Posted on May 2, 2013 at 2:49 PM in Bariatric Surgery, Weight Loss Surgery
I CAN’T! I hear these words everyday from my 7 year old, my husband, and sometimes from my 3 year old. I hear it from patients, co-workers, and those that work at businesses I frequent. Mostly I’m sure, I hear from my self and as a litany in my head. My 3 year old is better then most, she predominately has an “I Can Do it” attitude, even when we know she can’t, but the difference is, she tries.
Each day we are faced with obstacles to everything we do, and it is so much easier to say “it cannot be done” rather than “let’s try and see what happens.” I was recently thanked by a patient for doing my job, that is not how she put it, but basically what happened. She felt I went above and beyond, when really instead of telling her we couldn’t do it earlier, I thought why can’t we figure a way to get it done. As a whole, humans spend a lot of time arguing why they are unable to do something. If we spent that time just getting it done, the change would be amazing.
So, now you are all wondering, Sarah why do I care about your attitude problem. Well, because it affects ALL of us. Every morning we wake up and make a decision about how to live the day. Every morning we decide and plan out what we are going to eat, activities we are going to participate in, and our attitude. When we thinking of “dieting” we assume we are depriving ourselves of something we would like and enjoy more then what we are “allowed” to eat. When we “exercise” we assume this needs to be less enjoyable then any other activity we would rather be doing. By changing our attitude we can be more successful. Our “diet” is simply what we eat on a daily basis; it does not necessarily mean we are “dieting.” And we forget many times that we can eat healthy foods and enjoy them too. By simply thinking how can I make that to fit into my calorie budget we have changed our attitude from I will NEVER enjoy my food again. By saying I will walk for 5 minutes today we have changed our attitude from well, I will NEVER be able to run.
Let’s take this a little further, how many people the first time we said we want you to “exercise” immediately responded with an “I Can’t because….” Most of you are thinking, yup that was me. What we meant was, let’s get you more active. What you thought was, these people want me to run and bench press. But, you changed your thinking, and now many of our patients are doing things they never thought possible. My daughter had a friend in Kindergarten who was in a wheelchair but was able to walk some with a walker, his very first day their teacher asked him if he could swing, he said “I don’t know, but I’ll try.”
My confession, every morning I wake up at 5 am to go exercise, most mornings I fall back asleep because see I CAN’T go, I am much to tired. I am making a promise now to change that attitude, and I want you to change it with me. Each day when faced with an I CAN’T change it to a I’ll try, let’s see what happens. So do I know what will happen with your journey, no but don’t look at it as you can’t, because one they I have learned is that you CAN.
Sarah Grimes, RN, CBN
Posted on April 10, 2013 at 8:33 AM in Bariatric Surgery, From the Desk of Dr. Boyce, Weight Loss Surgery
As humans, we all tend to be procrastinators from time to time. We may give some thought to an idea for a while, but then when we make up our mind to do something, we want it “right now”. We find oftentimes that patients would like to have their surgery within a certain time frame due to work schedules, vacation times, or possibly due to insurance (i.e. deductible is met, coverage is ending). Unfortunately, though, not everyone is aware of how long the road to bariatric surgery is and do not allow adequate time to complete the tasks necessary before undergoing surgery.
What many people may not know is that preparing for weight loss surgery, in most cases, takes several months. The majority of our patients have insurance that covers weight loss surgery and thus need to meet their set medical criteria to qualify for surgery. This usually requires that we obtain records from referring physicians’ offices which can often be a time consuming task. It is also very common for insurance companies to include a medically supervised diet, sometimes lasting up to six months, in their criteria. The surgeon may also require additional testing or clearances from other physicians, such as a sleep study or cardiac clearance. In some instances, these could take several weeks to occur depending on the type of test or doctor the appointment is for.
We ask that you please take these things into account when planning your surgery. Knowing what your insurance and surgeon requires and the amount of time it will take to complete these things will increase the likelihood of you having your surgery at the time you desire. We encourage you to research your insurance criteria or contact our office to discuss what is necessary for you to accomplish before your surgery so that you have a realistic expectation of the time needed to reach your surgery date.
Your health is important! Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today!
Front Desk Staff
Donna, Melissa, Stephanie, and Jennifer W.
Posted on April 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM in Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Boyce In The Media, Uncategorized, Weight Loss Surgery
Knoxville, TN — According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), less than one percent, or approximately 200,000, of the clinically eligible population chooses to undergo weight loss surgery each year in America. Despite statistics from the ASMBS that show life expectancy can improve by as much as 89 percent following a bariatric procedure, Dr. Stephen Boyce and Dr. Robert Williams of the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville say one of the most common concerns patients express about having weight loss surgery is that it will not work for them. Drs. Boyce and Williams say their practice has recently taken great measures to put their patients at ease and reassure them of the safety of bariatric procedures in order to ensure they have the proper resources to make a decision that can lead them to a healthier life.
Bariatric surgery is a field of medicine designed to help morbidly obese patients lose excess weight, and improve their appearance, their health, and their quality of life while reducing the risk of certain obesity-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. While bariatric procedures like the LAP-BAND® System and gastric sleeve can offer significant benefits to patients, Drs. Boyce and Williams say choosing to undergo treatment is not something that should be taken lightly, and patients should be aware of the need for support programs and drastic lifestyle changes before they decide on anything. The Knoxville bariatric surgeons say having an experienced and compassionate physician walk them through the weight loss process and help them choose the right procedure can be an important tool in ensuring the right results are achieved.
Dr. Boyce, the founder of Bari Life Bariatric Supplements, also stresses the importance of following a strict regimen of pre- and post-operative diets, exercise routines, vitamin supplementation, and support programs so as to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle after their procedure and avoid regaining weight. By offering the services and support of registered dietitians, exercise physiologists, nurse coordinators, and psychologists, he says the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery and Bari Life Bariatric Supplements are able to guide patients along a safe recovery and make sure they have a comfortable, stress-free experience. Although weight loss surgery can seem like an intimidating step to many patients, Dr. Boyce says the feedback he receives from those who have undergone a procedure is often inspiring.
“After surgery I have had patients tell me that they wish they had done it sooner,” says Dr. Boyce. “They now have more energy and are able to do all the things they could not do before. It has improved their relationship with their loved ones, and they no longer hurt all the time.”
Regardless of whether they are looking for a gastric bypass or a duodenal switch procedure, Drs. Boyce and Williams recommend patients take the time to carefully research their practice in order to ensure they are treated with encouragement and diligent care. Through partnership with the right surgeon, they say patients can feel comfortable and confident that their procedure is performed with the utmost standards in safety and efficacy.
About Stephen G. Boyce, MD
Dr. Stephen Boyce graduated from Texas A&M University and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, after which he completed a surgical residency at the Parkland Memorial Hospital. He has also completed a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery and special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. Having performed thousands of weight loss procedures, Dr. Boyce and the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery are the only Center of Excellence in East Tennessee to offer all approved bariatric procedures.
About K. Robert Williams, MD
A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Robert Williams completed his general surgery residency at Union Memorial Hospital and a minimally invasive fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital. He is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and has completed over 500 weight loss surgeries, including numerous laparoscopic gastric bypass, gastric banding, and revisional procedures.
Located at Physician’s Plaza 1, Suite 305 Turkey Creek Medical Center 10810 Parkside Drive in Knoxville, TN 37934, the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery can be reached at (865) 694-9676. Dr. Boyce and his team can also be contacted online via the websites newlifebariatricsurgery.com or facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery.
Posted on March 15, 2013 at 12:59 PM in Bariatric Surgery, Exercise, Nutrition, Weight Loss Surgery
Most people are surprised to hear that maintaining weight requires most of the same principles that losing weight requires. While walking on the maintenance path, there can be many temptations along the way and once you start down the wrong path, it can be a very slippery slope. Don’t fall into the mind set that just because you are at a healthy weight, you can relax or ‘let loose.’ I recommend the following tips and techniques for maintaining a healthy body weight:
1. Journal your food intake. What?! I know what you may be thinking – why should you inflict that torture on yourself when you have won the race and are at the finish line? The fact is, you are not at the finish line. One has to make an effort to monitor what they eat to maintain a healthy weight. When you get out of the routine of knowing the calories, etc that a food contains, it opens up the doorway for poor choices. Now, does this mean you have to journal everyday? No, but doing it at least once or twice a week can keep you in the loop of evaluating choices. I journal almost daily (and talk about food and calories all day long) and am still surprised at how quickly the calories can add up.
2. Use technology to your advantage. I have a confession to make. I would not be compliant with keeping track of my food choices if I had to keep a paper version. I am not that detail oriented and the stress of having to calculate everything would drive me insane! I use a food journal app on my smartphone. There are many free apps available for each type of smartphone, but I use MyFitnessPal. It has a wide variety of foods in the database, a barcode scanner, and a way to enter recipes. All you have to do is enter the food and the portion size you ate and it will calculate everything for you.
3. Measure your portion sizes periodically. An additional ounce of food can significantly alter the calories, depending on the food. I have found that most people aren’t very good at estimating portion sizes (including myself). I blame this largely on the fact that larger portions have become the standard these days. I prefer “reverse measuring.” I’ll put food on my plate or in my bowl and dump it into a measuring cup to see how my guess measures up. It’s just a little trick I use to give my eyes something to reference when I do ‘eyeball’ my portion sizes.
4. This may sound simple, but exercise!! You don’t know how many times I’ve been asked: “YOU exercise?!?” Of course! First of all, I don’t want my heart to be the size of a pea, second of all, every calorie counts! Granted my current exercise routine only burns about 300-400 calories per week. However, based on the math of weight loss (3500 calories = 1 pound of weight gain), if I kept my calorie intake the same and didn’t exercise, this would cause me to gain about 6 pounds per year. 6 pounds doesn’t sound like a lot, but I don’t want to be 60 pounds heavier by the time I’m 40! One other tip: don’t put a lot of faith in what the machines calculate you are burning during exercise. In general, if a person does light to moderate exercise for 30 minutes, they will burn between 100-200 calories.
So, I would like to applaud my patients who have met their goal weights. I know it takes a lot of hard work to get there. I also want to encourage those of you who are still on the path to your goal. To quote Dr. Williams: “This is a marathon, not a sprint.” You didn’t gain weight overnight and you certainly won’t lose it all overnight. But, with a good system of “checks and balances,” you’ll get there. And we’ll be with you every step of the way!
Krystal Cameron, RD, LDN
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 9:44 AM in Bariatric Surgery, Insurance, Weight Loss Surgery
The process of gaining insurance approval for bariatric surgery can take anywhere from one month up to eight months. Each insurance company has its own medical necessity criteria a patient must meet in order to be approved to have surgery. If the insurance is a commercial insurance, meaning the patient has the policy through their employer, the employer can also dictate the terms of the medical necessity criteria. The employer also has the option to remove bariatric surgery from the insurance policy altogether. This is called an exclusion.
To begin the process of having bariatric surgery a patient would need to contact their insurance carrier by calling the customer service number on the insurance card and asking if they have coverage for weight loss surgery. This is also a good time to inquire about the medical necessity criteria to find out what steps your insurance requires you to take in order to prove that the surgery is medically necessary. All insurance companies require:
• a consultation with the surgeon performing the surgery
• a clearance letter from the patient’s primary care physician
• a psychiatric evaluation.
Most insurance companies require a medically supervised diet. The dieting criteria vary from 3 consecutive months all the way up to 7 consecutive months, depending on the insurance company. Some insurance companies stipulate that the diet must be done with the patient’s primary care physician and some require that the patient lose 10% of their body weight. Insurance companies can also vary on the procedures that are covered. Some insurance companies will not pay for certain types of surgery at all while other insurance companies base coverage on the patient’s body mass index.
After the criteria are met, documentation will be faxed in to the insurance company where it will be reviewed according to the specifics of the patient’s insurance policy. This process can take up to 30 days. Once the insurance company approves the requested procedure as medically necessary and sends the approval letter, the surgeon’s coordinator will contact the patient to start the scheduling process. If the procedure request is denied there are several avenues to take in attempting to have the denial overturned and will be outlined in the letter from the insurance company explaining the reasoning for the denial.
While the insurance journey can be complicated, our practice has employees dedicated to assisting you with each stage of the process. For more information about starting your journey, call 865-694-9676.
Jennifer Johnson, Pre-determination Coordinator
Posted on February 7, 2013 at 2:23 PM in Bariatric Surgery, Exercise, Uncategorized, Weight Loss Surgery
Overcoming Obstacles to Exercise
We all have that little voice inside our head that tells us our “barriers” to exercise can’t be overcome. While the barriers are real, there are answers to most excuses we can come up with. Here are a few of the most common road-blocks patients share with me on their journey toward a regular exercise routine and my suggestions for how to overcome each one.
#1: (The BIGGIE) “I don’t have the time!”
The pace our lives go these days is mind-boggling and trying to fit one more thing in can seem impossible…especially when it’s something like exercise. The good news is that the current exercise recommendations issued by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) says that 30 minutes, 4 to 5 days per week, coupled with an active lifestyle, is all we need to invest to reap the benefits of exercise. You don’t have to have 60 minutes or more each day to have an effective exercise routine. It’s also important to note that not all 30 minutes have to be performed at the same time; it’s ok to split your time into two sessions of 15 minutes per day.
Shorter bursts of higher intensity exercise (i.e. climbing stairs, fast-paced walking, jumping jacks, jumping rope, etc) are a great way to get the same calorie-burn and cardiovascular training effects as 30 minutes of more moderate-paced exercise. Higher intensity exercise is equivalent to a pace that puts you out of breath and unable to hold a conversation; something you can only sustain for 10-15 minutes. Moderate-paced exercise is equivalent to a pace that is challenging but does allow for labored conversation while exercising. Very few of us do not have two 15-minute “windows” in our day to take a break from work, studying, cleaning, etc and exercise. The easiest way to take advantage of these “windows” is to plan for them. Assess what you have planned for the week and write in your exercise sessions on your planner/calendar so you are more likely to commit to them. Set a repeating reminder on your computer at the same time each day to pop-up and tell you to exercise. Take your athletic shoes to work so you can walk at lunch time or during a morning/afternoon break time. Pull out a step stool at home in the evenings while you’re watching television and step up and down for 15 minutes. Allow yourself to get creative with when and where you can exercise and I think you will find you have the time.
#2: “It’s too hot/humid/rainy/cold/snowy to exercise”
Consider these calorie-burning indoor options:
• Walk your local mall – most malls open the outside doors an hour before the stores open to allow people to exercise without the shopping “traffic”
• At work, walk your building’s hallways and stair wells during your lunch or coffee break
• Pop in an exercise video or DVD rather than a movie on the weekend
• Check with your cable/satellite TV provider for fitness programming and use your DVR to have access to the programs on your schedule
• Purchase an aerobic step from a sporting goods store to have at home. Set it up in front of the TV and step up and down for the first 30 minutes of the evening news/drama/reality TV show you are about to watch
• Consider joining a gym – there are a lot of 24/7 fitness centers showing up that offer lower monthly fees and shorter contract lengths (if any) to commit to
• Check with local churches or schools for after-hours access to group fitness classes or exercise equipment
• Take the stairs whenever possible everywhere you go
#3: “My Exercise Partner Quit!”
Utilizing the buddy system is a great way to find accountability and motivation for exercise…but ALWAYS depending on someone else to get you to exercise is bound to fail eventually! If you have a workout buddy but it’s impossible to meet every day for exercise, set the goal to meet one or two days a week. Commit to check-in with each other EVERY day via email, phone call, or text to stay accountable to your exercise goals. There are a myriad of smartphone apps that work as a virtual exercise partner that will not cancel or quit on you, simply search the app store for a list of those available in your smartphone market.
If I find I am having a hard time with accountability to my exercise or diet, I’ll email a friend about it and ask them to check in with me the next day and ask me about how “XYZ” went. That way, I know someone is going to follow up with me and I better stick with my plan.
#4: “I Am Bored” (insert sigh)
We have all been there…that place of deep boredom while exercising that leaves us thinking about the one million OTHER things we would rather be doing than exercising. The best ways to overcome this obstacle are to pay more attention to how your body is responding to the exercise session and make it more challenging, if needed. Frequent self-analysis during an exercise session can help us crank up the intensity when we realize the “movement” has become monotonous and we are counting down the minutes until we are finished. Boredom is the body’s first response to “this is no longer challenging.” Change up the routine by using a different piece of cardio equipment (stair climber, elliptical, rowing machine, etc.), choosing a different pre-set program that varies the intensity for you, or choosing a different walking/jogging route outside that incorporates hills or different scenery. No one wants to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day during our exercise session; knowing every turn and bump in the road, every car that drives by, or every neighbor that waves hello as we painstakingly will ourselves to “enjoy” what we are doing. Adding variety and tuning-in can help ward off boredom and provide a more effective workout.
#5: “I am not seeing results”
The visual benefits of exercise (i.e. a firmer/more toned appearance) can take time to see, about 8-12 weeks. Focusing on the non-visual benefits of exercise can be a way to measure improvement while waiting for the scale to change or the muscle definition to appear. Focus on how stamina has improved (“I can now climb 2 flights of stairs without feeling winded!”), or how much better you are sleeping or managing anxiety/depression. Do you just feel better? Another suggestion is to perform a self assessment every 6 weeks to measure your strength and cardiovascular improvements.
For a strength assessment, start by getting a baseline of how many push ups you can perform in a row before having to stop. Then set a timer for 60 seconds and count the number of crunches you can perform. Record both numbers and repeat the assessment 6 weeks into your strength training program. For a cardiovascular assessment, simply time how long it takes you to walk a mile (or ½) and then time it again 6 weeks later. These assessments are a great way to keep track of all the improvements you are making and keep you from focusing solely on the number on the scale or the fit of your jeans. Exercise is about health, not just body weight!
Rebecca Johnson, ACE-CPT
Exercise Physiologist
New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery
Posted on January 8, 2013 at 12:01 AM in Dr. Boyce In The Media, Supplements
Knoxville, TN – Dr. Stephen Boyce, a Knoxville bariatric surgeon, has created a multivitamin specifically with the post-bariatric surgery patient in mind. As a practitioner of bariatric surgery for over 20 years, he understands the serious nutritional deficiencies that patients who undergo significant weight loss procedures can develop. In response, Dr. Boyce has designed his line of New Life Bariatric Supplements – supplements that are created with pharmaceutical grade, bio-available compounds.
As part of his dedication to patient care, Dr. Boyce says he kept patient cost in mind while developing the multivitamins. Using New Life Multivitamins, patients can expect to spend about $27-$30 per month for their vitamin and mineral supplementation – about 30% less than what they would spend on other bariatric brands on the market for the same content of vitamins and minerals. Along with New Life Bariatric Vitamin Supplements, New Life also offers protein supplements through their website at the cheapest price available on the Internet.
The digestive system is very sensitive after bariatric surgery. New Life Powder Multivitamins are powder supplements that are easier to swallow than traditional pills or capsules. They are also not as harsh on the digestive tract. Patients are able to mix a scoop of the powder into a few ounces of water or add the powder to a protein shake or yogurt and receive all the necessary daily vitamins without the hassle of a pill. After four weeks, Dr. Boyce gives his patients the option of remaining on the powder or switching to a tablet.
Immediately following surgery, supplements should make up a large portion of a patient’s nutrition. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can lead to serious medical conditions such as anemia, osteoporosis, bone pain and fractures, encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), and paralysis. New Life Multivitamins are the only bariatric supplements that meet or exceed the recommendations of the ASMBS, OS, and the AACE. Dr. Boyce, a practitioner of Knoxville bariatric surgery, says that using New Life Bariatric Supplements is often times less expensive than eating food. Dr. Boyce’s line of New Life Bariatric Multivitamins were created for his patients specifically to offer them a more affordable, effective, and simple way of getting the nutrition they need both before and after surgery.
About Stephen Boyce, MD
Dr. Stephen Boyce heads New Life Bariatric Supplements. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Boyce began practice and went on to develop New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery with Dr. Williams in 1992. Having also completed a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Boyce is the most experienced weight loss surgeon in East Tennessee.
To contact New Life Bariatric Supplements, visit the their website at newlifebariatricsupplements.com or call 1-855-GET-NLBS (855-438-6527). Their store is also available on their Facebook page, which can be found at facebook.com/newlifebariatricsupplements.
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 3:48 PM in Bariatric Surgery, Uncategorized, Weight Loss Surgery
Are you notorious for running late?? Why have we become a society that tries to make the most of every minute, keeping us in a rush in everything we do? We drive over the speed limit and get upset with the person in front of us who is following the law. We run in the grocery store and quickly grab items from the shelf without putting much thought in what we are eating, rather, based on how quickly we can prepare the meal to get on with the next “to do” on our never ending list. Most of us have DVR players on our television so we can speed through commercials and still be able to watch our favorite shows. And my favorite is smart phones, which allows us to multi-task. HA! While we are shopping, watching tv, cooking and cleaning, we have this handy gadget checking the weather, gathering news, and seeing what our friends and family have been doing.
This behavior is not healthy, yet we are all guilty. If we could realize that there are only so many hours in the day and schedule ourselves accordingly, we would probably be happier and healthier people. We don’t realize that our decisions also affect others. When we schedule our appointments too close together we don’t allow for unforeseen problems, such as traffic jams, car problems or even something as simple as having to park further away from your destination and needing extra time to walk. If we are late to our appointment we set ourselves up to be late the rest of the day causing added stress to our already stressful days. The person who is scheduled behind you, even though they were on time, is now delayed causing them added stress also. As we embark on the holiday season and are running from place to place, let’s take TIME to reflect on slowing down to enjoy the life that is quickly passing us by. Who knows, we may even become healthier, happier people.
Posted on November 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM in Bariatric Surgery, Dr. Boyce In The Media
Knoxville, TN — According to the latest statistics from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), approximately 200,000 Americans choose to undergo some form of metabolic or bariatric surgery each year. While the study shows that procedures such as the gastric bypass can improve life expectancy of a morbidly obese patient by as much as 89 percent, less than one percent of the clinically eligible population actually take surgical steps to lose weight and get back on track towards a healthier life. Dr. Stephen Boyce, a bariatric surgeon in Knoxville, and his partner Dr. Robert Williams say weight loss surgery can offer effective relief from the burdens of obesity for many patients; however, Dr. Boyce adds that making an effort to research one’s procedure and the pros and cons of each treatment is an essential first step to ensuring proper care:
“It is important that patients understand the risks and side effects of bariatric surgery before they undergo a procedure so that they may choose the option that best fits their specific needs.”
At their Knoxville weight loss surgery practice, Dr. Boyce and Dr. Williams say many of the patients who come in requesting a procedure are unsure of the options available to them, while others have a good idea of which treatments might be right for their needs. Regardless, Dr. Boyce says knowing the right questions to ask during consultation can help patients make a better assessment about the skill and experience of their bariatric surgeon and also determine whether the procedure they are interested in will help them achieve their weight loss goals. He says some of the questions patients should be prepared to ask are:
- How much weight do I need to lose?
- Which procedure do you think would be best suited to meet my needs?
- What are the pro’s and con’s to the different procedures?
Also during the initial consultation, Dr. Williams says he recommends patients discuss post-operative care and recovery, as knowing which procedures affect post-surgery life more drastically than others is valuable in the decision making process. For example, he says gastric banding procedures such as the LAP-BAND® System can prevent patients from eating breads and steak, while sugar is not tolerated well after gastric bypass. Similarly, he says dietary noncompliance may result in diarrhea and flatulence following a duodenal switch and cause a dumping syndrome in gastric bypass patients.
As with any medical procedure, Drs. Boyce and Williams say one of the most essential steps in a person’s weight loss surgery journey is choosing the right surgeon to perform the operation. They say by choosing an experienced and qualified bariatric surgeon, patients can help ensure their procedure is performed with the utmost standards in safety and efficacy. Dr. Boyce adds that selecting a compassionate and supportive practice is also vital to helping patients keep their weight off and stay strong in their dieting and exercise plan.
About Stephen G. Boyce, MD
A graduate of Texas A&M University, Dr. Stephen Boyce earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, after which he completed a surgical residency at the Parkland Memorial Hospital. Having performed thousands of weight loss procedures, he has also completed a Masters Certification in Bariatric Surgery and special training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Boyce’s New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is also the only Center of Excellence in East Tennessee to offer all approved bariatric procedures.
About K. Robert Williams, MD
Dr. Robert Williams graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at Union Memorial Hospital, after which he completed a minimally invasive fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital. He is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and has completed over 500 weight loss surgeries, including numerous laparoscopic gastric bypass, gastric banding, and revisional procedures.
Located at Physician’s Plaza 1, Suite 305 Turkey Creek Medical Center 10810 Parkside Drive in Knoxville, TN 37934, the New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery can be reached at (865) 694-9676. Dr. Boyce and his team can also be contacted online via the websites newlifebariatricsurgery.com or facebook.com/newlifecenterbariatricsurgery.
Posted on November 6, 2012 at 3:18 PM in Bariatric Surgery, Nutrition, Supplements, Weight Loss Surgery
The Power of Protein
You may ask yourself: What’s the big fuss about protein? Well, I will give you the scoop on this powerful nutrient. Protein is a macronutrient which simply means “large nutrient” that provides calories. The mighty protein has many more important functions in the human body than just providing calories, especially for someone who undergoes bariatric surgery.
First, protein is necessary for proper wound healing which is crucial after surgery. All of the other benefits AND necessity relate to the weight loss period after surgery. Adequate protein during weight loss protects and maintains your lean muscle mass (fat free mass) while promoting lipolysis which is the breakdown of fat. Why should you care about this? Lean muscle mass has a higher resting metabolic rate compared to fat mass. So this means your body burns more calories at rest and therefor increases your metabolism and weight loss. An increase in lean mass and decrease in fat mass also improves your overall body composition and physique. Research shows the consumption of protein can improve satiety (the feeling of fullness) and suppress hunger hormones (enough said). Also, research suggests that protein intake may help improve blood sugar levels.
Now I’m sure most people know there are a variety of foods that provide protein, but not all are created equal. There are two types of protein: complete and incomplete. As you can guess, the complete proteins are a higher quality protein because they are digested and absorbed more efficiently in the body compared to incomplete proteins. Animal protein and select protein supplements are considered complete proteins.
Research recommends eating protein at all three meals including breakfast to stop the overnight fasting period (start your metabolism) and prevent hunger between meals. Research also recommends eating protein first before any other food item. Lean animal meat is the preferred protein source to eat at meals. Animal protein also provides other nutrients like iron, zinc and thiamin. Skinless “white” meat provides the highest protein with the fewest calories and fat. Examples include chicken, turkey, fish, shellfish, pork loin and pork tenderloin. Research shows that complete protein supplements need to be one of the following: milk, whey or casein (both from milk), or soy. Vegetable protein and other vegetable based protein supplements are incomplete proteins. Complete protein shakes provide a great way to supplement the diet without adding extra carbohydrates and fat if you make the right choice (read labels hint hint).
Let’s recap: Protein assists wound healing after surgery, increases lean muscle mass, and decreases fat mass. The more lean muscle mass you have, the more calories your body burns at rest. Protein can suppress hunger and can help improve blood sugar levels. The bottom line is that protein provides so many valuable benefits that it is impossible to avoid.
Jennier Clark MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Source: Buffington, Cardeal, Faria, et al. Dietary Protein Intake and Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Review. Obes Surg (2011) 21:1798-1805.