It seems there are two schools of behavior patients follow after gastric bypass surgery:
The first are the patients who realize WLS is a second chance to make right their nutritional wellness and they exchange the eating habits and poor food choices that made them obese for a smarter way of eating. These patients become champions of healthy ingredients and wholesome eating making conscious choices for how they fuel their bodies. They are non-stop learners in constant quest for information to aid in their health and wellness. They are actively engaged in their own nutrition to improve their health and make strong their bodies against disease. These patients have tremendous success in long-term weight maintenance following massive weight loss.
The second are the patients who rely solely on the restrictive and malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass to lose weight. They half-heartedly follow the program during the phase of rapid weight loss and little by little the old habits that made them obese sneak back into their daily living. You'll hear these patients say, "I can eat anything I want, just less of it" and they laugh. But the joke is on them because sure enough, these patients will regain weight and suffer from poor nutritional health.
Perhaps the people in the "old habits" school think it's a waste of effort or energy to try and eat healthy ? after all, we eat such little portions. Perhaps they think health food is seaweed and tofu and icky stuff like that. Perhaps they simply don't have the information necessary to affect positive healthy change in their diets.
Dr. Bernard Jensen in "Guide to Body Chemistry & Nutrition" writes, "The old saw "what you don't know can't hurt you" just isn't true when it comes to body chemistry, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Ignorance leads to poor nutritional choices, chemical deficiencies and the kinds of diseases that prey on an undernourished body and shorten the life span. Heart disease, cancer and diabetes all take a terrible toll on life in this country, and all three of them are strongly influenced by food patterns and lifestyle habits. . . The right kind of knowledge can always lead us to a better life."
Dr. Jensen writes, "Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine, and let your medicine be your food." In my opinion, the kitchen is more important to our health than the doctor's office or the local hospital. If food selection, preparation and cooking are done wisely, intentionally and properly, very little time will need be spent visiting health care facilities." Dr. Jensen, by the way, wrote "Guide to Body Chemistry & Nutrition" at age 92.
Before WLS surgery I believe it is fair to say many of us "let food be our comfort" and indeed we were well comforted ? that's why we needed surgery. If we can change that thought to "let food be our medicine" and treat it as such, perhaps our relationship with food will improve, our bodies will become healthier and the quality of life will exceed expectation.
It has been noted by many a bariatric counselor that patients are resistant toward learning a healthier way to live. One nurse told me, "Some people want to have doctors take care of them. They don't want to take responsibility for their own lives." But she noted the patients who are eager to learn good nutrition do not regain weight, do not fight the emotional demons of weight fluctuations and they enjoy boundless physical wellness. They never suffer from obesity again.
Dr. Jensen states, "There are arguments, disagreements, people defending their right to eat what they love. I tell them I don't blame them and encourage them to make the change because it's the right thing for them to do."
Kaye Bailey ? 2005 - All Rights Reserved
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.com
LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAccording to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese... Read More
I learned about gaining weight when I heard the question... Read More
Causes of ObesityJust like there is no weight loss pill... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
Acupuncture for weight loss is a modern application of this... Read More
Dieting and weight loss is almost certainly the most lucrative... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
Studies show that most Americans are fifteen percent fatter today... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
With summer completed and school back in session, it'll be... Read More
Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
The main reasons most people have difficulty maintaining their ideal... Read More
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound... Read More
Cellulite happens to us for many reasons. Some reasons-- like... Read More
The general approach for treatment of obesity is to suggest... Read More
Do you know the name of that one disease which... Read More
If you're like most people who tried losing weight on... Read More
Just because you're working hard, doesn't mean that you're working... Read More
Today you have a good chance of getting diabetes or... Read More
NLP Setting an Anchor Process to Get Back Motivation for... Read More
Don't get discouraged. I, too, have found myself in this... Read More
It is important that the public not only understand the... Read More
New gastric bypass patients say they miss food, they grieve... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Reducing childhood obesity in the U.S. needs to be a... Read More
In the early weeks after having weight loss surgery almost... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
Changing habits is one of the most difficult challanges we... Read More
Nothing is more disappointing than hearing a gastric bypass patient... Read More
Here are the 4 things you need to know about... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
Did you say there's a way I can eat what... Read More
When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
I thought I could avoid this when we moved to... Read More
There's no way you can separate the Jack LaLanne diet... Read More
You have heard enough about losing weight with various means... Read More
With this key, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE... Read More
As our country gains weight at an alarming rate, we... Read More
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are... Read More
Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining good health.... Read More
Lose a pound of fat? what does it take? Not... Read More
Any food that we take into our bodies is composed... Read More
Sometimes it's good to just let the feelings flow. Take... Read More
In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More
Many people (especially on the net) claim that you can... Read More
Are you ashamed of your weight? Do you have a... Read More
Weight Loss |