A health survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, revealed that in 48 of the United States, adult obesity rates exceed 25 percent. In many cases, people with obesity may incur additional health risks and deal with comorbid conditions, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.
To achieve better health and diminish the symptoms or occurrence of such conditions, many people decide to have gastric sleeve surgery. This bariatric procedure reduces the sizes of patients’ stomachs. A reduced stomach size limits people’s calorie intake; a smaller stomach feels full faster and helps people have a decreased appetite and feel satiated.
Sleeve surgery isn’t as invasive as a gastric bypass and doesn’t require implanted devices or alterations to the digestive tract. While minimally invasive, sleeve surgery is an irreversible procedure, as it consists of removing the stomach pouch.
When interested in having sleeve surgery, people should consult the skilled professionals of a bariatric surgery practice, such as Bariatric Associates, P.A., that incorporates surgical and non-surgical advancements in bariatric medicine. Dr. Valeriu E. Andrei and the team of experts at Bariatric Associates, P.A., understand that weight loss journeys are individual experiences, assist patients in losing weight, and guide them to healthier lifestyles.
Ahead of sleeve surgery, patients should consult physicians, nutritionists, and psychiatric professionals. Having physical and mental evaluations done before surgery allows medical professionals to determine if a person is eligible and fit for having sleeve surgery. Evaluations from physicians and clinicians serve as proof of eligibility for the operation that many insurance providers require in their approval processes. Additionally, some insurance providers may need patients to send them a letter of medical necessity. The requirements for sleeve surgery differ depending on the insurance company and the patient’s state.
Losing weight through dieting and exercise before surgery results in fewer risks, more efficient surgeries, and improved surgical outcomes. Adhering to a pre-surgery health plan allows someone to demonstrate their readiness to lose weight and maintain healthy lifestyle changes after sleeve surgery.
Keeping a weight loss journal before and after a sleeve surgery enables someone to monitor their progress. Taking before and after photos during a weight loss journey and body transformation can motivate a person to reach their weight loss goal and achieve optimal health. While checking a reliable scale every day can show someone how much weight they’ve lost, pictures can be visual proof of progress.
Cameras and smartphones enable people to document their progress in losing weight at any time and place. Multiple photos taken in well-lit locations can be beneficial. Capturing front-view, back-view, and side-view images of oneself can be helpful for some people.
Standing straight up and doing the same pose in each photo can give an accurate depiction of the changes one’s body goes through when experiencing weight loss. People who don’t mind photographing themselves in revealing clothes should do so, because revealing clothing may allow them to see their bodies better.
People are likely to take many photos throughout a weight loss journey to monitor their progress and will require a place to store such pictures. With its one terabyte storage space, allowing the saving of more than 250,000 photos or 100 hours of video, ibi by Sandisk is a handy tool to have when keeping a weight loss journal. This home storage device collects and backs up photos and videos from one’s smartphone, computer, USB drives, social media platforms, and cloud account of choice. Using ibi, people can share their weight loss progression photos with anyone of their choice.
Body transformations and weight loss journeys should be unique, comfortable, and healthy for the person choosing to lose weight. People should keep in mind that no two individuals lose weight in identical ways. The fitness, weight loss, and weight control methods, the exercise and diet plans established in one’s life, and any other changes should suit one’s lifestyle.
