There are millions of people who are overweight in the United States alone, in every age group, in every ethnicity and every socio-economic group. Obesity does not care who it claims and it does not matter how seriously it affects the health. Obesity is a condition that is recognized as its own illness and can be regarded as a preexisting condition in those who are seeking to upgrade or change their insurance.
In the past, weight loss surgery was considered to be merely cosmetic and was not covered by many health insurance policies; however as study after study showed how dire the problem of obesity was in this country, more insurance companies expanded their coverage. In some cases there may be limits, however in most cases the insurance does cover the surgery and should also handle some of the after care.
There are three major steps to this surgery: the preparation stage, the actual surgery and then the follow up. During each of these stages, it is important to keep in mind that there are going to have to be changes and adjustments to your life. Any surgery has major risks and these should never be taken lightly, but the weight loss surgery, regardless of the type that you choose will also have a huge impact on the rest of your life.
Before the surgery is ever scheduled, you should learn as much about the surgery as possible. You should also investigate your doctor and his credentials. Get yourself mentally and physically prepared for the upcoming surgery and the change that it will make in your life. Education should include information about the surgery itself, nutrition, and how you will be eating after the surgery. It is also important that you start looking for a support system, preferably people who have been through this surgery before. If you do not know anyone that has had weight loss surgery in your area, then you can look online through message boards and forums.
If you are extremely overweight, you may have to lose some weight in preparation for your weight loss surgery. This will be something you will discuss with your surgeon who will have guidelines that he will set up for you. There are several different types of surgery, including some that are temporary and some that are adjustable. The type of surgery that is best for you will be determined by the surgeon.
Weight loss surgery is not just a magic fix for a problem that has probably been a major part of your life for many years- it is only a tool to help you achieve your goals of better health. You have to make sure that you are using this tool in the right way; however you also have to make sure that you have other tools in place. The way that you are thinking and behaving will have to be completely changed from your normal behavior and that is not always easy to do.
You have to be able to understand nutrition and its role in your life. Good nutrition is even more important after the weight loss surgery, especially considering the fact that you will only be eating two to three ounces at a time, everything that goes into your mouth is vitally important. It is also important to know that you cannot have liquids at the same time that you eat. Liquids, including medications or supplements, have to be consumed thirty minutes before you eat or thirty minutes afterward.
The surgery part is not the difficult part. You will be in a hospital with professional care. After you come home, you have to be ready for the decisions and choices that you will have to face. You will also have to make sure that you are ready with any lines of defense that you feel you need. There are some people who are not going to be able to have the self control that they need, even though they have had the surgery. These people are at huge risk for popping their staples or rupturing their stomachs. These are medical emergencies and can lead to serious infection or even death.
In addition to learning how to eat, you will have to make better choices about what to eat. You cannot puree a slice of pizza or a burger and fries and still be healthy. You will still have to make good food choices. It is also important that you get the supplements that you need to have since weight loss surgery tends to cause very serious deficiencies of a number of vitamins and minerals.
Exercise is very important as well. Not only will it help you lose weight faster, but it will also help you tone up the muscles under the skin so that there are fewer issues with sagging skin and other problems. This topic should also be discussed with your surgeon, because it is a real possibility, especially if you lose a lot of weight quickly. If you do have a lot of hanging skin, will you need a secondary surgery to take care of it. Unlike the initial weight loss surgery, this is usually not covered by insurance unless the extra skin is impeding natural movement or causing other functional problems.
Weight loss Surgery: A Case Study
Shauna is going to have weight loss surgery in May, however between her initial consultation and the actual day of her surgery, she will be aiming to lose forty pounds in addition to learning everything that she can about her surgery and finding support for afterward. Because there is no one in her area to talk to, she has found a weight loss group online.
One of the things that Shauna is doing to get ready for her surgery is using supplements including Profect, from Protica. It is only 2.9 fluid ounces in size and will give her 25 grams of protein per 100 calorie serving. She does not have to stop using Profect after her surgery. Not only does it give her the protein that she needs to recover from the surgery itself, but it can help her meet her protein needs on a day to day basis. She will also be getting 100% of the day’s vitamin C and 10% of the B complex vitamins. Profect is available in a number of fruit based flavors and different sizes.
Shauna is also exercising on a daily basis, building up her strength and endurance day by day. She is hoping that by time she has the surgery she will be up to exercising at least thirty minutes per day.
Finally, Shauna will be using a number of weight loss suggestions including using a food diary to show her what she is eating and how much. Shauna’s doctor recommends counseling and frequent checkups as part of her success plan.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein bullets for bariatric surgery patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright