The fourth-largest American city, Houston, TX is located in Harris County and covers 579.4 square miles. As of July 2009, 2,257,926 lived there. This marks a population increase of 15.6% since 2000. Of those residents, 19.5% lived in poverty. There is a nearly even balance between males and females in the city. 42.7% of the population is Hispanic, with the other majority balancing between White and Black. Just 5.4% are Asian.
The median age of a Houston resident is 30.9 years, slightly younger than that of the state of Texas. The state's largest city, Houston boasts many zip codes including: 77001, 77002, 77003, 77004 and 77005. The median income per household is $44,315 Renters pay a gross average of $775 per month in rent.
Houston, Texas is home to an impressive array of hospitals including the Menninger Clinic and The Institute for Rehabilitation & Research. The city also houses the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world. The facility boasts 13 hospitals, including Texas Children's Hospital and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Known for its innovation in medicine, the city hosts patients from all over the world. Countless disciplines are represented, including ear, nose and throat, neurologists, plastic surgeons and cardiologists.
Weight loss surgery is a highly effective method of losing large amounts of excess fat. However, there are ways that you can "cheat" and make the surgery less effective. Weight loss surgery requires you to make lifestyle changes. If you follow your doctor's orders, you will lose weight after surgery. Your weight loss surgeon and nutritionist will create a postsurgical plan just for you; however, here are some general guidelines.
The single most important factor in determining how much weight you lose after weight loss surgery is how faithfully you attend your follow-up visits.
Weight loss surgery makes your stomach smaller in size, limiting the amount of food that you can ingest in one sitting and making you feel full after ingesting a small amount of food. You must use this portion limitation to your advantage to lose weight.
- Although you should eat several (4 - 6) small meals each day, you should not eat constantly. If you eat a small amount constantly throughout the day, you will consume too many calories and gain weight, rather than lose it.
- Eat slowly. Chew each bite thoroughly, and wait 2 - 3 minutes before you take the next bite.
- Eat protein-rich foods, and avoid those foods that are high in fat and sugar.
- Drink at least six, preferably eight, glasses of water every day -- between meals. Never drink fluids during meals as this practice can lead to dumping syndrome.
For more information on what you should eat and when, see Weight Loss Surgery Diet.
Although you might have tried exercise unsuccessfully in the past, after weight loss surgery, the combination of a low calorie diet and exercise will help you lose weight. Diet and exercise are essential to keeping the weight off after weight loss surgery. If you haven't exercised in the past, start slowly and gradually work your way up. Wait until you have fully recovered from your weight loss surgery to begin your exercise plan. Some suggested exercises are listed below:
Gentle Exercise
If you were not exercising before your weight loss surgery, begin your exercise plan with a low-impact routine, such as one or more of the following activities:
- walking
- yoga
- biking
- golf (with pull cart)
- water aerobics
More Advanced Exercise
Once you feel stronger and your doctor approves, you can begin to increase your level of activity:
- brisk walking or jogging
- aerobics
- swimming
- handball, racquetball, or tennis
Consider hiring a personal trainer to develop a workout routine that is customized for your particular needs. Be sure to inform the personal trainer of your surgery and any special instructions from your weight loss surgery team.
Consult with your weight loss surgeon before beginning an exercise program.
Most weight loss surgeons and nutritionists instruct their patients to keep a food journal. A food journal is a daily log of everything that you eat. Many food journals also include the number of calories for each food. Most people that begin a food journal are surprised by the quantity of food that they eat and the number of calories that they consume. Keeping a food journal helps make you aware of why you are or are not making progress with your weight loss.
The single most important factor in determining how much weight you lose after weight loss surgery is how faithfully you attend your follow-up visits with your weight loss surgeon, nutritionist, and other weight loss surgery team members and how carefully you follow their instructions.
Study after study shows that patients who continue to consult with their weight loss surgery team after their procedure lose more weight and keep it off compared to those patients who don't follow up after surgery.
Communicating with other patients who have been through the same experiences is a tremendous help for most people. Your weight loss surgery doctor will be able to direct you to a support group in your area so that you can receive support and share your experiences. There are also many online groups available if meeting in person doesn't fit into your schedule or if you prefer the convenience and instant availability of online social media.
For more information about Houston Weight Loss Surgery Center, or to schedule a consultation, click here and contact us today!
