Exercise, Nutrition, WLS, and Cooking Q & A - 3/10/2014

If you have questions about Exercise, Nutrition, WLS, or Cooking, you have come to the right place!

Let's Hear It!

Can you explain how to properly use chia and/or flax seed to me?  I've seen both mentioned and was wondering.

Also, can you explain the benefits of them?

(I'm being lazy today and asking you instead of googling LOL)

They are both a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and protein but I am not fond of the term good source of protein in reference to these. A good source of protein is meat you are not going to beat that. But I do use both. For chia, when it gets wet it get sort of gummy and thick which does lend itself to being a very satisfying and slower digesting meal. Flax is also a decent fiber.

Flax there is a bunch of ways to use it. There are flavored flax oils that are very good and you can just drink a tablespoon full of it once a day. Flax meal can be used in recipes sort of like flour or something to fill out a recipe. Flax seeds can be used to top a salad (I do this every day). So I use flax in just about every way. 

Chia you can pretty much add to anything, it doesn't have much of a flavor. I add it to my protein shakes, I add it my protein balls that I make. I will sprinkle them on salads. When they are moistened they become gooey and expand so don't go filling up on the dry seeds (this would take a lot) because it will be a rather painful experience. Both flax and chia are very calorically dense so stick to using a tablespoon or less if you are counting calories.

If you are interested in those, take a look at hemp hulls. Same basic story, good source of essential fats, fiber, protein, calorically dense, sprinkle on salads blah blah blah. But they are also good for you.

I am really thankful you told me to focus on strength training before surgery. I am pod #3 and have a very large hematoma around where muscles tore from Trocar. It hurts so badly that I don't think I would be able to brace enough and use my other muscles to move. 

What is Trocar? Are you saying the hemotoma is from your focus on strength training? or that your focus on strength training will help you get by?

Trocar*****ture through the abdominal wall (skin, tissue, muscle) where the incisions are. The instruments are put in and out through the trocars to operate. In the largest incision, the muscles and tissues are spread wider to fit the stomach out of. Anyway, in my biggest incision there was some muscle tearing and therefore muscle bleeding. So I have a large, bruised,painful collection of blood. Whenever any muscle contracts, it moves against that area. So in order to sit/stand/grab something....basically do anything-I have to not use abdominal muscles at all. 

So---I am so glad you got me focused on strength so I can use my legs/arms/ back to compensate 

sorry for being so confusing. I have pain medicine head.