Posted on February 1, 2012 in Latest News
What are they?
Sugar alcohols are one type of reduced calorie sweetener and are used in sugar free candies, chewing gum, and desserts. In addition to providing sweetness, sugar alcohols add texture and bulk to foods, helping foods stay moist.
Where do they come from?
Sugar alcohols occur naturally in fruits and other plant foods. They are given this name because their chemical structure is similar to both sugars and alcohol. Sugar alcohols do not contain ethanol, which is found in alcoholic beverages.
How do I identify sugar alcohols?
You can tell a food has a sugar alcohol in it by checking the list of ingredients for words that end in “O-L.” Sugar alcohols contain about 1.5 to 3 calories per gram. The front of a food package may say “sugar-free,” but always check the ingredient list and the Nutrition Facts panel. Sorbitol, mannitol and maltitol are “sugar alcohols”.
Other Things to Consider
- When you are considering foods with low or reduced calorie sweeteners, always check the nutrition facts label. Many of the food products containing these types of sweeteners still have a significant amount of carbohydrate, calories and fat, so never consider them a “free food” without checking the label. Compare the product with the regular version. There is often more saturated and or trans fat in sugar free baked products.
- Eaten in large quantities sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect and produce bloating, gas and diarrhea, since they are incompletely digestible substances. When trying a food with sugar alcohols for the first time, try just a small amount to check for tolerance.
- A general rule of thumb to determine the sugar equivalent of a food sweetened with sugar alcohol, take the number of sugar alcohol on the food label and divide by two. Example: If a protein bar has 22 grams of sugar alcohol, it contains the equivalent of 11 grams of sugar.
Posted on January 20, 2012 in Latest News
What are they? Kangoo Jumps are shoes that are used in rebound exercising. This type of exercising reduces body fat, firms and strengthens muscles, increases agility, and provides an aerobic workout for the heart more so than other various exercises. These jumps are intended to provide an increased gravitational load on the body which strengthens the musculoskeletal system and protects joints from chronic fatigue associated with exercising on hard surfaces.
How do they work? During exercise, these shoes help to directly target the lymphatic system in our bodies. The lymphatic system helps to circulate toxin build up out of the body. In order to circulate correctly, outside body movement, such as exercise, is required. If the body isn’t getting in enough exercise, these toxins will aid in fat development. The Kangoo Jumps are designed to target this particular area due to the constant bouncing movement they create.
Studies have shown that you burn more energy and calories wearing these shoes compared to normal sport shoes. Kangoo Jumps have gone through 14 years of development and research in Europe. The shoes are easy to use for all age ranges, and are fun, safe, and enjoyable.
Orthopedists recommend Kangoo Jumps to ease joint and back pain.
General Practitioners recommend these shoes to correct and prevent obesity, depression, back pain, and lack of energy.
Chiropractors recommend these for spinal strengthening, better posture, and increased balance, coordination, and flexibility.
If you want to learn more, visit Kangoojumps.com.
Posted on January 19, 2012 in Latest News
According to MarketData Enterprises, the number of Americans trying to lose weight in 2012 is greater than 108 million! Before you hop onto the next fad diet, here are 6 signs your diet may be too good to be true, or just plain bogus:
- Promises to lose extreme amounts of weight in a short time period.
- Requires you to take several supplements or other products daily.
- Requires you to eliminate whole food groups from your meal plan.
- Promises to clear out toxins from your body.
- Claims to be able to speed up your metabolism.
- Claims that you can lose weight without making changes in your eating or exercise habits.
Posted on in Latest News
Bariatric Surgeons in Washington DC on Identifying Potential Obesity Surgery Complications
The Obesity Surgery Mortality Risk Score is a scoring system for identification and prediction of patients who may be at risk of mortality from undergoing weight loss surgery. Doctors at the Bluepoint Surgical Group in the Northern Virginia-Washington, DC area say thanks to certain specific calculations based on factors such as age, sex, and body mass index, physicians can help minimize possible complications with weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass and promote safer, more effective results.
According to a recent article published in the American Family Physician journal, bariatric surgery procedures such as the LAP-BAND® system, gastric sleeve, and others result in an average weight loss of 50 percent of excess body weight. The article also reports that 80 percent of gastric bypass patients experience a remission of diabetes. Washington, DC weight loss surgeons at Bluepoint Surgical Group say with the overwhelming success of bariatric surgery, patients often find it easy to glance over the risks of such a significant procedure.
Although many co-morbidities (health conditions possibly related to obesity) are often greatly reduced and health-related quality of life typically improves, Bluepoint Surgical Group says patients need to be aware of the potential complications that could arise during weight loss surgery. By identifying the best candidates for surgery through a system such as the Obesity Surgery Mortality Risk Score – a scoring and prediction system implemented to identify patients who are more at risk for mortality as a result of surgery – the group says doctors and patients may be able to achieve the safest, most effective results.
Using a technique such as the Obesity Surgery Mortality Risk Score, The Bluepoint Surgical Group says physicians can help identify patients with increased mortality risk from weight loss surgery. However, research from the article published by the American Family Physician states that complications and adverse effects are the lowest during laparoscopic surgery and vary by the type of procedure as well as pre-surgical risk of the patient. The Bluepoint Surgical Group says the Obesity Surgery Mortality Risk Score assesses potential risks based on five factors, including body mass index, gender, hypertension, risk for pulmonary embolism, and age older than 45 years.
The group also says risks are highly dependent on each individual patient’s unique situation, and in order to provide the safest procedure possible, all factors need to be considered. “Every surgery has inherent risks, but when the patient has underlying co-morbidities in addition to a BMI over 35, there is extra strain on the body. All risks and benefits should be carefully considered before proceeding with bariatric surgery,” says Dr. Denis Halmi, Medical Director at Bluepoint Surgical Group.
Bluepoint Surgical Group says regardless of whether patients are considering the LAP-BAND® System or another weight loss procedure, patients should be sure to consult with a bariatric surgery practice that identifies the risks involved and takes every measure to avoid such complications. It also adds that through the dedication of a personal, caring, and experienced staff, patients can make significant steps towards a healthier life.
About Bluepoint Surgical Group
As a Designated Center of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery, Bluepoint Surgical Group provides a multi-disciplinary approach to surgical procedures by offering support groups, bariatric nutritional programs, exercise specialists, and bariatric nurse educators. The team of bariatric, plastic, and general surgeons has achieved a 95% success rate and a less than 0.05% mortality rate in the more than 2000 operations it has performed. Surgeons at the Bluepoint Surgical Group include board-certified general surgeons and members of the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, as well as several other professional organizations.
The Bluepoint Surgical Group has three locations in the Northern Virginia-Washington, DC area: 3620 Joseph Siewick Dr. Suite 200 in Fairfax, VA, reachable at (703) 620-3211; 2280 Opitz Blvd. Suite 320 in Woodbridge, VA, reachable at (703) 878-7610; and 125 Hospital Center Blvd Suite 207 in Stafford, VA, reachable at (540) 318-6135. It can also be contacted online via the website www.bluepointgroup.com or www.facebook.com/bluepointgroup.
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Posted on January 4, 2012 in Latest News
Most people are concerned about the hair loss that can occur following bariatric surgery. After weight loss surgery the hair loss that occurs is typically a diffuse loss known as telogen effluvium. Both nutritional and non-nutritional reasons can lead to this type of hair loss. There are two states for human hair follicles: anagen and telogen. All hairs begin in the anagen phase, which is a growth phase, for a time period and then shift into the telogen phase. The telogen phase is a dormant stage which lasts about 100 to 120 days. Following the telogen phase hair will fall out. Typically, about 90 percent of hairs are anagen and 10 percent are telogen at any given time.
According to the Mayo Clinic telogen effluvium hair loss “is usually due to a change in your normal hair cycle. It may occur when some type of shock to your system — emotional or physical — causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state. The affected growing hairs from these hair roots fall out. In a month or two, the hair follicles become active again and new hair starts to grow. Telogen effluvium may follow emotional distress, such as a death in the family or a physiological stress, such as a high fever, sudden or excessive weight loss, extreme diets, nutritional deficiencies, surgery, or metabolic disturbances. Hair typically grows back once the condition that caused it corrects itself, but it usually take months.”
Two factors which weight loss surgery patients have that increase their risk for hair loss following surgery include major surgery and rapid weight loss. Generally speaking the weight loss that occurs in the 3-6 month is telogen effluvium, but discrete nutritional deficiencies can contribute and cause telogen effluvium. Factors to consider for nutritional contribution are (Jacques, 2006, p. 146):
- Hair loss continued more than one year after surgery
- Hair loss started more than six months after surgery
- Difficulty eating and adhering to supplements following surgery
- More rapid weight loss than expected
- Other symptoms of deficiency present
The best thing you can do to minimize hair loss after weight loss surgery is to take your vitamins as recommended by your health care team and drink your protein drinks.
Reference:
Jacques, J. (2006). Micronutrition for the weight loss surgery patient. Matrix Medical Communications. Edgemont: Pennsylvania.
Mayo Clinic Staff (2011, July 23). Hair loss: Causes. The Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hair-loss/DS00278/DSECTION=causes
Posted on in Latest News
Bariatric Surgery Practice in Northern Virginia Offers New Videos for Patient Education
Blue Point Surgical Group is now offering a series of educational videos for weight loss surgery in Northern Virginia. The videos are designed to actively engage and inform patients in their bariatric surgery decisions, ensuring that all patients better understand their healthcare needs and the options available to them. Through videos covering procedures such as LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding and gastric sleeve surgery, the Blue Point Surgical Group says it hopes the videos will enhance communication between doctors and patients in order to achieve the best results.
The team of Northern Virginia weight loss surgeons at Blue Point Surgical Group is now utilizing educational videos from EMMI Solutions to further enhance patient information during their bariatric surgery process. EMMI Solutions creates patient engagement programs that break down complicated medical information into an enhanced and easy to understand patient experience. Blue Point Surgical Group says the video seminars will help bridge the gap between surgeons and patients by translating procedure details into an easily comprehensible, user-friendly explanation.
By delivering evidence-based medical education to patients, Bluepoint Surgical Group says the videos can offer patients a more active role in their healthcare. The practice also adds that the online seminars will be mandatory for patients considering surgery at their practice, whether they’re seeking a procedure such as gastric banding or LAP-BAND® System surgery. By educating patients through a required set of videos, Bluepoint Surgical Group hopes to provide dense information in an easy and convenient way.
In conjunction with the release of the EMMI education videos, Blue Point Surgical Group has also announced that the videos will be available on mobile devices such as smartphones and iPads via their new mobile website. According to the practice, the mobile site will launch on December 31, 2011.
The weight loss surgery practice says that having the option to view them online or on-the-go through their mobile website can put patients at ease whom normally would be nervous and anxious in a doctor’s office. Bluepoint Surgical Group says this added comfort can ensure patients pay full attention to the information being provided about their procedures so they can make better decisions regarding treatment.
For patients considering weight loss surgery, Bluepoint Surgical Group says the seminars offer a distinct advantage because they can be attended online from the comfort and convenience of one’s home rather than in person. Bluepoint’s Medical Director, Dr. Denis Halmi, values the importance of educating the potential patient and loved ones: “By viewing EMMI online, patients and their families can get an introduction to the surgery. Then, when the patient sees me or one of our other surgeons for a consultation in the office, they will be more comfortable asking questions. Also, it is important for the family to know what to expect after the surgery so they can help foster an environment of success.”
About Bluepoint Surgical Group
Bluepoint Surgical Group is a team of surgeons specializing in bariatric surgery in Northern Virginia. The practice has been designated by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a Center for Excellence in Bariatric Surgery. Doctors in the group have attained such distinctions as board-certification in General Surgery, certification as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and membership in numerous professional organizations specializing in bariatric, general, and endoscopic surgery.
The Bluepoint Surgical Group has three locations for the convenience of patients: 3620 Joseph Siewick Dr. Suite 200 in Fairfax, VA, reachable at (703) 620-3211; 2280 Opitz Blvd. Suite 320 in Woodbridge, VA, reachable at (703) 878-7610; and 125 Hospital Center Blvd. Suite 207 in Stafford, VA, reachable at (540) 318-6135. The group can also be contacted online via the website bluepointgroup.com or facebook.com/bluepointgroup.
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Posted on December 19, 2011 in Latest News
Healthiest choices and worst offenders on the holiday table!
We love the holidays, but we know they can be a nutritional minefield. Temptations lurk everywhere. Studies show that those extra calories can add up to an average weight gain of about a pound during the festivities between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That may not sound like much, but if it becomes a yearly tradition, the years can pack on the pounds.
Don’t let that curb your merriment, though. There are plenty of good-for-you foods lurking in between the calorie bombs. Here’s our guide to good-for-you holiday dishes…and foods you’ll want to avoid.
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Instead of this…
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Try this…
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Appetizers:
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• Spinach & artichoke dip (1/4 cup)
300 cal, 19 g fat
• Cheese and crackers (3 crackers)
162 cal, 12 g fat
• Chex Mix (1 oz)
121 cal, 5 g fat
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• Shrimp cocktail (2 shrimp)
34 cal, 0 g fat
• Carrots (4) with hummus (2 tbsp)
54 cal, 2 g fat
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Main Dishes:
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• Lasagna (3-by-3 inch square)
369 cal, 19 g fat
• Ham (3 oz)
207 cal, 14 g fat
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• Turkey, white meat no skin (3 oz)
120 cal, 1 g fat
• Prime rib steak (3oz)
• 93 cal, 6 g fat
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Side Dishes:
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• Bread stuffing (1/2 cup)
178 cal, 9 g fat
• Green bean casserole (1/2 cup)
171 cal, 10 g fat
• Candied yams (2-by-2 inch piece)
144 cal, 3 g fat
• Croissant roll (1)
339 cal, 17 g fat
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• Mashed potatoes (1/2 cup)
118 cal, 4 g fat
• Cooked corn (1/2 cup)
76 cal, 0 g fat
• Roasted butternut squash (1/2 cup)
41 cal, 0 g fat
• Steamed asparagus (1/2 cup)
20 cal, 0 g fat
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Extras:
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• Butter (1 tsp)
36 cal, 4 g fat
• Pecan Pie (1 slice)
500 cal, 25 g fat
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• Smart Balance Speard (1 tsp)
16 cal, 1 ½ g fat
• Gravy (1/4 cup)
31 cal, 1 g fat
• Sugar-free pumpkin pie (1 slice)
102 cal, 5 g fat
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Adapted from Cooking Light Magazine
Posted on November 18, 2011 in Latest News
One of the biggest pitfalls in mindless eating in the United States is our sugary beverage consumption. Did you know if you drink one or more sodas per day, you are 27% more likely to be overweight? Think about it, when you swig down a fountain drink, are you thinking about where you need to cut calories during the remainder of the day? Our stomachs don’t register liquid calories like solid food calories. Calorie-laden beverages will not satisfy hunger and are filled with sugar, which provides little nutritional benefit other than a quick energy burst.
Soda isn’t the only beverage that contributes empty calories. Check out this list of calorie-laden beverages and see if your drink needs a cut from your daily diet:
12 oz can Cola: 140 calories
Tall Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino (without whip): 190 calories
16 oz Gatorade: 100 calories
12 oz Frozen Mocha Cappuccino from WaWa: 490 calories
Large (32oz) Sweet Tea from McDonalds: 320 calories
Small Wild Berry Smoothie from McDonalds: 210 calories
Small (20oz) High Protein Banana Smoothie from Smoothie King: 322 calories
12 oz Minute Maid Lemonade: 150 calories
Posted on in Latest News
Congrats to our very own Tiffany Cooke for completing the Marine Corps Marathon!!!
Posted on November 8, 2011 in Events, Latest News
Bring your tennis shoes and come ready to have FUN at this EXHILARATING low impact class!
Classes are taught by our exercise specialist and will be held at the Dale City Recreation Center in Room A1.
Wednesdays – 5:45pm-6:45pm
$12/class
Thursdays – 5:45pm-6:45pm
$80/10 classes
$120/20 classes
Please register for classes by calling 703-878-7610.
