Nicholson Clinic

Type 2 diabetes is a common diagnosis for people who happen to be overweight as they age. This condition, if left unchecked, can lead to a host of complications, some of them life threatening. Considering the complex side effects diabetes presents, most people would prefer to prevent its development in the first place. While not always preventable, diabetes risk can be dramatically lowered when weight is kept in check. Doctors have long understand the strong connection between obesity and the development of type 2 diabetes. People who manage to maintain a healthy weight or obese people who shed the pounds tend to be at a much lower risk for contracting this disease. Unfortunately, for many, losing weight just isn’t an easy proposition. This is where weight loss surgery can come into play . These surgical procedures seek to help obese people shed pounds by helping their bodies suppress appetite while also reducing the holding capacity of the stomach. But, can these procedures r...

Weight loss surgery can produce tremendous results for patients who have struggled their entire lives to keep the pounds in check. This process, however, isn’t necessarily a simple one and it most certainly shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. That’s why the best bariatric surgeons go above and beyond to ensure patients follow a relatively slow and steady path from diagnosis to the operating room. If you’re considering bariatric surgery to help get a handle on weight, assist with keeping diabetes in check or for any other host of reasons, here’s what to expect to occur before you even make it into the operating room door: • An initial consultation – Before the process can even begin to get started, you’ll need to work with a doctor to find out if bariatric surgery is indicated in your case. Chances are you’ll also want to work with your doctor’s staff to make certain any recommended procedures are covered by your insurance. • Testing – Once your doctor meets with you for the firs...

While most people think instantly of diabetes as one of the bigger complications of obesity, the reality is this condition also takes its toll on the heart. If it’s time to get heart health in check, it’s also time to shoot for maintaining a healthy weight. Why Weight Matters When you think about the work the heart must perform day in and day out, 24 hours constant, the burden extra weight puts on the heart begins to become clear. As weight increases, the body creates new blood vessels to supply the additional fat tissue it’s storing with oxygen and nutrients. This, in turn, increases the workload placed on the heart and increases blood pressure in the process. Extra weight can also lead to plaque buildup in the blood vessels. This restricts the flow of blood – and much needed oxygen – forcing the heart to work even more to simply do its normal job. As plaque builds up, the risk for heart attacks and strokes rise. Tips for Maintaining Weight If weight is a concern, there are ...

Weight gain generally is a gradual process that occurs over time. Weight loss is also a gradual process that just doesn’t occur effectively overnight. Even so, many people who are on a weight loss path get frustrated when results aren’t nearly immediate. This frustration can lead to failure of even the most well-crafted weight loss efforts. There is a better way! When dieters set SMART weight loss goals and keep their eyes on more realistic, gradual prizes, victory becomes much more attainable. While the extra pounds won’t melt away overnight, those frustrations are likely to become a thing of the past. So, what are SMART weight loss goals? This simple acronym began as a business management tool, but it has incredible implications for weight loss, as well. Here’s what it means to set SMART goals: • Specific – Set goals that are very specific with realism in mind. It’s not likely – or healthy – to try and drop 100 pounds in two months. Instead, set specific goals for reachabl...

Losing weight through surgery allows you to take the next step into a life that is healthier and allows you to stay in control of your own body and mind. It is also a life in which you are required - in order to be successful - to change your diet and make better choices for yourself. This is a journey in and of itself and one that requires a commitment to learning new ways of doing things. Often, all it takes is looking at things a new way. You can still enjoy the things that you love but in a slightly altered way - stripped of the ingredients that no longer serve your purpose and using other ingredients that support your new lifestyle. Can you still have dessert? Absolutely, but in a different way. Weight loss surgery patients are asked to eat low sugar, low fat foods and increase protein intake. So in a nod to those new guidelines and still honoring the beauty of dessert, here is recipe that will satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Chocolate Cheesecake Ingredients: Fat-Free...

Routine exercise, as is popular knowledge, helps to keep weight under control, lowers blood pressure, keeps cholesterol in check, and lowers the risk of developing a variety of conditions including but not limited to cancer. Staying consistent with exercise allows you to maintain your health for the long run but it’s not always easy - especially when you’re feeling under the weather. It may feel like the last thing you should be doing is exercising when you are feeling sick but in many cases, a little activity - even if it’s not the level that you normally participate in - can actually make you feel better. So when is it okay to exercise when you’re sick?     Most doctors will tell you that when you have a head cold, congestion, sore throat, sinus infection, etc., exercise can actually work to reduce symptoms and increase energy.     If, however, you have a fever or are experiencing body ache, stomach upset, vomiting, etc., it’s best to refrain from exerci...

Weight loss surgery opens up a door to a new life if you are courageous and motivated enough to walk on through to the other side. It is not a quick fix or an easy way to simply shed the pounds that you have been struggling with for - in some cases - many, many years. There is a process to losing weight even after weight loss surgery and that process includes adjusting both physically and emotionally to a new body and a very new lifestyle. One of the things that weight loss surgery patients often struggle with following their procedure is mourning the life they are leaving behind. It may sound crazy considering that life included an unhealthy lifestyle, an overweight and often sick body, and a host of medical conditions that may have impeded their daily activities.  When you move onto a new life with a healthier lifestyle it will eventually elicit positive changes but that doesn’t mean that you won’t feel sad saying goodbye to your old life and old habits - especially for som...