Losing weight is always a challenge. You need to stick to a weight loss program for it to start showing effects. Sometimes, what you need to successfully lose weight is just a little bit of extra motivation and drive. There are many ways to get that extra drive, but the best way to do it is by actually adding another challenge to your life. Challenging yourself can really help with your weight loss program and we are going to take a look at how the right challenges can help in this article.
This first challenge seems simple enough, but it is actually an interesting challenge to take on. If you haven’t already, start a journal. It doesn’t have to be a complicated – or poetic – journal at all. Write down simple things that happen in your everyday life. The key here is to be consistent. Don’t miss a day and don’t worry about days where there isn’t that much happening either. No matter how mundane your day may look, find interesting things about that day and write it down.
If you’ve been having a tough time working out tirelessly to lose those last few kilograms off your waist, with very little to show for it, not all hope is lost.
A process that’s gaining widespread popularity and guarantees permanent results is the insertion of an inflatable gastric balloon in the stomach on a temporary basis. This effectively reduces the overall space inside your stomach so that you feel full faster after having less food than what you’re accustomed to.
That’s not all – a gastric balloon also allows for slower digestion, thereby creating less of a demand to eat more frequently, while curbing insulin spikes which can make you drowsy after meals. This also happens to be one of the biggest culprits of unwanted weight gain.
At the heart of every weight loss program is calorie restriction. A gastric balloon compliments your weight loss goals and active lifestyle by getting your body accustomed to functioning optimally despite a restriction in calories.
Many patients who are not typically suited to weight loss surgeries are ideal candidates for a gastric balloon procedure, which is an out-patient one, allowing patients to conveniently leave the same day. However, in order to qualify for this procedure, patients must typically have a body mass index (BMI) of 30-35 or 27-30 with comorbidities. In addition, patients having a body mass index of over 50 who desire losing weight prior to a bariatric surgery also qualify.
During the procedure, general anesthesia is administered as the balloon is inserted through the mouth via gastroscopy. There is no need whatsoever to operate directly on the stomach. Patients find themselves returning to their day-to-day activities after only a few days.
The real benefit of opting for a gastric balloon procedure lies in the fact that it can help you lose up to 32% of excess body weight or on average, anywhere between 14 to 18 kilograms.
The balloon is inserted only on a temporary basis and needs to be removed every six months.
Comprehensive obesity program
The intragastric balloon aids weight loss by slowing the rate at which food enters the stomach and by stimulating gastric stretch receptors. But lifestyle changes, including behavior modification, exercise and healthy diet, are crucial for maintaining weight loss once the device is removed, Dr. Abu Dayyeh says.
“The balloon is just one part of a comprehensive, 12-month obesity program we use to support patients in their weight-loss journey,” he explains. “This is a strong, highly multidisciplinary program unique to Mayo that uses innovative, proven tools to help people with a BMI of 30 to 40 who aren’t ready or don’t qualify for surgery.”
