Month: November 2016

Let’s face it, life is busy and we’ve been programmed to believe that we don’t have time to cook or prepare meals, and the solution is to pick up a meal-in-a-box or go through the drive-thru to feed our families. Although, there are times in life when this is truly the case, when it comes to avoiding and losing regain this cannot be the norm. It is what you are doing on a daily basis that impacts the number on the scale. Food is information and it tells your hormones and cells what to do and unfortunately, food that is packaged and processed isn’t telling your body to lose or maintain weight. 

The good news is, you don’t need a college degree to cook whole, real food, and we are here to help simplify getting dinner on the table.  In order to get back in the kitchen cooking, start simple. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated and can be quicker than getting in your car and going through the drive-thru when you are prepared. 

Keep an open mind and an experimental attitude and being in the kitchen will be a lot more fun.  Don’t be afraid to try new foods.

The Most Important thing is just to start cooking more meals at home. 

Enjoy Dinner at Home!

Bariatric Options:                      Medical Form

Gastric Balloon
Lap Band
Mini Gastric Bypass
Full Gastric Bypass
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Plication Surgery
Conversion or Revision Surgery
Duodenal Switch Surgery

Dr. Sergio Verboonen

Respectfully,
International Patient Facilitators – Cancun and Tijuana, Mexico
Dr. Sergio Verboonen and Sheri Burke – Bariatric Coordinator and Nutritionist.
info@ipf-mail.com

1 800 210 5124

Reach out to us if you have questions !

Thanksgiving can be fun, full of laughter & memories, but stressful, and exhausting at the same time.  Follow these simple strategies to stay focused:

• Don’t skip breakfast, make a plan so that you eat first thing in the morning .  Have an egg or a green protein smoothie to balance blood sugars and keep cravings in control.
• Take a dish you know is safe and in line with your pre or post op Bariatric Plan.
• Fill 50% of your plate with veggies
• Sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, this will prevent blood sugar spikes which will send you seeking sugar
• Enjoy the turkey.  It is a great way to get good quality protein
• Avoid all bread, rolls, noodles, and pasta
• Avoid sugar, it is addictive and can take you down the wrong track.  

Remember, if you want different results you can’t continue doing things the same.   Make Thanksgiving about friends and family.  Laugh a lot, play games, spend time with each other and fill up with love by giving love away.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bariatric Options:                      Medical Form

Gastric Balloon
Lap Band
Mini Gastric Bypass
Full Gastric Bypass
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Plication Surgery
Conversion or Revision Surgery
Duodenal Switch Surgery

Dr. Sergio Verboonen

Respectfully,
International Patient Facilitators – Cancun and Tijuana, Mexico
On behalf of Dr. Sergio Verboonen

Sheri Burke – Bariatric Coordinator and Nutritionist.
email us:  info@ipf-mail.com

1 800 210 5124 

Reach out to us if you have questions !

As a patient coordinator/ liaison and a nutritionist, I stay close with patients before, after, and many years out from surgery. Sadly, there’s often a common misconception that patients who choose to have surgery are taking the “easy way out.” Short story – IMO : going under the knife is not copping out.

I find this an unfair comment. I have never seen a patient who hasn’t carefully considered the risks of surgery or what they will have to incorporate and eliminate from their lives afterward. Proactively choosing a surgical tool, when all other measures have failed, is a courageous example of taking personal responsibility for one’s health…not a stroll down Easy Street.

When an individual meets the BMI minimum and has had no luck with a long series of diet and exercise plans- bariatric surgery could be the tool helping them regain their health.

The journey after weight loss surgery is exciting, scary, motivating and hard. As more weight is lost, confidence grows but new challenges appear. Relationships can be tested; self-esteem may soar or sink. It’s no surprise that support during this journey is essential. Research repeatedly shows patients receiving professional, non-judgmental support after surgery lose the most weight and keep it off. Since surgery is only step 1 in the weight management marathon, it’s clear to me, patients choosing this option aren’t slackers at all-more like superheroes.  

Reach out to our Forum  www.medicalchatmexico.com 

Download your free Medical Tourism Quick Handbook  Here.

Bariatric Options:                      Medical Form

Gastric Balloon
Lap Band
Mini Gastric Bypass
Full Gastric Bypass
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Plication Surgery
Conversion or Revision Surgery
Duodenal Switch Surgery

     Dr. Sergio Verboonen

  Much success in your journey.

      Respectfully,
      International Patient Facilitators – Cancun and Tijuana, Mexico
      On behalf of Dr. Sergio Verboonen
      info@ipf-mail.com

      1 800 210 5124 

After undergoing bariatric surgery, it is important that you take care of your body to ensure the best possible results. What is great about bariatric surgery is that it enables you to lose weight quickly and keep that weight off. Exercise is a key player in keeping your body healthy and strong after bariatric surgery. Pack on some well-deserved muscles.

Exercise increases your metabolism which converts our bodies into calorie-burning machines. When your body has more muscle to maintain, it burns more calories per day.

A diet balanced with protein helps to efficiently build muscle. A nutritionist can guide you to better understand how much protein you should take in based on your personal needs.

When following the post-op guidelines, patients can go with protein drinks or high protein soups. Once patients are able to eat solids, sources of protein such as chicken and beef can be introduced again. It is important that mindful care is taken when transitioning back to solid foods. Follow your important post-op guidelines.

Macro Measuring is a good way of ensuring greater success in your dietary goals. By calculating what percentage of your daily calorie intake comes from carbs, fat, and protein, you can ensure that your body is getting enough protein, and not too many carbohydrates or too much fat. A healthy balance of the three is ideal for maintaining steady muscle growth. 

The key component to gaining muscle mass after bariatric surgery is to get into a regular exercise routine.  It is important that a patient starts off slowly and eases into their exercise routine. As the body recovers from the surgery, patients will need to take baby steps just as they will with their diet. The wait time before starting to exercise is four weeks. Incorporating even 10 minutes of strength or resistance training daily will make a difference.

It is also important that a patient not over-do it when it comes to strength training. After a workout, allowing enough time for the muscles to recover plays a big part in growing muscle.   Work them too often, and they will continually be broken down which causes pain and stunts muscle growth.

Bariatric Options:                      Medical Form

Gastric Balloon
Lap Band
Mini Gastric Bypass
Full Gastric Bypass
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Plication Surgery
Conversion or Revision Surgery
Duodenal Switch Surgery

     Dr. Sergio Verboonen

  Much success in your journey.

      Respectfully,
      International Patient Facilitators – Cancun and Tijuana, Mexico
      On behalf of Dr. Sergio Verboonen
      info@ipf-mail.com

      1 800 210 5124 

Are you 5 or 6 weeks post op and suddenly have terrible Nausea and feel just completely terrible ?  What could be wrong?

You could be in the throes of DEHYDRATION, which is the number one post op complication that WILL land you back in a hospital bed. Water is CRITICAL after surgery and most of us did not pick up on that. We are worrying about vitamins and protein at the expense of water. Sip sip sip sip sip… was not meant to be funny… it is for real.  

Starting right now, sip water as if it is your JOB. Hot, warm, cold, herbal tea, Chinese wonton broth, sugar free ice pops, cold with lemon slice, warm with lemon slice, anything you have to do to take in more water.

At this point there is a chance you can pull yourself out of it, but if you don’t feel any better soon, contact your doctor as a couple of bags of fluid will be a HUGE help and immediately make you feel much better.

OTHERWISE you will quickly go downhill, it gets much worse and the nausea is horrific.  Dehydration is completely avoidable so do your job and drink your water please.

Bariatric Options:                                                       Medical Form

Gastric Balloon
Lap Band
Mini Gastric Bypass
Full Gastric Bypass
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Plication Surgery
Conversion or Revision Surgery
Duodenal Switch Surgery

             Dr. Sergio Verboonen

Much success in your journey.

Respectfully,

International Patient Facilitators – Cancun and Tijuana, Mexico
On behalf of Dr. Sergio Verboonen
info@ipf-mail.com
1 800 210 5124