Interesting article on Yahoo! news today about the growing obesity epidemic. The article states that by 2030, 42% of all Americans will be more than 100 pounds overweight. That's a big number - it's nearly half the country. There are many reasons for this; however, I believe that the transition from an agricultural society to a technology society is the most directly attributable cause. Our ancestors (not so long ago) had to work hard - from sunrise to sunset, with no electricity, to get their work done. Groups like the Amish that still practice this lifestyle exhibit its benefits. Not that it isn't out there somewhere, but I've yet to see an obese Amish person.
The simple statement "Eat less, exercise more" that comes from people who aren't overweight or obese is a fallacy for most of us. If it were truly that simple, don't you think we would have done just that? There are many demons you battle when you're overweight, too many for me to list here, but at the end of the day you have to just stand up and decide to do something about it. My choice is weight loss surgery, but even that can be defeated by eating a high calorie diet (think malts, shakes, candy bars, etc.). But why would I want to go through all this just to eat like that? No, my reason for losing weight isn't to be able to eat those types of foods, but to extend my life and learn the right types of food and amounts to eat.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Lean Cuisine and Greek Yogurt
I used to enjoy eating one, and occasionally two, Hungry Man (R) TV Dinners for supper. One of the big things prior to surgery is starting to change your diet. This is important not only to help shrink the liver, but also to help you transition to the way you'll be eating the rest of your life. I've given up the Hungry Man (R) TV Dinners in favor of Lean Cuisine. If you've never tried them, Lean Cuisine has a wide variety of smaller dinners that are balanced for those of us trying to lose weight. It's not a good idea to eat them all the time, though, because the sodium content can be high.
Greek yogurt is a high-protein yogurt, with almost twice the protein of regular yogurt. This is important, because one of the things post-op patients need most is protein. Why? Protein is the building blocks your body uses to make things like cells, hair, fingernails, and so on. If you don't eat enough protein, your body will start taking it from your muscles, and you'll get weak. Definitely not what I want to have happen. Exactly how much protein you need will be explained to you before surgery and in the instructions sent home with you when you're out of the hospital.
So what's so special, aside from the higher protein, about Greek yogurt? It's the perfect thing to mix things with - for example, you could make a high-protein chocolate mint smoothie with it. That may sound counter intuitive, because we're trying to lose weight, right? Let me explain. As it turns out, dark, unsweetened chocolate is actually good for you. But it's bitter and nasty to eat plain. I'm sure there are people out there who can do it, but if you're like me, you'd rather it taste a little better. I also love mint. Mint and chocolate go great together. Since the chocolate is unsweetened, it's healthy. The mint can either be mint extract or sugar-free mint syrup (like what you put in coffee). So now we have the flavor, we just need a delivery system. You could use skim milk alone, but to me that's too thin. So, if you mix in Greek yogurt in the skim milk, it thickens like a shake. You could drink this like this, but it could be improved. Add in a scoop or two of your favorite low-sugar protein powder and 2-3 tablespoons of Splenda. Blend well in a blender. Try it. It should taste like chocolate mint ice cream. Delicious. Good for you, too.
Greek yogurt is a high-protein yogurt, with almost twice the protein of regular yogurt. This is important, because one of the things post-op patients need most is protein. Why? Protein is the building blocks your body uses to make things like cells, hair, fingernails, and so on. If you don't eat enough protein, your body will start taking it from your muscles, and you'll get weak. Definitely not what I want to have happen. Exactly how much protein you need will be explained to you before surgery and in the instructions sent home with you when you're out of the hospital.
So what's so special, aside from the higher protein, about Greek yogurt? It's the perfect thing to mix things with - for example, you could make a high-protein chocolate mint smoothie with it. That may sound counter intuitive, because we're trying to lose weight, right? Let me explain. As it turns out, dark, unsweetened chocolate is actually good for you. But it's bitter and nasty to eat plain. I'm sure there are people out there who can do it, but if you're like me, you'd rather it taste a little better. I also love mint. Mint and chocolate go great together. Since the chocolate is unsweetened, it's healthy. The mint can either be mint extract or sugar-free mint syrup (like what you put in coffee). So now we have the flavor, we just need a delivery system. You could use skim milk alone, but to me that's too thin. So, if you mix in Greek yogurt in the skim milk, it thickens like a shake. You could drink this like this, but it could be improved. Add in a scoop or two of your favorite low-sugar protein powder and 2-3 tablespoons of Splenda. Blend well in a blender. Try it. It should taste like chocolate mint ice cream. Delicious. Good for you, too.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
I'm Horizontally Challenged
It's amazing the lengths we will go to in order to avoid thinking something's wrong. Having been a frequent customer at the Big & Tall shop for men, I've heard dozens of people (myself included) cover up the fact that we're fat. To us, fat is a dirty word. We're not fat; that's reserved for someone else, not me. We're horizontally challenged, I've heard. I see the resigned, almost pitying look that thin salespeople give me, as I'm trying to find the right 4X shirt. I don't dare ask them, "Does this shirt make me look....oh, never mind", for fear they'll actually tell me. The salespeople in the clothing stores at the mall,where my kids shop, look at me as if an elephant has wandered into the store - one that needs constant watching, lest I disrupt some carefully crafted display with my bulk.
The first step in fixing a problem is admitting that you have one. I'm saying to you that it's ok to come out of the closet and admit it. Yeah, it's tough, especially for guys, to admit you don't have control of something in your life. Trust me, you'll feel better after you do it, because then you know that you can get real help. There really are people out there who want to help you, including your bariatric team.
The first step in fixing a problem is admitting that you have one. I'm saying to you that it's ok to come out of the closet and admit it. Yeah, it's tough, especially for guys, to admit you don't have control of something in your life. Trust me, you'll feel better after you do it, because then you know that you can get real help. There really are people out there who want to help you, including your bariatric team.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
What To Expect When You're Expecting (Bariatric Surgery, that is)
A note to those who are considering bariatric surgery: it's expensive, even if it's done outside of the US, but it'll extend your life much longer than if you don't have it. The decision to do this isn't easy. I spent weeks, even months, deciding if this is what I wanted.
The type of surgery I'm having is known as "Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy". Basically what this means is that they're going to slice me open like a melon, hack off about 3/4th of my stomach so it looks like a bananna, and staple what's left back together. Fortunately, this can be done laproscopically. I do have my weight to thank for my vast understanding of medical terms - I'd never heard of most of this before going through this process.
My surgery is scheduled for May 29th.
In case you're wondering about the process, I'll explain how it worked for me. When I first decided to look into surgery, I had to attend an informational session with other potential bariatric patients. They take your weight and insurance information (if you have insurance), and send you into a shared session with the surgeons who explain the different procedures.
Additionally, my surgeon requires a psychiatric evaluation, a cardiologist evaluation, and a sleep apnea test. My insurance required two months of dietician meetings. Once you accomplish all of that, they'll send in the paperwork to your insurance for pre-approval. Your next few weeks will be in limbo, as you play the waiting game and try not to get any bigger.
When you're pre-approved, things start happening quickly; you'll have an h.pylori breath test to make sure you don't have any nasty bacteria growing in your stomach. Note to GERD patients - you'll probably have to stop taking your heartburn medicine for 2 weeks; there's alternate medicine, but it's not as strong. You'll have an ultrasound scheduled, and a complete physical examination. You'll be required to attend teaching sessions to learn how to eat after surgery (you didn't think this would be easy, did you?) and you will have a pulmonary function test.
The point of all these tests is to make sure you're healthy enough to be put under, chopped, canned, and put back on the shelf. Your body and your life will forever be altered because of this surgery. Keep the end goal in mind - you'll be much healthier very quickly; you joints won't hurt, you'll walk through a store with ease, you'll be able to exercise and enjoy it, and you'll (let's face it, we're guys) enjoy a better sex life.
You may be thinking that you'll have to give up everything you like as far as food goes. Try not to think of it as what you're losing; think of what you're gaining. You're getting a chance to have a healthy diet, and remember that eating your old foods is what got you to this point. I'm not saying you can never enjoy mashed potatoes, or ice cream, or a cold beer - but you've got to have these sparingly, if you want to stay thin. Some of us are so carb sensitive that even a little bit of food like that will cause you to gain weight. And make no mistake - you can, and will, gain weight if you choose your food poorly.
After your surgery, you'll start with clear liquids for a week. You'll then go to non-clear liquids, like milk, but no solid food. This lasts about a week or two. After that, you'll eat finely blended food or baby food for a week or two. Beyond that, you can slowly begin introducing regular solid foods into your diet. You will have to chew your food excessively, and you'll only be able to eat a few tablespoons before you're full.
You will have to take a vitamin for the rest of your life, because of your restricted diet. Learn to love water. Carbonated beverages will be a challenge - you may or may not be able to tolerate these. More to come on diet in future entries....
The type of surgery I'm having is known as "Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy". Basically what this means is that they're going to slice me open like a melon, hack off about 3/4th of my stomach so it looks like a bananna, and staple what's left back together. Fortunately, this can be done laproscopically. I do have my weight to thank for my vast understanding of medical terms - I'd never heard of most of this before going through this process.
My surgery is scheduled for May 29th.
In case you're wondering about the process, I'll explain how it worked for me. When I first decided to look into surgery, I had to attend an informational session with other potential bariatric patients. They take your weight and insurance information (if you have insurance), and send you into a shared session with the surgeons who explain the different procedures.
Additionally, my surgeon requires a psychiatric evaluation, a cardiologist evaluation, and a sleep apnea test. My insurance required two months of dietician meetings. Once you accomplish all of that, they'll send in the paperwork to your insurance for pre-approval. Your next few weeks will be in limbo, as you play the waiting game and try not to get any bigger.
When you're pre-approved, things start happening quickly; you'll have an h.pylori breath test to make sure you don't have any nasty bacteria growing in your stomach. Note to GERD patients - you'll probably have to stop taking your heartburn medicine for 2 weeks; there's alternate medicine, but it's not as strong. You'll have an ultrasound scheduled, and a complete physical examination. You'll be required to attend teaching sessions to learn how to eat after surgery (you didn't think this would be easy, did you?) and you will have a pulmonary function test.
The point of all these tests is to make sure you're healthy enough to be put under, chopped, canned, and put back on the shelf. Your body and your life will forever be altered because of this surgery. Keep the end goal in mind - you'll be much healthier very quickly; you joints won't hurt, you'll walk through a store with ease, you'll be able to exercise and enjoy it, and you'll (let's face it, we're guys) enjoy a better sex life.
You may be thinking that you'll have to give up everything you like as far as food goes. Try not to think of it as what you're losing; think of what you're gaining. You're getting a chance to have a healthy diet, and remember that eating your old foods is what got you to this point. I'm not saying you can never enjoy mashed potatoes, or ice cream, or a cold beer - but you've got to have these sparingly, if you want to stay thin. Some of us are so carb sensitive that even a little bit of food like that will cause you to gain weight. And make no mistake - you can, and will, gain weight if you choose your food poorly.
After your surgery, you'll start with clear liquids for a week. You'll then go to non-clear liquids, like milk, but no solid food. This lasts about a week or two. After that, you'll eat finely blended food or baby food for a week or two. Beyond that, you can slowly begin introducing regular solid foods into your diet. You will have to chew your food excessively, and you'll only be able to eat a few tablespoons before you're full.
You will have to take a vitamin for the rest of your life, because of your restricted diet. Learn to love water. Carbonated beverages will be a challenge - you may or may not be able to tolerate these. More to come on diet in future entries....
Tales From The Fat Side
Even when I was a little boy, I was a big boy. I remember my mom taking me to Sears and having to shop in the "Husky" section. Other kids had all kinds of names for me - piggy, porker, lard boy, fatso...the list goes on and on. Nod your head if you know what I mean.
After high school, I went into farming; I lost a ton of weight and was actually the thinnest I'd ever been. The good thing was that I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight. I really thought that I finally had this weight thing under control.
After a few years, I got burned out, and went to school to learn computers. I got a "desk" job, which was nice because a desk doesn't kick you when you sit down by it. The problem was that I kept eating like I was still farming. Pretty soon, I was not only as big as I'd been before, but even bigger. My expansion continued until I weighed almost 350 pounds (I'm 5' 8" tall).
I started taking more medications than most nursing home patients take (and I know, my mom's a nurse), and had a plethora of health issues - gerd (gastro-esophogel-reflux-disorder), sleep apnea, high blood pressure, various joint and foot problems, and gouty arthritis.
It got so bad I'd spend 10 minutes driving around a parking lot just to find a spot closer to the door, and forget about actually walking much in the store without taking frequent breaks. I couldn't exercise for more than a few minutes at a time without getting so winded I couldn't continue. I tried every diet plan there is - Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, and drank soup by the gallon to try to lose the extra weight. Nothing worked, and I stayed right at 350 pounds.
After much thought and soul searching, and far more than my fair share of salads, I decided to push the "reset" button and get bariatric surgery. There are other blogs out there that deal with obesity and surgery, but nothing that I found specifically for men. This blog will chronicle my experiences before, during, and after my surgery and since I've always loved to cook I'll include recipes as well.
After high school, I went into farming; I lost a ton of weight and was actually the thinnest I'd ever been. The good thing was that I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain weight. I really thought that I finally had this weight thing under control.
After a few years, I got burned out, and went to school to learn computers. I got a "desk" job, which was nice because a desk doesn't kick you when you sit down by it. The problem was that I kept eating like I was still farming. Pretty soon, I was not only as big as I'd been before, but even bigger. My expansion continued until I weighed almost 350 pounds (I'm 5' 8" tall).
I started taking more medications than most nursing home patients take (and I know, my mom's a nurse), and had a plethora of health issues - gerd (gastro-esophogel-reflux-disorder), sleep apnea, high blood pressure, various joint and foot problems, and gouty arthritis.
It got so bad I'd spend 10 minutes driving around a parking lot just to find a spot closer to the door, and forget about actually walking much in the store without taking frequent breaks. I couldn't exercise for more than a few minutes at a time without getting so winded I couldn't continue. I tried every diet plan there is - Atkins, South Beach, Weight Watchers, and drank soup by the gallon to try to lose the extra weight. Nothing worked, and I stayed right at 350 pounds.
After much thought and soul searching, and far more than my fair share of salads, I decided to push the "reset" button and get bariatric surgery. There are other blogs out there that deal with obesity and surgery, but nothing that I found specifically for men. This blog will chronicle my experiences before, during, and after my surgery and since I've always loved to cook I'll include recipes as well.
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