9Nov

Age has a way of provoking unwanted changes. For many of us, our vision is one of the first indicators that we are getting older. The bad news is that our biology naturally changes with time. The good news is that there are strategies that can be implemented to reduce the effects of aging. Here, we discuss a few simple ways that you can support optimal eye health as you age

9Nov

Diabetes is a concerning health condition that affects nearly half of the adults in our country. When diabetes is a known health problem, proper eye care needs to take a place of priority. The fluctuations in blood sugar have a direct effect on overall eye health, affecting the integrity of ocular structures such as the retina and the eye’s lens

8Nov

Welcome to Brandon Shaw Blog Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

7Nov

How’s it going with all of that Halloween candy that’s still in your house ?

I want all our bariatric peeps to think about that candy as cheap and very bad for you – full of palm oil garbage (P.O.G. for short) but even the strongest of us have fallen prey to a KitKat here and there … 

Why not try these more healthy peanut butter cups instead ? 

Don’t take it the wrong way because these yummy cups are little calorie BOMBS.

But ,,, if you are going to indulge – get your hand out of the cheap trick or treat bag.  That stuff is full of hydrogenated oils, horrible emulsifiers and funky sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

Why don’t you whip up some healthy fats and antioxidants as a treat ?

Healthier Peanut Butter Cups For My Lovelies 

Ingredients

3 tablespoons melted unrefined coconut oil, divided

3/4 cup organic creamy peanut butter

160 grams dark chocolate, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Line a muffin tin or mini muffin tin with paper cupcake liners and set aside
  2. Using a double boiler, gently melt two tablespoons of the coconut oil with chopped dark chocolate until  smooth in texture and completely melted
  3. Set chocolate aside to keep warm while you mix peanut butter
  4. Mix together the remaining coconut oil with creamy peanut butter until completely incorporated. You want this mixture to be nice and runny. If not, gently warm up peanut butter and coconut oil together.
  5. Pour a heaping tablespoon of chocolate into the base of each lined tins. Place in the freezer and allow to set for about five minutes
  6. Remove from freezer and add a heaping one to two tablespoons of the peanut butter mixture into the centre of each cup
  7. Place PB cups back in the freezer to set for five minutes more.
  8. Scoop the remaining melted chocolate to cover the top of each peanut butter cup, about one to two tablespoons
  9. Place PB cups back in the freezer to set a final time, about 15-20 minutes
  10. Remove peanut butter cups from liner if desired and store in an airtight container.
  11. If I am making them for me, I would totally sprinkle some sea salt on them.

Allow the bariatric experts to help you if you need support. Please reach out every opportunity you get with every question that you have – it’s not just our work to assist you.  We celebrate in seeing you succeed.

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Registered Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens.

If you have a re-gain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the Bariatric Reset Program.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:  Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands – post your results online !

Make November 2017 YOUR Month!

6Nov

Are Chia and Hemp Seeds Worth the Hype to Bariatric Patients ?

There always seems to be a new “It” food – have you noticed ?

Over the past few years we have all listened a lot to the magic powers of quinoa, kale, turmeric – and the list goes on and on.

So what exactly are 2017’s IT FOODS ?

What I have come to believe in 2017 is that the “it foods” among our bariatric patients seem to be chia and hemp seeds !

These super foods are most of the times foods which the rest of the world have been eating for centuries but only just now are they being marketed in North America.  And, they are always advertised as “perfect for you” foods with the promise of curing every woe and making you happier and healthier than you have ever been.  These sorts of marketing campaigns make you feel like you have been missing out on this precious ingredients and that you need to include this perfect food in your diet every single day.

As nutritionists, we are trained to be skeptical of these sorts of general promises.

So a lot of our patients in 2017 have been just loading up on chia and hemp seeds.  Some of them don’t know why they are doing it other than all the “hype” they have heard and others are trying to meet their protein goals.  Bariatric post ops are sharing how they sprinkle the stuff on everything – such as on their yogurt, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, sandwiches and soups and smoothies.

These seeds are pretty awesome but are they being misrepresented as being high in protein ?  Yikes, you may have been thinking that they were higher in protein than most foods.  It’s time to talk about these seeds and their “protein to calorie” ratio.

16 grams of Hemp Seeds = 6 grams of protein and 95 calories
35 grams of Chia Seeds = 6 grams of protein and 176 calories
8.5 grams of Whey Powder = 6 grams of protein and 30 calories.

Can you see what this is telling us ?

This is telling us that whey protein powder can give you the same amount of protein for much less calories.

DOES THIS MEAN IS SHOULD STOP USING CHIA AND SEEDS ?
THE ANSWER IS NO !

Chia and hemp seeds have so many beneficial reasons to consume them !  Just don’t use them to grab that additional 20 grams of protein that you are missing from your day.  If you are to add 20 grams of protein using chia seeds, that would add a HUGE 585 calories to your day also.

Eat 1 serving of seeds per day (see the serving sizes above).
Chia and Hemp Seeds are:
High in fibre, high in several macronutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin , omega 3’s and omega 6’s.

The bottom line is that super healthy eating is not only determined by one “IT” food or super seed – As always the solution is moderation and variety.

Allow the bariatric experts to help you if you need support. Please reach out every opportunity you get with every question that you have – it’s not just our work to assist you.  We celebrate in seeing you succeed.

If you have a regain or a stall, you can reach out to the “Bariatric Food Experts” for the BARIATRIC RESET PROGRAM.

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens.

Time for a “bariatric expert” multivitamin ?  Here is a perfect way for bariatric patients to get it now on Amazon:

Bariatric Expert MultiVitamins

Eat Like a Bariatric Expert with our Nutrition Plans.

 

Feel free to share your victories and struggles in our Facebook Group. I would love to connect with you.

Stay motivated with Bariatric Wristbands– post your results online !

Make November 2017 YOUR Month!

 

Price List for Bariatric Procedures in Tijuana and Cancun

30Oct
I’d love to hear what you’d like to add to my list….
I love poking around all those forums out there and also to anything related to Bariatric Surgery or WLS and a lot of the time I will find something that resonates with me.  You know about all those “10 signs you were raised in the 70’s” and all those posts like that ?  well I thought it would be fun to do a list like that about “signs you’ve had bariatric surgery”  and see if it resonates with you.  This list is based on my decade working with bariatric patients.
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1.  Your husband head a very strange noise coming from your stomach and didn’t bat an eye.
I often get asked why a patients new pouch makes such a strange gurgling noise sometimes.  Eating too quickly or taking too large bites could be the cause of it.  Bariatric doctors also tell us that it could be your stomach just moving around and making noises for all to hear.  As the years go by, the noises tend to subside.
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2.  In the middle of August, you have a space heater located under your desk.
It has a lot to do with losing some of your “insulation” and post op bariatric patients are generally cooler than pre surgery.  They use space heaters and they double up on their blankets at night.  Once again, their body seems to adapt with time and the need to use double sweaters also subsides.
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3.  You set your alarm to make sure to take your vitamins.
Sometimes it takes a reminder to get your vitamins into you.  While bariatric vitamins are simpler than ever, setting an alarm or reminder is never a bad idea and your family might just hear that alarm and hand you your biotin !
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4.  You might as well have the word PROTEIN written on your forehead as it’s always the first thing on your mind.
Protein fills you up and keeps you filled up so pass the protein.  You will get the most weight loss when you focus on lean and solid protein sources over drinks and gels and bars and substitutes.
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5.  Your waitress is wondering why you don’t want to drink something.
When you have a tiny tummy, how can you mix your food and drink without getting seriously full seriously quickly.  Don’t fret, order a glass of water and sip on it before your meal is served.
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6.  Your clothes are falling off but your still are not ready to go shopping.
Just be sure that your pants don’t fall off at work 🙂
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7.  You still go to the Plus Section when shopping (out of habit).
Wrapping your mind around your new body size can be a challenge.  You need to find out the true size of your body and buy clothes to fit it.  The Plus Section is no longer your shopping place.
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8.  You get seriously excited about the release of a new flavour of protein shake.
Premier Protein has a new chocolate mousse flavour !!!!
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 9.  You use bariatric lingo and abbreviations.
Example:  I just had my first NSV at my CW after my WLS !!  you gotta know the lingo to be a part of the club LOL.
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10.  You get overjoyed at the little things such as getting a pair of boots that zip up on your calves.
To others it may not be a big deal but to you it’s something big and you are never taking it for granted again.
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All the time I hear that the biggest mistake patients have made is not having their surgery sooner.  I believe that everything happens when it’s supposed to happen.  I love my job because I get to listen to patients talk about their experiences with such great and deep appreciation for where they are today.

About the Author: Sheri Burke is a Nutritionist and Bariatric Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery patients for 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric patients.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two teens, husband and two furry friends.

Time for a “bariatric expert” vitamin? Here is a convenient way for bariatric patients to get them now on Amazon. Bariatric Expert Vitamins

If you have a regain or a stall, reach out to the Bariatric Food Experts for the Bariatric Reset Program.

Eat like a Bariatric Expert with our Bariatric Nutritional Plans.

Stay motivated with your Bariatric Wristbands – share your results online.

Complete your Health Form to ensure that you qualify for bariatric surgery.