Nicholson Clinic

Losing weight is a common goal. Why do so many struggle to accomplish it? It’s almost time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions again. This is a time that many dread. Every year it seems there is one goal that appears on the list relentlessly: weight loss. It seems easy enough. YouTube videos will say to eat a certain amount of calories to maintain a certain weight, or they’ll say taking a specific workout class will change your life. If it were so easy, why does it seem impossible year after year? Mindset Usually, people will go into a weight loss plan wide-eyed and optimistic . They feel on top of the world, ready to get up at 6 A.M. every morning for a run. They write out meal plans and grocery lists, skipping the potato chip aisle like it could give them the plague. However, life begins to get in the way, and the rose-colored glasses break much quicker than anticipated. So, what’s the solution? Accountability Accountability is just as important as resilience wh...

Historically, pediatricians have been reluctant to utilize bariatric surgery for teens in Texas due to concerns over its safety and effectiveness for this age group. A study led by Rutgers has concluded that for adolescents with persistent, severe obesity bariatric surgery is justifiable, provided the patient can maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Lead author Ahmed Khattab, a physician at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's Division of Pediatric Endocrinology reports: "If we look at obesity as a disease with the real possibility of eventual organ system failure and special health concerns for adolescents, we need to ask whether health care practitioners are doing enough to manage it. The objective evidence shows that, under the right circumstances and with the right patients, bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for adolescents with obesity ." Bariatric surgery in teens is shown through studies to be associated with the remission of...

Individuals undergoing bariatric surgery or any other weight loss surgery can face some significant challenges, but for most patients, it is worth overcoming those issues. Often times one of the challenges faced is the concept of exercising post-surgery.  Luckily, for people located in the Dallas Texas area, the Nicholson Clinic will be with them from the first counseling session to the post-surgery lifestyle change transformation. After Surgery Can Be Hard Often those who are overweight and have tried various forms of diets find themselves in quite a quandary once the surgery is complete. During the consultation, a patient is given information on why he/she is a good candidate, the procedure itself and the risks and expected recovery aspects. Additionally, many are provided education on healthy eating and exercise so that they can maintain the new body they have worked so hard for. For some eating, a new, healthier diet comes more natural, but for some, the exercise...

Gastric bypass is a weight loss surgerythat has become an option for many. Once a woman has this procedure done, she begins a journey to feeling better about herself. But what if you decide to have children? Is this a safe choice after having gastric bypass surgery? Pregnancy and Weight Loss Surgery in Texas Becoming pregnant after weight loss surgery is safe. Ongoing research suggests pregnancy after weight-loss surgery might be safer than becoming pregnant while considered obese. While research continues, studies are suggesting that weight-loss surgery before pregnancy might protect both mom and baby from obesity-related problems. Problems related to the pregnancy of a mom with obesity could include: ●     gestational diabetes ●     pre-eclampsia ●     organ damage Weight Loss Surgery in the Dallas Area When considering becoming pregnant after having had weight-loss surgery, consult with your healthcare provider. The provide...

The post-weight-loss surgery workout: 5 tips for staying motivated The decision to undergo weight loss surgery includes a mental commitment to change one’s lifestyle. This means healthier eating habits, frequent blood work monitoring, and actively participating in … well … action. One of the wonderful things about a more active lifestyle is that the more one engages in working out, the more one’s body will crave the activity. So, how does one stay motivated to get to this feel-good-about-working-out stage? One’s Comfort Zone To know oneself is quite possibly half (or more) of the battle. Some feel comfortable exercising in a structured public environment like the gym, possibly with a personal trainer. Others feel better working out in the privacy of one’s own home with workout videos. Still others enjoy the great outdoors. In nice weather (or even inclement weather), some people jog, walk, or row to stay on track with personal fitness and weight loss goals. The impo...

Individuals struggling with obesity should consider sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery if they have repeatedly tried to lose weight but are unsuccessful in keeping weight off. According to Obesity Coverage , sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgeries yield the highest percentage of weight loss. This is because both procedures drastically reduce hunger. In sleeve gastrectomy, a portion of the stomach is removed creating a “sleeve” of intestine. On the other hand, gastric bypass involves the attachment of a small pouch within the stomach. This causes food to bypass the stomach into the pouch, reducing appetite. Qualifying for Surgery Dr. Nick Nicholson at Nicholson Clinic suggests that a person should consider procedures like the sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass if they have difficulties with portion control because these procedures can help blunt the appetite. Typically this applies to individuals with a BMI over 35 and who have trouble losing weig...

Recent studies have revealed that bariatric surgery can have a positive, long-term impact on patients who take regular insulin and suffer from type 2 diabetes. Data of more the 250 patients were studied and represented the largest medical series with the longest follow-up date currently. The results were shared at Obesity Week 2017 by Ali Aminian, MD, associate professor of surgery at the Cleveland Clinicin Ohio. •    What do the reports say: The studies show that seven years after their bariatric surgery, around 44 per cent of the patients could discontinue using insulin with their glycemic numbers at the desired level. Discontinuing the use of insulin is a significant progress in a patient’s life and improves not only life quality but also saves in medical expenses. The patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, were also seen to have improved their blood pressure and lipid profiles. Shanu N Kothari, MD,  director of the minimally inv...

Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes is a common lifelong disease that has affected millions of people worldwide. Besides trying to control diabetes with diet, prescribed medicines are used to keep the patient’s sugar levels in control. Unfortunately, many patients believe that the only way to deal with diabetes is by living on medicationfor the rest of their life. Recently, Lancet published a paper that stated a study showing that a cure for diabetes can be obtained through weight loss. “Time” reported that the researchers in theUK made the discovery that Type 2 diabetics who lost weight, had a period of temporary recovery. The study was undertaken by making half the patients, between the ages of 20 and 65, follow a strict 6-month diet and not the other half. Results showed that the group that followed the 6-month diet plan lost not only 30 pounds altogether, but also were no longer diabetic. None of them had taken their diabetic prescriptions during the course of this study.  The 6-mo...

There have been many headlines recently about the benefits bariatric surgery may have for helping people control or eliminate certain health-related concerns. From diabetes and cardiovascular disease to hypertension, the potential improvements that may be realized after weight-loss surgery are promising. New research is shedding light on another condition weight loss surgery may have profound impacts on. It seems that surgery may not only help prevent osteoarthritis if obesity is a concern, but it can also improve symptoms if the condition is already present. The study in question involved more than 27,000 adults who underwent bariatric surgery between 2006 and 2015. Researchers found that people who were able to attain a body mass index of 30 or lower within a year of having surgery reported marked improvements in many conditions. Arthritis was one of the comorbidities tracked following surgery, but it was not the specific focus of research. Clinicians behind the study say the p...