GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -

Trying to lose a little weight is hard enough. But when your weight climbs up to more than 100 pounds over your ideal weight, it becomes almost impossible for many people to lose it. That's when some people turn to weight loss surgery.

Kim Roberts, 45, has already lost more than 100 pounds since she had surgery ten months ago. She says the surgery has given back her life.

"I have so much more energy. It's incredible," Roberts said.

That wasn't the case before the surgery, when Roberts says she had become so heavy that her size and joint issues were affecting her lifestyle.

"Definitely a lot of mobility issues at 391 pounds. It came on gradually, and the next thing I knew I had put on a lot of weight over the years, and I thought how did this happen to me?"

She says her weighteven made simple things, like sitting on an airplane or in a restaurant booth, very difficult.

Roberts has fought weight problems since she was 16, creating a cycle of losing and gaining. She says she knew she needed help, and turned to weight loss surgery for a more permanent solution.

"I couldn't face another failure of diet. Because I had been successful in losing weight, but not keeping it off, and it was depressing and discouraging".

Weight loss surgeons decided that the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy was the best solution for Roberts. Dr. Don Balder from Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport says they use tiny incisions to remove a major portion of the stomach.

Read more here:
Weight loss surgery patient loses 130 pounds

Its already May. The heat is rising in the South, and the rest of the country soon will follow. Of course this means swimsuit season, and a plan to arrive at a healthy weight will help you look good at the pool and make you healthier overall, say University of Alabama at Birmingham experts.

Healthy living is not about the number on the scale, but rather feeling good about yourself and being comfortable or confident in your skin, says Lauren Whitt, Ph.D., UAB Wellness coordinator. The goal is to be a healthy size for you, so focus your attitude and energy on becoming the best version of yourself and enjoy the journey to health.

Be realistic about attainable weight loss, says Retta Evans, Ph.D., UAB associate professor of health education. Talk to your doctor to find out how much weight you need to lose to be healthy and set a date for achieving that goal. If its summer try June 1. Then, count the weeks that you have to lose weight.

You can safely be able to lose up to 2 pounds per week. So if you have four weeks until your specified date, for example, you can set a goal to lose 6 to 8 pounds, Evans says. If you need to lose more, you can always establish new goals after some weight-loss.

With a healthy goal weight and date in place, avoid overwhelming yourself, says Whitt. Make only one lifestyle change per day. Taking small steps towards your goal will make it more attainable. Try little things, such as drinking one fewer soda a day or eating breakfast, Whitt says. An early morning meal with protein should keep you satisfied until lunchtime and help you resist high-fat, sugary mid-morning snacks.

But skipping meals is a no-no when trying to be healthier. If you want to reduce calories, Kitchin advises you keep a food record for a few days or use a weight-loss app on your smart phone that requires you to note what you eat. You'll find out where extra calories are coming from, she says.

Our experts suggest these meal guidelines:

You also must increase your activity levels.

Start slow and be consistent. Make exercise an event on your work calendar so you have a reminder, Evans says. Pack a bag with your work-out gear the night before and leave it in your vehicle so you have no excuse.

Now choose the right workout for you.

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Shape Up for Summer Safely

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Diet Doc Weight Loss announces the diet for rapid weight loss, designed by leading weight loss doctors. A diet that shaves 25 pounds per month long term.

Many people ask the question on how to diet. This is a common question and an overwhelming problem when trying to lose weight reports Julie Wright, president of Diet Doc.

How to lose weight is not a one-size-fits-all reports Wright. It takes a skilled weight loss doctor who can customize a medically, supervised weight loss program specific to each person based on their health history, age, gender and lifestyle reports Wright. This is part of the trick on how to get the biggest bang for your buck in terms of pounds lost per day.

A diet must take the individual into consideration if it's going to work rapidly and effectively reports Wright. This is where Diet Doc comes in as not only do they customize a diet for each person, but each person receives 4 clinical consultations per month to keep them losing successfully.

Diet Doc works from a comprehensive standpoint with weight loss doctors, weight loss nurses and nutritional coaches to shave rapid weight safely from people.

Dieters will not have hunger or fatigue due to the use of a few medications (with little to no side effects) that are prescription grade natural diet pills and a unique medication along with yummy, weight loss shakes that are used 4x/day along with eating food bought from a grocery store. Also, a powerful, weight loss oil that is clinically proven to help burn fat within 30 minutes of consumption. The weight loss oil is used to make salad dressing or for cooking. Diet Doc also has salad dressings made from Stevia (no sugar, carbs or sodium) and delicious, satisfying 20 calorie/meal (pre-packaged) entrees, such as chili, steak soup, Thai chicken, hot & sour, chicken gumbo and more.

Example daily menu includes; egg white omelet + weight loss shake, chicken breast, unlimited salad, fruit + weight loss shake and salad dressing made with Diet Doc's weight loss oil, shake, dinner is made from a unique cookbook provided to every dieter offering hundreds of recipes. Most people cannot eat all we ask them to as their hunger vanishes reports Wright.

Anyone can boost theirs is the best diet, but Diet Doc is the only doctor designed diet which offers unlimited clinical support. Diet Doc realizes that when dieting, you must get your questions answered that day, not wait.

Diet Doc Weight Loss provides medically, supervised weight loss nationwide. Their unique, proprietary weight loss diet is powerful, yet extremely safe and is capable of rapid weight loss.

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Diet Doc Weight Loss Announces The Diet For Rapid Weight Loss, Designed by Doctors

Weight-loss (bariatric) surgery was at one point available only to people who were severely obese. Now, those who are just overweight can sometimes choose to get the surgery as well, making it an option that many people believe is worth considering. But theres lots of controversy, since the risks may outweigh the benefits. If youre considering the any type of weight-loss surgery, you should make sure to take into account the potential dangers of each procedure. ThirdAge reviewed recent medical studies regarding various weight-loss surgeries and compiled a list of the most surprising findings some positive and others daunting.

Potentially Good For Type 2 Diabetes. Several research studies have found that gastric-bypass surgery (which staples the stomach and reroutes the small intestine so that a smaller area can digest food) was more effective than standard diabetes treatment for overweight and obese people with Type 2 diabetes. Participants who had the popular surgery were significantly more likely to see their diabetes remit than those who took the usual diabetes drugs. Additionally, bariatric surgery has been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure in diabetes patients.

Less Risky Than Before But Still Risky. Now that weight-loss surgery has been around for some time, surgeons are more experienced and less likely to make errors. However, it still poses some risks. One in 900 people die during or right after gastric bypass surgery. And about one in 2,000 people die during gastric banding (lap-band) surgery, in which a band restricts the area of the stomach that can absorb food. Up to three percent of gastric bypass patients and one percent of banding patients develop major complications after the surgery, such as blood clots.

May Overcome Infertility. In one study of over 500 women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and extreme obesity, gastric bypass surgery was shown to help restore fertility. PCOS creates a hormonal imbalance that makes women unable to have children. Whereas some women in the study did not want children or were beyond the child-bearing age range, the study found that all six of the women who had been trying to conceive were successfully able to do so within three years of the surgery. So, apparently there can be more to the surgery than just weight loss. Can Cause Dumping Syndrome. One particularly disturbing complication of weight-loss surgeries is known as dumping syndrome, which occurs when stomach contents move too quickly through the small intestine, leading to nausea, diarrhea, and sweating. Many people who experience this are unable to eat certain foods without feeling very weak. Another risk of weight-loss surgery is developing nutritional deficiencies that can lead to an array of difficulties like osteoporosis and anemia. May Stop The Genetic Obesity Chain. If a woman is obese and gives birth to a child, theres a high chance the child will become obese too. But new research shows that bariatric surgery may assist in breaking the cycle of obesity that runs in families. The study looked at children of formerly obese mothers who had weight-loss surgery before they become pregnant, and found that they were less likely to develop obesity or to have risk factors associated with diabetes and heart disease.

Link:
5 Surprising Facts About Weight-Loss Surgery

Diva Taunia of Wilmington got the call from ABC on a Friday, and on Monday morning, she was on an Acela train bound to Penn Station in New York City. As a four-year post-operative weight loss surgery success story, she was scheduled to appear on The Revolution with Tim Gunn to talk about weight loss surgery and the need for shaping and compression garments after massive amounts of weight loss. She was there as the before and after model, but also was able to give some insight on how each type of shaper helped women with various issues.

Everyone knows that with weight loss surgery, the weight comes off quickly and can often times leave excess skin. Taunia said. Many of us are unable to have reconstructive surgeries because our insurance companies consider those procedures cosmetic and elective. In my case, all of my excess weight resides in my abdomen, and shaping and compression garments not only smooth out the troubled areas, but give me a sense of pride and confidence in my body that I wouldnt otherwise have.

When I first arrived, I was stopped in the hall by Tim Gunn, who said, Hello Taunia. Were going to have lots of fun today. He was immediately friendly and welcoming, and hes just as charming as he is on TV. I was thrilled to be able to do such a lengthy segment with him on a topic that is really important in my weight loss surgery community.

Taunia considers herself an advocate and activist for weight related issues, and she also speaks openly and honestly about her own weight loss surgery journey.

It has hands-down been the best decision that I ever made for myself. I mean, look. Im on TV with Tim Gunn talking fashion for women like me. Everything that happens these days is a direct extension of that amazing choice I made on March 25, 2008. Ill always be proud of myself for taking charge of my health and recreating an entirely new and crazy life for myself.

You can see Wilmington resident Diva Taunia on ABCs The Revolution on Monday, May 21. For more information, visit her websites at http://www.divataunia.com and http://www.divatauniablog.com.

Excerpt from:
Wilmington resident talks weight loss on TV

Houston, TX (PRWEB) May 08, 2012

Medifast coupons are now available through CouponBuzz.com, saving slimmers big bucks on their weight-loss program. Now the incentive to drop those excess pounds is even stronger with a range of discount coupons that can be used to get great deals on Medifasts nutritious products. Go to CouponBuzz.com now and get in shape with Medifast coupon codes.

"Using Medifast coupon codes is the first step towards getting back that youthful waistline," says CouponBuzz.com owner and founder, Justin Bowen. "Here at CouponBuzz, anyone who's looking to slim down for summer can choose any one of a series of promotional codes and start losing weight now!"

Medifast has a diet plan for everyone. Its clinically proven weight loss programs have been carefully selected to guarantee the best results using only the finest ingredients. Each plan is geared towards the individuals personal lifestyle, and Medifast members can also benefit from great deals on shipping their dietary products straight to the door!

Simply by picking up a Medifast coupon code at CouponBuzz, participants can take advantage of a selection of monthly meal plans for a fixed fee. Each plan is designed to help the body burn off fat reserves quickly and effectively. Most people lose weight fast - as much as 20 pounds a month, significantly faster than other weight loss regimes.

CouponBuzz.com is working with Medifast to help customers get the body they want. Visitors to CouponBuzz can start their slimming regime instantly by using Medifast coupons. There are a number of great offers out there already, and the deals on meals are set to continue.

To make the most of this Medifast promotion and others could not be simpler. CouponBuzzs user-friendly website allows visitors to choose the deal thats best for them and redeem it immediately. Customers can choose from Medifast diet plans for anyone including vegetarians, the elderly and those with certain illnesses. To take advantage of any Medifast offer go to http://couponbuzz.com/medifast-coupons.html.

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Medifast Coupons Save Slimmers Big Bucks On Their Dieting Expenses

It's not just what you eat or how much you exercise that matters; it's the timing of each component that is the true secret to weight loss success. Research shows that our bodies' inner eat-and-sleep clocks have been thrown completely out of whack, thanks to all-day food cues and too much nighttime artificial light. The result: You're caught in a "fat cycle": a constant flow of hunger hormones that makes you prone to cravings. By tuning in to your body's natural eat/sleep schedule, you can finally say good-bye to your belly. Follow this hour-by-hour slim-down schedule to control hunger hormones, banish cravings, and get a trim and toned belly--fast!

Foods to Eat for All-Day Energy

6 to 8 AM: Get moving.

Within a half hour of rising and before you eat breakfast, do 20 minutes of cardio. Research has found that exercising before breakfast may help you burn fat more efficiently. If you can get outside, even better. Early morning sunlight helps your body naturally reset itself to a healthier sleep/wake cycle (regular indoor lights don't have the same effect).

6:55 to 8:55 AM: Drink up.

Before every meal, drink two 8-ounce glasses of water. Research shows that people who drank this amount lost 5 pounds more than nonguzzlers.

7 to 9 AM: Eat breakfast.

The alarm clock also wakes up ghrelin, the "feed me" hormone made in your stomach. Ignore ghrelin and your body will produce even more, eventually making you ravenous. To suppress ghrelin's effect, eat a mix of complex carbs and protein, such as eggs and whole grain toast, within an hour of waking.

10 to 11 AM: Munch midmorning.

Ghrelin begins to rise again a couple of hours before lunch. It turns off when you chow down, particularly on carbs and protein, so have a small combo snack, like blueberries and Greek-style yogurt.

Original post:
Lose Weight All Day Long