At Goal
Proper Nutrition
There are two reasons people become obese: they eat the wrong things or they eat too much. Weight loss surgery fixes, albeit sometimes temporarily, the eating too much part. But often patients who have been on many diets have very odd ideas about proper nutrition.Having nutritionists on the weight loss surgery team is helpful. Not only can they teach you what to avoid—but also what to eat. Weight loss is more than surgery; it is a forced lifestyle change. But as with many tools, if it isn’t used properly it can result in harm. The lifestyle before surgery didn’t work, and the nutritionist is a valuable bridge to a new and healthier lifestyle.
I had one patient tell me, “If it is all baked fish and vegetables, I didn’t need surgery for that.” Of course, she has lost 100 pounds since surgery, and that bit of angst represented frustration that she wasn’t losing it fast enough, or losing enough. The weight loss surgery allowed her to lose the weight and be comfortable, but the only way she will ever get to her goal and stay there is to commit to eating things that are healthier for her and allow the surgery to keep her satisfied.
Some of the diet fads are actually harmful, teaching eating techniques that can be harmful and giving false information about food. For example, too much fat is not good, and things that people consider protein are often just fats: nuts, seeds, bacon, peanut butter and even avocados. Still, people think of these as healthy snack alternatives. At the very least these will inhibit weight loss, but substituting these snacks for needed protein can result in serious deficiencies.
Nancee, in our office, has been with us for a number of years. She comes to almost every support group, sees patients, has classes and is a great help. She is very upbeat, she is very positive, and she teaches healthy alternatives to commonly abused foods and fast foods.
While nutrition is every team member’s job to learn and teach, having a nutritionist on the team facilitates teaching. If your surgeon or hospital has nutritionists on staff and you are struggling, please seek their help.
Terry Simpson, MD, is a weight loss surgeon in Phoenix and has authored several books. For more information visit www.drsimpson.net.
Click here for the PDF version of this article from its appearance in OH Magazine
Click here for the PDF version of this article from its appearance in OH Magazine
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