A food craving is an intense desire for a particular food that is usually not driven by hunger. Most people crave sweet and sugary foods such as chocolate, ice cream and cake. Literally, it?s all in the head. Research has shown a relationship between the brain and the craving for sugary foods. Glucose interacts with the opioids system in the brain. Intake of sugar results in the release of endorphins, happy hormones, which mediate a feedback mechanism that associates food with reward. This information is also stored in the memory centers of the brain, such that when these memory areas are activated, a person gets the craving for the particular food. Cravings are often associated with high stress. Managing stress and keeping emotions at bay has been shown to reduce the impulse to engage in particular food cravings. This is useful especially if one is fighting the bulge and cravings make the battle to getting fit seem impossible.

Solid Foods after Bariatric Surgery

Like the other phases of the post-bariatric surgery diet, the exact timing of Phase III of your diet will vary. Phase III of your diet typically starts at the beginning of week 5 and continues for the rest of your life. The goal is to choose healthy, balanced meals and make lifestyle changes to become the new healthy you. You should continue to follow your previous routine that you used for previous diet phases for meal times and vitamin supplementation.

Weight Stigma and Social Pressure

Being obese in the US is frequently accompanied by exposure to weight-related pressure and prejudice from a variety of sources, ranging from negative portrayals of obese individuals in the media to interpersonal difficulties with family members and co-workers. This can lead to negative physical and physiological health outcomes and is also associated with increased weight gain.

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity and its Related Pressures and Prejudice

Childhood obesity can be damaging to physical well-being and also carries negative emotional and social consequences. Overweight and obese children are frequently stereotyped within the media and subjected to teasing and discrimination across a range of different environments.

Walking

Walking for Weight Loss

Every successful weight loss program includes both a meal plan and an exercise regimen. More than likely if you are struggling with obesity it has probably already been advised that you introduce some type of cardiovascular exercise into your lifestyle. These aerobic activities include; walking, running, cycling, spinning, swimming and dance classes.

Food Addiction

Food Addiction and the Dangers of Substituting Another Addiction

Food addiction or compulsive eating is a pathological disorder. The individual exhibits cravings and withdrawal symptoms similar to those noticed in drug addictions. This is because the same neurological pathways come into play in both cases.

Sugar, fat and salt demonstrating food addiction

First Thoughts

Making the decision

Every magazine and news show has headlines on how to lose weight and get ready for a particular season or special event. There are so many different weight loss plans that it can be confusing and overwhelming. The truth is all these diets work if you are consistent.

Pre-op Bariatric Diet

Phase I – Pre-Surgery Clear Liquid Diet

The first phase of clear liquids will actually start five days prior to surgery. You will be advised to drink only clear liquids and be expected to adhere to this for the five days prior to surgery regardless of which operation you will be undergoing. We allow two protein supplements per day for the first two days of this five day period.

Support

Weight loss support groups and bariatric surgery

A group can be defined as a number of individuals or things considered together because of similarities. All of our patients that come to our practice are struggling with obesity. The commonality amongst the patients is the challenges related to weight loss and frustration with diets and numerous attempts at weight loss.

Depression

Our understanding of depressive disorders has evolved with time. Hippocrates referred to the condition as melancholia. Freud considered the condition a consequence of guilt and conflicting emotions. The 1950s saw the condition being divided into endogenous and neurotic depression.Today there is consensus that depression is a syndrome often characterized by more than one symptom. Intense sadness and irritability for either short or long durations manifest during episodes of the condition. Physical signs include lethargy, body aches, mood swings, lack of appetite, overeating, and poor sleep patterns.

Lap - Band Surgery

Laparoscopic gastric banding is a surgery that reduces the capacity of the stomach with the help of a silicone ring and an inflatable balloon that is fitted on the outside of the stomach. The balloon inflates with the injection of fluid through the injection port. This narrows the opening of the upper pouch, wherein the amount of food you eat is controlled while the emptying process of the stomach pouch is slowed.