Weeviegurl

Umm, fudge! It had been a crazy busy week. Away from home for 10 days, facilitating two training courses and speaking at an Obesity Summit, I was tired and ready to go home. Though I have a pretty good routine when I travel and stay focused on my good Success Habits, I was tempted


Umm, fudge! It had been a crazy busy week. Away from home for 10 days, facilitating two training courses and speaking at an Obesity Summit, I was tired and ready to go home. Though I have a pretty good routine when I travel and stay focused on my good Success Habits, I was tempted beyond my ability to resist, to buy a piece of fudge. Umm, I love fudge and of course the walnuts added the all important “protein.” I had kept up with my exercise and make good food choices all week, so I felt justified in splurging a bit.
As it always does, the first bite was heavenly! Smooth and creamy. So good. I relished that first bite, waited a bit and then another, and yet another. Enough! I thought. I’m good. Now I am going to mindfully throw the rest away. A difficult thing to do knowing how much I paid for it and due to all of the starving people in the world. But I knew it had to go. With Michael Jordan flair, I strutted by the trash can and slam dunked it. There! Good for me. I would have high-fived the guy next to me, but he gave me a funny look so I decided I would just celebrate privately.
Boarding for my flight began and victoriously, I marched onto the plane. Safe from “too much” fudge. An hour passed by still on the tarmac, waiting for a mechanical repair. Finally, the captain announced that we would need to deplane and board another flight. By that time I had missed my connecting flight in Denver so I knew enough to get off the plane and get quickly in line for re-booking.
As I waited patiently in line, I don’t know why, but the thought of my left over fudge so close by started to haunt me. Though I am embarrassed to admit it, here is the conversation in my head. “This situation is beyond stressful and surely another piece of fudge would calm my nerves.” Honestly, you are not thinking of getting the fudge out of that trash bin over there are you?” Well, it is still good, it was wrapped up and in the bag.” Really?” What will people think of you digging in the trash?” “It will be right on top. Easy and there are not too many people over there, I can be quick!” Come on, seriously, you are better than this. You don’t eat food from the trash! Well I guess you are right! Thank goodness.”
Whew! That was close. It shouldn’t have even crossed my mind but it did. Why, I wonder? What is this problem I have with food? I was pleased that my good voice over ruled my temptress voice but I would have preferred not to have had that conversation at all! Perhaps you can relate?
Sometimes I find myself focusing on how unfair it is that I struggle with such unhealthy food relationships. But then, I am both relieved and proud that I have been able to win many of these battles. And every time I do – the “you can do it, you are better than that” voice gets stronger and stronger. For those of you who have heard my other crazy food stories, you’ll know how important it is when I say, I don’t eat M & M’s off the floor, whipped cream with my fingers, OR fudge from the trash! Yeah!

The West has already seen scorching weather, with temperatures reaching the triple digits, and the rest of the country is sure to see some heat waves soon. In summer, dehydration can sneak up on you fast, leading to headaches, fatigue, and confusion. Dehydration can also stall weight loss because water helps reduce hunger. When you need to drink more water, your body can mistake thirst for hunger, causing you to eat more than you need.


Basic Guidelines for Meeting Fluid Needs after Weight Loss Surgery
On a normal day, you need at least 64 ounces, or 8 8-ounce cups, of fluid per day. When the weather is hot, dry, or windy, you need more. Meeting your requirements can be challenging after weight loss surgery because you should drink fluids between meals, not with them. You need to stop drinking fluids at least 30 minutes before a meal or snack, and you should not start drinking fluids again for another 30 minutes after you finish your food.
This is a sample daily schedule that can allow you to get all of the fluid you need without interfering with your meal plan.
7:00 a.m. 1 cup decaffeinated coffee
8:00 a.m. breakfast
9:00 a.m. 12 ounces (1.5 cups) water
10:00 a.m. morning snack
11:00 a.m. 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Noon lunch
1:00 p.m. 1 cup flavored water
2:00 p.m. 1 cup water
3:00 p.m. afternoon snack
4:00 p.m. 12 ounces (1.5 cups) unsweetened, decaffeinated iced tea
5:00 p.m. dinner
7:00 p.m. 1 cup water
If your meal plan includes only three meals a day and does not include snacks, getting your fluid needs is easier because you do not need to work in the extra snacks around your beverages.
Do Not Drink Your Calories!
You only get a certain limited number of calories per day if you want to lose weight. Your calories should come from nutritious foods, such as lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and a small amount of starches and unsaturated fats. These healthy foods can help reduce hunger as you lose weight.
Choosing to get your calories from liquids instead is called “drinking your calories.” It is a problem because liquid calories are not very filling compared to solid foods, and you can easily take in more calories than you realize if you drink your calories. For the number of calories in a 20-ounce bottle of soda, you could have a 3-ounce portion of chicken breast, a half-cup of cooked pasta, and a half-cup of steamed vegetables.
You should really only get substantial amounts of calories from liquids right after weight loss surgery, when you are on a liquid or pureed foods diet and cannot meet your nutrient requirements from foods. Otherwise, if you drink beverages with calories, you can gain weight or stop losing weight in a hurry. The following beverages have about 100 or more calories per 1-cup (8-ounce) serving).
Milk
Fruit juice
Regular soft drinks and fruit drinks
Energy drinks
Sweetened iced tea
Milk-based coffee beverages or coffee beverages with flavor syrups

What About Milk and Juice?
Milk and juice are both nutritious, but they do not belong in your regular weight loss surgery diet. Fortified milk provides 9 grams of protein per cup and is a great source of calcium and vitamin D, but it contains 90 calories per cup. Fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese are better choices for your protein and calcium because they are solid foods. Milk is only a good regular choice when you are recovering from surgery and are on your liquid or pureed foods diet.
100 percent fruit juice can be high in potassium and vitamin C, but it is protein-free and high in sugars. Because of its sugar content, juice can lead to dumping syndrome. Shortly after surgery, your surgeon may allow a half-cup of juice diluted with water, but when you get to the solid foods stage of your weight loss surgery diet, juice is not allowed.
I Can’t Tolerate Water!
One of the common side effects of weight loss surgery is that your tastes change. Unfortunately, sometimes that means that you no longer enjoy drinking water. If you are having trouble getting down your water, these suggestions may help.
Drink ice water instead of cool water – this can really make a difference.
Place a slice of lemon or lime on the rim of your water glass.
Squeeze lemon or lime juice into your water and add a packet of calorie-free sweetener.
Try a calorie-free, non-carbonated flavored water.
Place some leaves of mint in boiling hot water and let them steep. Drink your mint tea hot or put it in the fridge so you can have refreshingly cold mint tea later.
Keep trying. In all likelihood, you will eventually be able to tolerate water again.

What about Coffee and Tea?
Some coffee and tea beverages are clearly out of the question, unless you’re ready to spend 200 or more calories on a sweetened coffee drink or tea. The caffeine is also a problem for weight loss surgery patients, since it can irritate the stomach. Finally, too much coffee or tea can interfere with the absorption of certain key nutrients, such as iron. If you do drink coffee and tea, limit yourself to 2 cups of decaffeinated coffee or tea per day.
Skip the Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can be some of your biggest saboteurs after weight loss surgery. It is not just that alcohol helps to dehydrate you. Alcoholic beverages can be frighteningly high in calories. For example, a 5-ounce glass of red wine has 127 calories, a 12-ounce can or bottle of beer has 145 calories, and a 1.5-ounce shot of rum has 96 calories, and a 3.3-ounce margarita has 153 calories.
The damage goes beyond the calories in your drinks, though. Alcohol relaxes you. When you drink, you tend to lower your inhibitions. That means that you are less likely to measure your foods, stick to small portions, and pass up the high-calorie temptations. You're more likely to overeat, and regret your alcohol and food intake later.
Have a great summer and stay hydrated, safe, and healthy!

Traditionally, society has treated obesity as a choice. If you have been struggling with obesity for years, you have undoubtedly come across many people who believe that they believe that you have consciously decided to become and remain overweight. They let you know, tactfully or less discreetly, that they have no sympathy for you. However, obesity is a disease that requires as much attention as any other medical condition.
% Of Obese Americans Keeps Growing Every Year
The CDC, Center for Disease Control, reports the state averages for the percentage of Americans who are obese by year:


The American Medical Association’s Designation of Obesity as a Disease
The American Medical Association (AMA) officially classified obesity as a disease in June of 2013, describing it as a “multi-metabolic and hormonal disease state.” It was already common knowledge that obesity leads to unhealthy metabolic and hormonal changes, so this new classification may seem at first glance like a question of semantics that is relevant only to academics and scientists. When you dig a little deeper, though, it seems as though this decision can actually have far-reaching effects in the nation’s fight against obesity and in your own life.
Why Obesity is a Disease
In addition to the AMA, the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and other respected organizations recognize obesity as a disease.
It impairs normal body functioning.
It has a set of characteristic signs and symptoms.
It decreases life expectancy.
It can lead to harmful conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
It can be a genetic disorder.

Benefits for Society of Recognizing Obesity as a Disease
An important benefit of classifying obesity as a disease is the increased awareness. An organization as respected as the AMA is calling the nation’s attention to the fact that obesity rates are alarmingly high and increasing. The AMA is also drawing attention to the wide-ranging set of causes of and treatments for obesity. Policymakers are more likely to support community public health approaches for fighting obesity. They might promote obesity education in schools and provide funding for obesity research. Weight loss drugs could receive more scrutiny and faster approval if they are seen as necessary to fight a disease rather than unnecessary products that encourage consumers to continue unhealthy, obesity-promoting behaviors.
How Your Health Care Might Improve
The benefits of having obesity seen as a disease can hit closer to home, too. Doctors are more likely to address obesity and work with you to fight it when obesity is considered a disease. They might pay you more respect as society moves away from the current model of finger-pointing when it comes to obesity.
Also, since obesity is a disease that can be treated, it is the role of health insurance companies to pave the way for you to seek treatment. Insurance companies are more likely to provide coverage for obesity treatments from lifestyle counseling to weight loss drugs to weight loss surgery. Until now, insurance companies have rarely supported reimbursement for diet counseling and psychotherapy as an obesity treatment, and only some plans provide coverage for weight loss surgery. Often, they only allow certain types of weight loss surgery, and have more stringent requirements.
The Psychological Benefits of a Label
Finally, there can be psychological benefits when obesity is recognized as a disease. The stigma around obesity, seen in the workplace, on the streets, and maybe even in your own family, may decrease now that there is official recognition. Like HIV/AIDS and depression have already become, obesity may eventually become an accepted condition that deserves compassion and requires medical attention and support rather than a condition to be ashamed of.
The designation is a validation of the struggles you currently face and may have faced for years or your entire life. It can be infuriating when others judge your obesity as a choice or lack of willpower. Worse, these descriptions can be discouraging, and prevent you from having the strength or even wanting to continue to fight obesity. An official diagnosis of obesity lets you know that you have a specific battle to fight, and the medical field is in your corner. This can give you confidence to make tough lifestyle changes or life-changing decisions such as weight loss surgery.
You Still Need to Treat It
What would you do if you were diagnosed with pneumonia? You would not just ignore it. You would discuss your treatment options with your doctor, and follow his or her recommendations. You would get chest x-rays, lab tests, and lung fluid samples to help in determining the nature of your condition. You would aggressively treat it with antibiotics, other medications, hospitalization, and plenty of rest and fluids. High blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and depression are just a few other conditions that you would not think twice about treating.
Similarly, a diagnosis of obesity is not a green light to ignore it, but research described in the New York Times suggests that this is exactly what is happening in some cases. In one study, individuals who were told that their obesity was a disease ended up choosing higher-calorie foods than individuals who were not told that they had a disease. That is, individuals who were told that they had a disease called obesity felt that they were victims of a condition beyond their control, and that there was no point in fighting it.
The point is that you need to address obesity, whether it is a disease or not. Not everyone will be able to use the same strategy to successfully lose weight and keep it off, but one or more approaches can work for you, whether they are specific dietary changes, exercise, weight loss surgery, or a combination of these.