Category: Health

Workout At Home Plan During A Pandemic

A pandemic unquestionably affects your day to day routine, which means there are certain things that you are expected to do and are unable to do. In short, learning to adjust is something you need to do to get through the pandemic. One of the significant concerns you may have during a pandemic is the fact that you are no longer able to go to the gym due to the prevailing lockdown for your protection. That is why it is important to transition to a Workout At Home Plan.

Apart from being confined indoors, your health and fitness center may be temporarily closed due to the pandemic. The good news is that you can still attain your targeted gym work out results from just working out from home. 

Here are ten workout habits you can start today:

Set a daily reminder

Workout At Home Plans can make for a disheartening task, primarily if you are used to the electric atmosphere of the gym. That is why it is important to come up with effective ways of sticking to your exercise routine, regardless of where you are. You can still stay motivated to exercise during a lockdown. Start by setting a daily reminder and staying true to it. You can start the day off with a 20-minute exercise. This small dose is a great way of remaining focused for the rest of the day.

Join and follow an online workout program

There are specific exercises that are limited to the gym and are impossible to try out at home. For example, the kind of activities that require lifting weights, machines, etc. If you do not have the right equipment to carry out weight-lifting exercises, you can try other forms of free weight exercise. There are many free apps and websites that can teach you alternative home-based exercises. Those can be easily carried out with no equipment or even sites which show you how to make your own home equipment using materials available at hand.

Continue with some of the exercises that you do at the gym

While some activities you do at the gym are impossible to do at home, there are still a few that you can continue doing from home. Maintaining with some of your gym exercises from home can help keep you motivated to exercise. It is also a great way of forming a lasting workout habit.

Keep a record of your progress

Keeping a record of what you have achieved or what you are achieving will assist in keeping you focused. You could record your weight the first day you begin exercising and keep a log as you continue with your workout routine. Losing weight can make you realize just how effective exercising from home is and hopefully keep you at it. 

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Avoid exercising alone whenever possible

No Workout At Home Plan should have you acting all by yourself! Accountability is another way of ensuring you do what you plan to do. Find someone you can exercise with at home and hold each other accountable. You can set goals or commit to exercising daily for an hour or so. It will all depend on what you both agree on and what you can do. If you have no one to work out with at home, you can find workout buddies online or using workout phone apps.

Have a variety of exercises

Different exercises can help keep you interested in the workout schedule. It can also get rid of the boredom that you may otherwise face if you remain idle.

Make working out a priority

Making sure you stick to your workout schedule in a pandemic requires that you make working out a priority. We all have top priorities, and staying safe during an epidemic is one of them; therefore, exercising normally should also top the list.

Pay attention to your diet

Paying attention to your diet is the only way of enjoying the full benefits that working out offers. Make sure your exercise routine goes together with proper meals and avoid junk snacking, which is tempting when idle at home. Your Workout At Home Plan will be more successful!

Reward yourself

Make sure you reward yourself whenever you manage to stay true to your goal. Small rewards can be a great way of not only keeping you determined to exercise, but they can also aid in helping you maintain the positivity that you need during a pandemic.

Put on proper workout attire

When working out from home, you must wear appropriate workout attire. What you wear should be the same attire that you would wear when going out to a decent gym. Wearing proper workout gear will tune your mind to that activity and make you feel and experience exercise the same way you would in a regular gym.

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Our Best Gastric Bypass Downside List

Gastric bypass surgeries are the most common bariatric surgical procedures performed nowadays. Bariatric surgical procedures are the term used to refer to weight-loss surgeries. There are more and more people who are choosing to have the procedure to avoid the risks brought by morbid obesity. But what are the Gastric Bypass Downside items to consider?

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There are numerous benefits of getting a gastric bypass surgery. Those who have undergone surgery were expected to lose about 50 to 60% of their weight. Most of the patients would say that they reached the lowest point of their weight two years after their surgery.

In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass surgery could also resolve health issues associated with obesity. They could improve or lessen the risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, joint pain, and even heart disease and cancer.

Gastric Bypass Downside

Those who have undergone gastric bypass surgical procedures are also exposed to risks and complications, just like in any other surgery. When considering getting this kind of weight-loss procedure, it is not only the benefits that you would have to know but also its risks and dangers.

Pulmonary Embolism is a condition where blood clots developing in the legs, which can get carried off to the lungs. Some techniques can be performed to prevent this kind of situation from happening, like using surgical compression stockings.

Peritonitis is also another condition when the stomach fluid leaks into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected. There is a need to seal the leak before it becomes a severe condition immediately.

Ulcers can develop among patients, 5 to 15 percent of the time.

It could also result in hernia or incision hernia, which is a weakness in the incision. It would often require surgical repair.

There are situations when the stomach moves too fast for the small intestine. This is often referred to as the dumping syndrome. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and sweating.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency are also possible complications of the surgery like anemia and vitamin D deficiency.

It could also cause problems in the kidney, like kidney stones.

Gallstones could also be a result of this operation.

Stomach ulcers could also develop, but this could be managed by the usual treatments used for ulcers.

Women who went through the procedure are recommended to avoid pregnancy for at least two years after the surgery. Pregnant women are required to take nutritional supplements like vitamins and minerals to get the proper nutrients for her and the baby.

Gastric bypass surgeries are not for everybody. It is often suggested to those who have a BMI of at least 40, or those who carry more than a hundred extra pounds. Everybody who would be undergoing the procedure would have to take a mental exam, for those who eat due to emotional problems are likely to fail in losing weight.

Gastric bypass surgeries have 2% of fatalities, one percent due to complications, and the other one percent would be brought by the failure of the patients to follow the dietary restrictions following the surgery. Before undergoing the procedure, it is essential to understand these consequences and be prepared to change our lifestyle.

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Gastric Sleeve and Kidney Problems

The number of people suffering from obesity every year is increasing; it is mainly about lifestyle and how people eat. To avoid the risks of obesity, more and more people are looking for other options for rapid weight-loss. About 140,000 people annually are finding gastric bypass surgeries an option for weight loss and reducing obesity and its health complications. One thing to consider? The combination of Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve and Kidney Problems.

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Gastric Sleeve and Kidney Problems

Roux-en Y is the most common gastric bypass. In this procedure, a small and upper section of the stomach is separated by staples or bands to create a small pouch. This procedure would limit the amount of food the patient could consume. It could hold about an ounce of food but can expand to about 4 to 8 ounces of food after a few months. A Y-shaped section of the small intestines is attached to the stomach. This new shape would allow the food to bypass the upper portion of the intestines.

There are many benefits brought by gastric bypass surgery. Individuals who have undergone the procedure are said to reduce their weight with an average of 50 to 60%. Some would lose about 80% of their body weight two years after the surgery. The procedure can reduce diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and even cancer risks. However, there are also downsides with this surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery is an effective way of losing weight and obesity-related health risks. However, there are studies showing concern about nephrolithiasis or the formation of kidney stones among those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery. According to a paper presented in the 39th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition of American Society of Nephrology, gastric bypass surgery increased the possibility of kidney stones.

This paper was not the first time that this kind of risk is identified with almost similar operations. In 1979, the Food and Drug administration had the jejunal ileal bypass under moratorium. This thought was because patients who had the procedure developed kidney stones five years after surgery.

Currently, studies are showing that those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery would experience changes in the chemical composition of their urine. These changes eventually can lead to the formation of kidney stones. After the gastric bypass surgery, the level of oxalate increased. This chemical, when bound with calcium, can cause an increase in kidney stones.

Another cause could be the production of low levels of citrate. Citrate dissolves crystals, which can cause kidney stones. Low citrate levels and high levels, a combination that leads to an increase of calcium oxalate supersaturation. This increases or a strong factor or risk for having kidney stones. Other chemicals that also contribute to kidney stone formation like uric acid and potassium remain unchanged before and after the surgery.

A study conducted by Mayo Clinic showed that those who have undergone the procedure for the last six months had not developed this kind of chemical change. This condition could be avoided, or the risk is reduced by undergoing some dietary changes. Doctors would recommend an increase in the intake of fluids, low-protein, and low-salt diet, and a regular calcium diet.

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10 Tips to Stay Healthy While You’re Stuck at Home

Being on lockdown during a pandemic should not be an excuse to let go of your body and engage in an unhealthy lifestyle. If you have to stay indoors longer than usual, it is even more essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In that way, you can avoid putting yourself at risk for certain conditions linked to unhealthy living.

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By staying on top of your behavior when you are stuck at home, you can prevent yourself from developing things like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and muscle atrophy. Studies have shown that people who do not maintain a healthy lifestyle when stuck at home often find it difficult to resume normal activities after the home period is over. Going back to work may prove challenging. So if you are going to be held at home, for whatever reason, here are some tips to help you stay healthy:

10 Tips to Stay Healthy While You’re Stuck at Home

1. Eat healthily

You would think that this tip does not require mentioning, but you will be surprised at the things people eat when they are stuck at home. It’s fine to eat junk food once in a while, but going on a junk food bender during a lockdown can cause you many issues. So take some time and plan out your meals and snacks. For every 90% of whole, healthy foods, you can reward yourself with 10% of feel-good fare.

2. Get physical

Most people mistake physical exercise for body looks. It’s much more than that, exercise helps the body release stress, clear the mind, and it is good for the heart as it gets the blood flowing. When you are stuck at home, exercising can boost your sense of well-being and prevent you from suffering from dangerous health conditions like depression and anxiety.

3. Read books

With online streaming sites being so popular, it is easy to get stuck on the couch and binge-watch TV shows. However, people tend to forget the negative impact of long hours watching TV on the eyes, back, and intellect. To stay healthy when you are stuck indoors, try and incorporate some books in between your TV shows. Taking time off the screen and moving images can do you a lot of good in as far as your eyes are concerned. Audio books can also help with the advantage of doing another activity while listening to the book.

4. Feed the mind

Maintaining some level of intellect is another way of staying healthy when stuck at home. There are many ways of keeping your brain active during a lockdown. You could play strategy and logic games that require you to think. You could also enroll in an online course or join forums that discuss highly intellectual topics.

5. Take care of your mental health

When one is stuck indoors, they risk developing mental health issues, especially if they are alone. Taking care of your mental health is an absolute priority when you are locked down. You need to maintain contact with friends and family if you are going to be stuck indoors for a long time. You do not necessarily need it to be physical contact, video chats, texting, and phone calls can do just fine.

6. Find a project

Having a sense of purpose can play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy attitude when stuck at home. It does not even have to be a big project. Just a simple project with results can work wonders. You can embark on a simple project like redecorating your room or something a bit more challenging, like DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects.

7. Improve yourself

When you are stuck at home, you could use that time to improve yourself. Learn a new skill that will help you get ahead when you eventually return to the world. Educating yourself will remove the unhealthy feeling of being “stuck” and replace it with feelings of finding a new purpose.

8. Help others

Being helpful to other people while you are stuck at home can do wonders for your mental health. There are many ways of helping other people that you can try. One example would be to help older people do online shopping. Another example would be to take some time to listen to other people’s problems (although not too much to avoid being depressed yourself). You can dispense services directly linked to your profession, which can also help you stay fresh and sharp for when you eventually return to your work.

9. Explore and expand your horizons

It is always healthy to explore and expand one’s horizons. The world has so much more to offer than what you already know or think. So when stuck at home, take time to explore other cultures, try new foods, and above all, make sure you come out on the other side a better and stronger person.

10. Do not miss your medical consultations

Lastly, if you have medical conditions or scheduled checkups, do not pass upon them. Instead, use technology to turn up for your medical appointments and consultations. If you have prescriptions to renew, you can also do that using tele-medicine platforms and other technology.

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How to Handle Gentle Nutrition without Restricting

The final step in intuitive eating and the 10th principle in the Intuitive Eating book by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole is gentle nutrition. This is the focus after you have gone through the previous steps of eating without judgment or restrictions, honoring your hunger, listening to your body, and learning your hunger and fullness cues.

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How to Handle Gentle Nutrition without Restricting

Once you get to this step, it can feel like the hardest one of all, from a combination of fear overusing it to restrict your food, to know what to eat. Here are some tips for adding gentle nutrition into your life without limiting your food.

Make Your Peace with Food

For gentle nutrition, you are starting to make peace with food and keep it neutral. This means you are neutralizing all the food you eat, and no longer looking at it as bad, something to feel guilty about, or a craving you are avoiding. No food or ingredient is bad for you. If it is tasty and what you currently feel like eating, you can enjoy every bite without any shame or regret.

Gentle Nutrition is Different for Everyone

Keep in mind that gentle nutrition looks different for everyone, so try not to compare yourself to other people and what they are eating. Just because someone else is eating a salad for lunch, and you are eating a sandwich, means absolutely nothing. It is just-food. Your friend wanted a salad today, and maybe they will eat a big juicy steak or piece of pizza for dinner. It is all food, and it is up to you to decide what you want to eat, and what sounds good to you.

Have a Loose Structure Around Eating

Eating no longer has to be a certain amount, a type of food during certain times of the day, or follow any structure. While there are some exceptions, like having a scheduled lunch hour at work, the rest of the time, you don’t need to follow these arbitrary rules. Want cereal for dinner? Go for it! Does your Chinese chicken salad sound appetizing in the morning? Enjoy it! Try to take all those food rules out of the equation and focus on your body and what you believe is going to make you feel satisfied.

Focus on Balance and What Makes You Feel Good

Life is all about having a healthy balance, and the same goes for food when you want to focus on your nutrition. You will start learning what your body reacts to, from ingredients to eating at certain times of the day. Without rules, you are able to focus on how you feel. Maybe you prefer eating your sweets at night because sugar in the morning causes a crash of energy after a couple of hours. Or you might be someone who needs carbs for breakfast because you like your late morning workouts.

Work with your schedule, your tastes, and your body to figure out what nutrient balance is going to work best for YOU.

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Type of Foods to Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Rapid weight loss is possible, thanks to a surgical procedure called the gastric bypass. In essence, this weight loss surgery reduces the size of a part of the stomach and connects it to the small intestine. By doing so, it prevents overeating and helps gain satisfaction after eating small meals. After the surgery, the stomach volume becomes smaller and, as a result, can contain only 1 ounce of food (which stretches to 8 ounces over time). But, what can you eat after gastric bypass surgery?

Type of Foods to Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Have you gone through weight loss surgery? Because of the changes in your digestive system, you need to follow a diet after the surgery. You also need to consult a registered dietician to know the foods you must eat, how to eat them, and how much to eat. Your post-surgery diet must be planned carefully to avoid sudden weight gain and other complications such as vomiting. Also, the right diet helps shorten the recovery period, ease the pain in the surgical areas, and adjust your body to the changes in eating habits.

For the first two days after your surgery, eating is not allowed. Then after several months, you are required to eat certain foods that vary in softness and texture. Weight loss surgery patients follow a diet progression that begins with liquids and proceeds to pureed foods and soft foods. The first phase is the liquid diet consisting of water, milk, juice, broth, and soup. It is followed by three to four weeks of puree diet that includes foods with a texture of a thick liquid or a smooth paste.

Examples are yogurt (low fat or sugar-free), oatmeal, pureed meat, and pureed fruits, among others. The third phase is an eight-week soft diet that consists of foods that are easy to chew, such as fresh fruits, ground meats, and cooked vegetables. Afterward, you can move on to the last phase, which is the solid diet. Just be sure to avoid overeating and skipping meals.

Usually, every meal should include foods rich in protein such as cheese, lean meat, and eggs. It would be best if you had protein because it helps in repairing and maintaining the tissues in your body after the surgery.

After the surgery, it is recommended that you start with six small meals every day. After a few weeks, move on to four meals a day and then reduce it to three meals a day once you have started following a regular solid diet.

The rate at which your body adjusts to the new diet and eating habits determines how fast you must proceed from one diet phase to another. Most patients begin eating solid foods three months after the surgery, but for some, it can happen sooner.

When complemented with regular exercise, following the right diet leads to a 50 to 60 percent weight loss two years after the surgery. What’s more, you enjoy the weight loss benefits of the operation for the good of you consistently maintain the right diet.

Of course, there’s a price to pay for not following the doctor’s or dietician’s recommendations on diet and exercise. Weight gain is the usual result of bad health practices such as lack of exercise, overeating, and high-calorie food and beverage intake. If it happens to you, visit your doctor to discuss the possible solutions. That way, you will be able to get the most out of gastric bypass surgery.

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Are Fish Oil Omega Supplements Safe?

Most people take a supplement as a way of maintaining their bodies and keeping their immune system strong and healthy. But, are most of them even healthy to be consumed over long periods. Fish oil is, by far, one of the most popular supplements taken. Though one can eat fish (mackerel, salmon, tuna, cod liver, etc.) to get the necessary beneficial oils known as omega-3 fatty acids, people still generally take the pills as these meats are usually not consumed a lot.

Even though it is generally a supplement that most people can take, doctors have used fish oil as a prescription medicine for some patients to reduce their triglycerides levels. In case one cannot take pills because they have pharmacophobia, it is recommended that they consume foods with this fatty acid as the body needs it for efficient functioning.

Are Fish Oil Omega Supplements Safe?

Fish oils are mostly used for heart and blood health because of the elements contained in it – Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two major types of omega-3 fatty acids. In other patients, doctors have recommended their use to improve kidney health as well as to improve the cognitive behavior of the body. Seeing lots of people who have health conditions linked to nerve and brain function, fish is generally nicknamed “brain food” and as a good reputation among those who consume it. Some medical reports have also link fish oil to helping other conditions such as those leading to blindness.

How Does It Work?

Research has shown that a lot of the benefits of fish oil comes from the omega-3 acids they contain, and seeing the body does not produce its own, they have to be taken manually. Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their benefits in reducing pain and swelling, thus the effective benefits when it comes to dry eyes and psoriasis. Omega-3 is also known for its advantages on the body in reducing the chances of a blood clot as well as improving heart-health.

Are Fish Oils and Omega-3 Fatty Acids the Same?

The answer is no. Fish oil is a source for providing the body with much-needed omega-3 fatty acids as it contains a good proportion of the healthy fat. The fatty acids can also be found in other foods such as dark leafy vegetables, nuts like walnuts and almond, and also flaxseed. Fish oil contains other fats and other fatty acids, but omega-3 is medically-proved to reduce the chances of a heart attack in healthy persons and to lower the risk of a second heart attack for those who already experienced it.

What are the benefits of omega 3 fish oil?

Over the years, research has been continual about the benefits of these omega-3 supplements and the benefits it has for both healthy people and those suffering from heart conditions. When you consume omega-3 fatty acids, you stand the chances of:

  • Lowering your blood pressure
  • Reducing triglycerides
  • Slowing the development of plaque built up in the arteries
  • Reducing heart dysfunctions like irregular heart rhythm
  • Reducing the risk of heart attack and heart failures. It also reduces the possibility of sudden cardiac death for those suffering from heart conditions.  
  • Improving your kidney’s health
  • Reducing Menstrual Cramp
  • Reducing the risk of cancer of the lining of the uterus

Medical professionals do recommend that people who do not take the supplements eat fish high in omega-3 at least twice per week (tuna, sardines, salmon, herring, or mackerel). The best bet to getting the needed omega-3 fatty acids is through foods, but for those who can’t eat fish, doctors recommend taking the supplements. If you have bad heart health, you may need more omega-3 acids than usual. However, with the many benefits of the nutrient, you have to understand there are side effects of it. These include:

  • A fishy taste in your mouth
  • Nausea
  • Loose stools
  • Stomach upset
  • Bleeding if too many grams (over 3 grams) of fish oil are consumed each day. If you desire to take more supplements than the ordinary, ensure you speak with your doctor before you do.

Does fish oil thin blood?

It is known for its benefit of reducing blood clots because it is a form of the natural anticoagulant. As such, since heart health relies on efficient blood flow, it is evident it may thin the blood but not to the point of hurting. If too much is consumed, however, or they are taken with other anticoagulants, it may cause bleeding.

Does fish oil raise cholesterol?

Fish oil, like every other supplement, has its positives and negatives associated with it. As it relates to fish oil and your cholesterol, fish oil lowers your triglycerides and slightly raises your HDL, which may be a good thing for you. However, it may LDL, which is not so healthy for you as this is the negative side of your cholesterol. It is recommended to consume oils with pure EPA to reduce or eliminate the chances of your LDL going up.

Does fish oil help joints?  

Swelling, morning stiffness, tenderness, and discomfort can be reduced after consuming one-to-three grams of fish oil each day. Also, omega-3 helps with blood flow, so it reduces joint pains and cramps.

Do fish oil pills help you lose weight?

Yes, omega-3 fatty acids have elements to aid with weight loss, among its many other benefits. It is also effective with helping to lose inches as well as body fat though it is not the same case with everyone. After all, what works for one may not work with another.

When should fish oil be taken?

Taking fish oil supplements can be at any time of the day, even though it is recommended to take with a meal. Taking fish oil or most other supplements on an empty stomach can result in one feeling nauseous or faint-like.

Does fish oil contain mercury?

Multiple tests and lab reports have shown some fish oil supplements to contain no trace of mercury. However, some may have small levels of PCBs, which are generally found in water, and consuming fish stands at a higher rate than when the supplement is consumed.

Are Fish Oil Omega Supplements Safe?

What is the best supplement?  

There are multiple types of supplements available with added benefits varying by the brand. Based on a recent study, supplements should vary based on who is consuming, as some are noted to raise cholesterol levels while others don’t. When considering which to take, you can consider a few of the following or by asking your health professional, which is best for you based on your health needs:

(These are general fish oil supplements with a wide-base of benefits)

Your health is your responsibility, and how you treat your health determines the results you will receive at the end of the day. However, though fish oil omega-3 is a natural and general supplement, it is recommended you speak with your doctor before taking, especially if you are on other medications. 

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How Yo-Yo Dieting Can Be Worse Than Obesity

More research is coming out to show that dieting, in general, is harmful to your body (and your mind) and that it most likely isn’t making you healthier in most situations. However, yo-yo dieting, where you are always back and forth between being on and off a diet, can be even worse for you.

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How Yo-Yo Dieting Can Be Worse Than Obesity

This is when you either bounce to different types of diets constantly, or you are on a perpetual restrict and binge cycle. Your body is going through a lot of changes at a rapid pace, which can be far unhealthier than if you had stayed overweight.

Your Hormones Fluctuate Like Crazy

To start with, when you diet, especially back and forth between eating and restricting, your hormones are completely out of control. Severe calorie restriction and yo-yo dieting, where you have a lot of changes in what you eat over a long period can cause your cortisol levels to increase. Cortisol is a stress hormone, and can increase your risk for heart disease and diabetes!

You Might Have a Bigger Appetite and More Cravings

Yo-Yo dieting also changes your appetite and what you crave. It may seem like you are out of control, but this is not about willpower, it is actually from dieting itself. In your body, you have two different hunger hormones – leptin and ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hormone that increases your appetite, while leptin decreases your appetite and ca help you feel full. If you are dieting, the hormone leptin often decreases, while ghrelin increases, creating an imbalance. Feel like you are continually starving? Your diet might be why, and not just because you aren’t eating enough.

Yo-yo Dieting Makes Your Metabolism Slow Down

Wonder why when you start a diet, you seem to hit a plateau quickly? This is probably the result of your metabolism slowing down because of all the feast and famine periods your body has gone through. Your body is brilliant and knows what it’s doing. But when you put it through the wringer from yo-yo diets, you are making it harder to lose weight thanks to your metabolism slowing down. Stop undereating, give up the diets, and start to eat intuitively.

How Yo-Yo Dieting Can Be Worse Than Obesity woman on scale

You Lose All Sense of Hunger and Fullness Cues

When you have pre-determined portions, types of food, and meal eating windows, you lose all sense of when you are hungry or full. When you are on a diet, you don’t rely on your hunger, but instead on numbers. How many calories you can have, how many carbs, making sure your sugar is low, and protein is high, watching your fiber. You might also get into timed meals, eating every 2-3 hours, or intermittent fasting. All of this damages your ability to know when you are hungry or full.

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Is Weight Loss Surgery For Teens A Fit For Your Obese Teen?

I know, I know. Weight loss surgery for teens? Obesity is a worldwide problem. There are millions worldwide who are suffering from this disease. In the United States, there are about 12.5 million children and adolescents who are overweight. Children are also suffering from the conditions associated with obesity and disease traditionally seen only in older people, like diabetes and heart disease. Because of these health problems, they are looking for weight-loss options, and gastric bypass surgery is one of them.

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Gastric bypass surgery is not popular among the young population, though. About 1% of those who undergo the procedure are teens, according to the survey reported in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in March 2007. There is a relative increase in the number of teens undergoing the procedure but remains unpopular or uncommon.

Is Weight Loss Surgery For Teens A Fit For Your Obese Teen?

Sadly, obese children think that they are living a kind of life like those who have cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, according to the survey done by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Teens suffering from obesity would deal with being teased, socially not accepted, and unable to participate in social activities.

Not all obese teens are recommended to undergo gastric bypass surgery. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2004, some guidelines should be considered before a teen, or an adolescent is recommended for gastric bypass or any weight-loss surgery:

  • Failed to lose weight by any organized attempt of weight management for the last six or more months, with the assistance of a doctor.
  • Have reached physiological and skeletal maturity. Adolescents that have reached an age (or older) of 13 years old for girls and 15 years old for boys have reached this level of maturity.
  • Has a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40 associated with severe obesity-related problems. Has a body mass index of more than 50 even though there are no obesity-related severe problems.
  • There are medical and physiological examinations and evaluations performed before the surgery, the teen undergoing that should be prepared to handle these evaluations.
  • In general, those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery are advised to avoid pregnancy at least two years after the surgery. This is to prevent any complications and increased risk to the fetus because of drastic weight loss. Anybody, not only teens, should be aware and agree on this.
  • They are prepared to follow strict dietary regulations after the surgery. There is a strict diet that patients should follow like low sugar, low fat, low-carbohydrates, and low-calories meal plans.
  • Have a supportive environment. Because of the dramatic change in their lifestyle, teens should have a supportive family environment that will be able to guide them to different changes. Often, there are patients of weight loss surgeries who would suffer from different physiological and psychological side-effects, like depression. Families should be prepared to help their children through these stages.

Pros of Gastric Surgery For Your Obese Teen

Some doctors would say that conducting gastric bypass or other bariatric surgeries on teen-agers are safer than conducting the procedure with adults. Teens have not developed any case of obesity-related problems like high blood pressure and heart disease, which are common among adults and also increases the risks of surgeries. Teens also heal faster and required less time spent in the hospital.

There are many benefits of undergoing gastric bypass and weight-loss surgeries. Some patients would even report losing 5% of their weight within the first month and about 50 to 60% within a year. Associated obesity-related problems are also reduced by having the surgery. However, not everybody is recommended to undergo the procedure.

Even a teen is required to have been able to make sound decisions, before undergoing surgery. After all, maturity does not come with age.

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How to Deal With Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery 

I fell into the world of Gastric Bypass Surgery when checking out a hernia. The surgeon suggested it and I wasn’t so sure at the time.. Sure enough, I did my research and pondered whether it was the right option for me. If you are reading this, you might be at that pondering stage too. But, it is a free will option, and you have the sole decision to make just be aware of everything that comes with it. One thing that came up: Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery! But what exactly is Bariatric Surgery?

Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery article cover photo

Gastric Bypass is a surgical procedure that helps one to lose weight by altering the way your stomach and small intestine process the foods you intake. The surgery cuts back on your stomach size, which means you will feel full after consuming less food. Your digestive system will not operate as it usually does, like the food you eat will be filtered, and the body will retain not all calories.

Can Gastric Bypass Cause Hair Loss?

How Does the Process Work?

With Gastric Bypass, there are two steps to complete the process. Firstly, your surgeon will make your stomach smaller but inserting medical staples to divide your stomach (a small portion about the size of a walnut and a larger portion). The smaller portion is where the food would go and generally holds about an ounce or depending on the size it measures. The foods that enter through this area will then go to the new opening in the stomach (bypass process).

This process will result in weight loss as the body will consume fewer calories. Bear in mind, though, throughout the entire process of the surgery, you will be under anesthesia, and there are side effects to that (which may not last for long). Before one does this surgery, they have to condition their mind and understand the changes their bodies will go through.

Understanding Body Changes after Gastric Bypass Surgery

Everyone who has been under a surgeon’s knife will tell you there are side effects associated, no matter the extent of the surgery. The anesthesia by itself is enough to make you feel out of this world as your natural body operations are stalled. But what are some of the obvious side effects of a Gastric Bypass surgery that would generally scare most people? The hair loss!

Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery man's balding head

This topic is in a class by itself, and persons who have experienced this issue (even from other reasons) will tell you it is not an easy reality to face. Hair loss is one of the most dreaded side-effects everyone fears, and though it may not always be permanent, you have to put in some hard work to regain its strength and stability.

Most people who have done a bariatric surgery will note they experienced hair loss up to a few months after the procedure. But why does one lose their hair? The body functions mostly from the nutrients it gets from the food you eat. When one does this surgery or those similar, their bodies have a steep decline in the amounts of nutrients they intake and will lead to a deficiency. The weight loss is more rapid, and with each phase of weight loss, a percentage of your hairline recedes.

In the process of preparing for the surgery and recovering, the body undergoes a lot of stress. As such, when the body gets used to the fact that fewer nutrients are being consumed, it will shift the majority of benefits to other critical areas like your heart and brain. This new development will allow your bodily-cosmetic functions to become deprived, so hair growth reduction occurs. As the body gets used to the changes (varies for everyone as some take weeks, others lead into months), the hair loss will reduce and eventually stop.

Preventing Extensive Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

After your surgery, you will want to ensure you don’t suffer from massive hair loss. As such, to efficient be successful in this, you may need to:

1. Consume lots of Protein

Before one does the surgery, one of the moat critical emphasis is placed on consuming lots of protein post-surgery. Bear in mind protein is needed by the body to function as it is one of the strongest basis for building body cells. It is recommended that one consumes a minimum of 60 grams of protein per day (minimum!) which may include:

  • Lean red meat
  • Chicken (Skinless!)
  • Low-fat string/cottage cheese
  • Fish (baked/grilled)
  • Protein bars, chia & flax seeds, greek yogurt, etc.
  • Protein Shakes – using whey isolate.
  • Eggs – these were my favorite as they average 9 grams of protein each!

If you happen to be a vegetarian, you need to ensure adequate protein-based foods are in your diet. Some of these include quinoa, beans, soy, peas, and chia seeds.

2. Don’t miss your Vitamins

Consider your vitamins a daily medication (that is critical to keep you alive) to fill the gap other nutrient-deficiencies may cause. Your body will need the additional B-vitamins you are missing out from foods you would normally consume. Also, to note, ensure you start taking your chewable bariatric multiple vitamins at least two weeks in advance (consistently!) to reduce the risk of fatigue and hair loss post-surgery.

3. Check Iron Levels

If up to six or seven months after the surgery you are still experiencing hair loss, it is recommended to get your iron levels checked. Low iron levels can affect hair growth, so check with your dietician or doctor to help in identifying if your body is processing the ones you intake effectively.

Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery woman with bald head

Sources of iron include dark leafy vegetables, beans & legumes, iron-enriched cereals, egg yolks, and red meat. When consuming iron-based foods, you may want to add a vitamin C-rich food to help the body absorb the iron much more effectively (add a citrus fruit like orange/kiwi, or you can add a side dish of cauliflower and broccoli).

Save Your Money

A lot of people panic when they see extra hair in the shower drain or on their brush. They do some quick Internet research and come up with things like hair loss prevention shampoo or Biotin supplements. Save. Your. Money. Biotin hasn’t been scientifically proven to make a real difference, and as for the fancy and expensive shampoos? Your hair is dead after it passes the surface of your skin. Using shampoo isn’t going to really make a difference. Focus on what you put in your mouth to really make a difference on what comes out of your skin.

Many people are worried that their hair loss will be permanent after their bariatric surgery, but with the right approach, it can be temporary. Hair loss for most people generally lasts between four to six months as their body uses this time to gets used to the changes. It is their responsibility, however, to ensure they follow the guidelines of their medical professional and dietician for a successful journey. Ensure you do your research to understand the processes that lead up to the surgery and what is required after. But, one of the most important factors to remember is to ensure you consume enough protein for the body to work with. 

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