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Counseling: Weight Loss Surgery & the Right State of Mind

The power of positive thinking has long been recognized as playing a role in self-improvement efforts from career advancement to weight loss. If anyone thinks this mental power does not come into play for weight loss surgery participants because altering the digestive system is a physical change – they are mistaken. Patients’ mental and emotional states in relation to the physical change still matter. The right state of mind helps patients meet their weight loss goals, develop healthy lifestyles in addition to healthy bodies and accept the changes their bodies undergo. Counseling is a tool that encourages the state of mind that helps patients experience long-term weight loss success.  READ MORE

Tips for Adjusting to a New Portion Size

After undergoing weight loss surgery, patients must change their diets to fit their altered digestive systems. Although their stomachs have been surgically redesigned to accommodate food differently, there is much more to successful weight loss surgery than the physical changes that occur on the operating table. As patients adjust to their new stomachs, they must also adjust to a new concept of portion size. There are many tools in place to assist patients with dietary changes, including eating plans and nutrition consultations from their medical providers. Patients should take advantage of all available resources. They can also take some steps at home to help adjust their mindset to smaller portion sizes.  READ MORE

Recovering from Bariatric Surgery with Yoga

While the results of bariatric surgery are usually life changing, the process of recovering from surgery can be difficult to stave off potential patients. But recovery after bariatric surgery does not have to be painful or prolonged. Recent studies have shown that the implementation of regular yoga exercises can greatly relieve painful symptoms commonly experienced following weight loss surgery.  READ MORE

Vitamins and Supplements After Bariatric Surgery

Barker Bariatric Center

Bariatric surgery is weight loss surgery performed on obese or severely overweight individuals. Weight loss surgery patients need to take vitamins and supplements usually for the rest of their lives, but the types and amounts of supplements vary depending on the bariatric surgery procedure performed and the individual.  READ MORE

Exercise Safety After Bariatric Surgery

Barker Bariatric Center

Bariatric surgery helps patients who are obese lose weight. The surgery itself, however, is not a magic bullet to weight loss. Patients should eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly following surgery to meet their weight loss goals. Post-surgery exercise should be done carefully to avoid injury, and strenuous activity should be avoided at first.  READ MORE

Is gastric bypass surgery right for you?

Barker Bariatric Center

Most people have body issues. Many aren’t comfortable in their own skin. Maybe you’ve struggled with weight most of your life. But are you really a good candidate for gastric bypass? It depends. While your weight and more specifically, your Body Mass Index (BMI) — a calculation based on your height and weight determining whether you are a healthy weight, overweight, obese or morbidly obese — factor heavily into the equation, the most important one is whether or not the benefits of having the surgery outweigh the risks. And whether the benefits are long term.  READ MORE

My Birthday Wish

Barker Bariatric Center

Shelly’s Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Ice Cream 1/2 cup mashed Strawberries 2 Tablespoons Whipped Cream Cheese (fat free) 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (I used SF Vanilla) 1 cup Vanilla Soy Milk (or Regular Milk) 2 scoops Vanilla Protein Powder 1/4 cup chopped Strawberries …  READ MORE

Fashion Tips for Real Women

Barker Bariatric Center

1. Solid Colors-wear solid colors that compliment your skin tone. For example if you have olive or dark skin, you can wear all sorts of colors from deep purples to reds and even yellows, pretty much every color looks good, sorry, they’re just the lucky ones. If you have fair skin, avoid colors like yellow or washed out pastels. Colors like green, beige, black and medium purples generally look great on fair tones. 2. Avoid horizontal stripes or patterns. Vertical is ok but horizontal appears to be larger than actuality. Wavy stripes are ok if they are diagonal. …  READ MORE