1. Cool, large water bottle. If the surgery was recent, consider getting a nice water bottle to hold all stage 1 diet liquids and protein shakes. Adequate hydration is very important for weight loss surgery patients so always having a full water bottle is very handy.
2. Colorful pill organizer. Hopefully sooner rather than later, any diabetes or blood pressure pills will not be needed and the convenient pill organizer can be used to keep track of vitamins and supplements.
3. Comfortable running shoes with arch support. After surgery, keeping up an active lifestyle is a must! Having shoes that will lessen the impact on your joints will make exercising so much easier and enjoyable.
4. Portion control plate. For recent bariatric patients, portion control might be something new. These plates help prepare a complete, nutritious meal by measuring serving sizes to ensure daily intake of each food group.
5. Meal prep storage containers. Preparing meals and snacks beforehand works wonders for people who have a busy life but want to control their portions. Choose dishwasher/microwave-safe containers and pay close attention to the size you need. 
6. Journal. This is a no-brainer. A fancy new journal is perfect for tracking calorie intake, unloading daily thoughts and feelings, writing down delicious recipes, and having a record of your weight loss journey that you can come back to in the future and realize how much your life has changed.

However, the best present you can give a weight loss patient is love and support. And as a bariatric patient, giving yourself the gift of health and a chance of a new life is the greatest gift of all. Daily goals make all the difference, the items above just help you along the way. 

If your gift for the holidays is starting your own weight loss journey, get in contact with our team and patient coordinators. We are happy to help!

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The post Holiday Shopping for Bariatric Patients first appeared on Diabetes Obesity Clinic.

Interestingly, if an obese man’s partner has a normal weight, chances of a successful conception increase, whereas getting pregnant as an obese woman proves to be more difficult. According to Karine Hammarberg, Senior Researcher of Monash University’s School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, “For a woman with a BMI of 35, the likelihood of getting pregnant within a year is 26% lower, and for a woman with a BMI of 40 it is 43% lower compared with women with a BMI between 21 and 29.” 

The main reason for these drastic statistics is that obesity can be the cause of anovulation and irregular menstrual cycles. Obesity is also commonly linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (around 50% of women with this condition are obese), which not only represents a significant obstacle for women who are trying to get pregnant, but it generally causes very painful periods, metabolism problems, and an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer.

Studies show that even a 10% reduction in weight can drastically change reproductive health in both men and women, increasing the chances of a healthy pregnancy. Gastric Sleeve surgery’s main purpose is to help obese people lose this excess weight but this loss will translate to a reduces risk of developing Diabetes Mellitus during pregnancy or experiencing preeclampsia during childbirth. It can also help control, or even cure, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. 

It is best to wait at least one year after Gastric Sleeve surgery to conceive. Once your weight has stabilized, your body should be ready to carry out a safe and happy pregnancy under the care of experienced and certified doctors that will constantly monitor your health.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are always here to help in any way we can. You can also talk to us through our social media:

The post Expecting to Expect after Weight Loss? first appeared on Diabetes Obesity Clinic.