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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Does the Cause Really Matter?

Why is obesity on the rise?

According to one recent study, technology is the culprit.

The worldwide study by the Milken Institute found that for every 10 percent increase in a country’s spending on communications technology, there’s a 1.4 percent increase in obesity rates.

That seems to ring true, doesn’t it? Think about the “screen” time we all spend … whether it’s high-definition TVs, smart phones, notepads, laptops or gaming devices. For people of all ages, these wonderful advancements can mean a more sedentary lifestyle.

And it’s not just an American phenomenon. The link between technology and obesity applied to all 27 countries in the study.

But just as we lead the way in technology, we also lead in obesity. In the USA, the obesity rate is 33.8 percent, followed by Mexico (30 percent), New Zealand (26.5 percent), Australia (24.6 percent) and Canada (24.2 percent).

And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by the year 2030, the U.S. obesity rate is expected to rise to 42 percent.

What is the true cause of this alarming trend?

Our answer: Does it matter?

Not really.

For people who are severely obese, the right question is: What can I do to get on the road to healthier life?

That’s where we come in. We’re dedicated to changing the lives of people with severe weight problems. If diets and exercise have not produced effective, lasting results for you, it’s time to learn more about weight-loss surgery.

We invite you to explore our website and our blog, where you can learn from the experiences of our patients who have graciously shared their stories.

Better yet, we invite you to attend one of our seminars, where you can meet our surgeons and patients face-to-face and get your questions answered. You can find our seminar schedule on this website.

You can also make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

Yes, inaction can contribute to obesity. But the good news is that the action of reaching out to learn more can be that first step to a new life.

Why not take that first step today?

Category: Expert Advice, Health Benefits, Obesity, Weight Loss

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Pamela’s Advice: Get the Information

Pamela is 45. She’s a paralegal in the New York area. Here’s her story:

“I was quite active when I was younger. I never was a plus-size until I hit my mid- to late 30s.

“When I was 28, I fell down some stairs, and I have a permanent back injury. Over the years, I’ve battled with that off and on. And as I’ve gotten older, it got worse. It became a vicious cycle: The less you can do, the more sedentary you become, the more weight you gain. And once you hit your late 30s, your metabolism changes. It just got harder to get the weight off.

“I used to see the New York Bariatric Group ads every day on the subway. At first, I was against surgery. I thought I should be able to lose weight myself through diet and exercise. But my problem was I couldn’t exercise any more. Every time I got on the elliptical machine, I got sciatic pain down my leg after 10 minutes.

“As my weight went up, my back problems got worse, and I was on that merry-go-round. I had to get off. It was a downward spiral. The more you gain, the less you can do, you get depressed, you gain more . . .

“One day, I was climbing up the subway stairs, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I thought, I’m 42 years old; this is ridiculous. I have to do something. Then I thought, if I see that ad one more time, I’m calling — and there it was! So I called.”

That was in March of 2010. For the next few months, Pamela went through the process of qualifying for and preparing for her weight-loss surgery. She had the surgery that November.

“I got on the table. They put me out. I woke up. It was like nothing happened. In fact, when I came to, I had to ask, ‘Did you guys actually do anything?’ I had a very good experience.

Since then, Pamela has lost 90 pounds. “I have about 30 more to go,” she says.

“I’ve had a couple of back episodes since then, but since I’ve taken the weight off, I recover faster. And now I’m at the point where I have no sciatic pain. I haven’t felt this good in a very long time.

“I’m able to walk and run all my errands without being in pain or having to take pain medication. Exercise has been a challenge until recently, but my orthopedist has just cleared me for physical therapy.”

Pamela described her current diet.

“I usually have coffee and yogurt in the morning. For lunch, I might have tuna salad, egg salad, a mixed green salad, soup or sushi. For dinner, I might have grilled rotisserie chicken with a salad or sushi. I eat a variety of foods.  It depends on the day, but I always go with smaller portions. And I don’t feel like I suffer because of it.”

Pamela says she appreciates that people are wishing her well when they notice her weight loss, but “I get embarrassed,” she says. “My purpose was to get my health in order. That’s why I did this.”

Her words of advice for others in the same situation:

“Get the information. I have three friends right now who have gone to the seminar and are going to make their first appointment. I was their guinea pig. They saw how well it worked for me.

“For me, it was a wonderful experience, but it’s a very personal decision because of how society treats you when you’re overweight. People are so sensitive to it. It’s the world we live in.

“It’s not for everybody, but at least get the information. The experience couldn’t have been better. And I’m not a person who likes going to doctors, so for me to say that is a big deal.”

Thanks, Pamela, for sharing your story.

If diets and exercise have not worked for you, we invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

Category: Health Benefits, Obesity, Post Surgery, Procedures, Weight Loss

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Think of It as a Life Changer

There are a couple of ways to think about weight-loss surgery.

You can view it as something that will change your size — but that’s only part of the story.

The real truth is it’s something that will change your life.

Surgery alone is not the answer to better health. The operation is a catalyst. It’s the launching point for an all-new way of living — and eating.

It’s a big step. And it’s important to have the right mindset before taking it. The surgery will force you to create new eating habits. Your stomach will be smaller, so you will get fuller faster. As a result, it will be more important than ever to make smart food choices.

Scan this series of blogs, and you will find the stories of several patients who have taken the big step. They have all learned a new way of eating. They’re taking in far less, but they say they don’t feel deprived. In fact, the most common comment among them is, “I wish I did it sooner.”

All surgery is a risk. But living with morbid obesity can be riskier. Chances of serious illness of various kinds multiply with excess weight.

Mindset is a critical factor in weight-loss surgery. Are you ready for a new life?

So if you’re thinking about taking the big step, here’s our advice: don’t view about it as a way to change your size. It’s much more than that. It changes …

  • your vitality
  • your diet
  • your physical capabilities
  • your attitude
  • how others view you

… in short, it changes your entire life.

Your next step? Here are three options:

1) Attend one of our free informational seminars. You’ll hear from our surgeons and our patients about the important things you need to know. You can sign up through this website.

2) Make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling (516) 616-5500.

3) Click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

You don’t have to face this challenge alone. Before and after your surgery, we are here to help you.

Category: Expert Advice, Health Benefits, Information Seminars, Weight Loss

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Do You Know Your BMI?

Most people can tell you what they weigh. Not many know their BMI.

BMI is your Body Mass Index. It’s the primary measure of obesity. It’s a measure of weight proportionate to height. You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared, but the easy way is to enter your height and weight into the BMI calculator on the top of the home page of our website.

Here are the descriptions for each BMI rating:

  • 22 to 25: Normal
  • 25 to 30: Overweight
  • 30 to 35: Obese
  • 35 to 40: Severely Obese
  • Over 40: Morbidly Obese

BMI is generally considered to be an effective way to gauge whether a person is overweight or obese, but there are exceptions. Bodybuilders may have a BMI in the overweight range. However, they are not considered overweight because muscle tissue weighs more than fat tissue. In most cases though, BMI is a good indicator.

Our bariatric surgery specialists — and most insurance companies — consider people with a BMI of 40 as candidates for surgery, as well as those with BMI of 30 with a life-threatening complication from their obesity.

There are additional factors to be considered to determine if you’re a good candidate for weight-loss surgery. Generally, surgery should be considered only when other diet and exercise have failed to work for you.

Knowing your BMI is a good first step in educating yourself.

Another good action step: Attend one of our free information seminars, which we hold regularly. Our next one is set for Wednesday, Aug. 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at our new office at 380 Second Avenue in Manhattan. You’re welcome to bring family or friends. Dr. Shawn Garber and Dr. Spencer Holover will be there to answer your questions, and patients will be on hand to share their experiences first-hand.

You can reserve your spot at this seminar through this website. You can also check our full seminar schedule. We have many other sessions planned for Manhattan and Suffolk, Westchester and Nassau counties through December, in addition to online sessions.

We also invite you to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons by calling our office at (516) 616-5500 or, if you prefer, click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

There’s never a better time than right now to take the first step toward a healthier, happier life.

Category: Exercise, Expert Advice, Health Benefits, Information Seminars, Obesity, Weight Loss

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Friday, July 27, 2012

Half the Woman She Used To Be

Lisa Lucchese is 135 pounds. Five years ago, she weighed 285.

She had her weight-loss surgery on Sept. 11, 2007. Last weekend, she went sky-diving. “It was awesome,” she says. She’s been ziplining, too.

Lisa is a nurse. She co-leads a support group for people who have undergone weight-loss surgery. We’re delighted she has agreed to share some of her experiences and tips here:

“My weight had been up and down my whole life. I started my first formal diet in the sixth grade. At first, I would lose and gain 15 pounds. Then, as I got older and had my children, I would gain and lose 50 pounds, then 75, then 100. It was a vicious circle that kept getting worse.

“When I reached 285 pounds, I decided to have the surgery, My husband said it was voluntary. To me. it wasn’t. It had to be done, or I wasn’t going to live a long and happy life.”

It’s been almost five years since your weight-loss surgery, does it get easier to keep the weight off?

“Over time, it’s gets easier, and it gets harder. Some people do put weight on, because over time, your body compensates to the surgery. But I truly feel that if you learn the rules at the beginning and follow them through, you will be successful.

“Yes, there are rules you need to follow after you have the surgery. It’s not like you can have the surgery and just go out there and eat anything you want. You have to adjust.

“There are still a few things I don’t do. I have not had any kind of sugar since my surgery. I don’t eat any kinds of candies, cakes or cookies. I do have carbohydrates. I will eat natural sugar — in a fruit. I feel like sugar is a drug to me. If I have it, I could go off the deep end. I’ve just learned to accept that. To me, it’s well worth it. I don’t miss it.

“It is a bit of an adjustment — always drinking your water, trying to follow the rules, making sure you’re taking your vitamins and supplements. I’m very diligent about this, because I want to be healthy. You just have to be sure you’re working the tools your doctor gave you to the best advantage. I think that’s how I’ve been so successful.

“For me, not eating sugar is not even an issue. It doesn’t faze me at all. Everything is sugar-free now. There are 4 million diabetics in the world. People ask, ‘How do you do that?’ It’s easy. I’m like a diabetic. I do not eat sugar. I will not have it.

ziplining“I’m not gaining weight, because I try to do what I learned. I think that’s key.

“I would tell anyone who just had the surgery that the tool is what they gave you with the surgery, and you have to use it and do what’s right and learn how to eat again.

“On a normal day, I eat cheese a lot, because it’s high in protein. For breakfast, I might have cheese and crackers, or scrambled eggs, or a supplement — a high-protein meal always.

“For lunch, some days I’ll eat a sandwich — or chili. I’m a big chili fan, especially since the surgery. It’s high-protein. Today at work, we had Mexican food, so I had a part of a burrito. I saved the rest for tomorrow.

“For dinner, last night we had barbeque, so I had steak, some corn and some salad.

“I try not to obsess over what I’m eating. In between, if I’m hungry, I’ll have a piece of cheese or a handful of almonds. There are a lot of high-protein, low-fat, low-carb snacks out there.

“I try not to graze all day. If I’m going to have a snack, I try to plan it and make it healthy.

“With my support group, we have a book, and people will bring it labels of items that they have come across that provide good ideas of what to eat. Through that, I’ve learned so much.”

Any bits of advice for those considering surgery?

“Listen to your doctor. Follow their rules. Know what they’re talking about. Support is the key to success. Attend your support group meetings. Ask questions. People who have the surgery and have been successful are willing to help — especially new people.

“If people could see my life today, they would know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

* * *

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment to see one of our surgeons, call our office at (516) 616-5500 or click on “Live Chat” in the upper left corner of your screen to have a conversation now.

Category: Exercise, Health Benefits, Obesity, Post Surgery, Weight Loss

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