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Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #20: Learn to Save Money on Fruits and Veggies

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Today’s Weight Loss on a Budget Tip – #20: Learn How to Save Money on Fruits and Veggies.  Consider this…

“Researchers at the University of Arizona recently spent a year tracking families’ food-use habits. Working with the United States Department of Agriculture, they interviewed the families about their eating habits, collected their grocery receipts, watched them prepare meals, and then sifted through every last discarded lettuce leaf, slice of bread, burger and bean.  The results, reported in 2002, were pretty shocking. The families tossed out an average of 470 pounds of food per year——about 14 percent of all food brought into the home——at an annual cost of $600. Every day, they discarded more than half a pound of fruits and veggies. In total, Americans chuck a fourth of all the produce they buy, mostly because it’s gone bad, says Timothy Jones, PhD, contemporary archaeologist at the University of Arizona. Nationally, we dump $43 billion worth of food every year.” – Vegetarian Times

save money on fruit veggiesI would like to believe that since things are a bit tighter financially these days, with our economy, that we are doing a better job of not wasting money on food in general. Here are some tips to help you do that:

Deals at Farmer’s Markets –

  • Visit sellers at your local farmer’s market an hour before closing time.  You may be able to negotiate deals on produce so that they don’t have to take as much inventory back to the farm.
  • Don’t be afraid to haggle on price with farmers.  It’s common at markets, especially if you plan to buy in bulk or large quantities.
  • You may be able to negotiate a lower price if you are a regular, weekly customer.  Many sellers appreciate the repeat, regular business and may give you a discount for loyalty.

Store Your Fruits and Veggies Properly – If you don’t know how long your veggies will last or how to properly store them, you may end up with wasted food which means wasted money.

  • Know that some fruits should not be stored next to others – Some fruits and vegetables produce ethylene gas.  This is a gas that causes produce to ripen.  This can speed up the aging process of fruits or cause premature ripening (aka.causing food to spoil).  Here is a list of ethylene emitting foods and ethylene sensitive foods.
  • Check out this fruit and veggie nutrition database and find out how to store various produce.  For example, did you know that you should store apples in the fridge, away from foods with strong odors, for up to 3 weeks?
  • Here is another list of storage tips from farmfreshtoyou.com.
  • Do some research on what you can store on the counter and what you should refrigerate.

Research Sales Online

  • I’ve said this before, but searching for deals online is key to saving money.  Visit the website for the local grocery store you prefer and look for deals on produce before you visit the store.

Buy Fruits and Veggies in Season

  • Some fruits and veggies are cheaper when they are in season because less have to be imported and there are more available on the market.

Buy Frozen

Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #16: Stop Drinking Soda and Sweet Drinks

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Ladies, one of the ways that many weight loss plans get us to lose weight is by telling us to avoid a whole food group.  Sometimes this advice is counterproductive and you don’t get the nutrients, vitamins, fiber or protein you need because you have cut something out that the body needs.  However, with today’s tip, I’m sure  you can cut these 2 things out and you won’t miss out on vital nutrients.  In addition, you will be able to save some money.

Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #16: Stop Drinking Soda and Sweet Drinks

That’s right!  If you haven’t already stopped drinking soda and sweetened drinks, there are so many reasons why you should.

  • The sugar and caffeine content is the major reason to stop drinking it in terms of weight loss.
  • If you are drinking diet soda, you may feel like it’s harmless but the affects of faux sugars are debated.  Some have connected sweeteners with nerve damage and other potential health risks.
  • Sugary Drinks are one of the major ways that people take in unnecessary calories.  Don’t drink your calories.

For the purposes of our October Challenge, I want you to consider leaving soda of all kinds and sugar filled drinks alone.  Try it for the rest of this month and see if it makes a difference.  Save your money.  Save calories.  It’s a win win.

You don’t need these drinks in terms of your daily nutrition.  Drink more water.  Drink tea.  Have a green smoothie. Make some fresh juice.  Your kidneys and your waistline will thank you.

soda sweet drinks

 

Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #11: Make Your Own Flavored Water

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flavored waterIt’s almost the end of Week 2 of our October Challenge.  Here is today’s Weight Loss on a Budget Tip #11: Make Your Own Flavored Water.

Homemade, flavored water is a great replacement for soda, drinks with diet sweeteners, commercial juice and high calorie drinks.  You also save money on beverages because all you need is filtered/purified water, fruit and other natural ingredients like ginger.  If you aren’t used to drinking a lot of water but know that you need to drink more water, this is a great idea for you.  Hydration is so important.

What do you need?  

Glass Container – I suggest you get a large container to mix up you water in.  A large glass mason jar is the top choice.   You don’t have to worry about any chemicals from plastics leeching into the water.  I use 1-2 quart mason jars that I got from Walmart (I also use them for my juicing)

Purified Water – Filtered or purified water is what I suggest that you use, but tap water works too.  Distilled water and spring water works as well.

Fruit – Anything goes for the most part when it comes to fruit.  Things like grapes, kiwi and citrus work better when they are cut up and the flavor can seep into the water.  You can use fresh or frozen fruits.  Here are the fruits I love to use:

  • Strawberry
  • Lime
  • Lemon
  • Apple
  • Blueberries
  • Kiwi
  • Oranges
  • Raspberry
  • Pineapple
  • Blackberry
  • Peaches
  • Watermelon
  • Coconut

Other Ingredients – Tip: Buy fresh herbs, not dried.

  • Mint
  • Ginger
  • Teas
  • Cucumber
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass

There are a few ways to make flavored, vitamin waters.  Check out these links for instructions and recipes.  You will find many more recipes on Pinterest or by searching online.

The Health Benefits of Bee Pollen

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bee pollenI love bee pollen.  I use it in my green smoothies all the time.  Bee pollen has one of the most complex nutritional profiles around, making it one of the strongest of the so-called “Superfoods.” Bee pollen has a unique combination of high powered vitamins, minerals and proteins that make it an excellent supplement to your diet to boost your immune system and support your body’s natural rejuvenation process. It also has several other properties that make the health benefits of bee pollen a worthwhile consideration for adding to your skin care routine.

There is one caution though; people who are allergic to bee stings should not take bee pollen without first consulting their allergist. “A rare but serious allergic reaction to bee pollen can cause drastic blood pressure changes, along with life-threatening complications.” Consult your doctor before using bee pollen. (more info on risks)

Is it honey?

Bee pollen is not honey. It is formed by the pollen of the flowers becoming granulated in the sticky coating on a bee’s leg. As they fly from flower to flower, they accumulate this coating of pollen before returning to the hive. The pollen is then used to feed the young in the hive. Bee pollen is how bees collect the raw ingredients that are then converted into honey.

Is it the same as Royal Jelly?

Bee pollen is not the same as Royal Jelly, another bee product that has amazing health benefits. There is a bit of controversy over the use of Royal Jelly because of the way it is gathered. With bee pollen, the substance is on the outside of the bee’s legs, and gathering it from the bee causes the bee no harm or stress. Royal Jelly is secreted by the bee as a special, high powered nutrient for their young. In order to harvest Royal Jelly, the bee is subjected to intense physical stress. For many people, this makes Royal Jelly an unethical product to use for health and beauty needs. It is also why there is such a large price difference between the pollen and the jelly.

How is Bee Pollen used?

Bee pollen is most often found in an oral supplement form. Taken daily, it provides you with a high dose of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, folic acid, calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium, protein and several amino acids. It can also be used as an ingredient in a topical gel or balm. It can appear in many different colors, being influenced by the season and type of flowers the bees have gathered the pollen from.

Why should I take it?

There is enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that taking a regular bee pollen supplement can help reduce cholesterol levels, increase your energy and promote good blood sugar stabilization. It is also being seen as a stress reducing supplement and mood enhancer as the vitamins B, D and E all help with mood stabilization. The high protein, amino acid and potassium in the bee pollen help the body’s cells to naturally repair themselves as well.

As a topical salve, the same unique vitamins, minerals, proteins and amino acids can also help to rejuvenate the skin, hair and nails as well. People swear by bee pollen to return shine to hair and to reduce brittle nails.

Bee Pollen and Allergies

As mentioned at the beginning, people who are allergic to bee stings shouldn’t take bee pollen without consulting their allergist. If you are not sure if you are allergic to bees, ask your doctor or take a very small does while having an Epi pen or allergy medicine on hand to handle any potential reactions.

With the warnings out of the way, what may surprise you is that the allergist may prescribe small doses of bee pollen to you if you are allergic to bee stings. Over the course of treatment, the dosage will increase. In some cases, this exposure to bee pollen can help to reduce the severity of an allergic reaction to a bee sting because the body gets the time it needs to build the immune systems resistance to the substance.

For people with seasonal allergies, the same reasoning applies. When we say that the “pollen count is high” it would be more accurate to say that the “bee pollen count is too high.” Consistent exposure to small doses of bee pollen can often reduce the effect of seasonal allergies.

Obesity and Health Insurance: Is it a pre-existing condition?

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obesity pre-existing insuranceEarlier this year in June, the American Medical Association voted to classify obesity as a disease.  That’s right, not just a marker for disease, but a disease it’s self.  Obviously this could affect how obesity is figured into the care Americans receive and also health insurance costs.  I thought that as we usher in the Affordable Care Act that will give access to insurance to many in the Black community who have gone without, it’s important to discuss this health issue.

How can obesity or being overweight affect health insurance?

Being overweight to become a costly matter, not to health insurance companies, but to the consumer with a weight issue in terms of the cost of treating obesity related diseases. What remains to be seen is how the new classification of obesity as a disease will impact federal regulations around insurance and premiums. This leaves those with a high enough body mass index (BMI) bearing the brunt of the new charges while it may protect the morbidly obese.

Why being overweight could now cost more to insure.

It is an accepted medical fact that being overweight can increase a person’s risk for disease and complications from other treatments to the point that it can be life threatening or develop into chronic conditions. Obesity is linked to asthma, type-2 diabetes, stroke risk, high blood pressure, cardiac issues and recently a direct link between being overweight and an increased risk of breast cancer has been found. For health insurers, this flags those who are overweight as high risks for coverage. Federal regulations prohibit insurers from denying or limiting coverage to those who are overweight by denying it qualification as a pre-existing condition, but they have put in options for health insurers to charge higher rates to the obese.

How much higher will my rates be if I am overweight?

According to the new federal regulations, you could be charged anywhere from 30 to 50% more for the same health insurance that someone who has a healthy BMI is paying. For employers, this will help defray the costs of the group insurance plans they help carry.  The many of the people with health issues that the new health mandates are supposed to be helping get affordable coverage may become stuck in the catch-22 of having to pay higher rates than before.

Is there a way to avoid the increase?

While quickly losing weight fast enough to lower your health insurance rates is neither realistic nor healthy, there is an option in place to promote weight loss and keep your rates low. If you sign on to participate in an approved wellness program (if there is one available to you) and meet the milestone goals, then your rates may not be raised as high as they would without. There are other weight-loss incentives that some companies offer.  There are also coverages available for weight loss treatments and surgeries if approved.

The complication

The AMA’s reclassified of obesity as a disease  is creating not only controversy, but complications in knowing how to follow the new regulations. If obesity is a disease, then it is protected from undue discrimination in health insurance under the guidelines for pre-existing conditions. If it is also considered a disease, then this removes the argument that many insurance companies have used to deny coverage for weight loss surgeries.  I’ll be following the news and debate on this issue.

How to go about losing weight and keeping it off

Getting down to a healthy weight is good for your health and good for your budget as well. If you are not currently involved in a weight loss program you can begin your own. Once a doctor approves exercise for you, begin to add more activity to your life. Even if all you can do is walk for 15 minutes a day, keep it brisk and get it done. The most important types of exercise to do are those that elevate your heart rate and that you can be consistent in doing. Whole body exercises, such as swimming, are an excellent choice as they will burn more calories faster and do not put strain on your joints.  Walking is also a great choice.  Eating healthy and avoiding second helpings is another key element for sustained weight loss.

What about insurance programs that are advertised for the obese?

There are special insurances targeted for the morbidly obese, but they will not give you more than the insurances provided under a normal policy except at an extra charge. With the new regulations and how they will affect decisions on bariatric surgery approval, it may be better to wait and see how the situation develops rather than jump into a higher priced, specialized plan. Special insurances for the morbidly obese may be your best option for securing life insurance, although the rates may be high as well.

 

What is Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery?

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gastricsleeveWith gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, the stomach is reshaped to create a narrow, tube-like “sleeve,” rather than its original gourd-like shape. This reshaping helps to reduce the size of the stomach and allows you to feel fuller faster.  It also changes the amount of food that it is possible for you to eat at any given time because there is little expansion room available to accommodate overeating.

Who is it for?

Gastric sleeve weight loss surgery is no longer considered an investigational or experimental procedure. It is a widely accepted procedure for patients who cannot tolerate other forms of weight loss surgery, such as lap banding, stomach stapling or gastric bypass. Typically, these patients have health conditions that would make the other procedures more dangerous, or are too morbidly obese to tolerate the surgery. Gastric sleeve weight loss surgery is easier to tolerate because it is done laproscopically through small incisions.

Special Considerations

Many doctors will require that a patient enter therapy or a weight management clinic before being considered for the surgery. A common requirement is that the patient takes off 10 to 20-percent of the weight themselves through diet and exercise before the surgery will be scheduled. There are two reasons for these special considerations. The first is that weight loss from the gastric sleeve procedure is much slower than with other procedures, yet the diet is more restrictive. This can cause a great deal of emotional stress. The second consideration is that without being able to maintain the proper diet, the weight will return but not usually before causing complications for you.

The other consideration that is different for all is whether insurance will cover it.  Each person is different and not all insurance plans will even consider paying for the procedure.

What to expect with Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric sleeve weight loss surgery is an inpatient procedure and takes about an hour to perform. The average stay in the hospital after the surgery is two to three days and it can take about six weeks after that before you are considered fully recovered. While you are recovering you will have to take great care with how you move so as not to strain or herniate yourself in the area that had the surgery. You will also have to play strict attention to what you are eating. Most people follow a very strict liquid diet to keep their nutrition up but avoid putting solid foods into their stomach until it heals. After your stomach has healed, the diet can be very restrictive in amounts and types as well to promote weight loss.  Following doctor’s orders is a must!

The Risks of Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery

While the gastric sleeve is considered by doctors to be a safe procedure, no invasive procedure is 100% safe. There are risks involved with gastric sleeve weight loss surgery that can occur during the surgery, and after. The main risks while in surgery include:

  • Infection
  • Perforation of stomach or intestines
  • Adverse reaction to Anesthesia
  • Bleeding
  • Cardiac Arrest
  • Blood Clot
  • Pulmonary Issues

After you have had the surgery performed there are several other possible risks. Some of them can develop into life threatening conditions.

  • Surgery related complications post surgery
  • Liver and Kidney failure
  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Hepatitis
  • Depression
  • Social anxiety disorders
  • Eating disorders

Talk to your doctor about any increased risk they perceive for you. Family history, current support systems and overall health will play a huge role in determining the risk level and deciding what are the best steps to take to keep you safe.

Keeping the Weight Off after Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery

Unfortunately, many people gain the weight they lost back within the first two years following gastric sleeve weight loss surgery. The problem does not lie in the gastric sleeve being ineffective, but in the aftercare planning for continuing the weight loss. No weight loss surgery is going to change your dietary or wellness habits that contributed to the weight gain in the first place. Unless you commit to a serious program of transforming your relationship with food, exercise habits and self-care habits you can easily gain back everything. One thing that will help is to follow the dietary restrictions you will be discharged with after the gastric sleeve weight loss surgery. Then immediately start to keep a food journal in which you track your diet, lifestyle habits and weight change. By getting in the habit of taking charge of your life, you can get the weight off and keep it off.

The Benefits of Chia Seeds

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chia seedsMost of us know the Chia seeds from the holiday commercials about Chia pets, or maybe you have experimented with the Chia herb gardens. What more and more people are starting to realize is that the Chia seed can bring an enormous benefit to their lives as a part of their diet. Over the past 30 years, anecdotal evidence has shown how the effects of consumption can help with a wide range of ailments from high blood pressure to diabetes and be an important part of maintaining a healthy weight. Scientists are beginning to examine these little seeds much more closely.

Side note:  I LOVE them in my green smoothies!! 

What is Chia?

Chia seeds are native to Mexico and come from a small flowering plant. The seeds are mostly brown or black in color, although they can also sometimes be white, and have no noticeable flavor. They can be added raw as a topping to food, or cooked into dishes. There is no recommended daily amount of Chia seeds to consume, however most people who advocate Chia recommend about a 2 tablespoons a day (dry) taken as a part of your meal or as a tea. It is important to remember to drink 8 ounces of water with your Chia if you are taking it dry because of its high fiber content.

Weight Loss

Chia seeds have shown to be beneficial in helping with weight loss for several reasons. They have a high nutritional profile, are high in protein and fiber. All of this combines to help you feel full faster. What makes Chia choice than other food supplements for dieting is while it makes you feel full faster, reducing your need and desire to eat more; you are not sacrificing your nutritional needs. With many protein or fiber rich meal replacements, the nutritional profile is low meaning you are getting full, but not getting any of the important minerals and amino acids that your body needs to stay healthy.

Heart Health

The effect that Chia seeds have in regulating blood pressure was first noticed alongside the effects that were appearing in stabilizing blood sugar levels in research. It is thought that the components of Chia that make it so effective in helping with weight loss have a companion effect of strengthening the bodies circulatory and digestive systems which then leads to increased heart health through lowering cholesterol and regulating insulin.

Are Breast Cancer and Being Overweight Linked?

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How is being overweight and breast cancer linked?

hope ribbon breast cancerIf you follow health news then you know that research has shown a link between being overweight and an increased risk breast cancer. The link is only just beginning to be understood by scientists and it is revealing some facts that should have a very positive influence on reducing the instances of breast cancer worldwide and obesity rates. The only way to reduce the risk of breast cancer related to obesity is to lose the weight and keep it off. Losing the weight doesn’t absolutely proof your body against breast cancer, as there can be many other factors that can raise your risk as well.  However, it is a factor that you can control (for most people, that is).

Overweight and obese women — defined as having a BMI (body mass index) over 25 — have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause. Being overweight also can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back (recurrence) in women who have had the disease. – breastcancer.org

Being overweight is not linked to all breast cancers

To understand how weight and breast cancer are linked, it is easiest to begin with how they are not connected together. Scientists have found that the link exists in women after menopause, putting most of the women who are diagnosed with breast cancer that is connected to obesity in the 50s and above. There has been some evidence that being slightly overweight before menopause is not linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, and it may actually help to fight early breast cancer. So why does being overweight go from being something good to something bad?

Hormones, fat cells and breast cancer

Fat cells have a high level of estrogen receptor cells inside them. This means that they can store high levels of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is needed by the body in varying degrees throughout life for reproduction. Menopause is when a woman’s body changes, the reproductive cycle shuts down and estrogen ceases to be produced in the levels that would be needed to reproduce.  Fat cells that have stored excess estrogen keep an abnormally high level in the body. Many instances of breast cancer involve something called “hormone-positive-receptors.” This means the cancer cell needs the estrogen in order to grow. The presence of the estrogen laden fat cell in the body acts as a fuel source. Since the estrogen is not being used by any other system, it is all available for the use of the cancer cells.

The most dangerous areas to be overweight

Not all areas that hold fat will produce the same breast cancer risk. If you are fatty deposits around your thighs and hips, your risk for hormone positive receptor breast cancer is not as high as if the fat is located on your abdomen. While it is still uncertain why this particular type of fat cell locates on the abdominal area, it is known that this abdominal fat cell holds much higher amounts of estrogen than fat cells that will be located in any other area of the body.

How to lose weight and lower your risk

Some women will immediately run out to purchase that latest abdominal exerciser or focus their whole routines on sit-ups and crunches but that is not going to help you lose the weight that is putting you at risk for breast cancer. There is no way to “target” weight loss to a specific area of the body. Fat is lost when the body consumes it as fuel.  For most people, it begins with fat in the extremities and then moves inward, ending with the last reserves located in the abdominal area. It is not a linear progression, but the metabolism spreads out its consumption so a little is taken from everything at a time. This is the body’s way of protecting itself from starvation. It is also why it is harder and slower to lose belly fat than fat from your arms and legs.

The best way to lose weight is to do whole body exercises and to change your eating habits. To keep weight off you have to remain physically active and adopt healthy living practices. The number one reason why so many people regain the weight they have worked so hard to lose is that they adopt a temporary fitness routine, but never change the longstanding living habits. When their fitness goals are reached, they return to the way they were living before and regain the weight. To lessen your risk of weight gain related breast cancer, change your lifestyle and change your approach to fitness.

6 Exercise Options for People with Bad Knees

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kneesPeople have bad knees for a variety of reasons. It can be from overuse, under use, past injuries, being overweight, having arthritis or many other disorders that affect the joint. The new thinking on joints is that staying in motion is more beneficial to keeping your mobility than avoiding movement.  For many people, the benefits of exercising are also recognized as doing much more to help your mood and physical health as well. The golden rule to remember is that if you do any of them and your knees hurt, stop.

As you know, it’s always best to check in with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine, especially if you have health issues, chronic knee issues or a recent injury.  Check with a certified personal trainer as well, because the way you are doing the exercise may be wrong in terms of bad form or too much intensity for your level of fitness. For some, exercise if not beneficial.  You have to know where you stand. 

What you are trying to do

The goal to exercising is to raise your heart rate enough to be able to burn calories and to help your body transform fat to muscle. There is a side benefit to achieving this cardio target rate.  Exercise stimulates your lymphatic system. The lymphatic system doesn’t have a built in pump like the circulatory system has the heart. It is dependent on the contraction and expansion of your muscles to pump through the body. Moving the lymph is important because it helps to clean toxins and wastes from your body, boosting your immune system.  Detoxing and boosting your immune system are important to healing the body and weight loss.  Also, the affect that cardio has on your circulation also helps the body heal.  Here are some workout options for people with bad knees:

Bicycling

Bicycling has a very low impact on the knees and can elevate your heart rate into target ranges quickly. Many people with bad knees avoid cycling because they think it will strain the knee. The proper way of pedaling (seated) uses the knee joint correctly; its role is as a flexion point for the muscles in the calf and thigh. It is one of the best workout options for people with bad knees. Cycling is something you can choose to do at a gym, in a Spinning class, or on your own with a minimal investment.

Rowing

Rowing is another one that makes the list as a great workout option. Rowing not only raises your heart rate but it is considered a full body exercise. Like bicycling, the knee joint doesn’t have to bear significant weight but is put in motion, which can help bad knees.

Swimming

Swimming is one of the best overall exercises for people with bad knees, or bad anything. Your body is supported by the water so there is less to no load bearing on the joint. Using good form, your swimming style can work out the whole body with little strain. Even if you know how to swim, it can be a good idea to take a few refresher lessons to check your form and get some help building a varied and interesting lap routine.

Circuit Training

Moving from station to station on the weight machines not only will develop muscle mass but also elevates you into the right cardio target range. Many gyms now have a special area set up for this type of training so you can keep moving quickly enough to get the most benefit.   You don’t have to use machines which put stress on the knees and you can still get a good workout.

Elliptical

The Elliptical machine can be a good choice in workout options for people with bad knees because it is a full body exercising that emulates running, but is specifically designed as low impact to avoid putting weight on the knee. It is considered to be a low impact exercise, but you can achieve a high cardio rate quickly. Many gyms have them installed in groups in front of TV screens so exercising on them becomes more interesting.  To start, go slow in terms of pace.

Pilates, Yoga & Tai Chi

While there are certain moves in each that will prove too much for your knees at first; Pilates, Yoga and Tai Chi have much to offer and may be a better way for you to keep a workout schedule. Each involves a great deal of stretching and motion, which is good for maintaining flexibility in your knees. They all can provide a deceptively intense workout as well. Your heart rate can easily reach the maximum range in certain advanced yoga and Pilates classes. Tai Chi is very deceptive. When you see it from a distance it looks slow and easy, but once you learn how to do it properly, you realize why it is considered one of the most difficult martial arts to master. As always, make sure to inform the instructor of your knee issues and your workout goals so they can guide you properly.

What are the Dangers of Gastric Weight Loss Surgery?

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weight loss surgeryWeight loss surgery is not for everyone.  We celebrate the stories of black women who have used weight loss surgery as a tool on this site because we believe that it is a viable option for many people and that they are under a doctors care.  We also assume that they were aware of all of the risks and potential complications involved with weight reduction surgery.  For many, the risks out weight the benefits and they are blessed to have successful surgeries.  For others, that is not the case.  It is a very personal choice.

Anyone considering weight loss surgery of any kind should seek out ALL information available from their doctors and other medical professionals about the risks, including death.  I’m not a medical professional but I’m going to present in this article an overview of information that I’ve gathered to get you started.

There are extreme benefits to surgery.  There are also serious risks associated with weight loss surgery, and the dangers are very important to understand.  While the serious dangers of weight loss surgery do not necessarily have a high chance of occurring, when they do occur they can be debilitating and life threatening. There are also some risks that are not life threatening, but problematic and they are equally important to know.

I’m going to focus on the 2 most common procedures – The gastric sleeve and gastric bypass?

The two most common types of weight loss surgery are the gastric sleeve and the gastric bypass. With the sleeve (also known as sleeve gastrectomy), a portion of the stomach is removed to reduce its size. This will result in making you feel full faster to encourage weight loss. With gastric bypass surgery, a section of the stomach and sometimes the intestine are reshaped to change how food is processed through the body. Neither is without danger, and both are irreversible procedures, which are the reasons why there is much to consider before going ahead with weight loss surgery.

Potential Life-Threatening Dangers of Weight Loss Surgery

  • Surgical – The surgical dangers of weight loss surgery are the same for either type of procedure. There is the risk of infection, perforation, blood clots, and having a reaction to the anesthesia to name a few. There are a few rare cases of death occurring during bariatric surgery. There is also a high risk of lung and cardiac problems occurring, mostly due to the nature of the anesthesia.
  • Pulmonary and Cardiovascular – During and after surgery, there is a risk of lung collapse or the lungs filling with fluid. There is also a risk of a stroke caused by an embolism or blood clot along with blood clots forming elsewhere in the body. You can also experience a cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. The dangers of weight loss surgery also include an elevated risk for a heart attack.
  • Liver and Kidneys – Weight loss surgery also puts you at risk for kidney and liver failure, plus Hepatitis which can then go on to develop into cirrhosis.

Potential Complications of Weight Loss Surgery

There are several possible complications that can come from having weight loss surgery.  While these issues ma not be life threatening when they begin, can create complications that are.  Here are some examples:

  • Depression – Post surgical depression can be common after weight loss surgery.
  • Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia – Post surgical patients may develop either of these eating disorders or both together. Without proper treatment, each of the disorders may be fatal.
  • Hypoglycemia – An erratic processing of insulin and blood sugar can also result as a permanent change to the body’s metabolism.
  • Reactive Hypoglycemia – If a situation called “dumping” occurs during surgery or directly after, in which food moves too quickly through the system, it is called dumping. This can lead to a condition called reactive hypoglycemia which is similar to hypoglycemia but includes an adrenal disorder as well.
  • Sleeve leakage, Internal leakage
  • Nausea
  • Chronic Pain
  • Digestive issues associated with the stomach and intestines
  • Infections
  • Hernia
  • Hemorrhage

Are the Dangers of Weight Loss Surgery worth it?

Every procedure comes with a set of worst case scenarios for how things can go wrong. Weight reduction surgery is no exception. That there are risks does not mean that it should be avoided all together. However, there are certain realities about weight loss surgery that should be considered before risking the possible dangers of having it done.

  1. Weight loss surgery is meant for people who are morbidly obese. This means they are in excess of 100 lbs. overweight and their weight is creating life threatening conditions. Anyone who is less than 100lbs overweight is generally discouraged from surgery as there are still other, less invasive and expensive interventions to try.  Exceptions are sometimes made for serious health issues, like diabetes and high blood pressure.
  2. Weight loss surgery by itself does not make you a healthy weight. You may lose significant weight with surgery, but not all of the weight.  You may lose too much weight and deal with “wasting”.  You may lose weight in the beginning  but then gain the weight back due to eating habits.  It is the start of a long journey to get to a healthy body that you have to commit to.
  3. Some people regain weight they have lost lost within one year of the surgery. They regain the weight because they never examined how they became overweight and made the necessary changes to their life style to keep the weight off.  No matter how good the plan is that your receive from your health care provider and surgeon…if you are not ready to follow that plan and change you lifestyle, it’s possible that you can experience weight gain.  Proper diet and adequate exercise are the only way to maintain a healthy weight, but you have to deal with emotional and situational issues, as well as your past.  Follow doctor’s orders and work to create a lifestyle that keeps you healthy and happy.

If you are considering the dangers of weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor about how real the risks are for you.  Make the most informed decision you can.