size candy bars have been on the market. I still remember when Hershey's Kisses and Miniatures were first advertised on TV, and I begged my mom to buy some. As a child, I was enthralled by the idea of trying three or four types of candy instead of having to choose only one to take home from the store. The fact is that most candy consumers are like me. We buy the miniatures because we want variety -- and they fit so great in a candy dish. But that also means that those bite-size treats don't last long once the bag is opened.
But a new day has dawned in the snack food/candy market. Consumers now flock to portion-controlled packaging. Nabisco’s 100-Calorie Packs are all the rage around my office. Nobody feels guilty about a treat when they know exactly how it affects their calorie consumption.
According to a Reuters article, published Wednesday, Hershey Co. and Nestle unveiled similar concepts earlier this week at the All Candy Expo in Chicago. Both companies promoted low-calorie stick versions of their full-size candy bars. Other portion-controlled concepts debuted at the show included 100-calorie packages of Sunkist fruit chews and other low-calorie or sugar-free candies.
The most profound observation comes from Daniel Azzara, Hershey's vice president for global innovation and quality. He told Reuters that this isn't really innovative for the company.
"What's interesting to me is the idea that (now) it's actually labeled "100 calorie" on the front of the package and consumers see that as portion controlled," Azzara said. "In reality, we've had a lot of snack size and Kisses and small pieces of chocolate for a long time."
Azzara's words speak volumes to me. After all, if I couldn't stop at just one Kiss, what would make me think one stick would be enough? Is it because the nutritional information is more clearly displayed? Is my subconscious really that easily fooled? Or is it just that the packaging is more complete? The wrappers are a bit more difficult to open than simply unfoiling a Kiss.
I'm not sure that this marketing ploy will have much effect on how much candy people actually consume, but I do think there will be a lot less guilt surrounding the consumption.
Read the full article on CNN.com here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/06/diet.candy.reut/index.html
It's been years since miniature versions of full-size candy bars have been on the market. I still remember when Hershey's Kisses and Miniatures were first advertised on TV, and I begged my mom to buy some. As a child, I was enthralled by the idea of trying three or four types of candy instead of having to choose only one to take home from the store. The fact is that most candy consumers are like me. We buy the miniatures because we want variety -- and they fit so great in a candy dish. But that also means that those bite-size treats don't last long once the bag is opened.
But a new day has dawned in the snack food/candy market. Consumers now flock to portion-controlled packaging. Nabisco’s 100-Calorie Packs are all the rage around my office. Nobody feels guilty about a treat when they know exactly how it affects their calorie consumption.
According to a Reuters article, published Wednesday, Hershey Co. and Nestle unveiled similar concepts earlier this week at the All Candy Expo in Chicago. Both companies promoted low-calorie stick versions of their full-size candy bars. Other portion-controlled concepts debuted at the show included 100-calorie packages of Sunkist fruit chews and other low-calorie or sugar-free candies.
The most profound observation comes from Daniel Azzara, Hershey's vice president for global innovation and quality. He told Reuters that this isn't really innovative for the company.
"What's interesting to me is the idea that (now) it's actually labeled "100 calorie" on the front of the package and consumers see that as portion controlled," Azzara said. "In reality, we've had a lot of snack size and Kisses and small pieces of chocolate for a long time."
Azzara's words speak volumes to me. After all, if I couldn't stop at just one Kiss, what would make me think one stick would be enough? Is it because the nutritional information is more clearly displayed? Is my subconscious really that easily fooled? Or is it just that the packaging is more complete? The wrappers are a bit more difficult to open than simply unfoiling a Kiss.
I'm not sure that this marketing ploy will have much effect on how much candy people actually consume, but I do think there will be a lot less guilt surrounding the consumption.
Read the full article on CNN.com here: http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/06/diet.candy.reut/index.html
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Pamphlet released on obesity
The Obesity Action Coalition has released the first in a series of pamphlets on obesity. "Understanding Obesity" offers readers an in-depth look into obesity and morbid obesity, as well as addressing who it affects, health risks and treatment options.“The OAC recognized that there wasn’t an educational brochure available to patients and the public that really looked at obesity as a whole." said Joseph Nadglowski Jr., OAC president and CEO, in a press release announcing the pamphlet. "Often times, people overlook the many facets of living with obesity or morbid obesity, such as the diminished quality of life, the negative stigma associated with it, the lack of the ability for individuals to access safe and effective care and much more."According to the nonprofit, future pamphlets will address childhood obesity and further examine treatment options
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Appropriate use of protein bars
I was visiting one of my favorite message boards this evening and came upon a post about protein bars that reminded me of how there can be too much of a good thing.
Protein bars can be a convenient, healthy meal replacement in a pinch. However, when used as a snack, they are rarely any better than a Snickers bar. I see too many people who think of protein bars as a replacement for candy. They think of the bars as a healthy treat.
Sure, protein bars offer anywhere from 10 to 40 grams of protein (depending on brand), but they also can be very high in calories. Many that I have are around 300 calories.
As a WLS patient, I can only eat about a third to half of a bar in one sitting. But there are some people who eat two or three a day as a snack. And they wonder why they aren't losing weight.
So, take my advice. If you eat protein bars frequently, make sure you're paying attention to the calories you're taking in and compensating accordingly
Protein bars can be a convenient, healthy meal replacement in a pinch. However, when used as a snack, they are rarely any better than a Snickers bar. I see too many people who think of protein bars as a replacement for candy. They think of the bars as a healthy treat.
Sure, protein bars offer anywhere from 10 to 40 grams of protein (depending on brand), but they also can be very high in calories. Many that I have are around 300 calories.
As a WLS patient, I can only eat about a third to half of a bar in one sitting. But there are some people who eat two or three a day as a snack. And they wonder why they aren't losing weight.
So, take my advice. If you eat protein bars frequently, make sure you're paying attention to the calories you're taking in and compensating accordingly
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Obesity boosts risk of breast cancer
WebMD has an article on a study linking postmenopausal obesity to breast cancer.
Read it in its entirety here:
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/122/114754.htm?pagenumber=1
Read it in its entirety here:
http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/122/114754.htm?pagenumber=1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)