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Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery should really be a last resort. As with any surgery, there are risks associated with the surgery such as infection and other complications. We will discuss the most common of the weight loss surgeries, the restrictive bariatric surgery.

What is bariatric surgery? This type of surgery involves changing the way the body digests food. Basically, you are restricting the body's ability to take in too much food. You reduce the stomach's effective capacity, thereby forcing the patient to eat less food.

Who is a candidate for this type of weight loss surgery? Men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight are candidates for bariatric surgery. If you are trying to lose that last 10 pounds of excess weight, this is NOT for you. Even if you are a candidate, you should have exhausted all your other options before considering surgery.

How does it work? The most common way this procedure is done is to place a hollow band around the stomach to restrict the amount of food that can be ingested at any one time. This band is placed near the end of the stomach closest to the esophagus. It is placed low enough so that a pouch is created. This pouch fills up quickly, giving the feeling of fullness. The band is hollow so that you can adjust it. Filling it up with a saline solution causes more restriction thus lowering your ability to eat. Draining it loosens up the band allowing a higher food consumption.

What are the drawbacks? One of the most common is vomiting. Patients who undergo this type of weight loss surgery need to eat in a specific way. Food must be eaten slowly. You must chew the food very well before swallowing. Food must be eaten in small amounts. A big drawback is weight gain after the band is removed. Many patients simply return to the way they were eating that got them overweight to begin with. It is estimated that only one in five patients keep the weight off after 10 years.

Other drawbacks include the cost: $20,000 and up. Some insurances will pay for this procedure, you must check with your provider. All in all, unless your life is in danger, consider other options before undergoing any type of weight loss surgery.

Weight Loss Fast Tip #1

Believe it or not, drinking lots of water helps your diet efforts more than you think. Did you know that the body makes you feel hunger even when you are just thirsty? Yes, it is true. Drinking eight 8oz. glasses of water each and every day will keep your body hydrated and you diet humming along. Remember, the body also needs water to flush out that fat that we are trying to lose!

Weight Loss Fast Tip #2

Walking is the miracle exercise. Walking about a half an hour a day will help your diet tremendously. It does not matter what diet you are on. The reason we like walking is because anyone can do it and walking is not overly stressful on the body. Running and jogging when you are very overweight can be downright dangerous!

Weight Loss Fast Tip #3

Get a good night's sleep. Yes, you heard me right, lack of sleep will kill any diet. Lack of sleep does many bad things, but when dieting, it affects your metabolism and also contributes to eroding your energy level and enthusiasm. So go get a good night's sleep, your body will thank you for it.