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January 29, 2012

Individual-tailored approach to weight loss

There have been numerous scientific presentations and articles recently about the role of genetics in severe obesity and how genotypes can be used to tailor personalized treatment for weight loss surgery patients. The prospect of creating an individually-tailored approach for treating severely obese patients is exciting to the surgical team of the WeightWise Bariatric Program. With this form of medicine, diet could be tailored to one’s DNA, and exercise plans could be created using scientifically validated methods. According to a recent article published in Translating Science, these advances could generate improvements to the quality of life for many obese patients.  The changes would also enable doctors to treat patients using their unique genetic make-up and environmental factors. Physicians could take into account a patient’s DNA, combined with a personalized and thorough understanding of their physical fitness level and clinical well-being.

As exciting as these prospects are, currently weight loss surgery is often the only hope for the millions of people suffering from severe obesity. Although a highly effective treatment for obesity, it is a solution that is not without risks or physiological consequences. Through personalized method, physicians would be able to intervene earlier in people at a high-risk for morbid obesity, and for those who need surgery, create an individually-tailored plan to dramatically improve their outcome. The author of the article Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul, explained that “the hope is to be able to make recommendations about the type of surgery our patients need based on their genotype as well as their phenotype. Obesity, like every health care epidemic that mankind has faced so far, can be eradicated – however, it will take a revolution,” he concluded. Deciding to have weight loss surgery, and which procedure to have, is a major decision that Drs. Broussard and Walton can help you make. No one surgery is perfect for everyone, and it’s critical to talk to an expert to understand the way your own body, personality, and preferences can steer your decision. Our weight loss seminars are a good starting point for that education.

January 25, 2012

Video Games for Exercise??

Yes it’s true!!  You can play your favorite video games all while getting exercise!! The weather lately has been crazy!  24 degrees some days, 70 degrees the next so since we can’t really predict the weather this year I’ve been thinking of some other alternatives for exercise. I personally like group exercise classes but if we are not members of a fitness center it can be really hard to find a place to exercise. So I’ve been doing some research about video games. It seems like almost everyone has a wii, xbox or play station. Well if you have these consoles you might look into some of these games.

1.) Zumba

2.) Punch-out!!

3.) Active Life: Outdoor Challenge

4.) Dance Dance Revolution

5.) Just Dance

6.) Wii Fit Plus

7.) Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip….works on your balance

8.) The Biggest Loser Challenge

9.) Nickelodeon Fit

10.) Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum

Give them a try!! You might also look at this article and see how exercising with video games is very comparable to hitting the gym!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/upgrade-your-life/lose-weight-playing-video-games-192328132.html

January 24, 2012

Pinterest & Your Diet!

 

If you aren’t already addicted to Pinterest…then you may soon be.

Or perhaps you’ve heard of “pinning” but have no idea what people are talking about.

It’s hard to explain Pinterest in its entirety, so I encourage you to play on your own. The long and short of it: follow your friends and what they like on the internet. Maybe its recipes, hair-styles, home-decor, or fun crafts. Create your own account and you can begin keeping your own “boards full of pins.” Told you it’s hard to explain.

But what does this have to do with your diet?! Well, I have posted before about the dangers of food fatigue and I think we can all relate to the feeling. Keeping fun and exciting meals and recipes in the mix is vital for weight-loss success. Since starting my Pinterest account, I have found more recipes than I’ve known what to do with. There aren’t enough dinners in a week to make everything I’d like to!

 

 

This past weekend, I tried a Zucchini Turkey Burger patty and served it with Roasted Zucchini (since I had a zucchini leftover). I was amazed at how juicy and flavorful it was! Trust me, this one is definitely “re-pin” material.

Turkey Burgers with Zucchini (featured on skinnytaste.com; courtesy of Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes)

1.25 lbs 93% lean ground turkey

1 small zucchini, grated

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (substituting out the breadcrumbs)

1 clove garlic, grated

1 tbsp red onion, grated

salt & pepper

oil spray

1. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, zucchini, parm cheese, garlic, onion, salt & pepper. Make 5 equal patties.

2. Heat a large skillet on high heat. When hot, lightly spray with oil spray. Add burgers to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook one side until completely browned, then flip. Flip over a few times to prevent burning and to make sure the burgers are cooked through.

3. If grilling, clean grill well and spray with oil spray to prevent sticking

**Also, I added some extra Parmesan cheese to the top and bottom of the patties to give it some added texture. So good!

January 18, 2012

Are you hitting a plateau in your weight loss?

If you find that you are seeing the scales not moving much  then you might consider testing your VO2. I always suggest at least four days per week be devoted  to exercise for at least 30 minutes . If you have already been doing this you may be working against yourself or not hard enough.  The Vo2 is an exercise test that last 8-12 minutes. I will have you walk on a treadmill and have you walking while I try to get a steady increase in your heart rate. I’m looking to see where you are utilizing fat as energy verse using carbohydrate. This test takes all the guess-work out of your workout! So call to make an appointment today! 405-359-2484

January 17, 2012

Slow Cooker Pork Chop with Apples & Carrots

It’s true…ANOTHER slow cooker recipe! I promise I have more variety in my recipes, but time and time again patients are more interested in something simple, easy, delicious…and preferably in a slow cooker.

So here it is, one of my all time favorite recipes: boneless pork chops with granny smith apples and baby carrots. I couldn’t tell you where this recipe originally came from, but there are several variations of it on the web. This recipe continues to be my favorite because it is so simple and takes a very short list of ingredients.

Slow Cooker Pork Chop with Apples & Carrots

4 Boneless Pork Chops

2 Large Granny Smith Apples, cut into slices

1 small bag baby carrots

Splenda

Cinnamon

1. Place apple slices on the bottom of the slow cooker, and then baby carrots.

2. Put pork chops on top of apples & carrots.

3. Sprinkle top with splenda & cinnamon (just eyeball based on your own preference)

4. Put on low for 6-8 hours (or high 3-4 hours) and enjoy!

The juice of the apples will cook up in the pork. The flavor is sweet and the pork is tender. I know you’ll love it!

January 13, 2012

Cold Weather

Well i guess winter finally decided to come! Burrr! So now what do we do for exercise? Well just because it’s cold doesn’t mean we slip exercise to the back burner! There are several things we can do, walk in place at home, interactive video games, and exercise dvds. If you have a smart phone there are exercise apps you can download that will give you exercises to do each day. When cold weather hits it’s easy to just curl up on the couch but try to exercise inside for at least 20 minutes straight every day. It will make you feel physically better as well as mentally better! And don’t forget to stretch! Something that motivates me through the winter is the fact that spring and summer are just around the corner. Now is the time to start getting the summer activity you are planning whether it’s being in the garden, taking a vacation or just feeling comfortable in clothes maybe you haven’t been in in awhile. Whatever the reason is continue to exercise daily and you’ll see the results!

January 11, 2012

New Year’s Kit! 24 Varieties of Supplements for 15% off!

The holidays are long gone. It’s true. So it’s time…out with the holidays, and in with the resolutions! Losing weight is consistently the most common New Year’s Resolution. So let us help!

                                                                                                 

Whether you are a postop patient, or just looking to lose a little extra weight, our protein supplements are delicious and great for weightloss. The New Year’s Kit includes 42 protein shakes and 28 protein bars for 15% off retail price! Several different varieties and flavors are included so you can see what you like! Click on this link to visit the New Year’s Kit on the WeightWise Estore. The kit contains:

Peach Mango Fruit Drink

Cranberry Fusion Fruit Drink

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Bouillon

Hot Cocoa Variety Pack

3 Chocolate Powder in a Bottle

2 Mocha Powder in a Bottle

1 Peach Powder in a Bottle

1 Vanilla Powder in a Bottle

15 Gram Protein Bar Variety Pack (White Box)

Lemon Meringue Bar

Chocolate Decadence Crisp Bar

Caramel Crunch Bar

WeightWise Tote Bag

 

If you are a WeightWise postop patient, you may have heard of our “Reboot Diet.” An aggressive two week diet to get you back into fat-burning mode and back on track with your diet. The contents of the “New Year Kit”  is exactly enough product to get you through the Reboot Diet. To learn more about the format of the diet- contact stephanie.m@weightwise.com or chris.c@weightwise.com

If you are not familiar with our program, we have everything you need to reach your weight loss goals. Registered Dietitians, Exercise Physiology, Metabolic Testing, Nutritional Supplements, Support and Education, and the list goes on. Visit www.weightwise.com or call us to discuss more at 405-715-7122

Here’s to a New Year AND a New YOU!

January 11, 2012

Slow-Cooker Hickory BBQ Pork

Well the holidays may be over, but the busy schedules are not!

As I talk with patients throughout the day, I hear time and again how difficult it is to get a warm and healthy meal put together in a timely manner. Basketball games, trying to get to the gym, and finding something the whole family will eat gets overwhelming quickly. And that’s just one night…how are we to get dinner cooked 7 days a week?

You guessed it. I’m going to talk about my slow-cooker again. I know with confidence I am not the only one who feels this strongly about my favorite kitchen appliance. This girl uses hers everyday of the year! Beware: not all are bariatric friendly….but many of them are!

Today’s featured slow-cooker recipe comes from Kraft Foods (who has recently updated their website- it looks great!) They have pages full of recipes just for slow-cookers…so lose some time looking through those.

Slow-Cooker Hickory BBQ Pork (adapted from kraftfoods.com)

Boneless pork shoulder (2 lbs) – trimmed of fat

1 envelope onion soup mix

1 cup hickory smoked bbq sauce

2 small onions, diced

1. Place meat in slow cooker; top with onion soup mix, onions, and bbq sauce. Cover with lid.

2. Cook on low 8 to 10 hours. (or high 4 to 5 hours)

3. Remove meat from slow cooker, remove any remaining fat and discard. Chop meat into small pieces or shred with fork. Return to slow cooker and coat evenly with sauce.

4. Serve and enjoy! Top with reduced fat cheese if desired. Yum!

January 10, 2012

The Latest Obesity News- A Look at the Sleeve

At WeightWise, one of the four components of our weight loss program is providing state-of-the-art minimally invasive surgery, with the least post-operative pain and the fastest patient recovery. We prioritize staying up-to-date with the most current advances in obesity treatment and research. As part of this commitment, we like to share some information from the Metabolic Applied Research Strategy (MARS) course that took place in San Francisco last month.  At MARS, new findings were presented about one of the newer and less invasive bariatric procedures, the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (the Sleeve). The Sleeve induces weight loss by limiting food intake. Around 70 to 80 percent of the stomach is removed laparoscopically for this procedure, creating a tube which is about the size and shape of a hot dog. The part of the stomach that is removed is one of the main areas that produce grehlin, a hunger-stimulating hormone.

According to the research presented, study findings in animals are indicating that the Sleeve has metabolic effects. Randy Seely, PhD, summarized the results of several studies, which showed that following the Sleeve procedure, rats consumed smaller, more frequent meals.  Of course, this behavior was on their own accord and not because of any patient instructions or compliance with a recommended post-op diet, as is the case with people.  Interestingly, after the procedure, rats also selected lower fat foods in comparison with the control groups. Another study looked at glucose metabolism in people and rats, showing that the effects of the Sleeve on the time course of the rise and fall of serum glucose and insulin after eating are equivalent to the gastric bypass procedure. In rats and humans, GLP-1 secretion is also the same after the Sleeve and gastric bypass. At the conclusion of the presentation, Dr. Seely shared data that supported the hypothesis that the Sleeve resolves diabetes as successfully as gastric bypass when patients are matched for the duration and severity of diabetes.

The results of various sleeve studies are encouraging for patients who want a more ‘straight forward’ operation than the gastric bypass or who may be hesitant about implantation of a device, as with the Lap-Band.

January 4, 2012

Rewards Points at the WeightWise Estore!

Did you know you can earn reward points on all online orders to use for future purchases? It’s true!

For every $1 spent, you earn 1 point.

Once you reach 50 points, you get $5 in rewards!

Go to the MyRewards section under Account settings to redeem your points!!!

Shop from home and get all your supplements to start that New Years goal!

www.estore.weightwise.com

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