New Jersey Bariatric Center Patients Celebrate Weight Loss Accomplishments at Annual Sweet Success Gala

The annual event marks the weight loss accomplishments of patients who have had gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, and gastric balloon procedures

 

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – New Jersey Bariatric Center, the state’s leading weight loss surgery practice, recognized the weight loss victories of their bariatric surgery patients at its annual Sweet Success Gala, attended by more than 100 patients who’ve had gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and gastric balloon, their guests, and the bariatric surgeons and staff.

“For the past 11 years, we’ve been coming together to celebrate our patients’ successes,” said New Jersey Bariatric Center founder Dr. Ajay Goyal, who is also director of Bariatric Surgery at Atlantic Health System’s Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ. “It’s important to remember that success is not always a number on the scale. Sometimes it’s a small victory like being able to comfortably cross your legs or walk up stairs without losing your breath. Sometimes it’s a major health improvement like stopping diabetes medication. This night recognizes all the hard work patients have done and reminds them how far they’ve come since their decision to have surgery to aid in their weight loss.”

Each year the practice sends invitations to all patients who underwent weight loss surgery or a non-surgical weight loss procedure, such as gastric balloon at New Jersey Bariatric Center. There is dinner, dancing and the centerpiece of the event, the “Walk of Success,” during which patients walk a red carpet into the main room while their surgeons emcee. The doctors announce the name of the patient on the red carpet, the amount of weight lost, type of weight loss procedure and some of the “walker’s” weight loss milestones.

New Jersey Bariatric Center patient Crystal, who lost 100 pounds after having Gastric Sleeve surgery, was one of 40 patients who took the “Walk of Success.”

“I’m so grateful to the doctors, dietitians and staff at New Jersey Bariatric Center,” Crystal said. “I’m finally able to feel confident enough to walk into a room with all eyes on me. I am healthy and comfortable in my own skin. Because of weight loss surgery, I was able to focus on my happiness and my life with my husband and new baby girl.”


Weight loss surgery, which includes gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy (also known as gastric sleeve), alters the digestive tract to aid obese patients in losing weight. It is considered the most effective long-term solution for people suffering from obesity and related conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea and diabetes, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. To qualify for surgery, patients must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or 35 with an obesity related comorbidity, such as diabetes. New Jersey Bariatric Center doctors say the surgery is only a tool.

“Patients still must follow the guidelines we set forth for them by eating a healthy diet and exercising so they must be committed to change,” added Dr. Goyal. “In the end, the only thing most of my patients regret is not having done the procedure sooner.”

ABOUT NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER®
New Jersey Bariatric Center®, a medical and surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerville, Hoboken, East Brunswick and Hackettstown New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND procedures. Led by the team of Ajay Goyal, MD, Glenn Forrester, MD, Angela Glasnapp, MD, and James Buwen DO, the New Jersey Bariatric Center’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com

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February 2018 Tuesday Talks

Join us for our FREE Tuesday Talks for bariatric patients, led by a registered dietitian. Each meeting includes a special topic or guest, a Q&A session and open talk about weight and wellness issues.

This Month's Topic Is:

When/Where

Springfield: Tuesday, February 20th @ 6:30pm at New Jersey Bariatric Center, 193 Morris Ave., Springfield

Moderator: Meagan Butler, RD 

Somerville: Tuesday, February 27th @ 6:30pm at RWJ-Somerset, Family Practice Building, 110 Rehill Ave., Somerville

Moderator: Tia Hagins, RD 

 

No RSVP needed but please call 908-481-1270 to confirm before coming. Dates are subject to change. 

Weight Loss Surgery And My Race to Success

After Gastric Sleeve surgery, Frank lost 65 pounds and began training for his first 5K!

 

With every step toward the finish line, I was making my way toward a moment I knew would forever change my life. I began to remember where I was before bariatric surgery struggling with my weight and as I neared the end of the race, the old me —along with all those thoughts— vanished away. I ran my first 5K and I couldn’t be prouder of myself.

Obesity ran in my family and I was not immune to it. When I started to gain weight, I realized I was the same age as my father when he began to experience his own weight problems. He ended up suffering a massive heart attack and I felt I was following in his footsteps. Between working long nights and weekends with no set hours, I didn’t have a lot of time to take care of myself. It was time for me to do something about my weight.

In February 2017, I had the gastric sleeve procedure and since then I have lost 65 pounds. I feel so much better mentally and physically. It changed my mindset on how to eat. Surgery is just a tool. You still need to exercise and eat right to make the surgery work. I finally felt I had the tools to make the eating right part work. I was determined to make the exercise part work also.

My goal had always been to participate in a 5K — not only to show others what I can do but to prove to myself how far I’ve come. When I discovered the Mayor’s Day 5K Run/Walk in Union, I signed up immediately!

Training for this race was far from easy but I used an app called Burn that helped. It slowly teaches you how to run longer distances a little at a time. But the real challenge came when a few weeks after my sleeve surgery, I had a surgery in my left arm to repair nerve damage caused by a car accident.  I didn’t let my arm being in a sling stop me from running. Even with my arm in a cast and in constant pain, I went to the park and got my three to four miles of walking in on a regular basis Nothing was going to stop me. As the weight started coming off I struggled less. I went from walking to running and before long I was able to run for longer stretches of time without having to stop. This feeling made me want to push myself more and more. Not only did signing up for the race give me a goal to achieve but it actually set my date to achieve it.

The day of the race I was excited but nervous. I had worked hard and put in a lot of hours training and increasing my strength; still I couldn’t help but think, “Did I train enough?” I worried that most of my training had been on a flat track. I didn’t take into account that the course will have hills. The day of the race, I started off really well and started to struggle midway through. I didn’t know if I would be able to finish the course.  I fought through being out of breath and pain shooting down my legs. I had pushed myself so hard from day one of the surgery. I had some bumps along the way but it was all worth it when I crossed that finish line!

I amazed myself by completing the race in a little over 30 minutes. I came in 52 out of 177. Prior to weight loss surgery I would be out of breath simply bending over to tie my shoes. Now, here I was unlacing my sneakers after completing a three-mile run. Making it across the finish line wasn’t the end to my story. I realized with this new tool given to me, I can accomplish so much more than I originally had planned for my life. This spring, I plan to start working myself up to doing a half marathon. The race isn’t over…and this is only my beginning!

Managing Weight Loss When You're A Shift Worker

Not everyone has the typical 9-to-5 work schedule. Think about police, firefighters, nurses, doctors, security guards, bakery workers, bartenders; the list goes on and on. While most of the population is sleeping when it is dark out, some people are up and working, fighting against the internal system that makes us alert during the day and sleep at night. Disruptions in this system – known as the circadian rhythm -- are linked to weight gain and a host of other health issues. So what is exactly is a circadian rhythm and what can you do to prevent your nontraditional work hours from derailing your weight loss efforts – especially if you’ve had bariatric surgery or are trying another non-surgical weight loss approach? Read on!

Circadian rhythm is a natural, internal system that’s designed to regulate feelings of sleepiness and wakefulness over a 24-hour period, according to the National Sleep Foundation. It is controlled by an area of the brain called the hypothalamus that responds to light. The circadian rhythm is the reason that we start to feel tired at night. How does this happen? When our eyes see darkness, they signal to the hypothalamus that it’s time to sleep. Our hypothalamus then signals to our brain “it’s time to start feeling tired, release that lovely, sleep-inducing melatonin!”

Shift workers, particularly those who work overnight, often find their circadian rhythms are disrupted, leading to metabolic imbalances, poor quality of sleep and insufficient quantity of sleep. In research focusing on night shift workers, evidence shows that disruptions in these circadian rhythms contribute to cardiovascular disease, increased body mass, and elevated glucose and lipid levels. For this reason, shift workers who are trying to lose or maintain weight in particular need to pay close attention to their sleep schedule, meal structure and food choices. Here are some tips to help.

 

 

Sample meal plan for 11 pm-7 am work schedule with sleep 8 am-3 pm

 

BONUS TIP: Try using a slow cooker so you can have an entire week of meals ready to bring to work or for when you wake up. (Read Meal Planning for a Happier Healthier You for my favorite Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup and other meal planning tips and recipes)

 

 

 

RELATED: EATING OUT AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY 

 

Try these best options at:

A diner

Dunkin Donuts

QuickChek

Wawa

Snack ideas to pick up at convenience store

Working a night shift adds extra challenges if you’ve had gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric band or are working to lose weight through a non-surgical weight loss program, such as gastric balloon. With some planning and mindfulness, you can make good choices and still reach your goals.

References
https://sleep.org/articles/circadian-rhythm-body-clock/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3781773/

Think Before You Drink: How to Make Healthy Beverage Decisions Post Weight Loss Surgery

How many meals do you eat a day? Chances are you said three without having to even think about it. Now quick: How many times a day do you drink? Don’t know? It’s probably something that you really have to stop and think about. Let’s see: There’s your morning cup of coffee. Then maybe some juice with your breakfast. Then, the second cup of coffee at the office. An iced tea with lunch (“Oh and upsize that please since the large costs the same as the small.") Perhaps, another cup of coffee to stay awake midday. A glass of wine while you’re cooking dinner. The soda with your evening meal. And maybe a glass of water beside your bed in case you get thirsty in the middle of the night. Were you keeping count? If that day sounds anything like yours, that’s 8 drinks all of varying size and calorie content. All without much thought.

If you’ve had weight loss surgery, you know how we dietitians feel about consuming anything without thought! Often patients try so hard to make the right food decisions that we lose focus when thinking about beverages. For instance, I had one patient who was trying so hard to make the right choices. She was 6 months out from surgery and wasn’t losing nearly as much weight as she had expected. She said she was following our guidelines -- eating 3-4 times per day, focusing on lean proteins for meals and snacks, and drinking mostly water throughout her busy day as a stay-at-home mom of two toddlers.

“What do you drink at night?” I asked. At night after the kids are in bed, she recalled, she loves to have a drink – or two – with her husband. Goldschlager was their favorite, and when I pressed her to really think about it, she estimated that she was drinking about ½ a pint a day. That’s more than 800 calories! She had no idea there were so many calories in one drink.

Still not convinced? A recent study found that sugar-sweetened beverages increased the desire for fatty, salty and/or savory foods when consumed with a higher protein meal. In addition, the amount of energy spent on the breakdown and storage of food was reduced, as was the tendency of the body to burn fat for energy. Researchers speculate this may lead to overeating and a greater tendency for calories to be stored as fat. So that sweetened drink is not only adding calories but could be making you eat more too.

WHAT NOT TO DRINK

Soda is usually the first product that comes to mind when we ask patients to name a high-calorie drink that you should avoid when trying to reach or maintain a healthy weight. But there are so many other offenders that fall into the high-calorie category. Let’s look at a few so you don’t get fooled like my patient did.

Alcohol

Unlike soda, that bottle of wine or spirits does not come with a nutrition fact label so it’s not easy to figure out exactly how calorie laden alcohol can be. A simple rule is the higher the alcohol content of your beverage, the greater the calories. For example, a glass of wine that is 10% alcohol will have fewer calories than one that is 15%.

Once you get into mixed drinks, such as margaritas and cocktails, that use fruit juices and a variety of alcohols, the calories really start to add up. For instance, a Long Island iced tea, typically made with vodka, tequila, rum, triple sec, gin, and cola, can have as much as 500 calories or more!

Does this mean that you cannot drink alcohol at all? Of course not, as long as you choose wisely, know the limits and partake only once in a while. For example, instead of a full calorie beer, which is 7% alcohol and may have more than 200 calories, you may want to try a light beer. There are many options that are around 100 calories.

“Healthy” Drinks

I’m always skeptical of anything that screams “healthy” on the label. Beware of this variety of beverage that tricks you into thinking it is good for you. This includes flavored milks (including flavored nut and soy milks), drinks that are sweetened “naturally” or claim health benefits (like some probiotic drinks and teas) and juice. Yes, juice is all natural and has vitamins, but the truth is you are much better off eating a whole orange (which contains fiber and will help keep you full) than drinking an 8-ounce glass of OJ with no fiber. (See below.)

 

  1 Medium Orange 8 oz. Orange Juice
Calories 62 111
Carbohydrates 15 grams 26 grams
Sugar 12 grams 23 grams
Fiber 3.1 grams 0

 

RELATED: DO DETOX DIETS WORK?

 

Energy and Sports Drinks

Who wouldn’t want a drink that promises to give you energy? If it comes with an additional 168 calories and 9 teaspoons of sugar, like a 12-oz. Red Bull does, I would pass. Drinks that provide energy in the form of caffeine are also loaded with sugar and have been shown to have other poor health effects, such as elevating blood pressure. (1) Sports drinks, like Gatorade, aren’t much better. Unless you are doing intense exercise for 90 minutes or more, you don’t need a sports drink to rehydrate. Water works just fine.

Drinks That Are Really Desserts

This may seem obvious, but I decided to create this category because often the main ingredient in these drinks seem harmless (like coffee or yogurt) but once blended up with a bunch of other ingredients, you end up with almost a full meal’s worth of calories. You probably already recognize that a milkshake is a high-calorie treat, so let’s look at its close cousin, a smoothie. A 16-oz. peanut banana protein smoothie at a popular chain comes in at 470 calories, 71 grams of carbs and 54 grams of sugar. That’s about the same as small vanilla milkshake at McDonald’s. Although most of the sugars in the smoothie are naturally occurring, it still contains a large amount of carbohydrates just for one drink.

WHAT SHOULD I DRINK?

All in all, remember that calories are calories whether they’re coming from food or drinks. The difference is that the food leaves you feeling fuller and gives you important nutrients that you cannot get from most liquids. This is why the only drink with calories the dietitians and doctors at New Jersey Bariatric Center will recommend is a protein shake or glass of low-fat milk. You should aim to drink 64 ounces of fluid a day and the majority of that should come from water.
That said, if you want a bit of variety or just miss your old favorite beverage, try these calorie-free or lower-calorie swaps.

 

Instead of… Choose…
12 oz can of Coca Cola (140 calories) Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (0 calories)
20 oz. Vitaminwater Power-C (dragonfruit) (120 calories) Water flavored with a zero calorie water enhancer, such as Mio (0 calories) or Vitamin Water Zero (0 calories)
20 oz. Gatorade (140cal, 34gm sugar) Propel Water with Electrolytes (0 cal, ~same electrolytes per 20oz)
16 oz. Snapple Lemon Tea (150 calories) Plain, unsweetened iced tea with lemon (0 calories)
Medium Caramel Swirl Hot Latte w/ Whole Milk (350 calories) Hot or iced coffee with skim milk (no sugar or calorie-free sweetener) (30 calories and 5 grams of sugar from the milk)
12 oz. Budweiser (145 calories) 12 oz. Michelob Ultra (95 calories)
5 oz glass of red wine 5 oz glass of white wine

 

Circulation. 2015;132:A12689.

Still suffering from GERD despite being on meds? New surgical options are available

Tomato sauce, coffee and onions. If you’re wondering what these foods have in common, you probably don’t regularly suffer from heartburn or acid reflux. If you do have reflux, you instantly recognized these foods as ones that you probably can’t eat without unpleasant consequences. This is just one of the many ways acid reflux gets in the way of enjoying life.

Medications can help, but when should you start to think about a more permanent solution than a lifetime of meds? The good news is that these days there are safe and effective surgical fixes for acid reflux – even if you’ve had weight loss surgery and have been told there are few options.

Understanding Acid Reflux

Let’s take a look at why reflux occurs in the first place. Acid Reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when acids “back up” from the stomach into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in your chest. Being overweight puts you at a higher risk of GERD. Losing weight, along with other lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, can help with symptoms.

Many bariatric surgery patients find their reflux symptoms get much better after weight loss. However, in some cases, particularly for gastric sleeve patients, GERD can worsen. And there is research that shows that GERD can develop in a very small percentage of patients who did not have it prior to gastric sleeve surgery. Over-the-counter antacids or prescription medications help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Medications do not cure acid reflux.

This is because GERD is not caused by an overproduction of acid but by a weak muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES acts like a one-way valve, allowing food to pass into the stomach.

Normally, the LES closes immediately after swallowing to prevent your stomach juices from backing up into the esophagus. When the LES is weak, acid flows back into the lower esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation that may eventually damage the esophagus.

Heartburn is one symptom of reflux disease that most people have at some point in their lifetime. Frequent reflux can lead to potentially serious complications, such as esophagitis (damage to the lining of the esophagus), a narrowing of the esophagus known as stricture, or even cancer.

Some people are born with a naturally weak sphincter. For others, it may relax and weaken over time. Additionally, a hiatal hernia or weakness in the muscles surrounding the lower esophagus, contributes to the development of acid reflux.

When should you consider surgery for GERD?

Patients in my practice who are interested in a surgical solution to GERD typically have the same thing in common: They are tired of taking medications that don’t completely control their symptoms. In addition, often they are concerned about recent studies that linked long-term use of reflux medications, known as PPIs, with a higher risk of dementia and heart disease. If that sounds like you, you may want to consider minimally invasive surgical treatment for GERD.

LINX Reflux Management System – Approved by the FDA in 2012, LINX is the newest surgical option for patients suffering from GERD and has many benefits over traditional anti-reflux surgery. LINX is a flexible ring of small magnets (about the size of a quarter) that is placed around the LES during a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure. The magnets help the weak LES to open when it should (while swallowing food) and close when it should, preventing reflux.

In a 2016 study, up to 85% of patients were free from dependence on daily reflux medication after treatment with LINX. In addition, LINX requires no permanent changes to the anatomy. This is especially important for post-op sleeve patients whose only prior surgical option was to convert to a gastric bypass. This is a conversation you should have with your bariatric surgeon to determine the right course of action.

Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication – The traditional anti-reflux surgery for GERD, Nissen fundoplication is a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure that involves fixing your hiatal hernia, if present, and wrapping the top part of the stomach around the end of the esophagus (like a hot dog in a bun) to reinforce the LES. Due to the nature of the surgery, this is a not an option for post-op sleeve patients. Your doctor will determine if you are a candidate.

Conversion to Gastric Bypass from Sleeve Gastrectomy – For gastric sleeve patients only, a conversion to a gastric bypass may be beneficial if you suffer from GERD and are not satisfied with your weight loss from your initial surgery. Again, speak to your bariatric surgeon, who will determine if you are a candidate.

 

Minimally invasive anti-reflux procedures have short recovery times, allowing patients to return to work quickly. As with any surgery, anti-reflux procedures are associated with potential surgical risks that your surgeon will review with you. If you think you may be a candidate for any of these procedures, have a conversation with your bariatric surgeon who will help you determine the best options for your specific case.

New Jersey Bariatric Center Accepting New Patients for Low Body Mass Index (BMI) Weight Loss Surgery Study

Study Makes Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve Procedures Accessible to Patients with a Body Mass Index of 30-35 -- Lower than the Current Threshold to Qualify for Surgery -- in an Effort to Examine the Effectiveness of Bariatric Surgery in Reducing Obesity-Related Conditions such as Diabetes and Hypertension

 

SPRINGFIELD, N.J., (January 18, 2018) – New Jersey Bariatric Center is accepting new participants in a weight loss surgery study that makes bariatric surgery accessible to patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30-35, lower than the current threshold to qualify for surgery. The study, which is the only of its kind in New Jersey, will add to the growing body of evidence that shows gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are effective in reducing obesity-related illnesses in patients suffering from moderate obesity, according to New Jersey Bariatric Center surgical director and principal investigator Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS.

Current bariatric surgical guidelines, which were established in 1991, restrict gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy procedures to patients with a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 with obesity-related illnesses. The study will provide an updated perspective on the health benefits of bariatric surgery and is vital to reaching more patients with the potential to alleviate obesity-related chronic conditions, Dr. Goyal explained.

“Bariatric surgery is known to be a safe and effective way to decrease the burden of disease in the obese patient. There is a growing body of evidence that shows the same positive health effects we see in patients with a BMI over 35 will be achieved in patients with moderate obesity,” said Dr. Goyal. “Our hope is to create a new standard for qualifying patients so we can intervene earlier and see positive effects on long-term health.”

If approved for surgery, patients would have the procedure at Overlook Medical Center, which has been accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program for its exceptional record of safety and history of positive patient outcomes. The study is open to men and women age 18 and older. There is no deadline to apply.

According to Dr. Goyal, numerous studies have proven the safety and efficacy of bariatric surgery in patients with class 1 obesity, including the landmark 2012 STAMPEDE trial, which found the gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy in patients with a BMI of 27 to be effective in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Based largely on this evidence in 2016, 45 international professional organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, issued guidelines urging that bariatric surgery be recommended or considered as a treatment option for some categories of people with diabetes, including those who are mildly obese and fail to respond to conventional treatment.

For more information about New Jersey Bariatric Center’s Low BMI Study, visit https://www.njbariatriccenter.com/weight-loss-surgery/low-bmi-bariatric-surgery/###

 

ABOUT NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER

New Jersey Bariatric Center, a medical and surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerville, Hoboken, East Brunswick, and Hackettstown, New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon procedures. Led by the team of Ajay Goyal, MD, Glenn Forrester, MD, Angela Glasnapp, MD, and James Buwen DO, New Jersey Bariatric Center’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com

January 2018 Tuesday Talks

Join us for our FREE Tuesday Talks for bariatric patients, led by a registered dietitian. Each meeting includes a special topic or guest, a Q&A session and open talk about weight and wellness issues.

This Month's Topic Is:

When/Where

Springfield: Tuesday, January 16th @ 6:30pm at New Jersey Bariatric Center, 193 Morris Ave., Springfield

Moderator: Meagan Butler, RD 

Somerville: Tuesday, January 23rd @ 6:30pm at RWJ-Somerset, Family Practice Building, 110 Rehill Ave., Somerville

Moderator: Tia Hagins, RD 

 

No RSVP needed but please call 908-481-1270 to confirm before coming. Dates are subject to change. 

New Jersey Bariatric Center Expands Locations with Opening of Hackettstown Office

Fifth Office Offers Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Gastric Balloon and Medical Weight Loss Services to Residents of Warren County and Northern New Jersey

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (January 9, 2018) – New Jersey Bariatric Center, New Jersey’s leading medical and surgical weight loss practice, is proud to the announce the opening of its fifth location in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The new office addition will bring much-needed bariatric surgical and non-surgical options to residents of Northern New Jersey at a time when the obesity rate continues to be on the rise, says Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, owner and director of New Jersey Bariatric Center®.

The Hackettstown office is located at 57 Route 46 East, Suite 201, in Hackettstown, New Jersey in Warren County. New Jersey Bariatric Center provides patients with the most advanced surgical procedures for weight loss, such as laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric sleeve, in addition to non-surgical procedures, such as the FDA-approved Obalon Gastric Balloon and medical weight loss. The New Jersey Bariatric Center team of fellowship-trained weight loss experts set patients up for success with access to personalized nutritional counseling, psychologists, support groups and advice.

RELATED: NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER OPENS EAST BRUNSWICK OFFICE

“New Jersey Bariatric Center is pleased to advance our affiliation with Atlantic Health System by the opening of this new office,” Dr. Goyal said. “We look forward to serving the community in Warren County and northern New Jersey.”

New Jersey Bariatric Center® has four additional offices in Springfield, Union County; Somerville, Somerset County; Hoboken, Hudson County; and East Brunswick, Middlesex County. The new Warren county location offers ample parking lot and is within close proximity to main county roads and highways.

According to The State of Obesity annual report released by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 27.4 percent of New Jerseyans are obese, an increase of about 5 percentage points from 10 years ago. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, bariatric surgery is a safe and effective way for patients with obesity to achieve durable weight loss and improve or resolve their obesity-related conditions, including type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease.

ABOUT NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER®

New Jersey Bariatric Center®, a medical and surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerville, Hoboken, East Brunswick, Hackettstown and Sparta New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND procedures and revision surgery. Led by Ajay Goyal MD, FACS, the team of surgeons James Buwen DO, FACOS, Tina Thomas, MD, FACS and Micheal Fastiggi, MD and physician assistants Samah Morsy and Alexis Begliomini, the New Jersey Bariatric Center’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com.

Confessions Of Your Dietitian: How Mindfulness Changed My Relationship With Food

I played sports year round from a very young age until I graduated from high school. Aside from my dad making me eat carrots daily or have an apple before eating something “unhealthy,” I never really paid close attention to what or how much I ate on a daily basis and never felt I had to since I was so young and active. It wasn’t until after my fall semester of college at Virginia Tech that I realized my eating habits and patterns were catching up to me. I went from being an extremely active athlete through organized sports to just walking around campus. I had a meal plan where I could get endless amounts of delicious food (Virginia Tech is always found on Princeton Review’s “best campus food” list). It’s no surprise when I came home to my family at Thanksgiving break that there was a noticeable difference in my weight (which I didn’t notice until it was brought to my attention).

Never in my life had I thought about my weight. What do I even do to get back to where I was before college? Start going to a gym? How do I work out on my own? Do I have to watch my food choices and portions? I used to eat the most pasta out of anyone on the team at our team pasta dinners. Aside from the Intro to Nutrition elective that I took freshmen year, I didn’t have much knowledge on what I should be eating to help with weight loss, but I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to choose Cinnabon as a quick breakfast anymore.

When I got back to school for spring semester, I had a plan for exercise. I was going to start going to the gym or running Monday through Friday, a habit I have continued with ever since. As for my eating plan, I put myself on my own “diet” and decided to completely restrict my portions and unhealthy food choices or “bad” food Monday through Friday afternoon, and then not pay any attention to them on the weekends. Eating bread during the week? No way. As I was doing this, I realized that I was forming a terrible relationship with food. I had “good” and “bad” foods in my mind, and if I ever ate one of those “bad” foods during the week, I felt horrible about myself. How could I have eaten that? However when the weekends came around, it didn’t matter how much or what I ate, and most weekends I almost felt out of control because of how much I restricted myself during the week. This technique I created wasn’t even producing much weight loss but in my mind I was “dieting” so it must be working. It wasn’t until after becoming a Registered Dietitian, and learned more and more about mindful eating and being aware of visual/social cues, that my relationship with food greatly improved and I learned how to have a good balance.

Balance means avoiding an all or nothing mentality or categorizing foods as good and bad. Instead, we need to focus more on why we’re eating. Are you eating because of an actual internal cue such as hunger pains? Or are you eating because of external cues. Let’s take a closer look at what external cues we should try to pay attention to.

 

Portion Size

The average portion size has increased by almost double over the past 20 years. Our culture demands bigger portions and we expect it. But 20 years ago, we survived with the smaller portions. So in your mind, picture what a smaller portion would be and serve yourself that, or take home ½ of what is given when dining out.

Shape and Size

If you are consuming food from a large container or package, what you’re eating may not seem like a large quantity because of where it’s coming from. Picture yourself at a party next to a large bowl of chips. How easy would it be to continue to pick from the bowl and not even put a dent in the amount of chips in the bowl? Or imagine yourself at home pouring cereal from a large cereal box from Costco. You may be more likely to pour more from that large box than if you were pouring from a small box.

 

RELATED: MAINTAINING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SUCCESS WITH MINDFULNESS

 

Visual Cues/Visibility

Do we eat more food when food is in sight? Researchers conducted two small studies to find out.

 

Social Cues

You just had dinner at your favorite restaurant and are feeling full and there is no way that you could imagine eating anything else. When the waiter comes to ask if anyone wants dessert, your friend next to you says yes. The dessert comes to the table with a bunch of spoons to share and you eat some because it’s there. If your friend had said no to dessert, you wouldn’t have had any. Sound familiar? Pay attention to the people around you and whether you’re choosing to eat because someone else is.

 

To be more mindful, always ask yourself, why am I looking to eat right now? Is it because you have physical hunger pains (internal cue) or is it because you saw chocolate sitting on your coworker’s desk (visual external cue). Pay close attention to how you’re feeling before, during and after you eat.
As I learned with my experience in college, it’s easy to fall into the “all or nothing” mentality. But when we work on mindfulness, we give ourselves the opportunity to have a good relationship with food. We stop categorizing food as good and bad, get rid of feelings of guilt or punishment and learn that we can be healthy, fit and still love food.

 

Source: “Food Psychology: Why We Eat More than We Think” webinar presented by  Jim Painter, PhD, RD, University of Texas.

New Jersey Bariatric Center Opens East Brunswick Office

Our Fourth Location Offers Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Gastric Balloon and Medical Weight Loss Services to Residents of Central and Southern New Jersey

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (November 2, 2017) – New Jersey Bariatric Center® surgeons and staff are pleased to announce the expansion of the medical and surgical weight loss practice with the opening of its fourth office in East Brunswick, New Jersey. The expansion will bring more options to Central Jersey residents who are struggling to find long-term, sustainable weight loss solutions, says Ajay Goyal, MD, FACS, owner and director of New Jersey Bariatric Center®.

The new office, located at 192 Summerhill Road in East Brunswick between Rues Lane and Racetrack Road, will offer the same services as New Jersey Bariatric Center’s other locations, providing the most advanced, evidence-based medical and surgical weight loss treatments, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric balloon, FDA-approved weight loss medications and personalized nutrition counseling. The team includes board-certified bariatric and general surgeons, registered dietitians, psychologists and support staff, all of whom specialize in the treatment of obesity. New Jersey Bariatric Center® has three additional offices in Springfield, Union County, Somerville, Somerset County and Hoboken, Hudson County.

“We have been seeing patients for some time who drive all the way from Middlesex and Monmouth counties and even as far away as the Trenton area,” said Dr. Goyal. “This new location will offer these patients a more convenient location and also allow us to bring our philosophy that obesity is a disease that needs to be treated in the same way that we treat any other disease – with the best interventions that we have to offer.”

The new East Brunswick office features ample parking, a bright waiting area and comfortable consultation rooms, and is in close proximity to various shopping areas, including Brunswick Square Mall and Summerhill Square. It is a short drive from the intersection of Route 18 and Route 1 in New Brunswick and one a few miles from the New Jersey Turnpike’s Exit 9.

According to The State of Obesity annual report released by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 27.4 percent of New Jerseyans are obese, an increase of about 5 percentage points from 10 years ago.

“The obesity rate is continuing to rise in New Jersey and around the country,” said Dr. Goyal. “Although weight loss surgery has become more common, there are still many people who think of it as a last resort instead of what it is: a proven intervention that can end obesity and improve or resolve a host of serious illnesses associated with obesity.”

“The majority of the patients who come to the office tell me their only regret is not having had the surgery sooner,” Dr. Goyal added. “Most importantly, patients see improvements in type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease. But the thing that stands out the most often for patients is the quality of life improvements. Being able to go down a slide with your young child or shop for clothing that makes you feel great in an easily accessible retail store are additional benefits that should not be undervalued.”

ABOUT NEW JERSEY BARIATRIC CENTER®

New Jersey Bariatric Center®, a medical and surgical weight loss center with offices in Springfield, Somerville, Hoboken, East Brunswick, Hackettstown and Sparta New Jersey, helps patients achieve long-term weight loss success through the most advanced bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND procedures and revision surgery. Led by Ajay Goyal MD, FACS, the team of surgeons James Buwen DO, FACOS, Tina Thomas, MD, FACS and Micheal Fastiggi, MD and physician assistants Samah Morsy and Alexis Begliomini, the New Jersey Bariatric Center’s approach to patient care has resulted in zero mortalities and a complication rate that is lower than the national average. For more information about bariatric surgery, visit www.NJBariatricCenter.com

October Tuesday Talks Recap: Flavors of Fall

When I think of fall, the first ingredient that comes to mind is pumpkin! So what's more appropriate for our October support group meeting than sharing some recipes for pumpkin-inspired dishes and our favorite comfort foods.

Skinny Pumpkin Breakfast Parfait

To start your day off in true autumn style, this skinny pumpkin breakfast parfait is a great way to get your protein in first thing in the morning! When choosing the granola, make sure it is a low-sugar granola. Also, cut back on the amount. Try 2 tablespoons of Bear Naked Original Cinnamon Granola. Most of the sugar found in this recipe is naturally occurring through the yogurt and pumpkin puree. Enjoy!

http://theskinnyfork.com/blog/skinny-pumpkin-breakfast-parfait

Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake

Looking for something healthy and delicious midday when you're on the go? Packed with protein and rich with pumpkin flavor, this Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake makes for a great and quick breakfast or lunch.


https://www.jennifermeyering.com/pumpkin-spice-protein-shake/

Chili

With the weather changing and days getting cooler, we all want something delicious we can warm up with that is also great for our post-op diet. Here are some healthy chili recipes for those nights where you need just a bit more comfort!

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili


http://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-chicken-taco-chili-4-pts/

 

Slow Cooker Three Bean Turkey Chili


http://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-3-bean-turkey-chili-3125-pts/

 

No Bake Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake

Every once in a while, it's fine to end a great fall day with a little treat!  Just remember to watch your portion and keep the piece small.


http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cheesecake/no-bake-pumpkin-swirl-cheesecake/

 

Join us at our next support group on Tuesday, November 21 when we will discuss ways to navigate the holidays!