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Colorado Bariatric Surgery Institute
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Benefits of Tree Meditation
Many of you have seen me demonstrate meditative techniques either in support group or in individual sessions. The goal of doing this has been to assist folks with stress management and/or improve one's ability to obtain and remain focused, which is a skill that is invaluable. In turn, I thought I would review the basics of a simple meditation that can be done anywhere (at home, at work, or in the shower) for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or as long as you desire, so here it is.
Stand like a Tree!
1. Find a comfortable position, close your eyes, and stand completely still
2. Don't move! Don't swallow. Don't blink. Don't scratch!
3. Just breath naturally but "watch" your breath as you breath in and out.
4. Where is your breath freely moving? Where is it stuck?
5. To make your practice more advanced, imagine that there are 100 or even 1000 people staring at you to see if you are moving. Hence, if you knew that people were watching you, you would practice that much harder!
6. You will begin to notice heat, possibly irritability, discomfort, and maybe even some pain. Go deeper with this new information. Did you know that your body was challenged like this? Have you taken the time to slow down long enough to know what's going on deep inside of you? Is your mind racing with thoughts?
7. What we're trying to accomplish is to be able to resist the friction that we are generating by standing still. The resistance causes heat, the heat causes a flow of "something" whether you want to call that "something" energy or Qi or what have you.
8. You can start with just 5 minutes, in any location, and build up slowly.
9. If you practice long enough, you will eventually experience a release of the pain or discomfort, a heightened sense of awareness, and clear and focused mind.
Through practice, we can discover that the stressors of our life might actually be affecting our thoughts and behaviors. For example, was the pain or discomfort that you experienced related to a family member that you're having strife with? Was it your boss at work or an unresolved issue?
Any form of meditation can change your life. And remember, where there's awareness, there's change!
posted by Ken G. at 2:13 PM
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Potential For Resolving Type 2 Diabetes With Bariatric Surgery
ScienceDaily (Mar. 3, 2009) — As the incidence of obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus continues to increase worldwide, medical research indicates that surgery to reduce obesity can completely eliminate all manifestations of diabetes.
In a study published in the March 2009 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, investigators analyzed 621 studies from 1990 to April of 2006, which showed that 78.1% of diabetic patients had complete resolution and diabetes was improved or resolved in 86.6% of patients as the result of bariatric surgery. The primary risk factor for type 2 diabetes is obesity, and 90% of all patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.
Writing in the article, Henry Buchwald, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, states, "This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that bariatric surgery has a powerful treatment effect in morbidly obese persons with type 2 diabetes; 82% of patients had resolution of the clinical and laboratory manifestations of diabetes in the first 2 years after surgery, and 62% remained free of diabetes more than 2 years after surgery (80% and 75% for the total group). Randomized clinical trials comparing surgery and medical therapies for type 2 diabetes are urgently needed. Considering the potential benefits for millions of people, such trials should assess the risk/benefit ratio of surgery in less obese (BMI 30-35 kg/m2) populations, as well as in the morbidly obese (BMI>35 kg/m2) population."
posted by allison at 7:00 AM
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Recipe Ideas
Often post bariatric surgery, people eat the same things every day. Maybe these foods are well tolerated or maybe they are convenient and easy. It is important to have variety in our diets so that we can get the full range of nutrients that our bodies need. After bariatric surgery many people are unsure of what they can eat or tolerate. Add in new foods individually. One should follow a low fat, low calorie, low added sugar diet with an emphasis on protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains provides fiber which can help you feel full for longer and prevent constipation. Many recipes can easily fit into a bariatric diet, it just may take a bit of creativity and research: Grilled Glazed Salmon Serves: 4Preparation Time: 35 MinutesCooking Time: 25 MinutesTotal Time: 1 Hour What you need: 2 tablespoons olive oil1 teaspoon water1/2 cup red wine vinegar2 cloves crushed garlic1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper2 teaspoons dried basil1/2 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated1 1/3 pounds salmon fillet What you do: 1 In a shallow baking pan, combine the olive oil, water, red wine vinegar, garlic, garlic salt, black pepper and basil. Place salmon filet in the marinade meat side down, if skin is still on. Marinate for 30 minutes. 2 Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil grate. 3 Coat the salmon filet lightly with SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener. Place on grill and cook 12 minutes per side. Baste with marinade periodically while cooking. Salmon is done, when it flakes easily with a fork. Submitted by: Inspired by Home Cooks Nutrition Info (per serving) Calories 350 Calories from Fat 210 Protein 30g Fat 23g (sat 4g) Carbohydrate 3g Fiber 0g Cholesterol 90mg Sodium 540mg Sugar 0g Vanilla Mint Lemonade Serves: 1Preparation Time: 2 MinutesTotal Time: 2 Minutes Ingredients 1 packet SPLENDA® Flavors for Coffee, French Vanilla1 packet SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener3 slices fresh lemon10 mint leaves 3/4 cup water1/2 cup ice Directions 1 Mix all ingredients, except water and ice, in a tall glass. Crush lemon and mint with a fork. Add ice and water. Stir and serve immediately. Submitted by: Maker of SPLENDA® Sweetener Products Nutrition Info (per serving) Calories 10 Calories from Fat 0 Fat 0g (sat 0g) Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 10mg Carbohydrate 5g Fiber 2g Sugar 1g Protein 1g Notes Serving Size: 1 (8 fl oz) drink Recipes found at www.splenda.comOther recipe sources: www.chefdave.org (Bariatric Chef website) http://tracker.diabetes.org/myfoodadvisor.htmlwww.americanheart.org/deliciousdecisions
posted by jodyhal at 1:23 PM
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
New Drop-In Support Groups
We are pleased to offer weekly support sessions for our bariatric patients. These will be opportunities for patients to come and meet with other patients in a small group facilitated by a bariatric social worker. This is a time to talk with others about managing the transitions and lifestyle changes which follow bariatric surgery. No RSVP is needed, simply come ready to give and receive support. Groups will be held on a weekly basis as follows: Patient Groups These groups are open to all P/SL / CBSI bariatric patients Mondays, 12:00-1:00 - all patients welcome Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 - all patients welcome Support for the Supporters This group is for the friends and family members of patients who may be seeking more information about what to expect and how to best support their loved ones Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 - friends and family For more information contact Liz Rosenzweig at 303-839-6614
posted by Liz at 1:18 PM
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