Are you dreading the holidays because you fear gaining more weight?
Don’t worry
For your obese health risks, a gastric sleeve is the ultimate solution
That’s an understandable fear. Delicious food is part of this festive season, and they say the average person gains a pound or two between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
You can minimize or even mitigate weight gain during the holiday season by following some tried and true advice.
There are tricks you can employ while attending holiday gatherings that can help you stop weight gain and even lose weight in the right circumstances.
Of course, the best way to ensure you keep the pounds at bay this season is to schedule a consultation for the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), otherwise known more simply as the Gastric Sleeve.
Gastric sleeve surgery is a weight loss procedure that allows you to lose weight without the usual barriers getting in the way. You won’t find yourself overeating as a gastric sleeve patient. In fact, consuming more food than your stomach can hold is impossible because of the permanent changes made during surgery. You won’t feel deprived because of hormonal changes, and your body composition will begin showing dramatic improvements as the excess pounds melt away.
If you worry that you won’t enjoy yourself if you have LSG surgery during the holiday season, that is a valid concern. Your diet will be restricted in the few weeks following your procedure, which could make temptation difficult during the festivities.
However, since LSG is minimally invasive, the downtime for surgery is usually minimal. That means you can resume normal activities almost immediately, such as setting out holiday decorations and mingling to your heart’s delight.
Here are some points to consider whether you choose to have gastric sleeve surgery now or later in the coming months.
How to Lose or Maintain Your Weight Over the Holidays
If you don’t choose to undergo LSG surgery before the holidays, there are still ways you can keep the pounds off while attending end-of-the-year get-togethers.
Fill Your Plate with Protein
Does it seem like every holiday party you attend has an endless spread of food? To keep from overfilling yourself on the sweets and carbs, choose proteins first. Turkey, roast beef, even shrimp with bacon would be better than mashed potatoes and stuffing. After the protein, choose veggies and fruit. Protein and fiber should keep you from feeling quite so tempted by all the delicious treats you encounter.
Bite-Sized Desserts Are Okay
Believe it or not, you can indulge and not gain weight if you do it in moderation. If you have a sweet tooth and can’t seem to break away from the dessert table, have a few bites of whatever you’re craving. Savor the taste and chew slowly, and drink water in between, to get the most out of the treats you do eat.
Stay Busy and Entertained
Try to keep your mind occupied on things that don’t involve food when tempted to overeat. At family get-togethers, you might suggest a card or board game, instead of watching TV with massive bowls of snacks on hand. If you are at a party and you don’t know everyone, stay focused on mingling and having fun, which is what the holidays are all about.
Eat on Small Plates
If you are going to indulge, try not to eat out of bowls or bags, and watch the finger foods. Put your selections on a plate instead. Choose a small plate so you don’t feel as though you must fill every square inch of it. It is the holidays, and you should be free to have fun, just don’t go overboard if you want to keep your weight stable through the New Year.
Limit the Alcohol
A health tip is to pre-plan for your alcohol consumption before attending a holiday event. Whichever is your poison – wine, beer, or a cocktail – know how many calories are contained in your favorite beverage. The trick is sticking to your plan once your inhibitions have been loosened.
De-Stress
Stress is not only bad for your health, but it can hinder your weight loss efforts. Too much stress can also lead to overeating, which contributes to weight gain. The holidays can be stressful. There are no two ways about it. Exercise can help you de-stress and burn more calories, which can contribute to weight loss.
During the holiday season, look for ways to move your body. Dance if the event calls for it, and help to clean up after a meal. If it’s snowing outside, build a snowman, or go sledding with the nieces and nephews. Get creative with it. Any movement you make helps and contributes to a healthier and trimmer you.
Get an Accountability Partner
How many times have you sworn to be healthier only to go back on your promises? Don’t kick yourself. We’ve all done it and been there. The key is to recognize your limitations.
This holiday season, find an accountability partner who can help you stay on track. The partner may come from a support group online or in person, or it may be a friend who understands your weight loss goals.
Schedule a Consultation for LSG Surgery
The best way to not only maintain but lose weight during the holidays is to choose this time to schedule a consultation with a bariatric surgeon. Dr. Moeinolmolki of Healthy Life Bariatrics often sees an influx of people during this time, and it’s easy to understand why.
The holiday season, including the New Year, is an excellent time for reinvention. People make New Year’s resolutions because they hope to change something about themselves. Maybe they want to quit a bad habit or start new healthier ones. Weight loss surgery falls right in line with this level of thinking.
While many people completely forget their resolutions come February or March, weight loss surgery doesn’t give you the choice of reneging on your promise to be healthy. Bariatric procedures like LSG are permanent.
LSG involves the removal of some of your stomach tissue. The remaining tissue is configured into a “sleeve” which stores the food you eat on its way to digestion.
A smaller stomach forces you to eat less. The stomach tissue that is removed also contributes to you feeling less hungry and fuller faster during meals. You won’t feel deprived as the weight melts away.
Maintain Your Weight All Year Round with LSG
Imagine looking forward to the holidays because of the abundance of family, friends, and fun. The opposite is to feel dread because you know you’ll have to struggle against so much delicious food. What if you overeat? What if you gain more weight?
The gastric sleeve changes the way you look at food. Immediately after bariatric surgery, you will be placed on a liquid diet to help your body acclimate to the surgical changes. You will then be introduced to mushy foods, then solid foods before you are eating normally once more.
Eating normally does not mean you can eat whatever. You will be advised by your surgeon to refrain from sugar, soda, large portions, alcohol, and frequent snacks.
Instead, you’ll find yourself shopping for more whole foods and eating smaller portions than you were accustomed to before.
And since you won’t feel as hungry and it’ll take less food to make you feel satiated, you’ll find it easier to stick to your new and improved dietary plan.
Lifestyle Changes After LSG
Eating Well
Gastric Sleeve gives you the kick in the butt you need to lose weight and keep it off for life. Whereas before you may have found it difficult to eat properly, weight loss surgery forces you to eat less. It makes you chew your food slowly and reduces your appetite, so you never feel deprived. Your cravings for foods might also change, further enticing you to make healthier food choices.
Exercise
You can compound your weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery by moving your body regularly. The thing about weight loss surgery is that you should find yourself wanting to work out. That’s because the significant weight loss you’re experiencing motivates you to want more of the same.
Is Today the Day to Change Your Life?
The holidays are a time for giving. Isn’t it time you gave yourself the gift of health?
Without health, life is difficult to enjoy. You might find it difficult to breathe or move around. Your quality of life dwindles the older and heavier you get. Obesity and morbid obesity are also linked to over sixty comorbidities, each one weighing heavily on your body and mind.
Weight loss surgery gives you the tools you need to become healthy. With obesity behind you, you will find yourself with more energy and a greater zest for life.
So, what are you waiting for?
You can learn more about gastric sleeve surgery, the costs associated with the procedure, and the lifestyle changes that make significant weight loss possible by scheduling a consultation at Healthy Life Bariatrics in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Moeinolmolki and his compassionate staff look forward to hearing from you. Get in touch now to give yourself the gift of health this holiday season. Call now by dialing (310)861-7844.