Ontario will spend $75 million over the next three years to increase access to bariatric surgery, also known as gastric bypass surgery, the province's health minister announced Monday.
The funding aims to increase the number of surgeries from 244 last year to 1,470 a year by 2011/2012.
"High levels of obesity are leading to dramatic rises in serious chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and some cancers," said David Caplan, minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
"Bariatric surgery will help offset the costs of treating these obesity-related conditions, while reducing ER visits and hospitalizations."
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences will form the hub of the centre, which also includes Humber River Regional Hospital, Guelph General Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital.
The expansion means about $10,000 will be saved for every patient who does not have to be sent to the United States for the operation as part of Ontario's Out of Country Program, the ministry said.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/02/23/bariatric-ont.html
I'm a firm believer in healthy weight loss. I've lost 60 lbs just eating right and working out... in 6 months!Why is the Ontario government funding such a dangerous procedure. Gastric bypass can kill. We're encouraging people to get it now? When it has a risk of death.Why not put money into funding for gym memberships? Get classes going on how to eat healthy. This is fricking ridiculous that the government wants people to go to the extreme to lose weight. Most of the time, you have to lose weight to get the surgery. I'm extremely mad about this and I think that it's just pointless.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Resisting that temptation this Valentines Day
Ah.... February 14th! Chocolate, thats what that has always meant to me.... mmm chocolate.
Now as this is my first Valentines Day without chocolate (heaven forbid)... I've got some tips for you from another blog on how to resist the damn chocolate.
Mindful Eating is the Key
Tuning into what we really want is what mindful eating is all about. When we're paying attention, we're better able to find the point at which we have had enough. Our bodies were designed to be able to tell us that but weight loss diets have taught us differently. Weight loss diets either leave us feeling hungry much of the time, or set us up for feelings of deprivation that leave us in a state that a whole box of chocolates may not even really ameliorate. Especially when we're left feeling guilty for eating the whole thing.
To take care of these two major problems, we teach at Green Mountain two basic principles of mindful eating: regular, balanced eating, and eating what you want.
Regular, Balanced Eating
This one is relatively simple. Just feed yourself balanced meals/snacks on a regular basis. People normally get hungry every 3-5 hours or so (it can vary depending on the person and on how much we eat at any one meal or snack), so if you're not sure when you're hungry, start eating on this 'schedule' for a while, and you'll help yourself get back in touch with what true physical hunger feels like.
Eating What We Want
This one can be more challenging. For some of us, it's just a matter of giving ourselves permission, to get rid of the negative thoughts that cloud our judgment. We can tell ourselves it's okay to eat chocolate (or whatever is our 'thing'), and we can go on to enjoy it in moderation.
For others of us, however, we've been dieting too long. Or if we haven't been dieting, we've been believing we need to be, so we might as well have been as far as our ability to feed ourselves in a way that satisfies is concerned. We might need to move slowly, giving ourselves opportunities to enjoy foods we fear in a relatively controlled way. For example, instead of the whole box of chocolates, we might better enjoy a small package that limits how much we have access to at any one moment. Instead of buying the half gallon of ice cream, we might better manage a trip to the ice cream store to enjoy a cone -- single, double or triple dip, you decide -- or the hot fudge sundae. A triple dip or a sundae is an improvement over the whole half gallon.
Putting It Together
The first step in mindful eating -- eating regular, balanced meals/snacks -- helps immensely with the second step. When we're hungry, it takes more to satisfy us. When we eat foods we fear after a period of feeding ourselves well, it doesn't take as much to satisfy. So we don't have to deal with the fear that arises if we think we're eating 'too much.' That assumes, however, that we're eating the food without feelings of guilt, which will interfere with our ability to feel satisfied.
Remember, too, that it took a while to develop the attitudes and behaviors that confound our eating. Many of us have been dieting -- and binge eating as a result --for years. Being patient with ourselves, knowing we'll have ups and downs (actually, that's a part of normal eating, not just dieting recovery), will help us move forward instead of returning to old behaviors when we think we're not doing as well as we 'should.'
http://aweightlifted.blogs.com/a_weight_lifted/2009/02/healthy-eating-the-best-way-to-resist-temptation.html
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Now as this is my first Valentines Day without chocolate (heaven forbid)... I've got some tips for you from another blog on how to resist the damn chocolate.
Mindful Eating is the Key
Tuning into what we really want is what mindful eating is all about. When we're paying attention, we're better able to find the point at which we have had enough. Our bodies were designed to be able to tell us that but weight loss diets have taught us differently. Weight loss diets either leave us feeling hungry much of the time, or set us up for feelings of deprivation that leave us in a state that a whole box of chocolates may not even really ameliorate. Especially when we're left feeling guilty for eating the whole thing.
To take care of these two major problems, we teach at Green Mountain two basic principles of mindful eating: regular, balanced eating, and eating what you want.
Regular, Balanced Eating
This one is relatively simple. Just feed yourself balanced meals/snacks on a regular basis. People normally get hungry every 3-5 hours or so (it can vary depending on the person and on how much we eat at any one meal or snack), so if you're not sure when you're hungry, start eating on this 'schedule' for a while, and you'll help yourself get back in touch with what true physical hunger feels like.
Eating What We Want
This one can be more challenging. For some of us, it's just a matter of giving ourselves permission, to get rid of the negative thoughts that cloud our judgment. We can tell ourselves it's okay to eat chocolate (or whatever is our 'thing'), and we can go on to enjoy it in moderation.
For others of us, however, we've been dieting too long. Or if we haven't been dieting, we've been believing we need to be, so we might as well have been as far as our ability to feed ourselves in a way that satisfies is concerned. We might need to move slowly, giving ourselves opportunities to enjoy foods we fear in a relatively controlled way. For example, instead of the whole box of chocolates, we might better enjoy a small package that limits how much we have access to at any one moment. Instead of buying the half gallon of ice cream, we might better manage a trip to the ice cream store to enjoy a cone -- single, double or triple dip, you decide -- or the hot fudge sundae. A triple dip or a sundae is an improvement over the whole half gallon.
Putting It Together
The first step in mindful eating -- eating regular, balanced meals/snacks -- helps immensely with the second step. When we're hungry, it takes more to satisfy us. When we eat foods we fear after a period of feeding ourselves well, it doesn't take as much to satisfy. So we don't have to deal with the fear that arises if we think we're eating 'too much.' That assumes, however, that we're eating the food without feelings of guilt, which will interfere with our ability to feel satisfied.
Remember, too, that it took a while to develop the attitudes and behaviors that confound our eating. Many of us have been dieting -- and binge eating as a result --for years. Being patient with ourselves, knowing we'll have ups and downs (actually, that's a part of normal eating, not just dieting recovery), will help us move forward instead of returning to old behaviors when we think we're not doing as well as we 'should.'
http://aweightlifted.blogs.com/a_weight_lifted/2009/02/healthy-eating-the-best-way-to-resist-temptation.html
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
Monday, February 9, 2009
I've been absent for about 2 weeks. Been busy, been stressed.
As you know, I'm getting married in September, this is something I've been looking forward to. I had been dreading one thing, the dress.
I went home to my parents this weekend and stopped in at a bridal shop. They had plus sizes. The next day, my mom and I went back to the same dress sizes and looked for dresses. I was completely disappointed with the service I got so we didn't get my dress from there. I asked for dresses bigger than a size 20 to try on and they kept bringing me size 16's.
The next shop was very helpful, they brought me lots of dresses to try on and we had until May to order so we chose not to order at that time.
Convinced I had a dress that I wanted, we stopped for the day. Later on, we decided to try just one more shop. This shop called Brides by Tara was the most helpful shop of the day. Tara knew that I wanted to see what I looked like in a dress, I explained that one of the shops I'd been to kept bringing me size 16's. She only did that with one dress. The rest of the dresses were so big on me that they had to clamp them but I still saw what I looked like in them.
Since I'm on a weight loss journey, I wasn't sure what size I should order. I said that I had lost almost 60 lbs and plan to lose another 60 by September.
I ended up with a corset back dress, this way I can tighten it if its too loose or if I don't lose as much as I want it can be let out without any difficulty.
Thanks so much to the ladies at Brides by Tara because I ordered my dress and am quite happy with it. I'd share a picture but I'm afraid my fiance will find my page.
Foodwise, this weekend was horrible. I munched and munched but did fine. I had my first fast food since September, an Arbys Beef and Cheddar with 1/2 the curly fries.
I had my annual physical on Friday, when I weighed in I was worried because sometimes your other scales could be wrong. Well according to the doctors scale I've lost 60 lbs. I'm gonna stick with the Curves scale though because thats where I weigh in everyweek. So as of last week I had lost 53 lbs.
As you know, I'm getting married in September, this is something I've been looking forward to. I had been dreading one thing, the dress.
I went home to my parents this weekend and stopped in at a bridal shop. They had plus sizes. The next day, my mom and I went back to the same dress sizes and looked for dresses. I was completely disappointed with the service I got so we didn't get my dress from there. I asked for dresses bigger than a size 20 to try on and they kept bringing me size 16's.
The next shop was very helpful, they brought me lots of dresses to try on and we had until May to order so we chose not to order at that time.
Convinced I had a dress that I wanted, we stopped for the day. Later on, we decided to try just one more shop. This shop called Brides by Tara was the most helpful shop of the day. Tara knew that I wanted to see what I looked like in a dress, I explained that one of the shops I'd been to kept bringing me size 16's. She only did that with one dress. The rest of the dresses were so big on me that they had to clamp them but I still saw what I looked like in them.
Since I'm on a weight loss journey, I wasn't sure what size I should order. I said that I had lost almost 60 lbs and plan to lose another 60 by September.
I ended up with a corset back dress, this way I can tighten it if its too loose or if I don't lose as much as I want it can be let out without any difficulty.
Thanks so much to the ladies at Brides by Tara because I ordered my dress and am quite happy with it. I'd share a picture but I'm afraid my fiance will find my page.
Foodwise, this weekend was horrible. I munched and munched but did fine. I had my first fast food since September, an Arbys Beef and Cheddar with 1/2 the curly fries.
I had my annual physical on Friday, when I weighed in I was worried because sometimes your other scales could be wrong. Well according to the doctors scale I've lost 60 lbs. I'm gonna stick with the Curves scale though because thats where I weigh in everyweek. So as of last week I had lost 53 lbs.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I'm so mad at myself. As I mentioned yesterday I have been craving PB and Chocolate. I've been avoiding it. This morning, woke up an hour early so I could do my Biggest Loser DVD, fiance was sick so I stayed in bed with him. Grabbed a tea which I don't do on Thursdays because I really wanted a cinnamon bun and a new bakery just opened so I thought, okay I'm doing well... I'll get one and support the new business.
Tea in hand, I went in ready to order my cinnamon bun. They didn't have any. So I settled for a raisin bran muffin because I hate when customers oooh and ahhh but never buy anything. I try not to be that person.
Got to work, got ready to eat my muffin. It was gross... it felt like it was sitting there for 4 days, was hard and not enjoyable.
Needless to say, I was not impressed. When our salesperson came in with Tim Hortons timbits I had 3 or 4. Now I feel horrible about it.
I was so mad about the muffin that I gouged myself on timbits.
I'm going to do pilates tonight to make up for it.
Hopefully I won't hurt for 4 days afterwards, maybe only 3.
Tea in hand, I went in ready to order my cinnamon bun. They didn't have any. So I settled for a raisin bran muffin because I hate when customers oooh and ahhh but never buy anything. I try not to be that person.
Got to work, got ready to eat my muffin. It was gross... it felt like it was sitting there for 4 days, was hard and not enjoyable.
Needless to say, I was not impressed. When our salesperson came in with Tim Hortons timbits I had 3 or 4. Now I feel horrible about it.
I was so mad about the muffin that I gouged myself on timbits.
I'm going to do pilates tonight to make up for it.
Hopefully I won't hurt for 4 days afterwards, maybe only 3.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How do you deal with cravings?
I'm having a wicked craving for peanut butter and chocolate and I would just love to run across the street to Dollarama and get PB Cups but I'm not.
Do you buy the lower calorie version? Last time I had this craving, I bought gluten free pb and chocolate bars but I don't want to go that route just yet.
In other news... 49 fricking lbs! The scale couldn't even give me a break and say 50 lbs.
It just couldn't.
I'm having a wicked craving for peanut butter and chocolate and I would just love to run across the street to Dollarama and get PB Cups but I'm not.
Do you buy the lower calorie version? Last time I had this craving, I bought gluten free pb and chocolate bars but I don't want to go that route just yet.
In other news... 49 fricking lbs! The scale couldn't even give me a break and say 50 lbs.
It just couldn't.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Well its the end of January... I have lost... 6 lbs this month. Are you joshing me? 6 lbs!!
The weight loss isn't as great as it was before. I am 2 lbs away from 50 lbs though. I plan on having those 2 lbs gone by next Friday as I want to walk into my yearly physical proving that I can lose weight.
This time last year I was recommended to see a dietician. I was hoping to stay in Peterborough and live there. Instead I moved across Ontario to Port Elgin. I only saw the dietician once. She sat down with me and discussed how much I should lose. I wanted to lose 100 lbs by this time this year. I didn't start eating right and healthy until September... I've lost 1/2 that.
I think one of the things that gets me down is the fact that I didn't try. I was lazy. One thing that most people overweight do is blame. And I was one of those ones that blamed everyone else and made excuses for myself. You don't need to make excuses.
Dr Phil said it right... "you're fat because you want to be fat".
I decided I no longer wanted to be mocked and I began a journey. It's a journey which will never stop. Once I reach my goal I need to maintain it keeping that journey flowing.
So 50 lbs down, awesome! Another 100 to go. 62 more to go before September 25th. If I don't hit it, thats okay. I'm young, I'll do this.
The weight loss isn't as great as it was before. I am 2 lbs away from 50 lbs though. I plan on having those 2 lbs gone by next Friday as I want to walk into my yearly physical proving that I can lose weight.
This time last year I was recommended to see a dietician. I was hoping to stay in Peterborough and live there. Instead I moved across Ontario to Port Elgin. I only saw the dietician once. She sat down with me and discussed how much I should lose. I wanted to lose 100 lbs by this time this year. I didn't start eating right and healthy until September... I've lost 1/2 that.
I think one of the things that gets me down is the fact that I didn't try. I was lazy. One thing that most people overweight do is blame. And I was one of those ones that blamed everyone else and made excuses for myself. You don't need to make excuses.
Dr Phil said it right... "you're fat because you want to be fat".
I decided I no longer wanted to be mocked and I began a journey. It's a journey which will never stop. Once I reach my goal I need to maintain it keeping that journey flowing.
So 50 lbs down, awesome! Another 100 to go. 62 more to go before September 25th. If I don't hit it, thats okay. I'm young, I'll do this.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
One of my addictions I can't kick is a Large Double Double tea (two creams, two sugars).
I can't kick it. This morning I go to Tim Hortons, order my tea, walk to work... only to find out: it's coffee.
I HATE COFFEE. I can't get a taste for it and it just makes me feel awful. Well I've spent $1.50 on this coffee and I was going to drink it. And I did, well 3/4 of it. I felt horrible and I just felt like I wasted calories.
I know coffee isn't that good for you but neither is my double double tea.
My coworker gets to the office and says I'm going on a coffee run, do you want anything...
I jumped on that tea like no other. I just couldn't function knowing I had coffee instead of tea.
My tea is now long gone, mixing with that disgusting coffee in my tummy.
And then I start thinking, I just consumed probably 200 calories in my added coffee and tea. That cream and sugar just added 200 calories to my daily caloric intake.
Bull...
I can't kick it. This morning I go to Tim Hortons, order my tea, walk to work... only to find out: it's coffee.
I HATE COFFEE. I can't get a taste for it and it just makes me feel awful. Well I've spent $1.50 on this coffee and I was going to drink it. And I did, well 3/4 of it. I felt horrible and I just felt like I wasted calories.
I know coffee isn't that good for you but neither is my double double tea.
My coworker gets to the office and says I'm going on a coffee run, do you want anything...
I jumped on that tea like no other. I just couldn't function knowing I had coffee instead of tea.
My tea is now long gone, mixing with that disgusting coffee in my tummy.
And then I start thinking, I just consumed probably 200 calories in my added coffee and tea. That cream and sugar just added 200 calories to my daily caloric intake.
Bull...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Biggest Loser Fans
I am a huge fan of the Biggest Loser. I'm also on this weight loss journey.
I've found a forum that does both for me, allows me to talk about one of my favourite shows as well as get the support that I need from other people in regards to my weight loss.
It's called BiggestLoserFans.com
http://www.biggestloserfans.com/index.php?referrerid=50
Click on this link, thats the referral to sign up. Each time you use my username Zooy I get a referral point.
It's a great site for weight loss support. I'm also a moderator and I believe we have some of the most dedicated Biggest Loser Fans!
I've found a forum that does both for me, allows me to talk about one of my favourite shows as well as get the support that I need from other people in regards to my weight loss.
It's called BiggestLoserFans.com
http://www.biggestloserfans.com/index.php?referrerid=50
Click on this link, thats the referral to sign up. Each time you use my username Zooy I get a referral point.
It's a great site for weight loss support. I'm also a moderator and I believe we have some of the most dedicated Biggest Loser Fans!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I have been very busy lately. Between working out, working, the animals and my darling fiance I'm one busy girl.
Good news, I lost over the holidays. In fact I was shocked to see I dropped 4 lbs over the holidays season which was totally fantastic because I gorged on bad food and just generally had a good time.
I'm 4 lbs away from 50 lbs lost. I've always said when I hit 50 I'd get a tattoo to celebrate... well instead I got a kitten. I fell in love with him, his families home had been flooded and they didn't want him to get sick so he was staying at the pet shop until htey got things worked out. Decided to move and moved somewhere where he wasn't allowed to come. So he came home with me.
So now instead of my Tom Kitten tattoo I've got this beautiful kitten who I'm in love with.
Curves is great. I've been doing Curves Smart and burning between 600 and 700 calories in that 1/2 hour. I felt though that I was starting to get bored so I'm now taking two classes a week at a real gym. Last night was my first pilates class and oh boy does my abs ever hurt today. I woke up this morning feeling a bit of pain in my leg but by 9am those abs were sore. Looking forward to my next class on Thursday.
Good news, I lost over the holidays. In fact I was shocked to see I dropped 4 lbs over the holidays season which was totally fantastic because I gorged on bad food and just generally had a good time.
I'm 4 lbs away from 50 lbs lost. I've always said when I hit 50 I'd get a tattoo to celebrate... well instead I got a kitten. I fell in love with him, his families home had been flooded and they didn't want him to get sick so he was staying at the pet shop until htey got things worked out. Decided to move and moved somewhere where he wasn't allowed to come. So he came home with me.
So now instead of my Tom Kitten tattoo I've got this beautiful kitten who I'm in love with.
Curves is great. I've been doing Curves Smart and burning between 600 and 700 calories in that 1/2 hour. I felt though that I was starting to get bored so I'm now taking two classes a week at a real gym. Last night was my first pilates class and oh boy does my abs ever hurt today. I woke up this morning feeling a bit of pain in my leg but by 9am those abs were sore. Looking forward to my next class on Thursday.
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