‘Weight-loss surgery not a soft option’ says author
On the eve of National Obesity Week (23rd-30th January 2011) and in response to reports that slim women are now joining the ranks of the severely obese in considering weight-loss surgery as a dieting solution, Carol Bowen Ball of bariatriccookery.com and author of the UK's 1st bariatric cookery book 'Return to Slender' says "Life after weight-loss surgery is not just about eating less."
Carol says:
"Losing and keeping the pounds off after weight-loss surgery largely depends on not just eating less, but upon eating the right foods, with the right nutrition, in the optimum amounts. Finding the foods that they can, and moreover want to eat, and making the transition from the 'old life' to a healthy new one, can be extremely challenging and not the 'soft', 'easy' or 'magic-wand' option that is often portrayed.
"From the early post-op days on fluids and soft foods, moving onto a 'mindful' regime of eating for life, they need to make sure that they eat right with every bite. Protein will be the greatest priority for all patients regardless of surgical procedure (gastric band, bypass, sleeve or revision) and most have to aim for a minimum of 70g per day. Carbohydrates need to be restricted and chosen from the complex variety rather than simple sugars and most are advised to steer clear or keep saturated fat levels minimal.
"Add to that advice about eating '5 a day'; keeping up the fibre, hydrating well with at least 2 litres of water; and not forgetting to take a multi-vitamin and calcium supplement; then you have a regime that is more than a little testing!"
As the UK's 1st Bariatric Cook it has been Carol's challenge to develop menus and recipes for all these stages of post-op eating, taking some of the guesswork out of cooking on a daily basis but she encourages patients to become avid, if not fanatical, back of pack or label readers. She recognises only too well that food manufacturers add sugar, fat and salt to foods to make them taste better.
Better still she believes that we can make inroads into dealing with our obesity epidemic if we learn to cook rather than rely upon processed foods. That way you can have control over your food intake, know what you are eating and still have a good and healthy relationship with food.
'Return to Slender' is the UK's 1st and to date, only, bariatric cookery book written specifically to help those who have undergone weight-loss surgery. Written by Carol Bowen Ball, a gastric bypass patient herself, it has been developed to nourish, feed and inspire those whose diet now has to make every bite count!
Price £9.95
ISBN 978-0-9566626-0-6
Published by Bariatric Cookery (UK) Ltd
Available to buy online from bariatriccookery.com
bariatriccookery.com is an essential resource for patients who must follow strict guidelines concerning protein, fat, sugar and overall calories to ensure maximum weight-loss and nutrition post surgery - by taking doctors' and dieticians' recommendations and turning them into mouth-watering dishes and menus for all occasions.
