10,000 Steps for Your Health

This weeks biggest loser give away is a pedometer. A pedometer, also known as a "step counter", is a device that counts the number of steps you take each day, based on the movement of your hips. It helps to track not only how much you move during your work out, but also helps quantify your Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) to maximize calories burned throughout the day.

*Fun Fact* Standing burns more calories than sitting. GET UP!!!

The recommended number of steps per day is 10,000, which is equivalent to about 5 miles! Increasing the amount of movement can help reduce risks for: heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
GET MOVING!!!

Tips for Hitting 10,000
Take the stairs
Get a walking partner at work
Walk the dog (he/she has been waiting)
Get off a few stops earlier on the bus
When the phone rings, get up out of your chair
Walk to a colleague's office versus sending an email or calling
Repaint a room
Get up to change that channel on the TV
Garden
Take a few laps around the store before grabbing a cart
Integrate walking into your every day activities

Written by: Alyssa Picone, Dietetic Intern

A win for those seeking the next step in obesity care!

If you or someone you know is suffering from the disease of obesity please forward, re-post on your facebook wall or re-tweet!

As many of you know, the path to surgical intervention for weight loss can be long, frustrating and tedious. The pre-operative 6 month diet and it's effects on surgical and weight loss outcomes have been studied. Several studies have concluded that the 6 month pre-operative diet does not improve weight loss or surgical outcomes. The American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery (ASMBS) has reviewed the research and issued the following statement,

"the requirement for documentation of prolonged preoperative diet efforts before health insurance carrier approval of bariatric surgery services is inappropriate, capricious, and counter-productive given the complete absence of a reasonable level of medical evidence to support this practice. Policies such as these that delay, impede or otherwise interfere with life-saving and cost-effective treatment, as have been proven to be true for bariatric surgery to treat morbid obesity, are unacceptable without supporting evidence."

Thanks to the Illinois Chapter of the ASMBS, who fought diligently, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas have dropped the 6 month medically supervised diet requirement prior to surgical intervention for morbid obesity.

This is a true win for individuals suffering from the disease of obesity seeking the next step in care, surgical intervention. It should be noted, however, that this DOES NOT indicate that nutrition and an understanding of the lifestyle changes required for post-operative success and health are not important. An adequate level of knowledge and the ability to apply new behaviors is still just as important.

At Franciscan St. James Center for Bariatric Surgery we have been and will continue to be diligent and steadfast in our lifestyle education, follow-up care and support for each and every one of our patients.

This policy change affords those with the disease of obesity greater access to care the (s)he deserves.

Grocery Store Tour: Veggies and Grains

Food Matters - Documentary - Bariatric Support Group Monday at 5:30 pm

Join us to watch the documentary FOOD MATTERS: You are what you eat at 5:30 pm on Monday for the Bariatric Support group. The first time I saw this I was blown away!

We will start the documentary at 5:30 pm and it is 90 minutes long, please arrive when you can. You are more than welcome to bring your dinner or something to share with the group. I look forward to a lively discussion.

Details about Food Matters can be found at http://www.foodmatters.tv/#

If you will be arriving after 5:30 pm, you can watch the first 40 minutes for free on-line by clicking the link above.

Reading a Nutrition Facts Label

What is a Calorie and Why Does it Count?