It is not unusual to become overwhelmed and confused when sifting through the latest nutritional data to improve your health after bariatric surgery. However, when it comes to improving your diet, sometimes the little steps can make a big difference. Here are five foods that you can substitute for healthier options to improve your overall health and wellness, especially after weight loss surgery. Whole Grains Over Processed White Foods Although we recommend that patients limit their carb intake after weight loss surgery, we encourage you to opt for whole grains as the most nutrient-dense opti ..read more

We have all heard of calories, but do you know what they actually do? Calories are what make our bodies run; they are the gas to our tank. Calories are needed for our organs to function and for our brains to work; they are what allow us to live. Remember, from last week’s blog, A Guide to Reading a Nutrition Label, fat has nine calories per gram while protein and carbs have four calories per gram. If you want pure weight change, counting calories is enough and will yield results. However, if you track and control your individual macronutrient levels, results will be far more fa ..read more

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and food is usually a huge part of the celebration. Food is part of culture and heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, family recipes and ethnic or regional dishes are one of the things that makes holiday meals so special. As a bariatric patient, Thanksgiving, and the weeks that follow, are intimidating. Food is a large part of the festivities and is nothing short of carb-filled goodness. It is recommended that bariatric patients who are a year or more out from weight loss surgery eat less than 75 grams of carbs ..read more

Carbohydrates are naturally occurring sugars, starches, and fibers found in food products. Like fats and protein, carbohydrates are a macronutrient, meaning a nutrient that must be consumed in relatively large amounts as fuel for the body. In fact, you may have heard that carbs are the body’s primary source of energy. So if carbs are so highly praised, why are we telling you to avoid carbs like the plague after bariatric surgery? First, it is important to understand the role that carbs play in the body and the different types of carbs because some are on the good list, and others are on the n ..read more

The bottom line is that the only way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit by eating fewer calories than your body burns for energy. There are many ways to accomplish this, and targeting added sugars and replacing them with stevia is an easy and tasty fix. Research has shown that subjects given stevia-containing foods or beverages consumed fewer calories throughout the day. The Truth About Added Sugars It seems like everything we read talks about avoiding carbs and sugar, especially after Bariatric Surgery. In the U.S., the average intake of added sugars reaches up to 270 calorie ..read more

Although I highly suggest patients avoid eating at fast food restaurant chains, there is bound to be a time when you are stuck in the drive-thru line at McDonald’s. Whether your spouse sent you on a run to pick up dinner after a long day at work or you are road-tripping it, I want to make sure you are well equipped for whatever circumstances you find yourself in. So I have reviewed all of the most popular fast-food chain’s menu items to find the most protein-packed, low carb options for you.   ..read more

After bariatric surgery, patients must make changes to their eating habits to avoid regain. This is to include eating fewer packaged and restaurant meals, which are traditionally high in calories and carbohydrates. However, eating out is inevitable and is often a focal point of social events with friends and family. So how can you avoid regain while also enjoying the meals prepared at restaurant chains? As long as you continue to focus on making healthy choices, eating at restaurants is viable. However, I would not recommend doing so regularly as even healthy options may be high in calories ..read more

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and food is usually a huge part of the celebration. Food is part of culture and heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, family recipes and ethnic or regional dishes are one of the things that makes holiday meals so special. As a bariatric patient, Thanksgiving, and the weeks that follow, are intimidating. Food is a large part of the festivities and is nothing short of carb-filled goodness. It is recommended that bariatric patients eat around 40 grams of carbs a day and aim for 60 to 80 grams of protein. Based on ..read more

It is no surprise that Halloween is the day that the most sugar is consumed in America. On average, children consume 3 cups of sugar on Halloween and the parents are not too far behind. As a bariatric patient who is less than one year post-op, we recommend you consume, on average, 40 grams of carbs a day. It can add up real fast though when you indulge in that halloween candy. So what does 10 grams of carbs (or 25% of your carb limit) look like? We have put together this graphic to show you the nutrition information for all of your favorite little treats. Hopeful ..read more

The 4th of July is around the corner and for a bariatric patient, it can be a bit intimidating. Between the hamburgers and hot dogs, potatoes chips, and red white and blue cupcakes, the 4th of July (among other holidays) is a bariatric patients nightmare. So we have crafted these yummy yogurt popsicles that are not only full of protein but taste great and are a wonderful way to cool off this 4th of July.This recipe truly is so simple and easy. It calls for only 2 ingredients! For the greek yogurt, we chose to use the Dannon Light & Fit Greek Vanilla because it already has a sweet taste to ..read more