5 Tips for Clothes Shopping While Losing Weight

Clothing shopping – if you are someone who has struggled with weight all your life, chances are clothing shopping might not be your favorite thing to do.

And if you are in the process of losing weight either through diet and exercise alone or as a result of weight-loss surgery, buying new clothing for your changing figure can be exciting and frustrating at the same time.

Here are some tips and reminders for shopping as you continue on your weight-loss journey.

Try Everything On

Before you lost weight, you may have avoided the dressing room. Now? It’s more important than ever to try everything on before you bring it home. Your body is changing, and your shopping habits need to change with it. What you once pulled off the rack and brought home to wear is now probably too big.

Be Forgiving

Try to focus on the positives while you try clothing on. Even if you aren’t in the size you want to be in, congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come and what you can wear now that you couldn’t before.

Experiment with New Styles and Colors

If you never wore skirts before, why not start wearing them now? Showing off your new body is a great way to inspire yourself along the journey.

Fit Your Form

You have a new shape – show it off! Pick pieces that emphasize your waist or wherever you feel confident. By choosing pieces that fit well, you can actually make yourself look thinner. Get rid of those baggy clothes and love the skin you’re in.

Have Fun

Take a friend or support person shopping with you. He or she can help you choose new pieces and give you an honest opinion about the clothing you choose.

Ready to go shopping for a new, slimmer you?

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

Robotic Weight-loss Surgery at Penn

Surgeons at Penn Medicine have been providing the highest quality medical care while helping patients achieve their lifestyle and weight loss goals for more than 20 years. Now they have combined that comprehensive care with robotic-assisted surgery for treating severe obesity.

Obesity has become an epidemic problem in the United States, reducing the life span of many Americans and impacting the nation’s health in detrimental ways. Morbid obesity is often associated with medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea and an increased risk of colorectal and other cancers. For many of these people, diets, medications and behavior modifications often fail.

Surgical treatments of obesity, including the robotic assisted vertical sleeve gastrectomy and Lap-Band® procedures, offer hope as a proven method of achieving long-term weight loss for this population. Bariatric surgeons at the Hospital of the University Pennsylvania have been using the surgical robot when performing vertical sleeve gastrectomy and Lap-Band procedures for several years. Because of the robot’s ergonomic design and 3D imaging, it is ideally suited for bariatric surgery.

Penn is at the forefront of bariatric surgery. In addition to performing bariatric procedures for more than 20 years, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital are recognized as a Centers of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Noel Williams, MD, director of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program, said there are many advantages for patients when using robotics for bariatric surgery including:

• Reduced trauma to the body
• Shorter recovery time
• Less chance of infection
• Less postoperative pain

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

3 Steps to Combat Weight Gain After Menopause

While most people gain weight as they age, extra weight is not inevitable.

“Weight gain with menopause in women, or aging in men is very common,” says Dana Rosenfeld, registered dietitian at Penn. “Hormonal changes, decrease in muscle mass, and less exercise can all lead to slow weight gain.”

As we age, and especially after menopause, fat is more likely to deposit in the abdominal region. This is called “metabolically active” or “visceral” fat, and can be quite dangerous, leading to increased risk for metabolic syndrome.

Here are some tips to combat weight gain.

Increase muscle mass

Weight gain with age can sometimes be attributed to lower muscle mass. Since muscle tissue takes more calories to sustain energy, a decrease in muscle mass means less calories are used throughout the entire day. If your doctor says it’s okay, start a consistent weight-training routine to increase muscle mass and the amount of calories your body is burning at rest.

Track your weight

One of the best ways to stay on top of slow weight gain is to weigh yourself regularly. Most people find that by weighing themselves at least once a week, they can stay on top of that extra weight that seems to creep up over time. If you know your weight, you can do something about it. Make sure to zero your scale and wear minimal clothing before weighing in.

Track your food

It’s easy to think you are eating healthy and appropriate portions, but sometimes it’s helpful to actually write down and track every morsel of food and drink that goes in your body. You might be surprised to learn you are eating more than you think.

Online and smart phone food and fitness trackers are great tools for tech-savvy patients.

While genetics do play a role in weight gain, remember weight gain is not inevitable. Practice these helpful tips to avoid weight gain with menopause or as you get older and you can stay in control of your weight.

Do you need more help losing weight?

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

What to Expect at a Medical Weight Management Meeting

Recently, a patient posted on the Penn Medicine Weight Loss Facebook page:

“What goes on at a medical weight management meeting at Penn?”

Medical weight management meetings are meetings for people who have chosen to have weight-loss surgery at Penn in Philadelphia.

The Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program's pre-operative nutrition screening is focused on changing patients' eating behaviors and food selection practices. This helps patients adjust to their post-operative diet and achieve the best results possible from bariatric surgery.

During this meeting, a dietitian from the program evaluates patients' weight loss history and current eating and exercise behaviors using a weight and diet history questionnaire. Patients also keep a food diary to record their daily intake and learn the principles of post-operative gastric bypass, including dietary progression, protein and fluid requirements, and lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation.

The medical weight management meeting includes the following:

• A Penn registered dietitian who reviews your current eating patterns and provides nutrition counseling. The dietitian also helps prepare you for the eating behaviors and dietary changes required to be successful after bariatric surgery.
• A Penn nurse practitioner who evaluates your current medical studies and reviews the results with you. You are asked to review your nutrition binder prior to the meeting and bring it with you to your visit.

Remember: You must have insurance approval to schedule weight-loss surgery. In fact, insurance may require three to six months of medical weight management before your surgery depending on your insurance plan.

Get More Information About Weight-loss Surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

Health Screening Before Weight-loss Surgery

All patients considering bariatric surgery with the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program must meet specific criteria before they can be considered for a screening evaluation.

The criteria are based on universal standards established by the National Institutes of Health and include:

• Body weight greater than 100 pounds or 45 kg above ideal weight.
• Body mass index (BMI) greater than 40 or BMI greater than 35 with medical complications related to obesity, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and gallbladder disease.
• A documented history of weight management and weight loss attempts with supervised diets and exercise programs.
• No indication of active alcoholism, active drug addiction or major psychiatric disorder.

Surgeons at the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program evaluate other criteria, such as a your age and general health, to determine if bariatric surgery is appropriate.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

Remember These Healthy Tips at the Thanksgiving Table

Lisa Harris of Clementon, NJ, was a self-proclaimed “yo-yo” dieter her whole life. Moved by her father’s dying request to get healthy, Harris had gastric bypass surgery at Penn Medicine with Alan Shuricht, MD, FACS. In this blog post, she discusses her strategies for tackling holiday meals after bariatric surgery.

Autumn has arrived. There’s a crispness in the air, trees are displaying their colors, and sweaters are coming out of hibernation. Autumn also means something else: The holidays are right around the corner, looming like a double-barreled shotgun of food.

As a bariatric patient, holidays have taken on a different meaning. My family has always been food-centric, and having a lot of Italian-based traditions, sometimes it can turn into a veritable carb-fest. Having survived my first year of holidays in a post-op world, I have several pointers to help others get through the next few months.

Eat Before You Eat

If you’re going to a party, try to eat beforehand. Make sure what you eat before a party is quality protein, and get as much water in as you can before the party. Slip a protein bar in your purse or jacket pocket just in case.

Here’s the main rule for going to any party or gathering: Indulge a little. Yep, you heard me. You want something? Go ahead and have a taste. As long as you’re not immediately post-op and still healing, one bacon-wrapped scallop, half a mini egg roll, or a mozzarella stick isn’t going to hurt. If you eat it slowly, take small bites and chew it completely, you can stretch one of those little treats out while socializing.

Stick With Spoonfulls

Thanksgiving can be easy. Turkey is a well-tolerated protein. Stuffing? Sure, have a TINY spoon. Green bean casserole? A tiny spoon.

Cranberry sauce? You bet! (Check out the mini-recipe below since the canned stuff is full of sugar.)

Corn Bread? Sure, have a teeny piece, but save it for last. If it doesn’t fit, skip it.

The only thing that I absolutely skip on Thanksgiving is the candied sweet potatoes. But just because I can’t eat them, I can still smell them! A good whiff of anything can go a long way!

Pick Protein First

The December holidays are pretty much handled the same. Whether it’s Hanukkah or Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s Eve, there’s bound to be a gathering for a special meal.

Choose wisely. Follow the “protein first” rule. Watch out for sugar-laden sauces (candied anything is a big no-no), and stay away from most pasta, potatoes, rice or corn dishes that are high in carbs. Desserts are usually off-limits due to their sugar content. Lucky for me, my sister will make a small sugar-free version so I get to try whatever the rest of the family is having.

Enjoy What Holidays Are Really About

For me, the holidays are much less centered on food and much more a celebration of family and enjoying life again. The main ideas here are to know that it’s okay to indulge a little, make wise choices, and enjoy the holidays.

There is no mistake or misstep that can’t be corrected tomorrow.

Make Cranberry Sauce Without Regrets

Put about a half-cup of fresh cranberries and a quarter cup of water in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, then lower heat to a simmer, and stir while the cranberries cook down. Simmer until reduced and thickened. Stir in 2 to 3 packets of Splenda for sweetness.

Cool and store in the refrigerator until turkey time.

Learn More About Weight-loss Surgery at Penn

Penn can help you lose weight, and get back to a healthier lifestyle.

Join us for a free information session abut weight-loss surgery at Penn. Meet Penn weight-loss surgeons, and learn what weight-loss options are available to you.

Register for a free information session today.

 

On Her Way After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Lisa Harris of Clementon, NJ, was a self-proclaimed “yo-yo” dieter her whole life. Moved by her father’s dying request to get healthy, Harris had gastric bypass surgery at Penn Medicine with Alan Shuricht, MD, FACS.In this blog post, she discusses traveling. And how she is on her way.

I’m on my way, both figuratively and literally.

Figuratively, I’m on my way into a brand new life. I’ve been given a second chance, something that not everyone gets in life. My second chance has come by way of gastric bypass surgery. In early 2011, I tipped the scales at 357 lbs. May 2, 2011 started my journey with my surgery.

I remember the sense of calm I had that day. When I was checking in to Pennsylvania Hospital, I felt an arm wrap around me. It was my surgeon, Dr. Schuricht. He asked me if I was ready for my new life to begin. I hugged him back and replied with an enthusiastic YES! He told me to hurry up and check in because he would be downstairs waiting for me. As I was prepped for surgery and wheeled into the operating room, everyone was amazed at how calm I was. It was almost a feeling of Zen. I had complete faith in Dr. Schuricht. And thus began my new life.

Since my surgery, I’ve lost 161 pounds. I’m still losing, albeit slowly. From a percentage standpoint, I’ve lost 45 percent of my starting weight. Size wise, I’ve gone from a size 28 to a size 12.

Twelve.

I wore a size 18 when I was a freshman in high school! It’s still surreal sometimes, knowing that I can walk into almost any store and find clothing that will fit me.

One of the biggest changes to take place since my surgery is my job. I have been with the same company for 14 years. Up until June of this year, I was performing the same job. And in June, everything changed. I was offered a promotion, an exciting new job that leverages my experience with our industry and software, and gives me a very high profile in the company. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been given this promotion if I still weighed 350 pounds.

So now, the literal part of “on my way.” As I write this, I am in the air, high over the United States.

Seatbelt is fastened-no extender!

I’m headed to a major Midwest city for a software conference. My seatbelt is fastened. There’s about 10” of “tail” from the seatbelt’s latch. The last time I flew, which was in 2000, I needed a seatbelt extender. I probably should have had two, but I couldn’t muster up the courage to ask for a second one, so I sucked in as much as I could and persevered. This time, the slender woman next to me didn’t even bat an eyelash that I’d be sitting right next to her.

The only issue I’ve had so far was with my carry-on bag and getting through security. Apparently protein bars and Miralax look odd in X-ray scans! My luggage was searched, I explained to the TSA agent that the bottle contained powder and not a liquid, and they re-scanned everything just to check. Nothing was confiscated and I was free to go!

My trip is Monday to Wednesday. I’ve packed protein bars (eight to be exact). These are an emergency measure, a bariatric safety net if you will. This way I can always have a bar or two in my purse in case the food provided at the conference is not something that I can eat. I haven’t had many food-related issues since my surgery. Hopefully I won’t have any issues but I’m prepared just in case.

I also ran a quick Internet check to find a drug store near the hotel where I’m staying, as another just-in-case measure. This was in case the TSA took my Miralax, or if I need any other medication. I’ve already needed a protein bar as my flight was delayed and my pouch can get grumpy if I don’t eat on time.

It’s another hour in the air before I reach my destination. I have a gorgeous dress and 5-inch heels to wear to the dinner reception tonight.

I love my new life!

Are you ready to change your life? 

Learn how Penn Medicine can help you lose weight, gain health and get back to a healthier lifestyle.

Attend a free, weight-loss surgery information session at Penn.

FDA Approves New Weight-Loss Drug Qsymia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the diet drug Qsymia(TM).

This weight-loss drug, a combination of the stimulant phentermine and the anti-seizure drug topiramate, claims to help people lose weight by suppressing the appetite and creating a feeling of fullness after eating. Researchers say the drug works by targeting multiple brain pathways that trigger overeating.

Clinical trials of Qsymia have shown that people who took the drug combined with a healthy eating plan and fitness regime did lose weight. However, Qsymia does come with several side effects that include:

• Increased heart rate
• Birth defects
• Hyperventilation
• Fatigue
• Anorexia

Should I take a diet pill?

Only you and your doctor can decide if it is safe for you to take a diet pill. People who take any diet drug should be monitored closely by a physician who can detect heart disease or other cardiovascular risks.

The safest and best recommendation for long-term weight loss is a healthy diet combined with a fitness regime. For some people who have struggled to control their weight throughout their whole lives, weight-loss surgery may also be an option to lose weight.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

What is Dumping Syndrome?

Some people who have weight-loss surgery may experience something called dumping syndrome.

Dumping syndrome describes a group of symptoms that occur when undigested food moves too quickly into the small bowel (small intestine). This can occur after weight-loss surgery, more specifically, gastric bypass surgery, or any surgery in which part of the stomach is removed. Dumping syndrome may also occur after consuming a meal high in sugar.

Dumping Syndrome Symptoms

Dumping syndrome may include symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, heart palpitations and dizziness.

The symptoms may occur immediately after eating or a few hours after eating.

How to Avoid Dumping Syndrome

If you believe you are experiencing dumping syndrome you should speak with your health care team to discuss treatment options.

The following treatments and lifestyle changes may help you manage your symptoms:

• Eat smaller meals.
• Avoid drinking fluids with meals.
• Lie down after eating.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Chew food thoroughly.
• Avoid high-sugar foods: aim for less than 15g sugar per serving.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Register for this free weight-loss information session.

Are You a Yo-Yo Dieter?

If you have battled obesity and weight loss throughout your life, you know all about “yo-yo” dieting. What is yo-yo dieting? And why do so many people succumb to a cycle of losing weight only to gain it back again.

Why do we Yo-Yo Diet?

Yo-Yo dieting, also known as weight cycling, refers to the cycle by which a person loses weight, but later gains it all back. In some cases, people gain back more than they lose.

The reasons for yo-yo dieting are varied, but yo-yo dieting is usually attributed to a diet that is too extreme or restricting. You might initially be happy with the results from a very extreme diet. The diet, however, is usually too restrictive and often leads to overeating – usually more than you would have eaten before embarking on such a diet. This results in rapid weight gain.

How to Avoid Yo-Yo Dieting

The best way to avoid weight cycling is to maintain balance. Basic guidelines for weight loss advise you to eat less, and exercise more. However, eating too little can set you up for disaster.

It sounds oversimplified, but to lose weight, it’s important to eat a balanced diet full of healthy, filling foods while incorporating daily exercise into your life. It’s best to eat small and frequent meals to constantly fuel your metabolism

It’s a good goal to aim for 1/2  to 1 pound of weight loss per week.

Get more information about weight-loss surgery at Penn

Learn if bariatric surgery is right for you by attending a free weight-loss information session about the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program.

Learn more about weight-loss surgery at Penn at this free session, and meet physicians and team members from the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program

Register for this free weight-loss information session.