How To Lose Weight with a Busy Schedule
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TL;DR
- Weight loss is a multi-faceted process. You’ll need to modify many parts of your life to see success.
- Making small changes to your diet can add up over time, helping you to gradually improve your eating habits.
- Drink water, consume fiber, and avoid processed foods to kickstart changes in your diet.
- You don’t have to go to the gym every day to get enough exercise. Add exercise to your daily routine by taking the stairs instead of elevators or using a bike to run errands.
- If you’re struggling to lose weight with diet and exercise alone, talk to your doctor about gastric sleeve surgery which can help you feel full sooner by removing a portion of your stomach.
Weight loss is always a challenge, but it can be particularly hard for people with busy schedules. Fortunately, there are techniques that make weight loss possible without taking up a huge amount of your time.
Adjust Your Diet for Weight Loss
Our diets have a big impact on our health and our weight. Even small changes can add up over time. Start with small adjustments, like those below, to help gradually improve your diet:
- Keep in mind that foods with a lot of fiber make you feel full faster, which can help to reduce the urge to overeat.
- Drinking water throughout the day, especially before and during your meals, can help you to feel more full and can also help to promote good digestion.
- Most processed foods pack a lot of calories into a small package, so it is best to avoid them.
It is also important to watch the amount that you eat. Here are a few tricks to make portion control easier:
- Prepare your meals in advance so that sticking to your diet is the most convenient way to eat.
- Use small dishes to trick your brain into thinking that you are eating more than you really are.
- Carry healthy snacks with you so that you aren’t tempted by unhealthy ones.
- Avoid distractions, such as your phone, when eating. This makes it easier to watch your portion size.
Exercise Throughout the Day
You don’t have to go to the gym to get enough exercise. There are plenty of ways to add exercise to your daily routine, such as taking the stairs instead of elevators or using a bike to run errands. Remember that every little bit helps.
The goal is to turn exercise into a habit. It is easy to make excuses or forget about exercising when it’s not part of your daily schedule, but by incorporating exercise into your everyday routine, you’ll be working out without even realizing it!
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
If you’re struggling to lose weight with diet and exercise alone, talk to your doctor about your surgical weight loss options. Although there are several different types of surgical weight loss procedures, gastric sleeve surgery is among the most popular and safest options. During gastric sleeve surgery, a portion of your stomach is removed, limiting the amount of food you can eat and helping you to feel full sooner.
Qualification
Gastric sleeve candidates must meet the NIH guidelines to qualify for the procedure. Candidates should have a BMI of at least 40, which typically translates to being about 100 pounds overweight for men and about 80 pounds overweight for women. Alternatively, people who have certain obesity-related conditions may qualify for gastric sleeve surgery even if they have a BMI of less than 40:
- Coronary heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Severe sleep apnea
There are also some conditions that can disqualify candidates from receiving the procedure, including:
- Severe heart or lung disease
- Inflammatory diseases
- Cirrhosis
- Autoimmune diseases
- Severe mental health problems
Meet with Your Doctor
Gastric sleeve surgery is a big decision. It’s important to fully understand the procedure, along with both the benefits and potential side effects to make an informed decision. It’s important to talk with your doctor about your weight loss goals to see if gastric sleeve surgery is right for you and your lifestyle.
Cost of the Procedure
By offering the sleeve gastrectomy as an outpatient procedure, the cost of the gastric sleeve procedure is $11,300 which does not include your 2-3 day hotel accommodations, transportation or pre-op testing, if required. We offer financing with an easy, affordable payment plan but do not accept Medicaid or insurance. Some of the preparatory tests, such as blood work, are done through your primary doctor and may be covered by your insurance.
Preparations
Preparation is key for a successful procedure. Believe it or not, losing weight prior to your gastric sleeve procedure is a core part of that preparation. Losing weight not only helps to make the job easier for the surgeon and safer for the patient, it also makes the surgery more effective. Making changes to your diet and exercise habits helps you to get a head start on your weight loss goals and will help to make it easier to transition to a strict post-surgery diet and exercise regimen.
In preparation for your gastric sleeve procedure, you will also need a medical consultation, routine blood work and completed patient forms to ensure the gastric sleeve procedure is right for you.
Take the First Steps
Getting started on your mission to lose weight is the hardest part, but we offer support at every stage of the process to help you reach your weight loss goals. If you’re ready to take the first steps toward a healthier, happier you, get started by scheduling your gastric sleeve consultation today.