healthiness

The pursuit of healthiness

No matter how many times people deny it, they are always conscious of looking good and staying fit. The growing awareness of healthy foods, losing weight and fad diets is a hot topic in every other shindig. Eating healthy, as experts are explaining, is not about deprivation of food but rather choosing appropriate foods in right quantities. This means replacing our beloved deep fried items, sugary confectioneries and gravies oozing with ghee and so forth with better food options.

Hence, in creating a 180 degree healthy change in their lifestyles, people are substituting their regular food items with healthier options like brown bread instead of white, vegetable fat spreads instead of margarine and olive oil instead of ghee and regular cooking oil.

There’s no dearth of nutrition information explaining what’s good for health and what’s not, but the difficult part is navigating through this plethora of information. Whether you are flipping through magazines or standing in the lane of a super store, there are countless diet plans and products guaranteeing weight loss and proclaiming to be natural.

But it’s not as easy as it seems; steering through the world of food can be tricky, especially when it comes to unifying the necessary nutrients and discarding those that are harmful. Additionally, due to the proliferation of many myths regarding food, implementing everything that is churned out of the rumour-mill can be harmful, as the information people accept as facts, cannot be further away from the truth.

Moreover, the inclinations towards fad diets which guarantee weight loss in a specific time frame are extremely harmful to one’s health. Fayza Khan, Consultant Dietician and Vice-President of Pakistan Nutrition and Dietetic Society, suggests that the key is to change your dietary habits gradually and overcome one bad eating habit at a time. “Start by incorporating a salad before meals and keep it consistent for two weeks. Once you feel motivated to go a step ahead, start adding and substituting other foods as well,” she said.

The food pyramid is a good guide as it indicates the quantity of various food groups an individual should consume daily. “Getting an opinion from a nutritionist is a good method to regulate diets. They can counsel, assess and tailor a diet that suits an individual best and evaluate the physical changes and taper it accordingly. Inappropriate diets tend to create deficiencies and make people lose muscle instead of fat,” adds Khan.

“When you’re looking to improve your eating habits and losing weight, don’t look for quick fixes which are based on extreme changes. Also remember that cutting down on one food component completely doesn’t give you the license of eating everything else in excess amounts,” suggests Samina Umer Mukaty, a nutritionist and group fitness instructor.

However, she doesn’t agree entirely with the healthy food substitute notion, Mukaty feels that even though brown bread aids digestion by providing good amounts of fibre, it should only be consumed in the right amounts.

An excess, can reduce the intake of nutrients and create a misbalance. The abundance of preservatives, artificial alternatives and additives found in some products can have side effects and deteriorate health. “The key is to reduce the size of the portions and servings instead of opting for things that are artificial”, says Mukaty.

Sabeen Zubair modified her eating habits around six years ago and has since lost weight which has increased her energy level. “The extreme diets left my hair, skin, nails and immunity in an awful state. I turned to a nutritionist who suggested a diet that was highly beneficial for me as it helped me balance my daily intake. I was able to stick to it because I was satisfied with what I was eating.”

Hence, it is better not to dwell upon those quick-fix diets which are in vogue, but rather contemplate long-lasting changes that can be accommodated for many years to come. Consider the overwhelming advantages of healthy foods and adopt a healthy lifestyle from the outset.

Fast food outlets

Fast food outlets changes eating habits

There has been a sea-change in the eating habits, mostly of the younger generation, ever since the appearance of fast food outlets. The modern looking eateries are mainly attracting the upper middle and high income groups in a big way. The areas where these outlets are in high concentration present a very festive look after the sunset as queues of cars could be seen heading towards these spots.

The new way of dinning out has brought though some relief to women as they have been spared of their evening ordeal of cooking food at home. At the same time it has become a source of criticism by the medical professionals as they point out the fast food as a high calorie diet which may lead to many physical disorders.

Notwithstanding the criticism the crowding of these places suggest that people generally enjoy their evenings by having new varieties of quick food.

Visit of a very popular pizza outlet in Gulberg the other day exposed that the new setting of pizza outlets with high quality air conditioning, stylish furniture, good cutlery, uniformed and educated waiters–all such factors conspire to attract youngsters to these spots.

At one point where people from the middle and lower income group are struggling to run their kitchens these hotels and restaurants mainly set up with foreign investment are doing a roaring business.

Most of these outlets would provide you a home delivery service which has added a new dimension to modern eating habits.

There is a clear evidence that these western-oriented eateries have snatched reasonably business from the local eateries. Many of the local food restaurants have either been closed down or experiencing a noticeable decline in their business. The new outlets have also a bearing on the once very famous food outlets. The city is witnessing a wiping out of the popular Chinese restaurants as well.

On one side where these fast food points have taken the people by storm, they are also serving as tax collectors for the government as almost every thing you take is taxed at the rate of ten to fifteen per cent.

Natural Body Care Tips

There are lots of reasons to appreciate, even cherish for the body you have. For one thing, accepting yourself is a lot more fun, and wastes away less time, than constantly consuming over what you don’t like, don’t have etc. Your body is yours, uniquely yours, to use, take care of, and to treasure. Your mind rules your body, so learn simple ways to keep your body in line! You don’t need to diet to lose weight and maintain it. In fact 99% of dieters regain what they lost and gain even more weight. Instead of useless and frustrating diets, try simple, research-proven tips for keeping slim, trim and well:Despite the grave advice presented above, it is acceptable to correct real problems – like dry skin or the extra thirty pounds that don’t belong on your body. But there is a healthy way of doing it without letting it adversely affect your daily life. On the contrary, it should make you look and feel better enabling you to feel more confident and positive.
Weight loss is an issue that most women consider, whether it is to lose five pounds or forty. But not all are successful and most give up after sometime. Start with developing the right attitude and taking baby steps to implement it. We offer you tips and let you in on little secrets that can help you achieve your goal weight. For instance buying a non-stick pan can prevent you from using too much oil, or just chewing sugar-free gum can be better than munching while you cook. It is always the little bites and the urge to finish the extras that get you into trouble.
Hands Care - The care should be taken about these useful hands. The condition of the hands depends on the care you give them.French Manicure - Regular manicures make fingernails strong. You can also give your hands a luxury treatment at home. Manicure is the care of hands, nails and arms.
Pedicure - Regular Pedicures make fingernails strong. You can also give your hands a luxury treatment at home. Pedicure is the care of hands, nails and arms.
Eyes Care - Eyes occupy the most prominent place among the five sensory organs of our body. Large and beautiful eyes enhance one’s beauty manifold. Healthy eyes are directly related to general health. Tips for beautiful eyes, exercises..
Nail Care - Nails are an imporant part of hands and should be care on a regular basis. Our nails are designed to protect the fleshy fingertip and help us manipulate small objects.
Darkcircles - Dark circles under the eyes are common but usually not permanent. They’re often due to temporary changes in the blood vessels under the eyes.
Remember to keep it simple and work on that attitude. Shed the all or nothing stance; if you fall, dust yourself and move on instead of completely letting go of your diet and bingeing. The best way to make sure you do not fail is to get your weight loss strategy right in the beginning. Do not completely stay away from your favorite food items; the craving will make the situation worse when you stumble on your diet. Instead indulge your cravings in smaller portions and in moderation.Find powerful herbal remedies
Body Care Products

Weight loss apart, there is still the skin you have to take care of. Not just your face and hands but your whole body. Rarely do we find time to moisturize our whole bodies. It is then logical to assume that the only moisturizing your whole body receives is when you bathe. Make sure you use a soap, which is mild, and one that will not damage your skin.
While skipping bath a day sounds like a terrible sin, bathing too many times is also not recommended. It will only make your skin dry and irritable. Cleanliness is important but learn to enjoy your bath as a means for de-stressing. Pamper yourself with bath oils and moisturizers. The word pampering is most apt for pedicures! You do not have to spend all that time in the parlor as you can do it yourself in the comfort of your home. No matter which products you use and what methods you choose, remember to nourish your body with nutritious food, exercise, positive thoughts and some pampering!

Travel Body Care

Travel Body Care

It is a real fun getting away from home with your family & friends for a holiday. In fact, holidaying is the best way to relax your mind & body from the stress of your routine work. But traveling long distances can make you feel tired and reduce the joy of a vacation. To keep your body fit, it is always better to avoid junk and switch to healthy foods. Any exertion cannot only spoil your mood, but can also result in dehydration, fatigue and hunger. It’s better to be proactive rather than reactive. Given here are a few tips on how to take care of your body and health while traveling.

Eat Healthy Food
Some people don’t eat enough while traveling which is a big mistake and some eat a lot of junk food which is even worse. While traveling you should try to eat as much of fresh fruits and vegetables as you can. If fresh fruits are not available then try to have some dried apricots or raisins, which you can even take along with you in your hand bags.

Fruits & dry fruits, such as, apples, bananas, unsalted peanuts, dried apricots, etc, have the nutrients that are necessary for your body and helps in keeping you alert and active. Do not eat food that is high in salt content, as they will result in swollen ankles and feet. Drinking plenty of water and limiting the alcohol consumption can help you feel fresh & active. Try to keep your meal timing constant, eat small portions and try to eat slowly.

Carry Enough & Comfortable Clothing
Make sure that while traveling your clothes should be very comfortable as if they are too tight you will have difficulty to sit & relax. You should also keep in mind that clothes you wear are washable so that they can withstand travel stains.

Have A Sound Sleep
Some people have difficulty in sleeping while traveling. If you face same problem then make sure to keep your own pillow in your bag as you are used to that pillow and it is already adjusted according to the shape of your head and you will feel like home by relaxing on it. You could even wear a sleep mask on the journey. Most of these masks are made from soothing herbs that help reducing puffiness and have a cooling effect.

Exercise Is A Must
Wherever you’re, try to exercise. As you’re spending most of your time in traveling, your joints and back will get stiff. Probably you don’t get adequate gear and machines, never mind and try to walk. Walking is the best exercise for everyone. Prefer taking stairs, than elevator or escalator.

Benefits from Gastric Bypass

The Major Benefits from Gastric Bypass Surgery

Due to the amount of weight loss incurred from gastric bypass surgery, most people’s benefits to the surgery far outweigh the potential risks. The majority of those that elect to receive this surgery will lose around 80% of the excess weight they had. Most people with certain health conditions like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, and diabetes will notice either full recovery from these conditions or extensive improvement.

People that have gastric bypass surgery also see improvement with things like reflux, fatigue, asthma, and shortness of breath. In addition, all people feel much better about themselves and have a higher self- esteem after the procedure.

Gastric bypass surgery also lowers the risk for heart disease, pulmonary diseases, and cancer. Morbid obesity can shorten a person’s life by 20%. Gastric bypass surgery can change this percentage and give people a new lease on life.

The procedure is accomplished by reducing the area of the stomach that is functional, making it as big as a pouch, and also by creating a little opening between the stomach and intestines.

When the surgery is finished, people only have to eat a tiny amount to feel full, so weight loss occurs rapidly. Also, since there is now an opening between the stomach and the intestines, food is digested at a slower rate, so people stay full for a longer time period.

When people have gastric bypass surgery, right after the procedure they will be limited to only a liquid diet. This is because it takes the body time to adjust to the smaller stomach. The liquid diet will last for a few days, and then the patient can begin to eat food that has been pureed. Dehydration is something that is a real concern during this time, and patients have to drink enough to stop this from occurring. Before the person can leave the center for surgery, they will need to drink a certain amount of liquids.

A few weeks after the gastric bypass surgery, patients can start to eat a greater amount of regular table foods. However, until whole foods can be kept down without incident, the patient will need to eat pureed foods. This is the time when patients relearn how to eat, through eating more slowly, chewing their food carefully, remembering to drink between mealtimes, and staying away from foods that are high in fats and sugar. Consuming foods such as these can cause the patient to feel sick.

People that have gastric bypass surgery often lose a great deal of weight right after the surgery has been performed. This is the time when adjustments to eating habits are made, allowing the patient to drop as much as twenty pounds each month.

Gastric bypass surgery is a life changing commitment, but one that can give the person back much of the life they had been missing due to their weight.

Gastric Bypass

Gastric Bypass Surgery

I was crapping myself (almost literally), but mostly from the excitement of it. I'd worked so hard to get there and I was relieved that it was finally going to happen for me. I woke up at the crack of dawn and Dave and Carol drove me to Sutter Roseville hospital, which was about an hour away from where we lived in Davis. The hospital was beautiful. It seemed more like a Hilton than a hospital (of course I didn't have to try any of the food, though!) Dave stayed by my side I honestly never got scared or shed a single tear until the nurses came to wheel me into the operating room and I had to say goodbye to Dave. That, I’ll admit, was pretty hard.

WHAT THEY DID TO MY GUTS: THE ROUX-EN-Y SURGERY ITSELF
The specific surgery I underwent is called Laparoscopic Roux-en-y surgery. Here is a pretty picture of what RNY surgery sometimes looks like:

(Photo courtesy of Robyn Anderson)

See those two lines of staples? Well surgeons have different ways of approaching this, but my understanding is that in my case, my stomach is now completely separate from that little pouch. I wanted it that way because I’ve heard horror stories about people busting their staples loose by overeating and basically undoing their surgeries. Once those staples are gone or stretched open, you would basically be back where you started and you would easily be able to gain back any weight you had lost. In my case, that’s not possible because my pouch is completely separate from my old stomach, like this:

(Illustration courtesy of Melting Mama)

Contrary to popular belief, I still have all the guts I was born with. With the exception of my gallbladder and its lovely stones, absolutely NOTHING was removed during the surgery. It was all just rearranged. I would never want to, but I suppose if it was necessary, they could somehow reconnect my guts in the future because everything is still there. I've never heard of it, but people have definitely asked me if I would have it reversed after I lost all my weight, which is ridiculous. If I did that, I'd get fat again. Duh.

Technically, there are a bunch of different types of weight loss surgery. Some rearrange the stomach differently; some purposely bypass additional length of intestines to increase malabsorption. Gastric banding is becoming more popular as insurance companies are beginning to cover the procedure more often. It’s very different, less invasive and almost impossible to die from. Basically the death risk with RNY surgery is that they accidentally perforate your bowel and you end up with bacteria floating around inside of you causing all kinds of nasty, horrible, deathy trouble. It really is a scary surgery, but statistically, it’s also the most successful.

That said, my surgery, including my gallbladder removal, took the doctors a whopping 50 minutes. It’s a quick and easy surgery, particularly if you chose a surgeon who does a lot of them. (Did I mention yet how important it is to CHOOSE A SURGEON WHO SPECIALIZES IN OBESITY SURGERY?!)

THE HOSPITAL STAY
This was the first time I'd ever had general anesthesia in my life, so I was surprised to wake up and feel like literally ZERO time had passed. I remembered the freezing cold operating room and the giant metal cross I was laying on when the anesthesiologist asked me to count backwards from 100 and then BAM, I was awake again. Being medically knocked out is totally different from sleeping. Your brain loses the time and you wake up in a weird, hazy time warp. I think a lot of people, myself included, wake up thinking, OH NO, SOMETHING HAPPENED AND THEY DIDN'T DO THE SURGERY. But then I looked around and realized I was already in the recovery room. All was well.

They got Dave as soon as I started to wake up and I was super happy to see him again. Fortunately, the pain was never all that bad and I didn't get nauseated from the anesthesia. All I had to do was ask and the morphine was right there.

Unfortunately, there was a bit of a snafu with my IV after I got moved to my room. I had very specifically indicated that I was allergic to NSAIDS (Aspirin, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, etc). They make my stomach BURN LIKE IT'S ON FIRE. By the time Dr. Waldrep came in to visit me, maybe three hours after I woke up, he asked me how my pain level was and I told him the truth: that my stomach was on fire. He was totally surprised because the pain from the surgery is never, EVER burny. It's supposed to be achy, but not burny. I told him about my allergy and he checked the IV bag only to find that one of the drugs being pumped through me was technically an NSAID. He immediately had the nurse change the bag and I started to feel better after a couple hours and with a little help from Dr. Morphine. Having my own private hospital room and bathroom didn't hurt.

Your mileage may vary, but I did not find this surgery to be painful at all. If natural childbirth is a ten (and we all know it is), then the post-surgical pain from gastric bypass surgery is a two, if that. It was easy to manage and mostly amounted to post-operative soreness near my port sites. It only took me about three days to get my energy back and I don't remember spending any of that time popping pain pills. The most painful part is that they have to fill your abdomen with air during the surgery and that air then loves to travel all around your insides and wreak havoc for literally WEEKS after your surgery. It feels like gas pain, but it happens in the weirdest places. I remember a particularly painful bubble that manifested itself in my right shoulder and lasted for several days.

THE DRAIN
My surgeon left a drain in my largest port hole, the one underneath my ribs on the left side or my belly, the one through which they'd removed my gallbladder. He did this to make sure that there weren't any leaks in my plumbing. Some surgeons do it this way and monitor the outflow from the drain for several days; other surgeons do a barium test before they let you leave the hospital. Either way it's the least fun part of the surgery. And it's really yucky. You have to clean it with alcohol pads and seriously, you don't have the stomach for it (har har har). I actually went home with the drain on day three and then had to come back a few days later to have it yanked out. The yanking-outage was NOT pleasant. After that, I healed up almost immediately. There are no stitches with laparoscopic surgery, just a little surgical tape. It's been five years now and my scars show less than my old stretch marks do.

COMPLICATIONS
I had none, so I'm not much of a resource there. Suffice it to say that I dodged some pretty nasty bullets and I personally met people who spent MONTHS, almost YEARS in the hospital after their surgeries because of leaky staples, drainage problems and a variety of other crap. For the first few surgeries my doctor performed (way back when), he had a faulty stapler and a handful of his patients had horrible complications, from which he learned A LOT about the surgery. I'm just glad I was his 350th patient and not his first.

Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery Diet

The Gastric Bypass Surgery Diet is nothing but the things that you should be able to eat after undergoing surgery. There are few things that should taken into consideration such as the food quantity you consume after the gastric bypass surgery. After the gastric bypass surgery there should be no turning back. So the patient should follow certain guidelines and to establish a new way of eating habits than before to do weight loss successfully.

During the gastric bypass surgery, your stomach will be made into a pouch which is called stomach pouch and there wont be much space for any food. Your stomach will take food of a small size egg and this is where your journey to nutrition and healthy diet. Your doctor definitely will provide you a specific diet to follow after the gastric operation.


Every bariatric clinic will tell you to follow some specific diet for yours health needs once your recovering stage starts. And almost all weight loss clinics will definitely have a dietitian who will have registered and they will assist you in working out your gastric bypass surgery diet.




What all can you eat after gastric bypass surgery?

Initially for the first 2 to 3 month after the gastric bypass surgery you will be stopped from one or two day s away from eating after the procedure. After that you will be told to start a process of foods in that you will be made to follow certain schedule. This is to fast up the healing process and redesigning your digestive system of your body. In this period your body will start to adjust the new health habits and eating patterns.

During the diet there are some terminologies used. They are the following,

1. Pureed Foods – Food will be made like a soft paste or liquid. Chunks or not allowed. It will be for two to three weeks.
2. Soft Foods – Fruits like bananas and pears, very well cooked vegetables. It will be for eight weeks.
3. Clear liquids – Foods which contains water at the room temperature such as milk, fruit juices and soups. It will be for first few days.

In this period you will be asked to eat mini meals manytimes a day and also you will be told to take and sip liquids the whole day. Initially they will tell you to have six meals a day and then four meals a day later you will brought back to three meals a day this is the last stage.

The kind of foods that a bariatric patients can eat are any protein rich foods. The diary products which have low fats and eggs. Usually the doctor will instruct you to eat a lot of proteins because basically it is repairing tool in the weight loss surgery.

Once you started to follow this routine your body will start to lose weight and there will be improvements in many of your health chronic problem.

During the diet you may experience some problems such as sweating and faintness, diarrhea immediately after the meal, faintness and nausea.

Don’t worry for such things as your ultimate aim is to lose weight and you will definitely achieve it.And before undergoing this surgery go for the best dieticians and instructors.