Lifestyle

Meal Replacements vs Protein Supplements

August 8th, 2019

Lifestyle

Many bariatric (surgical and non-surgical) patients choose protein supplements to achieve their daily recommended protein intake, but what is the difference between a meal replacement and a protein supplement? Is one better than the other, especially for bariatric surgery patients? The term "meal replacement" is not defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but generally refers to a calorie-controlled, pre-packaged product in the form of a bar or a beverage (ready-to-drink or powder) that is used to replace a meal. Meal replacements usually provide around 200-250 calories per serving (although some may be as high as 400 calories per serving) and are fortified with more than 20 vitamins and minerals (at a "good" or "excellent source" level), healthy carbs (including fiber), and healthy fats. The inclusion of fiber, in particular, is thought to decrease the incidence of low blood sugar, low blood pressure, constipation and/or diarrhea. The inclusion of vitamins and minerals provides...

Physical Activity & Exercise After Bariatric Surgery

April 30th, 2019

Lifestyle

This article does not intend to initiate the debate of exercise versus physical activity terminology. Some individuals call it exercise, but for the purpose of this article we use the terms physical activity and fitness. It is best to not stress over what we are calling it and rather stress the importance of actually doing it, being successful at it, and enjoying it. The goal is to be more active and increase your fitness level. Maybe you have never participated in physical activity before? Maybe you have physical limitations that make certain types of physical activity difficult, if not impossible. There are several benefits related to being physical active and increasing your fitness level, including, but not limited to, stress relief, better sleep, increased overall energy levels, decreased risk of chronic disease, better overall mood, etc. While all of these changes would be considered beneficial, how does someone get past the feeling of not wanting to be physically active and feeling...

What are Body Mass Index (BMI), Inches & Weight Measurements for Bariatric Surgery Patients?

April 12th, 2019

Lifestyle

As a bariatric surgery patient, you are constantly surrounded by numbers, but what do all of these numbers mean and which ones are important? Below we will review a few common metrics used in bariatric surgery, such as Body Mass Index (BMI), inches, and weight, and discuss their importance. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from an individual's height and weight. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems and/or conditions. You can calculate your BMI multiple ways. You can use a BMI calculator online like one from the National Institute of Health's website (1). The National Institute of Health also has a Body Mass Index Table you can use to determine you BMI as well (2). To use a BMI table, just find the appropriate height (listed in inches [in]) in the left-hand column labeled height. Move across to a given weight (listed in pounds [lbs], which have been rounded off). The...

Diet Progression After Bariatric Surgery

April 11th, 2019

Lifestyle

Many patients have heard that there's a diet progression after bariatric surgery (and possibly before). A lot of patients report being nervous about the liquid diet. But why is there a diet progression? Why do you have to follow different diets? Let's take a look at a brief description of the common diet progressions and why they're recommended. This is the one time we readily use the word "diet" as a diet is a short-term change to your eating pattern. The "diet" that is being recommended long-term; we typically prefer to call a healthy eating plan instead of using the word diet. The diet progression allows patients to move through different phases, eventually eating solid foods again. The amount of time in each stage may vary according to each surgeon or dietitian's recommendation as well as each individual patient. Be sure to follow the exact recommendations of your program. Some surgeons have their patients follow a special diet pre-operatively. This diet may include either a...

Can You Have Bariatric Multivitamins with Calcium?

April 25th, 2018

Lifestyle

With so many different types of multivitamins out there, it is hard to know what is the best product for you as a bariatric surgery patient and what your body can actually absorb. Unfortunately, not all companies (including many over-the-counter brands and some bariatric vitamin brands) follow the rules of how the body absorbs various nutrients. The multivitamins some of these companies create might include nutrients that cannot be absorbed when taken together or they might include nutrients that need to be provided within a certain ratio for optimal health and in order to prevent deficiencies. Specifically, one of the questions I get asked quite a bit is, "Should my multivitamin contain calcium?" Of course, the answer to this question is not a simple "yes" or "no" and a few questions must be asked before an answer can be provided. The first question that must be asked is, "does the multivitamin also contain iron?" If the multivitamin contains both...

Fiber After Bariatric Surgery

March 22nd, 2018

Lifestyle

Following a healthy eating plan high in fiber is a constant recommendation many of us hear frequently throughout the year. But why? And does this apply to a bariatric surgery patient? There are plenty of reasons to consume fiber as part of your healthy eating plan. Below are a few of the reasons to include fiber-rich foods as part of your healthy plan. When eating high fiber foods, they typically require more chewing. This helps you slow your pace of eating and gives your body time to realize how full you really are, by preventing overeating. Also, high fiber foods take longer to break down in the digestive system, which makes you feel full longer. High fiber foods may contain fewer calories for similar volumes of foods that are not high in fiber, which also assists in maintaining your weight. Soluble fiber, the kind found in beans, oats, flaxseed, and oat bran, may help lower total blood cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein or cholesterol levels. Many bariatric surgery...

Iron Deficiency after Bariatric Surgery

May 6th, 2017

Lifestyle

Have you ever found yourself chewing cups of ice throughout the day? Many bariatric patients report this behavior after their bariatric surgery. While chewing ice does not necessarily mean you have low iron levels, it does warrant getting your iron levels checked. Iron is a key element in the metabolism of all living organisms and helps to make up hundreds of proteins and enzymes. Iron has many functions, but below are some of the key functions of iron. There are many symptoms related to iron deficiency including fatigue (low energy levels), increased heart rate (especially during physical activity session), heart palpitations (especially during a physical activity session), rapid breathing on exertion, decreased athletic and physical work capacity, the inability to maintain a normal body temperature, brittle and spoon-shaped nails, sores at the corners of the mouth, taste buds diminish (are not as sensitive), sore tongue, some forms of hair loss, pica (the eating of non-food substances,...