One option that is now available for morbidly obese individuals is to undergo weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery, a technique that can help one lose weight fast and maintain a healthier body weight. There is a variety of surgical techniques under this type of weight loss strategy, and one of them is by doing a gastric bypass.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the common procedures being done today to help morbidly obese individuals to lose weight fast and reduce their risk for chronic disease. It is often indicated for individuals who have a body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat) of more than40 kg/m². Recently, the procedure has also been recommended for obese people who are suffering from diabetes as a means of controlling their blood sugar levels, and for those who are at risk for heart disease. Candidates for surgery include those who have failed to lose weight using medically supervised dieting and other conventional treatments for their condition.

Gastric bypass surgery involves the creation of a small stomach pouch, which is then connected by a staple device to the distal small intestine. The food eaten bypasses the greater part of the stomach and upper part of the small intestine, resulting in less food intake and absorption.

Gastric bypass operation may be done in different ways, but they are most commonly done by laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique that involves a small incision through the skin. Some surgeons also remove the gall bladder since gallstone formation is common among patients who lose weight fast. Patients usually recover 4 to 6 weeks after surgery and are able to go back to their normal activities including work with a reduced body weight.

Advantages

Bariatric surgery is an effective and safe way to lose weight for those who are very obese or those who are at great risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Studies have shown that many patients who undergo gastric bypass lose up to 75% of their excess weight within 2 years after the procedure. Furthermore, their risk for having chronic disease related to obesity such as diabetes and heart disease are also significantly reduced. They are now able to control their food intake and regulate their blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Some patients who have improved their health are taken off their medications. These patients are also able to do more physical activities and regain their self-confidence, thus experiencing a better quality of life.

Disadvantages

Just like other surgical procedures, gastric bypass risks include bleeding, pain, and infection. Some patients have to undergo an open surgery instead of a laparoscopic procedure, and in a few patients, adjustments or revisions to their first operations have to be done in a second operation.

With a smaller stomach capacity, one will have to adjust to eating small, frequent feedings to avoid discomforts such as nausea and vomiting. Another side effect of gastric bypass is malabsorption of nutrients, which may result in nutritional deficiency. These problems may be overcome by undergoing regular medical monitoring and lifetime nutritional supplementation.

Patients who lose a lot of weight may also need cosmetic surgery to remove excess loose skin to improve their looks.

Is Gastric Surgery Right for You?

Gastric bypass surgery is a safe and effective way of losing weight and reducing the risk for other diseases in patients who have unsuccessfully tried other forms of therapy. Many patients experience significant weight loss, which leads to an overall improved quality of life. However, one must be aware that the procedure has its own risks and that a lifetime commitment to taking care of one’s health is required to avoid its complications.

To know if gastric surgery is right for you, consult your healthcare provider who may refer you to a good bariatric surgeon. He must be board-certifiedand a member of theCanadian Association of BariatricPhysicians andSurgeons (CABPS) or the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons. Ideally it is best to look for someone who has done a lot (at least 100)of weight loss surgeries with success and the least complications.

Beyond researching numbers and statistics, we recommend that you find a support system that offers educational seminars to people thinking of weight loss surgery.

Dieters can become obsessed with “the number” we see when we step on the scale to measure our progress. So, when I came across the Quantum Scale, I realized it might just allay that dread.

Rather than displaying your weight, it shows you the total number of pounds you’ve lost (or gained) since you began dieting (and programmed the scale with your starting weight). What more positive reinforcement could you ask for than starting the day with “-10 lb”?

As Tyra Banks said in her testimonial, “When someone’s trying to reach a healthier weight, the last thing they need is their self-worth to be attached to those three numbers.”

Too-frequent weighing can cause you to lose sight of the big picture. The Quantum Scale lets you concentrate on how far you’ve come in your weight-loss journey, rather than stressing over how much more you have to lose.

Buy it here for $59.

1. Avocados: They’re banned from some diets for containing too much fat, however, they are rich in healthful monounsaturated fats and omega-3s, all of which are believed by scientists to lower the risk of developing heart disease.

2. Chocolate: There is no weight loss diet that promotes eating chocolate, mostly because it has so many calories. Still, dark chocolate puts you in a good mood, lowers stress, reduces the risk of heart problems and promotes brain health. Keep in mind though that you just need a tiny bit to satisfy your sweet tooth.

3. Eggs: Egg yolks presumably have a high cholesterol level, which is why some diets forbid the consumption of eggs. However, experts suggest they won’t actually raise your body’s cholesterol levels, because they’re low in saturated fat.

4. Almonds and walnuts: Some diets banned the consumption of almonds, walnuts and peanuts because they are rich in fat. Nuts are now considered to make a very healthy snack because their fats are optimal for heart health. They also contain statins, which stimulate the hormones that keep you feeling full.

5. Potatoes: Carbs are an arch enemy for people trying to lose weight and potatoes are known to have plenty of carbs. Recently, experts have come to the conclusion that spuds are actually lower in carbohydrates than previously thought, plus the fiber in the skins can help regulate your metabolism.

1. Stop comparing yourself to others: We do it all the time, whether it’s with a celebrity or just a woman standing in front of us in line at the grocery store, we’re guilty of comparing our own body with others. So many of us ladies size ourselves up to other women, without even taking into consideration that people have wildly different body types. Surely, it’s unrealistic to believe we can simply stop comparing ourselves to those around us, but how about working on accepting and embracing variety? Next time you see a woman looking really fit, how about complimenting her for the toned yoga shoulders or her gorgeous legs, rather than feeling bitter about your own appearance? You may surprise to find that she answers back saying she really admires your hair, or the color of your eyes.

2. No more fad diets: So you want to lose weight, but are you sure starving yourself is the right path to take? You need to reconsider your situation and focus more on living and eating healthy rather than trying to lose a few extra pounds. Eat. Going for an extremely low-cal meal will leave you unsatisfied and seeming anxious, and this could be the perfect setup for a binge later on. Of course, you don’t have to go for pizza and chocolate cake for desert every night, but do make an effort to understand what your body needs. If you need protein, steamed broccoli is not gonna cut it.

3. Slow down on the body checking: Yes, it’s perfectly natural to look at yourself in the mirror and analyze your body. However, it’s not alright to constantly have negative thoughts regarding your appearance, obsess over your weight or hop on the scale several times a day to track your weight. Do not allow your mirror to turn from friend to foe by always expecting it to reflect something bad. Try limiting the times you check yourself out, you may find your stress levels decrease. You also need to keep in mind that you are more than a collection of body parts, you also have a beautiful mind and a wonderful personality.

1. Accept it: In order to deal with your mistakes, you need to accept them first. Failing is part of life, if you are truly living that is, really reaching, and really risking. There isn’t one single person out there that has had an easy straight one-way journey with weight loss. Usually it is five steps forward and three steps back, but as long as you use the steps back to get valuable pieces of information about yourself, your eating patterns and what makes you slip, everything is fine.

2. Ask yourself questions: You have to understand these situations, if you want to deal with them in a productive manner. Ask yourself what made you slip? Do you have co-workers, family or friends who push food on you? Did you binge because you were stuffing down emotional issues that need to be resolved? You need to figure out what is motivating your behavior, then discover healthier coping mechanisms that set you up for success. For instance: start a journal and write down what you’re going through, describing in details your emotions instead of bingeing.

3. Don’t give up: Try and maintain a positive attitude despite failing to stick to your diet. Remind yourself that if you aren’t failing once in while you weren’t trying hard enough! Each mistake can help you learn and grow and there is nothing that can’t be conquered through knowledge and patience.

1. Smile: Smiling helps release chemicals in your body which stimulate cell reproduction. This also means you’ll have more energy to strut your lovely stuff in the day.

2. Accept that it’s what’s on the inside that counts: Anyone who judges you based solely on your appearance, rather than your personality, is not worth a second of your time. People are much more than just a body, we’re hopes, dreams, aspirations, memories, feelings and we are all beautiful.

3. Do not compare yourself to others. Each person is unique, you are you, and that is wonderful. Have confidence in yourself, because there is no one out there exactly like you.

4. Make sure to exercise: Working out is great, not only because it makes you healthier, but physical activity also releases feel-good endorphins. Exercise two to three times a week, skipping a day between sessions.

5. Remember to talk to someone: If you have trouble accepting your body, don’t be afraid to open up and talk to someone: a family member, a friend, a counselor. You shouldn’t be ashamed to talk to people about your feelings, you’d be surprised to know how many people have a low self esteem, even those that appear to be very confident.

1. Healthy Breakfast: Have a healthy, filling breakfast each morning, to make sure you hold off hunger and prevent overeating later in the day. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, you are more likely to reach for high-sugar, high-fat snacks if you skip breakfast.

2. Control your lunch: Make sure you pack a healthy brown-bag lunch for work or school the night before to prevent eating out at lunchtime. Write yourself a note if you tend to forget your lunch. This way you won’t be tempted by all the chocolate and candy bars in the vending machines.

3. Go for healthy snacks: Have a couple of healthy snacks during the day, such as yogurt, fruit, vegetables and nuts. Place the snacks out on your desk so you will remember them and choose them over the vending machine. Carry snacks with you any time you leave the house, whether you’re visiting friends, running errands, or going shopping.

4. Watch what you drink: Always bring a water bottle with you wherever you go to avoid excess calories from beverages. If you’re a coffee drinker, make your own coffee at home so you can control how much sugar and cream goes into it for a lighter option.

5. Cravings, be gone: If you are craving unhealthy food at night, find an activity to use as a diversion, such as walking around the block or calling a friend to chat. The craving may go away if you can distract yourself long enough.

Ash yourself why: You need to answer truthfully to the question “Why do I have my ideal weight set on this number?”. Perhaps you were this weight sometime in high school and felt comfortable, or maybe a doctor put it in your head once and it stuck there. Either way, you have to figure out where this goal is coming from and if it’s still a realistic option for you.

Take a good look in the mirror: Sometimes, we’re not happy with the way our bodies look and blame it on our weight, when perhaps we just need a bit of toning. Can you identify your problem areas? If, for instance, you’re not happy with your arms, would weight loss truly help you get in shape, or you need to do a bit of weight lifting to slim them down? Exercising is extremely important in shaping your body. You need to be realistic, forget about those five pounds and focus on re-sculpting your body. Once your focus will change towards being healthy, fit, and toned, a few pounds up or down won’t matter.

Get new measurements: When it comes to your body, your weight is not the only thing to take into consideration. Quite a few different factors go into establishing your individual healthy weight range, such as body fat composition, bone size, muscular structure, BMI, and waist circumference. You can properly assess the overall balance of your body if you see a registered dietitian. An expert can tell you if you really need to lose a few pounds, or perhaps you need a bit of help setting more appropriate goals.

Wear red: Colors do affect your mood; it’s a scientific fact! Green, for instance, can calm you down while yellow can lift your spirits and bring a bit of joy into your heart. Red works magic because it evokes courage, strength, and power and it reminds you that you already posses those qualities, you just need to bring them out. Wearing red on days like these is saying: “I am still allowed to be loved and love myself, regardless of my weight”. Plus, if you choose the right shade of red, it will compliment your skin and make it glow.

Play some good music: We all have a special song we like to blast when we’re feeling a bit down. Music does have the power to alter your mood, make you happier, more energetic and optimistic. Don’t be afraid to dance to your favorite song: you’ll lose some calories and all that effort will bring a bit of color to your cheeks, making you radiant.

Wear a belt: It may seem a bit odd, because on “feeling-fat” days all you want to do is hide your body. But trust me, wearing a belt will remind you that your body does actually have a shape, you need to mark your your waist line, not make it disappear under five layers of fabric. Women often have a distorted perception about the size of their waist, many imagine it’s much larger than it actually is. You could try your own little experiment: extend your arms to estimate the size of your waist, then slowly bring them down and compare it to your actual waist line. Wearing a belt offers you the opportunity to distinguish between your ideas about how big you are and your actual body size.

This means eating out is about to become a bigger and bigger dieting challenge, as sticking to a healthy meal away from home is hard for numerous reasons. So how can you stay in control of your diet when you are not in control of your eating environment? What you need to remember is that you are the customer, therefore you are in charge.

1. Have a snack before going out to eat: It seems a bit pointless to grab a bite to eat before going out for a meal, however, eating out when you are starving is a disaster waiting to happen. The menus are filled with calorie-rich options. Plus, they all have incredibly tempting names which makes them even harder to resist and stick to a salad and a glass of water. Juts grab a couple of whole wheat crackers and some low-fat cheese before you head out and you’ll feel much more in control.

2. Do not drink on an empty stomach: There’s a reason drinks are called aperitifs and that’s because they make you hungry. Have a drink on an empty stomach and it will open up your appetite, thus making every food item around you look irresistibly delicious. Also, if it’s a long cocktail hour, you may want to start with a diet drink or sparkling water before ordering a glass of wine or any other alcoholic drink.

3. Away with the bread: Demand that the bread basket be brought to the table along with the main course. This will keep you from nibbling while you are waiting wait for your order to arrive.

4. Be smart about your order: You could for instance order two appetizers instead of an appetizer and main course, this means you’ll get smaller portions of food. You could also share an entrée and the dessert with your dining companion. If you’re finding yourself at a fast-food restaurant, go for the salads or grilled meat or fish and make sure to ask for your salad dressing on the side.

5. Start your meal with a doggie-bag: Most restaurant meals are quite large and you’d probably only need half of those portions to feel satisfied. Ask for a doggie-bag to be brought along with your meal; this way you can set aside some of the food and only keep on your plate the amount you need.