In my quest for keeping my mind busy and staying on track, I constantly try to trick myself into making exercise more entertaining than walking in place and staring into the wall for an hour. Here are some strategies that I have found helpful to take my mind off of burning calories, while my body does the work.

Keep Your Playlist Fresh
I know… Lame… Nevertheless, totally true! Before, I thought that the best strategy would be to just stuff my playlist full with favorites, and that would do the trick. Unfortunately, the only thing it did for me was to make me stop liking my previously favorite songs! What I do now is, every month I prepare for myself five one hour playlists. This way, every day I work out, I have a different soundtrack to listen to on my treadmill/bicycle/elliptical battles. By keeping to the playlist schedule and keeping it fresh, I don’t get bored with my music so fast.

Try New Things
The routine you’ve got now may be comfy –a gym close to your home or in your building, not a very demanding workout, and so on. But all of this is what makes it so boring. Spice up your workout and sign up for one of those classes that your nearby gym offers – yoga, Zumba, Pilates, Aerobics, anything. You can try to learn new things and maybe make some friends in the process. Keep things fresh in your work out, and you’ll never be bored. If you have some budget to spare, you may even plan different classes for different days of the week, so you have some kind of a routine, but at the same time you keep it entertaining.

E-Reader
A while ago, this was the first thing I came up with to keep myself busy during my workouts. I simply take my e-reader with me to the gym, and read during the workout. Although exercising on the elliptical is too shaky, reading while cycling and walking works out just fine. The only adjustment that I had to make was to make the text bigger, so it’s less strenuous on my eyes. This is my favorite trick because it really makes the time fly – especially when the book is good. If you are more of a listener than a reader, audio books could be a cool modification to that idea.

Beat Your Record
It was last year when I declared war on my love handles and signed up for the gym. While I knew I was far from being athletic, I soon realized I still greatly overestimated how fit I was. It was exactly the third day of my working out when it dawned on me that a) I’m not eighteen anymore b) the muscles I had back then are now long gone. I had to take things slowly, but at the same time I knew that taking things slowly would just make me less motivated. Then I started challenging myself, just to stay focused. Every day I tried to beat my record either in the number of burned calories, incline, or distance. I must say it kept me going for a long time. I bet that if you are actually preparing for some kind of a competition, beating your own records would keep you even more motivated. And this is where my last tip comes, set goals for yourself and try to beat your own records. This strategy will keep your eyes on the target and keep you motivated.

If you would like to learn more about the weight loss, healthy lifestyle, and DayOne Health lap-band program call our patient advocate at (312) 239-3838 or schedule your one-on-one consultation with one of our surgeons today.

Image from here

What were the previous BCBS requirements for lap-band surgery coverage?

Depending on your policy, the requirements for approval may vary. Nevertheless, if your policy covers the treatment of morbid obesity, your insurance provider will most likely ask you to submit documentation for six months of a medically supervised diet and psychological evaluation in order to qualify. What this usually meant for our DayOne Health patients was that they had to meet with our dietitian and get weighted every month for six months prior to their procedure. With the new requirement in place, the length of time that the patient has to wait to get their band will shorten considerably.

What will be the new requirements?

Again, BCBS requirements for the approval of lap-band surgery may vary depending on your policy. However, most of the insurance companies, including BCBS, hold similar standards when it comes to approving bariatric procedures. The first requirement that is always in place when considering whether someone qualifies for coverage is a body mass index (BMI). For most insurance companies, including BCBS, the minimum BMI for approval is a BMI of 35 and above paired with two health conditions related to your weight, or a BMI of 40 and above with no additional requirements in terms of co-morbidities. Insurance companies also require a letter of medical necessity from the weight loss surgeon, as well as evaluations from a bariatric dietitian and psychologist.

How long on average does it take to get all the documentation needed?

With the BCBS changing its requirements, you will be able to obtain all the documentation needed for surgery approval within one to two days. At DayOne Health, you will be able to get most of your documentation ready during your first consultation with a surgeon. While the psychologist is not available here on site, DayOne Health is closely working with two psychologists that have their offices just a few blocks from our main office. In other words, with proper planning you’ll get everything you need to start the insurance approval process in one day. Following the submission of all documentation, it usually takes up to 30 days to hear whether the surgery was approved or not. At DayOne Health we try to make the whole process as easy as possible for our patients by taking care of most of the groundwork. However, if you have any questions considering your policy, coverage, approval, or appeal process, you can contact our insurance coordinator any time and discuss the best strategy.

If you have any questions considering our DayOne Health lap-band program or would like to speak to our insurance coordinator about your coverage call our Chicago clinic at (312) 239-3838.

Image from here

January is traditionally the time of New Year’s resolutions. How about you? Did you make any yourself? Let the New Year inspire you to aspire. No matter whether your New Year’s resolutions are about weight or something else, here are some tips on how to make those resolutions not melt away with the beginning of February.

1. Start slowly

Habit change is probably one of the hardest things to do. Especially if the bad habit is pleasurable, and change may not seem to be as pleasant (beginnings are always hard). So how can you change? Start slowly. Habit forming is a slow process, and breaking a habit with a new habit should be a slow process too. It’s not that no one can do it. We all know someone who has quit something, or at least claims he or she did, cold turkey. Nevertheless, by attacking your habits with an all-or-nothing attitude, in reality you greatly diminish your chances. Start slowly and keep expectations modest and realistic – that’s how to best start on resolutions. Set yourself achievable goals and be positively surprised when you meet them. Don’t confuse starting slowly with setting yourself up for failure; by starting slow you’re setting yourself up for a long-term success.

Lap-Bander Tip from DayOne Health:

No matter if you have a lap-band or not, everyone has their good times and bad times. If you feel like you have fallen off the dieting wagon, the New Year is a great moment to get back on track.

• If you have a band, get an adjustment.
• If you’re eating portions that are too large or you’re just eating the wrong foods come and visit us, or talk to your dietitian.
• The best place to begin your diet is to start a food log. After a few days of keeping track of what you’re eating and in what amounts, this will give you a rough idea on where to make some cuts. Don’t change everything at once, and get tired after two weeks. Instead, make changes gradually.

2. Tell everyone around you

Depending on what your New Year’s resolution is, you may consider telling other people around you. Despite the social norm that resolutions shouldn’t be told out loud, you should definitely consider breaking that rule. After all, why wouldn’t you? Maybe you’re worried that if you fail others will know… Well, that’s the point. Your friends and family will be your external motivators. Don’t set yourself up for failure by assuming you’re not going to tell anyone because you’re afraid of failure. Boldly step up and let your friends know. You’ll see how much easier it is to make changes with the support of your closest ones.

Lap-Bander Tip from DayOne Health:

We understand that talking about your weight can be a hard thing to do. Things might not have worked out for you in the past, and maybe you’re afraid more than ever for people to judge you on the basis of prior experiences. You may really not feel like sharing the idea with anyone. Nevertheless, it is good if you have someone there to support you in your quest.

• If you don’t feel comfortable telling everyone, tell just your closest family member or a friend.
• If you are a DayOne Health patient, but you don’t feel like talking to anyone from your surroundings about the lap-band or your weight loss, call us. We’re here to help you get through all the good and all the bad.

3. Team up

Sometimes the best support you can find is in those who have made the same resolutions. Team up and support each other in your quest. Your resolution buddy will get you out of trouble when you fall back on your promises, and if your resolution requires any activities like working out, you’ll have someone to join you at the gym. If you’re planning on quitting smoking, there’s no better companion than the co-worker you’re going with on smoking breaks. If you feel like you’re already falling off the New Years resolution wagon, get out there and find your resolution buddy!

Lap-Bander Tip from DayOne Health:

At DayOne Health we have many patients who have received their band along with a friend or a spouse. Having a partner in your weight loss journey is one of the best things you can do. There is no better way to get through your lap-band experience than to have someone around you who can understand everything you’re going through because he or she was or is in the exact same place. If you don’t have anyone to team up with you, let DayOne Health and our patient advocate be your team for rainy days. Gladys, our patient advocate, is a lap-bander herself and will be more than happy to talk to you about her gastric band experience. Gladys will not only answer all of your questions about the procedure, but will be able to provide you with the insight that only a fellow lap-band patient can provide.

4. Reward yourself

Every time you’re doing good, reward yourself. Find something you like, and every time you feel you met your goal for the day/week/month, give yourself a small gift. If you’re goal is to lose a certain number of pounds, cook something or eat something you love as a reward. If you’re trying quit smoking, you may put aside all the money you would be spending on cigarettes, and once you reach a nice sum buy yourself something nice. The prize can be anything, from a time of relaxation to a material incentive. Never allow a victory to pass unnoticed!

Lap-Bander Tip from DayOne Health:

• If you are significantly overweight and you are ready to change, make 2012 your year to become a new, healthier you. Call our Chicago clinic today and schedule your one-on-one consultation with a lap-band surgeon.
• If you would just like to talk about the lap-band procedure or our DayOne Health weight loss program, call our patient advocate and a lap-band patient at 312-239-3838.

*Image from here.

Fibrous Foods

Number one on the list of foods that get stuck easily is any kind of fibrous food such as raw veggies and certain fruits (especially their skins). Usual offenders are asparagus, broccoli, celery, mango, grapes, pineapple, apple skin, grapefruit membranes, and corn on the cob. All of those can get easily stuck in your stoma, which can cause swelling and discomfort in your stomach. If you really like any of these fibrous offenders, or any other foods that are getting stuck, try to make them less strenuous on your stomach. In other words, if it’s the skin that bothers you, peel it off; if the whole veggie or a fruit is a problem, remember to chew it thoroughly before swallowing. In the case of veggies, cooking them well can also help with the texture problem.

Sticky gets stuck easier

Sticky and gooey foods can get you in trouble. Foods like peanut butter and doughy breads can plug your stoma, and even come back up. The same thing can happen with rice or pasta. Either eat them carefully in small amounts, or avoid all of those doughy dumplings, bagels, and sticky rice all together. Dough and bread may be especially difficult to deal with because it swells and becomes more sticky and stretchy once it gets into your stomach.

Tougher than you think

The kind of meat that goes down the easiest is the well-cooked kind. Undercooked, cold, or dry meats may give you a hard time while going down, or not want to go down at all. Many patients say that it’s better for them to reheat their foods on the stove or the oven instead of a microwave. Because of how the microwave heats up the food, it very often dries it up in the process. If you don’t have any other way to warm up your lunch other than a microwave, add some water to it before heating. It will keep the food moist, and make it easier on your stomach. Some patients report problems with red meat, since it’s tougher and more fibrous than the white meat. In the case of inherently tougher meats we advise our DayOne Health patients to just take their time and chew it a little more.

Say no to soda

Soda or any bubbly drink can cause gas pressure and discomfort. Try to avoid carbonated drinks all together. If you cannot completely swear off soda, try to leave the bottle or can open for a little before drinking. Letting some carbonation out from the soda before drinking will decrease your discomfort later on. Nevertheless, remember that what’s worst about soda is not the gas, but the sugar content. The sooner, you’ll get the soda out of your diet, the better.

Although the items above sometimes appear in DayOne Health patients’ stories, remember that everyone is different. As a lap-bander you may have your own list of problematic foods that may include only a few of these or different items. The list above is meant to give you an idea of what may cause you problems, but it doesn’t have to. You can always contact a DayOne dietitian to discuss your lap-band diet.

If you have any questions regarding lap-band procedure, or our DayOne Health weight loss surgery program please contact a lap-band patient and our patient advocate at 312-239-3838 or schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of our weight loss surgeons.

You already did your research, chose the weight loss program, and booked your consultation, and now your weight loss team will help you to determine whether you are a good candidate for the lap-band procedure. In order to do that, we at DayOne Health will need to learn about your eating habits, BMI, medical history, and previous weight loss efforts. If you wish to use your insurance to pay for the procedure, we will also need your insurance information.

Do I need to prepare any documentation before coming to consultation?

At DayOne Health we ask our patients to bring only a photo id and a copy of their insurance card. Once you come to your appointment, the doctor will talk to you about your overall health, medications, and any past surgeries. Your medical history is important to us, and during your first visit the doctor will let you know whether you need any supplemental tests. Most often, a bariatric surgeon will ask for additional testing such as sleep study, or chest x-ray if he suspects that a patient has some undiagnosed condition that may interfere with the surgery. Some of the additional testing such as blood work can be done at DayOne Health. Also, you don’t have to worry about checking your insurance policy. Once we have your insurance information, our insurance coordinator will be able to verify whether you have bariatric coverage or not.

How to do your initial insurance verification

If you are not sure if your insurance policy covers a lap-band procedure, and you would like to know before visiting the clinic, you can do an initial insurance verification yourself. To get the information regarding your policy, you will need to call the number on the back of your card. However, before doing that you will need to know your height, weight, BMI, diet, and whether your medical history is significant for any weight associated conditions. Once you have all of that information, talk to the representative and ask whether your policy covers bariatric surgery. If the answer is yes, you can ask whether it covers the adjustable gastric band procedure specifically. Finally, ask whether you can choose any doctor to do the procedure or whether there are any surgeon restrictions. If you would like to read more on how to do your own initial insurance verification, you are more than welcome to visit our insurance page for more detailed instructions. Regardless, remember that we’re here for you, and that we are here to help you make those initial steps.

What is the next step after the consultation?

Depending on whether you decide to pay for your weight loss procedure out of your own pocket or if you can have your insurance pay for it, there might be different steps that you will need to take after your first visit. For instance, while some insurance companies do not require anything more than your height, weight, and medical history to cover the lap-band procedure, some policies may want you to go through a six month diet program and undergo a psychological evaluation prior to approving you for the lap-band procedure. Also, if your lap-band surgeon asks you to do some additional testing, you will either have to have them done at the weight loss clinic, or make appointments in another facility.

Having said that, if your policy doesn’t require any additional documentation or you decide to go the self-pay route, and you have no medical conditions that require testing, your next step is to schedule your preoperative visit.

If you would like to hear more about the lap-band procedure or a DayOne Health weight loss program, contact our Chicago clinic at 312-239-3838 or e-mail at pcc-chicago@dayonehealth.com. To speak with a bariatric surgeon, schedule your one-on-one consultation.

Where should I start my lap-band journey?

A great place to start is the internet. Do your research and learn as much as possible before contacting a doctor. Having most of the basic aspects figured out will help you formulate more specific questions during your first consultation. We tried to put as much useful information throughout our website as possible, but if you feel that you could use some more detailed information about the device you should definitely visit the manufacturer’s page (lapband.com). Reading blogs, articles, and forums may also be a great source of information; nevertheless, when going through all the information, always remember to be critical towards what you read. Always check the author or the organization that published the article. When it comes to forum posts, keep in mind that those who usually post are from two opposite sides of the spectrum – either extremely happy or disappointed. Remember that the most common lap-band experience lies in between, and try not to get too excited or freaked out with what you read.

Which weight loss program to choose?

Currently there are many surgeons that offer the lap-band procedure. Nevertheless, when deciding on who will do your weight loss surgery, always check credentials, years of experience, and reviews from other patients. When looking for a doctor, make sure that he or she is not only a surgeon, but also is a part of a comprehensive weight loss program. Remember, the surgery is just the beginning; the follow up program is the key. It is best to find a program with a dietitian and a follow up program that will help you keep to your adjustment schedule and on track with your diet. A good program should also have an insurance specialist to help you jump through the hoops of the health insurance bureaucracy approval process.

What will my first appointment with the surgeon look like?

Once you choose your weight loss program, book your first appointment. During your first visit, your surgeon will discuss with you everything you need to know about the band and the procedure. You will also meet the support staff. At DayOne Health, if you decide to use your insurance or need financing to pay for your surgery, you will most definitely meet with our financial coordinator. She will discuss with you all the requirements stated on your policy, as well as assist in filing a financing application. You will also meet with a dietitian. The bariatric dietitian will discuss your eating habits, dieting requirements just before and after the procedure, and a long-term diet plan once the lap-band is in place.

If you would like to learn more about the DayOne Health weight loss program and lap-band procedure call our patient advocate and a lap-band patient at 312-239-3838 or schedule a one-on-one consultation with a lap-band surgeon.

For lap-banders, stretching the stomach can be especially tricky, and that is why if you feel your portions are getting bigger than 4 oz, it is extremely important that you become more conscious of your serving size and try to cut back. Easier said than done, right? Well, it’s not easy to cut down on your portions once you stretch your stomach, that’s for sure. That is why at DayOne Health, we came up with a four step stomach-shrinking plan for lap-band patients to make getting back on the dieting wagon a little easier.

Step #1:  Back to Basics

Do you remember your first week after your weight loss procedure? Trying the liquid diet from time to time can be very beneficial – especially if you feel that you may have exerted your stomach too much. By no means should you treat the liquid diet as a regular post lap-band diet; nevertheless, when your stomach is in distress either due to swelling or stretching, staying on liquids is your best bet. While on liquids you must remember to monitor your calorie intake, make sure you get enough protein, and watch your carbs. Depending on how long you strained your stomach and how severe the pouch is, we advise our DayOne Health patients to stay on liquids for two to three days.

Below you’ll find a short list of things that we usually recommend to DayOne Health patients. If you have questions regarding portioning, please reference your dieting booklet or contact your bariatric dietitian. So the first step of your diet will revolve around:

• Low-carb protein shakes
• Clear or cream soups
• Sugar-free jello or pudding
• Low-sugar popsicles

Step#2:  Soft Foods

The second step is the slow progression from liquids to soft foods. Soft doesn’t mean typical “slider” foods that will go straight though the band, but soft protein and things like soft fruit and veggies that will fill your stomach and are at the same time easier to digest. During this part of the diet, you can steam your veggies as a side or a snack, or munch on berries. In terms of meat we advise our patients to stick to fish, steamed or canned. If you find your canned tuna to be rather dry, you can add some low fat mayo to ease it up, but not too much so it doesn’t slide right past through the band.

During this phase it is important that you portion your food well. To prevent overeating, measure your food and make sure your portions are between one or half a cup. The objective is to get your stomach back to its original size it was fresh after the lap-band procedure. Also, it is very important for you to keep to the rule of not drinking with your meals. Wait half an hour with your meal after drinking, and don’t drink earlier than half an hour after a meal. Drinking with your food will put the strain on your pouch again, and make the food slide faster down the band. So, keep your drinking separate from your eating at all times and continue the soft food diet for two days.

Step #3:  Firm up

After soft foods, you can start on firmer protein like ground meets and seafood. Again, make sure your portion size is appropriate, meaning four ounces of solid food three times a day, plus two 100 calorie snacks in between. By now you should feel that your stomach shrunk, and hopefully you are able to feel full after eating considerably smaller portions.

Step #4:  Back to Normal

By the end of the week you can finally start eating regular foods again. Nevertheless, you still need to watch your portions. This last step includes implementing all the golden rules of the lap-band diet while eating regular foods. Now when your stomach shrunk back, you should not have problem with getting full on four ounces of food. Remember not to drink before, during, or right after your meals, eat three meals a day, and count your calories. Also, observe whether you get full on four ounces of food. If you notice that you are still hungry after you ate the recommended portion, you should contact your weight loss clinic. Most probably your band is just too loose and you need some extra fluid put in.

We hope that this simple four-step plan will help you get back on track. Please remember that all our DayOne Health patients are more than welcome to call us any time to schedule their appointments or discuss their eating.

If you are not DayOne Health patient, but you would like to hear more about our lap-band program call our Chicago weight loss clinic at 312-239-3838 and speak to real lap-band patient about our comprehensive weight loss program. You can also schedule your one-on-one consultation with a lap-band surgeon.

1. Don’t graze

No matter if you’re a lap-band patient or not, grazing can get you into scale trouble. Grazing is dangerous because it makes you eat over time far more than you would in one sitting. In addition, foods you graze are usually high-calorie, high-fat finger foods which, as you probably know, are not considered to be the healthiest option. In other words, you should try to avoid grazing, listen to your body, and eat only when you’re hungry. If you feel like snacking, you should definitely watch the amount and calorie content of what you snack on. As we say at DayOne Health, Thanksgiving may be a special day, but a bowl of chips is no special way to celebrate it.

2. Don’t starve yourself all day

I guess everyone has tried it, and I definitely did, to promise myself that I won’t eat the entire day to save myself some spare calories for a delicious dinner. Nevertheless, I almost always end up terribly overeating! After starving whole day, finally the dinner comes and before I catch myself, I already have two plates cleaned and looking for a dessert. The way to deal with it is to treat Thanksgiving as a regular day in terms of eating. Eat a light breakfast, lunch, and then dinner. Don’t starve yourself, eat regular meals and you will see it will pay off. You’ll start your meal more relaxed, eat more slowly, and as a result considerably decrease your chances of seriously overeating.

3. One plate, no seconds

Prepare your plate, and tell yourself that this is it. Normally you wouldn’t eat three plates of the main course right? Well, try to apply the same rule during your Thanksgiving dinner. No nibbling, no seconds, be honest with yourself. You can try everything that is on the table, as long as everything stays in small few bite-size portions. If you allow yourself seconds, you allow yourself to double the healthy portion. Don’t put too much on your plate either; especially if you’re a type that hates to leave food on the plate. Simply having a bigger portion may in and of itself cause you to eat more than for what you have a room. If you’re a DayOne Health patient, your dietitian most likely showed you the preferred portion size for a lap-bander. If you have trouble with measuring appropriate serving size, you can always use a smaller plate.

4. Eat only special food

Not everything on the Thanksgiving table will be special. While roasted turkey is definitely a special dish, mashed potatoes not so much. During your Thanksgiving dinner try to focus mostly on what’s special and you can’t eat every day. This easy trick will cut the number of dishes and your portion size without leaving you unsatisfied. So, load up your plate with turkey, cranberry, sweet yams, and green bean casserole. Make the strain on your calorie budget worth it.

5. Remember about small bites

This advice is especially important for lap-banders. As we all know turkey can be a problematic food for large majority of lap-band patients. After all, spending Thanksgiving in the ER with a piece of turkey stuck in your band is not how anyone imagines his or her celebration. At DayOne Health we can’t stress enough, to prevent getting stuck remember to take small bites and chew them well. Even if you don’t have a band you should also try to eat slow and chew each bite well. When you eat slowly you can tell when you’re full faster and the food gets digested more easily. In other words, no matter if you have a band or not, try to enjoy your dinner longer and stay healthy.

6. Focus on weight maintenance

While many try to keep up with their weight loss curve, at DayOne Health we advise our patients to focus rather on weight maintenance than weight loss. While it’s mainly about self control, don’t be too strict on yourself. Instead of fixating on food and calorie counting, try to focus on friends and family. Don’t make food a central issue and torment yourself over losing another pound during the holiday – just give yourself an objective of not gaining extra weight and that should be more than enough.

7. Stay active

There is no better way to prevent weight gain than staying active. We’re not talking about some major activity here, but a solution as simple as a walk after dinner. While increasing physical activity is one of the main points of lap-band diet, there is no doubt anyone can greatly benefit from a few additional minutes of activity. Who said that physical activity counts only if you end up in sweat and tears? It all counts. So get the family together and go for a walk to burn off some of those delicious calories in fresh air.

If you have any questions in regards to lap-band diet or a DayOne Health weight loss program call our patient advocate and a lap-band patient at 312-239-3838 or schedule a one-on-one consultation with a weight loss surgeon.

Cooking? I don’t have time for that…

We live in busy times, and one of the arguments we hear from our DayOne Health patients as to why they don’t cook at home is that they don’t have enough time. Systematic cooking definitely requires good planning and some extra time. Nevertheless, once you figure out the planning part, you’ll be surprised how much cheaper, healthier, and more efficient your eating will become. Why do we say that planning is the key? It’s simple. If you plan your weekly menu you can do all the shopping you need in advance and prepare some of the ingredients right after buying. Simple things like marinating your meat in advance, or cutting and portioning your veggies can save you a lot of time on evenings when you prepare the dinner. You not only save money but also prevent yourself from buying unhealthy snacks at work– why would you need to buy anything if you have food you can bring from home? Whatever you don’t finish, you can have the next day for lunch.

DayOne Health Tip #1:

• Plan and cook your meals in advance
• Prepare some of your ingredients beforehand
• Freeze half prepared and fully prepared portions for later
• Take leftovers to work for lunch

Lap-Band Portioning

If you are considering lap-band or you are already a lap-band patient, planning your meals is an inherent part of your new lap-bander lifestyle. With all the nutritional information you will get from your dietitian as well as a diet plan that you will work on, you will learn very quickly that preparing your meals is the best and the most efficient way of staying on track. There is no better way of assessing how much protein or carbs you have in meals than reviewing and measuring the ingredients you use in your cooking.

When eating out restaurant menus don’t give you nutritional info to work with – you can rarely tell what nutrients are included, what quantities are in each dish, calorie content, or size of the portions you order. In addition, the fact that the portions served in restaurants are far bigger than what you should eat, the mere size of the meal encourages you overeat. That is also why we advise DayOne health patients to order appetizers instead of main dishes. And, although there is a way to go about it, we strongly recommend that you cook your own food. Again, preparing your own meal will give you a far better feeling about what you eat and in what amounts.

DayOne Health Tip #2:

• Prepare smaller portions as recommended by your dietitian
• Eat from a small plate
• When cooking, estimate the caloric content and nutritional value of your ingredients
• In restaurants, order appetizers instead of main dishes

How to eat with your Lap-band?

A lap-band will definitely help you with portioning, but you need to remember to also monitor the nutritional value of what you eat. Also, try to observe which foods you can eat and which you can’t. After lap-band surgery some patients say they can’t tolerate certain foods; remember to let your bariatric dietitian know if you are not tolerating certain foods. If those happen to be food items with important nutrients that your body needs, you and your nutritionist will need to discuss possible substitutes. Because lap-band is mainly directed at minimizing the feeling of hunger, it is necessary that you eat three regular meals a day with some low calorie snacking in between. If you decide to prepare your own meals, you will soon notice that those healthy main course choices will soon also influence your snacking behaviors. While in the supermarket, buy yourself healthy snacks that you can take to work. Emancipate yourself from the vending machine and your co-workers’ candy drawers. It will not only directly help your diet, but will give you the sense of self-control and propel your long-term weight loss.

If you would like to hear more about the DayOne Health weight-loss program, or lap-band procedure contact real lap-band patient and our patient advocate at 312-239-3838 or schedule your one-on-one consultation with a lap-band surgeon today!

What is a gallbladder and how does it work?

The gallbladder is a small sac located below your liver in the right upper abdomen. The gallbladder is a storage area for bile that is produced in the liver. When bile is needed, the gallbladder pushes it out into the common bile duct that carries it to the small intestine. Once the bile is in duodenum, bile salts break down fat and help with digestion. While gallbladder stones are formed in the gallbladder, it is when they pass through the ducts that they can get lodged causing inflammation of the gallbladder, ducts, or the liver. If left untreated, gallstones can lead to infection and even death.

What are gallstones?

The gallstones are pebble-like substances, usually hardened cholesterol, which form in the gallbladder and may travel to the bile ducts causing blockage or inflammation. Gallstones usually develop as a direct result of chemical imbalance in bile stored in the gallbladder. Researchers usually lists main causes of gallstones conditions as increased amount of cholesterol, inadequate amount of bile salts, or incomplete emptying of the gallbladder. The stones vary in size from a grain of salt to a golf ball, and their mere presence can cause formation of additional stones. If you have a family history prone to gallstones, are overweight or diabetic, eat foods high in cholesterol and low in fiber, and/or you’ve experienced significant weight loss, you are at an increased risk of developing gallstones.

Gallstones and weight

If you are a bariatric patient you have an increased risk of developing gallstones, first due to your higher weight and co-morbidities associated with it, as well as the relatively rapid weight loss. If you are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs you are at an even higher risk because the medication, while decreasing the amount of cholesterol in blood, significantly increases its amount secreted into the bile. The relationship between higher BMI and gallstones comes from the reduced amount of bile salts. Decreased amount of bile salts leads to higher concentration of cholesterol. This in turn, interferes with the emptying of gallbladder and further increases the risk of developing gallstones.

Lap-band and gallstones

Even though you will cut down on most of the fatty foods after the lap-band procedure and your new eating habits will largely improve your co-morbidities, change in diet may contribute to the development of gallstones. Prolonged fasting or “crash diets” can cause the liver to secrete more cholesterol than normal into the bile causing gallstones. If you keep on track with our lap-band giveaway contest winner, Amy, you will know that this is exactly was what happened to her. After losing almost 90lbs in ten months after her lap-band procedure, Amy experienced what is commonly referred to as  “gallbladder attack”. With strong stomach pain, Amy rushed into the ER where she was diagnosed with gallstones. Like most of the patients, Amy initially didn’t associate her pain with her gallbladder; after all, she’s avoided fatty foods and watched her diet. If you are at increased risk of developing gallstones don’t ignore prolonged pain, nausea and vomiting, or a fever. If you think you may be experiencing the gallbladder attack, contact your doctor immediately.

If you are interested in lap-band procedure or you are interested in our DayOne Health comprehensive weight loss program, contact our patient advocate at 312-239-3838 or schedule your one-on-one consultation with a weight loss surgeon.