backpacking5

A little update for those who may be interested or have similar issues....
Went to the neurologist today and the brain MRI showed no abnormalities.
I mentioned the possiblity of the vagus nerve stimulation. He did NOT think this was the issue....due to the infrequency of the symptoms.
So, the next thing is I'm going for an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) this afternoon, and they'll have me wear a Holter monitor to see if those detect anything.
Haven't had any more issues/episode's since the first one. The Dr today mentioned again....a LOT of times they don't diagnose anything.......Lot's of $$$$ for no answers. Glad I have "good" insurance.
At least we will rule out several things I suppose.

The holidays are behind us, but it is not too late to consciously think about what we are grateful for. Take weight loss surgery, for example. Weight loss surgery changes almost everything. It can affect what and how much you can eat, your exercise goals, the attention you pay to your health, your daily schedule, and even your personal relationships. Achieving success after WLS means saying goodbye to pizza parties where you eat the whole pizza, trips to the drive-through for a pre-dinner meal on the way home from work, and polishing off the half-gallon of ice cream in the freezer while you watch late-night television.


That can seem like a lot of sacrifice, but success depends largely on your attitude. The difference between rapid, healthy weight loss and a bumpy road filled with complications and struggle may be as simple as the difference between saying “I can’t have that” and “I get to have that.” Here are examples of changing your attitude to improve your weight loss journey.
From “I Can’t” to “I Can”
There are plenty of things that you can’t safely do after weight loss surgery, such as overeating, eating high-fat and high-sugar foods, and drinking alcohol without restriction. Instead of thinking “I can’t” eat that when you are at a dinner party or restaurant, think “I can” have a better time than I used to before weight loss surgery by focusing on the people instead of the food. Don’t think, “I can’t” order a large popcorn and soda while at the movie theater with my friends. Instead, think “I can” fit in the seat now and enjoy the movie!
From “I Have To” to “I Get To”
Some of the daily tasks after weight loss surgery can seem like tedious chores, but think of them in terms of the benefits you get. For example, measuring each serving of food can be a nuisance and is something that you “must” do, but it is also something you “get” to do to help you lose weight, learn portion sizes, and stay in control. Similarly, taking your daily vitamin and mineral supplements and monitoring your health is something that you “have to” do, but you also “get to” enjoy better energy and improved health numbers, such as blood sugar and cholesterol, when you visit the doctor. It’s not that you “have to” go to the gym; more accurately, you “get to” go to the gym to enjoy your new, healthier body and make it stronger and leaner.
From “I Lost” to “I Gained”
You might lose some alone or family time each day when you go to the gym, but you gain it right back in quality. When you are in shape, you can keep up with your children, spouse, and friends. The time you spend with them is higher quality than when you might have been too heavy and out of breath to do anything but sit and watch from the sidelines. And, you can say that “I lost” the chance to go to the donut shop on the way to work each morning, but it is more accurate to say that “I gained” time and money from not going to the donut store, and also the self-respect from skipping the morning sugar load.
From “Never-Ending” to “Constant Progress”
The post-weight loss surgery journey is long…the rest of your life! You are bound to get discouraged if you think about the journey as a “never-ending” struggle. Instead, stay motivated by looking at your constant progress. For the first year and more, your progress can include regular weight loss, smaller body measurements and smaller clothing sizes. For years afterward, progress can include improved fitness or certain athletic milestones, such as completing a 5k run. Other progress might be reduced cravings for sugar, better relationships with your family and having improved health.
Eliminate Doubts
One of the most important attitude shifts you can make is from being doubtful to being confident. When you know that you are going to make the right decision, you do make the right decision. When you let doubt creep in, you are far more likely to make a regrettable decision. Each day, be confident that you will make the right choices. Think about what you will do, and not whether you will do it. If it helps, attach a reason to each statement.
You will go to the gym as planned because it will give you momentum for the rest of the day.
You will take your healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks to work so that you can get the protein and other nutrients that you need.
You will walk past the secretary’s desk without slowing to look at the chocolates so that you can feel proud of yourself as you work in your office.
You will drink the amount of water that you are supposed to because it will help you lose weight, stay awake, and be less hungry.

As with so many other things in life, successful weight loss depends on you following certain rules and actions. Beyond that, your attitude makes the difference between being able to make the right decisions, and making decisions that you will regret later. Will weight loss surgery be a burden to endure, or will it be a privilege to appreciate? It’s up to you…and your waistline and happiness may depend on your answer!

I recently came across an article online titled ‘5 Things We Can Learn About How to Eat by Watching Kids’. Interestingly, four of the five tips are topics I often discuss with my clients undergoing weight loss surgery.


I recently came across an article online titled ‘5 Things We Can Learn About How to Eat by Watching Kids’. Interestingly, four of the five tips are topics I often discuss with my clients undergoing weight loss surgery. The five tips were as follows:
1. Be picky - only eat your favourites
2. Slow things down
3. Keep it simple
4. Eat with your hands
5. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.
Whilst eating with your hands is one I tend to skip, the other four tips are very relevant.
1. Be picky - only eat your favourites
Have you found yourself scouring the supermarket for the perfect fat free, sugar free but still deliciously tasty chocolate? Dark chocolate of course, so it still provides all the antioxidants. How did that search go? I’m guessing you’re still searching.
There is no substitute for the real thing and that is not only true of chocolate, but a whole range of foods.
After weight loss surgery you have less space to fill with food, so it makes sense to fill it with food you enjoy. Sure, you need to make sure you are eating a balanced range of foods to get all the nutrients you need, but you should be doing this with food that is pleasurable.
Tania, a gastric bypass client puts it very simply: “I do what the French do, I eat everything I want, but I eat in small portions."
2. Slow things down
Eating too quickly and not chewing foods properly are both problematic after weight loss surgery. Many of you would have learnt very quickly what happens when you eat too quickly – discomfort, pain and possibly regurgitation.
Have you ever told your child to hurry up when they are eating? Well perhaps they are the ones that have it right. I’m currently feeding a nine month old baby. I happened to watch the clock last night as she ate. Dinner took us about 20 minutes. Perhaps these children are on to something!
It should take up to 20 minutes to eat a small meal. If there is food left on your plate after this time, discard it.
Concentrate while you are eating. Sit up straight and avoid slouching. Set aside time for meals and avoid doing other things whilst you are eating. Put simply, slow down.
3. Keep it simple
Many clients of mine will have heard me say that there is 21 meals in a week, so they don’t all have to be perfect.
Do you need to serve meat and three different coloured vegetables every night? No. Do you need to cook a full roast meal every Sunday? No. Do you need to know exactly how many grams of carbohydrate you eat each day? No.
Sure, you need to ensure you eat a balanced range of foods and your dietitian can guide you with that. But if you can’t be bothered cooking is there a problem with throwing a tin of tuna and some pre washed salad leaves in a wrap for dinner? No.
Keep a supply of simple foods on hand that you enjoy for those times when you just need to throw something together. Here are a few of my favourite staples I keep on hand to throw together a whole array of meals:

§ Eggs
§ Tinned tuna or salmon
§ Lean sliced meat
§ Oven ready/microwave ready frozen fish
§ Baked beans
§ Pre-washed salad leaves
§ Avocado
§ Mixed frozen vegetables
§ Tinned corn
§ Tinned 3 bean mix
§ Tinned beetroot
§ Diced tinned tomatoes
§ Wholegrain/multigrain crackers
§ Wholegrain/multigrain wraps or mountain bread. 4. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full.
Have you noticed that a child can eat almost all of a sandwich, pushing away the last two mouthfuls announcing that they are full? Our instinct is often to tell them to finish what is on the plate, remind them of the starving children in Africa, but is this doing more harm than good?
Children have an innate ability to interpret their hunger and satiety signals, but we often encourage them to override this. What does this teach the child? To eat whether you are hungry or not.
I have spoken to hundreds of people undergoing weight loss surgery and many were told to finish the plate, or were not allowed to leave the table until they were finished their meal. Many have also said that they have felt truly hungry for some time.
To successfully manage our weight we must be able to interpret the hunger and satiety signals our body gives us. (Satiety is the feeling of satisfaction after eating.) No matter how healthy food is, too much of it is not good for us.
Do you need to spend some time following surgery re‐learning how to listen to your body’s signals? Perhaps you need to watch a child eat and follow their lead.