Lose Weight Find Life

With the permission of my client, I share the following:

Dear Cathy, I’ve been exercising for what seems like forever.  How long do I have to exercise to lose weight?  What are the results from exercising?  ~Client

First, consider changing what you’re doing from “exercise” to “moving” and being “active”.  For many of us, “exercise” is something we had to do and hated it.  That’s why people join gyms or begin vigorous programs and quickly quit.  I do love to move and be physically active.  Yes, it is essentially the same thing.  Exercise seems like drudgery and being active is more like play and something I like to do.  Being active is a “get to” rather than a “have to” of exercise.

Let’s look at your motivation and reason for being active.  The slightest amount of daily movement will make you feel great.  You’ll enjoy the instant results of feeling good, your mind will clear, and your mood will improve along with your enhanced self-esteem.  All you need to do is get off the couch, take some deep breaths and take a walk.  You’ll feel better after you finish.  So good, in fact, that you’ll want to repeat the pleasure again and again.

The joy and feel good feelings from physical activity are contagious.  Now, after many years, I enjoy moving and being active.  It makes a huge difference in my life.  Look beyond weight loss to the immeasurable physical and emotional benefits of being active.  Weight loss will come naturally as you develop the habit of physical activity and the joy it brings to your life.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, Certified Life Coach
Weight Loss Surgery Coach

To my friends, clients and subscribers,

I’ll be away for a few days from my regular posts.  Please feel free to send me an e-mail or through “Contact Cathy” here if you need anything.  I’ll get right back to you when I return. 

I look forward to hearing from you and getting back to being in contact through Lose Weight Find Life!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach

With the permission of one of my weight loss surgery clients, I share the following e-mail question and my response regarding Dumping Syndrome.

Dear Cathy,

What is dumping syndrome?  What are the symptoms?  What causes it?  I don’t know if I dump or not since having my surgery.  What’s the advantage to dumping? 

I’m asked many times as a post-op RNY Gastric Bypass patient about dumping syndrome.  For me, it has been a great thing as it has been a deterrent of eating my pre-operative favorites consisting of sugary food choices.  I’ve provided some details about dumping syndrome as it relates to RNY Gastric Bypass, and how the function of it can benefit non-RNY weight loss surgery patients and non-weight loss surgery weight loss.

Early dumping syndrome happens when the lower end of the small intestine (jejunum) fills too rapidly with undigested food from the stomach. Patients can develop abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting, sweating, rapid heart rate, stomach cramps, fatigue, light headedness or diarrhea.   Since with the RNY Gastric Bypass the majority of the stomach is not being used and a new, small pouch that directly connects to the small intestine is created, there may be dumping. Early dumping syndrome is due to the rapid gastric emptying causing bowel distension plus movement of fluid from the blood to the intestine to dilute the intestinal contents. These symptoms usually occur 30 to 60 minutes after eating.

Late dumping is related to the blood sugar level. The small bowel is very effective in absorbing sugar, so that the rapid absorption of a relatively small amount of sugar can cause the glucose level in the blood to rise rapidly. The pancreas responds to this glucose challenge by increasing the insulin output. Unfortunately, the sugar that started the whole cycle was such a small amount that it does not sustain the increase in blood glucose, which tends to fall back down at about the time the insulin surge starts. These factors combine to produce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which causes the individual to feel weak, sleepy and profoundly fatigued.  Essentially, the person crashes from the highs and lows of the blood sugar and absorption factors.  Restricting simple carbohydrates (fruit juice, rice, pasta, potatoes and other sweet tasting foods) and eating more protein can reduce the symptoms of dumping.

There are some RNY post-ops that do not experience dumping syndrome.  However, just because a person does not experience symptoms of dumping syndrome, it still has the remaining impact of blood sugar issues along with eventual weight regain by eating the wrong types of foods.  If a weight loss surgery patient, such as Lap Band, does not have the same possibilities for dumping that a RNY patient does, the foods that cause dumping syndrome should still be avoided. Simple carbohydrates, sugary, fatty foods are not healthy choices for any weight loss surgery patient and anyone wanting to lose and maintain their weight. 

Consumption of sugar is a vicious cycle…the more we eat, the more we want.  It is a merry-go-round of eating and wanting more and more.  It is a ride best not to start!Healthy choices certainly benefit us physically.  Healthy choices are beneficial psychologically as well.  By exercising your muscle of making healthy food choices, you GAIN physically and psychologically and LOSE weight.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

Recently, I coached a client that was experiencing weight regain after having reached her weight loss goal and maintained it for almost one year.  With her permission, I will share her question and my response as her weight loss coach.

Dear Cathy,  At our next coaching session, I would like to talk about how I can stop regaining weight.  I don’t understand why I’ve been able to keep my weight stable and now I am struggling so much.  I’ve regained seven pounds.  Am I doing the yo-yo thing again?

Talk to you next week,
Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Thank you for sharing your goal for us to discuss during our coaching call next week.  Before our appointment, I wanted to share some thoughts with you in the interim to hopefully provide some reassurance.

A slight weight regain after a substantial weight loss is common.  The positive step you have taken is to be proactive and stop the trend you’re in of regaining.  It is much easier to lose seven pounds than 20 pounds or more.  Even though you have successfully maintained your weight for almost a year, you have stayed aware.  You have a healthy fear of regaining all of the 89 pounds you’ve lost.  A small amount of fear keeps us aware and consistently working on holding on to our weight loss success. 

In our coaching call, we can also discuss any old habits you’ve possibly tested or picked up again resulting in a weight regain.  We will create a strategy and plan for addressing your weight regain.  This is one of the many benefits from our coaching partnership.

No, you aren’t yo-yo dieting.  Yo-yo dieting is when you lose and go back up again to your old weight, plus add on a few additional pounds.   You have reached out early to regain control of your weight and lose again.

You deserve to feel very proud that you took back control and are already on your way to losing those seven pounds.  Congratulations.  In our appointment, we’ll discuss in further detail and create a new plan with some adjustments to maximize your weight loss to return to maintenance of your goal weight.

All the best,
Cathy