A Message from your Medical Director
I would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year! As we enter 2011 and mark a new beginning, we often return to the goals that we have always aspired to fulfill. Whether it is a new year’s resolution to check goals from our bucket list or a goal directed towards improving ourselves, support from a family member or a friend is always the key motivator behind accomplishing our goals. At the Surgical Weight Loss Centre (SWLC), it has been remarkable to be a part of a patient’s journey in their own goal attainment. As you will come across in this issue’s “Patient Feature”, not only is our mission to provide the highest quality of care for our patients but also to be a supportive friend throughout your journey. I hope this newsletter finds you well and inspire motivation to make your year a new beginning.
Dr. Cobourn
In this issue, you will read about:
- an inspiring story of how a young lady decided to change her life
- recent announcements from SWLC
- in the community with SWLC
- healthy and easy-to-follow recipes
- and answers to FAQs
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A Patient’s Story
A Woman’s Journey to a Personal Transformation
Five years later, she celebrates her Lap-Band anniversary and losing 150lbs!
Chantel is a 27-year-old woman who remembers struggling with her weight even as a child. Being a big kid had its challenges but consistently gaining weight through her teenage years and into adulthood took its toll on her. After years of failed attempts at fad diets, weight loss programs, gym memberships, and medically supervised weight -loss regimes she felt she needed a completely different approach. At 22 years of age, 5’3” and 325 lbs., Chantel knew that she needed to put her health first and make over her lifestyle, mindset, and body.
Always participating in baseball and volleyball she found it increasingly difficult to remain active. Chantel also realized that she began to remove herself socially from many activities and events. Her growing concern for developing family health issues like diabetes and heart disease that she knew she was likely to inevitably face, were the last straw. Chantel recognized she not only needed to lose weight, she wanted to sustain a healthy lifestyle so can keep the weight off for good.
Chantel spent a couple of months researching different options, having physicals and booking consultations. Deciding that gastric banding was the right option for her, Chantel met with Dr. Chris Cobourn at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre. Identifying herself as an emotional eater and self proclaimed “carb” junkie with realistic goals and motivation she was welcomed as a patient. Chantel was excited for the journey ahead and ready to work hard with her new tool. She had much support from her family, friends, and a fellow bandster as her mentor and rock. Banded in November 2005 she was prepared to allow her body the time it needed to adjust and lose the weight accordingly. As she celebrates 5 years of being banded she is proud to say that she is down to a size 14 from 3X and has lost 150 lbs for good!
Chantel has been very open about her surgery from the beginning, sharing her story with others and encouraging those who are considering it as an option. It has allowed her to be the driving force behind her weight loss success and has helped her enjoy all the pleasures of healthy living. Some of her favorite new-found pleasures include an increased activity level, overall feeling of well being and happiness, no feelings of food related guilt, traveling with ease, enjoying all rides at amusement parks, being more outgoing and confident, and truly feeling like an improvement of herself.
One thing that Chantel remembers someone saying at the beginning of her journey is, “nothing tastes as good as thin feels” and “food is fuel for the soul, not just the body”. The 5-year journey for her has not been easy but her goal to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight has definitely been her motivation and continues to be such. Never giving up and feeling fully invested was her formula, she vowed to not fail this time. When she felt she needed a kick-start or some reassurance it was time to have a chat with the always encouraging nurses to help her stay on track! Confident that she has the right tool, she looks forward to a healthy life without the physical and emotional restrictions of being overweight.
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In the Community
SWLC Shakes Hands with Family Doctors at the 2010 Family Medicine Forum
SWLC united with 536 exhibitors at the Family Medicine Forum (FMF) on October 14 – 16, 2010 where over 2,900 family physicians, medical students, residents and healthcare professionals gathered for the latest information on clinical practices and scientific updates. The FMF was hosted and organized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada at the Vancouver Convention Centre in British Columbia. Delegates enjoyed talks from this year’s keynote speakers Dr. Robert Thirsk, Dr. Jack Taunton and Dr. Cathy MacLean at the information filled forum. Satellite symposias and seminars were also offered to further educate attendees on topics related to their expertise. As one of the 2010 FMF sponsors, SWLC announced the launch of its west coast clinic at Vancouver’s Cambie Surgery Centre (CSC) and was enthusiastically welcomed by family physicians of British Columbia and surrounding provinces.
National Women’s Show Welcomes SWLC and 38,400 Guests
The leading trade show for women was back in town on November 5th – 7th 2010 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). As Canada’s established and successful weight loss clinic, SWLC returned as an exhibitor at the National Women’s Show presenting its two sustainable weight loss options – the Lap-Band and Gastric Balloon programs. As an exciting feature, SWLC awarded a $200 raffle prize: iPod and Nike Pedometer to a lucky contestant at the show. Over 38,000 visitors filled the MTCC to visit over 425 exhibitors on beauty, travel, and health & fitness information. Among the special guest speakers at Centre Stage included Joshua Morrow from The Young and the Restless, Margeaux Trudeau, Joe Taylor, Massimo Capra and Michael Bonacini.
SWLC’s Medical Director and Dietitian Educates the Community
In an effort to further educate and provide awareness to healthcare professionals and the community, Dr. Chris Cobourn and Margeaux Maniatis have been active speakers this fall in presenting information on SWLC’s weight loss programs and various topics on the subject of obesity.
| Safety of Lap-Band Surgery in an Outpatient Clinic London and other centers in Britain | December 6th – 10th 2010 Featured speaker: Dr. Chris Cobourn |
“On Call with Dr. Karl” on CP24 Toronto | November 22nd 2010 Featured Speaker: Dr. Chris Cobourn |
| Nutrition & Food - Ryerson Presentation Toronto | November 16th 2010 Featured speaker: Margeaux Maniatis |
Allergan Symposium Rome | October 28th 2010 Featured speaker: Dr. Chris Cobourn |
| SWLC Patient Support Group Mississauga | October 21st 2010 Featured speaker: Margeaux Maniatis |
City Wide Bariatric Rounds Toronto | October 4th 2010 Featured speaker: Dr. Chris Cobourn |
| Weight Wise Expo Toronto | October 2nd – 3rd 2010 Featured speaker: Dr. Chris Cobourn |
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AHA Moments
Read anonymous AHA moments from patients that inspired the change in their lives!
One patient’s AHA moment was when…
…she was about to start yet another diet and knowing it was not going to work.…her three year old son saw a morbidly obese individual on the television and asked “mummy, is that YOU?”.
…he was tucking in his kids in bed one night and he gave them extra hugs because he feared he was not going to wake up the next morning.
…she realized the state of her health was controlling her life and interfering with her job.
…she looked at her closet and disliked every piece of clothing because of the way the clothes looked on her.
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Announcements
East Meets West - SWLC Opens a Clinic in Vancouver
SWLC is pleased to announce the launch of its west coast clinic at Vancouver’s Cambie Surgery Centre (CSC), a large and well established private surgical facility in Canada. With over one third of SWLC’s patients residing outside of Ontario, SWLC looks forward to serving British Columbia and the western provinces through its comprehensive Lap-Band program to improve patients’ health and quality of life through sustained weight loss. According to Dr. Emile Woo, one of the surgeons performing the Lap-Band procedure at CSC, “I am excited that SWLC is opening a site in BC and happy to be part of such a high quality program”. The Lap-Band is a procedure that continues to gain recognition with healthcare professionals and patients as it is minimally invasive, adjustable and reversible.
By partnering with a world class healthcare facility, SWLC is able to maintain its reputation in providing the highest quality care to patients. Established in 1996, the CSC is a 16,500 square foot facility with 6 state-of-the-art operating rooms, 14 recovery beds and 7 patient rooms. The CSC is a fully licensed and accredited center that is visited by doctors and patients from around the world.
SWLC’s expansion to Vancouver was positively welcomed by family physicians who attended October’s Family Medicine Forum. One family doctor stated “Great! We need more clinics out here (Vancouver) to help deal with the growing state of obesity”.
SWLC SKYPES with Patients
As technology advances in the world so does SWLC and its services. Located in the heart of Mississauga, with a state of the art advanced surgical facility, SWLC continues to enhance its services by introducing SKYPE as a new method of counseling for its patients, particularly for those living out-of-province. It is easy to use even for those who are not technologically savvy. With most of SWLC’s patients spanning across Canada, long distance patients can now benefit in audio and visual communication by means of the free online program, SKYPE, with the same professional counseling experience they received before. At this time, SKYPE is available with SWLC’s dietitian services.
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Recipes to Warm Your Winter Woes
In congruence with this season’s newsletter theme of “new beginnings,” we selected recipes that might typically pop up during this time of year and then tweaked them to provide a new and interesting twist! Remember that the key to enjoying meals and snacks is variety so do not hold yourself back in the kitchen. Experiment with a variety of cooking techniques, flavor combinations, exotic herbs, seasonings and spices to keep your palate entertained! Another bonus to these recipes, they are WARM, nutritious dishes that help warm you up from the inside out which is perfect for battling the chilled winds whirling around at this time of year and the cold that often come with them.
Curried Lentils with Butternut Squash
Image and Recipe References: www.runnersworld.com / www.webmd.com/food-recipes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dry lentils (preferably French or green)
- 1 small butternut squash (about 1½ lbs), peeled and cut into chunks (equals 1½ cups)
- extra virgin olive oil spray
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp chili powder
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- OPTIONAL: ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
Instructions:
- Spray olive oil in an 8x11-inch baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Pour lentils into a deep pot and cover with cold water. Heat water to boiling; reduce heat to simmer, and add the raw chunks of squash.
- Simmer until the squash is soft, lentils are tender, and liquid has reduced by two-thirds; about 25 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.
- Spoon contents into a colander to drain. With tongs, pull out the chunks of squash and mash them roughly with a fork, ricer, or potato masher.
- In a large bowl, mix the drained cooked lentils and mashed squash with all of the spices. Spoon the mixture into the baking dish.
- Bake until piping hot; about 20 minutes.
- Serve warm. OPTIONAL: top with shredded coconut; serve with a side of wild greens such as blanched chard.
Asparagus with White Bean Sauce
Image and Recipe Reference: www.veggieventure.com
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
WHITE BEAN SAUCE:
- 16 oz can white cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp fennel
- Salt & pepper to taste
OTHER:
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 2 - 4 tbsp water
- 1 lb asparagus, washed and ends trimmed, steamed
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions:
- Prep the beans, letting them drain while starting the sauce. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add olive oil and heat until shimmery. Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute; then add curry and fennel and cook for another minute. Add the beans and stir together. Season with salt and pepper.
- Spoon HALF the beans into a food processor. Add the white wine vinegar and water, process until very smooth. Return to the skillet and gently warm. If the sauce thickens too much, add a bit more water.
- While the sauce warms, steam the asparagus. Arrange on a platter and squeeze lemon juice on top of the spears, then spoon white bean sauce over the spears.
Brussels Sprouts and Turkey Bacon
Image Reference: www.cookingbytheseatofmypants.com | Recipe Reference: www.webmd.com/food-recipes
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 8 cups trimmed and halved Brussels sprouts (quartered, if large), about 2 lbs
- 1 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped shallot (about 2 large shallots)
- 5 slices lean turkey bacon, finely chopped
- 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme OR 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Put Brussels sprouts in a large microwave-safe dish. Cover the Brussels sprouts with cold water and then use a lid to drain most of the water out of the dish. Cover the dish and microwave on high until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put olive oil in a large nonstick frying pan and heat over medium-high. Stir in the shallot and bacon pieces over medium-high heat until onion is golden and bacon is browned and crisp (about 3 minutes).
- Reduce heat to moderate and stir in Brussels sprouts, thyme, and pepper and cook, stirring often, for a minute or two to blend flavors and allow flat edges of Brussels sprouts to brown.
Mashed Caramel Pecan Sweet Potatoes
Image and Recipe Reference: www.bariatriceating.com
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 4 to 6 large sweet potatoes (about 4 lbs)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup sugar free caramel or sugar free caramel sauce or English toffee syrup (i.e. DaVinci or Torani)
- 1/2 cup non-hydrogenated, low in saturated and no trans fat margarine, melted
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Whole or chopped pecans
Instructions:
- Cook potatoes in lightly salted boiling water 25 to 35 minutes, until fork tender.
- Drain and when cool enough to handle, peel and mash the potatoes (to increase fiber content, try leaving some skins on).
- Add DaVinci syrup, margarine, and cinnamon; beat until fluffy and smooth.
- Spoon mixture into non-stick or slightly sprayed 3-quart baking dish and arrange pecans on top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
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The 5 Ws with SWLC
Commonly asked questions answered by SWLC’s team of experts!
Q. Who would be an eligible candidate for the Lap-Band and Gastric Balloon programs?
A. At SWLC, it is part of our culture that patients receive the highest quality of care from the time they express interest in our services. As one of the surgeons at SWLC, it is beneficial that a patient meet with the most qualified member of the team to discuss benefits and potential risks of the procedures. I review a patient’s medical history prior to the consultation and determine which of our weight loss programs is best suited for the candidate. When patients contact the clinic and speak with our patient coordinators, they are assessed on whether they are Lap-Band or Gastric Balloon candidates based on their BMI. However, as the surgeon, I will further assess the patient’s medical history for careful consideration and assessment. To accommodate those who are interested in a consultation, SWLC offers in-person and phone consultations. We encourage patients to bring a family member or a friend to the consultation as a means of support. For more information on your eligibility for our programs, please visit http://www.obesitysurgery.ca/lapband/am-i-a-candidate.php for the Lap-Band program or http://www.obesitysurgery.ca/gastric-balloon/am-i-a-candidate.php for the Gastric Balloon program.
Q. After a Lap-Band procedure, when can a patient introduce foods of increasing texture and density?
A. In order to achieve your desired outcome, we encourage patients to be a very active participant in their pre and post-operative care. A patient’s commitment to lifestyle changes begins during their pre-operative diet and should continue well after their procedure. These lifestyle changes include adjusting both the amount and types of food a patient consumes. It is vital for patients to make healthy food choices after the procedure to assist them with sustained weight loss and maintain nutritional status. During a patient’s recovery phase, I recommend a gradual process of introducing foods of increasing texture and density. After the procedure, patients will begin consuming liquids and progress through pureed and soft foods. Patients can start consuming normal, solid foods 4 weeks after their procedure. We encourage patients not to progress through the stages too quickly. It is safer for patients to go slow in the advancement of their diet rather than too quickly.
Q. As part of your comprehensive Lap-Band program, where can patients have their adjustments done?
A. With over 3,000 patients across Canada, SWLC patients have access to our affiliates in their hometown for their adjustments. Local patients can have their Lap-Band adjusted at our state of the art medical facility in Mississauga and most recently also in Toronto. To ensure our patients receive the highest level of care, we (Lap-Band nurses) provide guidance and direction to the doctor or nurse adjusting your band. For out-of-province patients, we encourage them to inform us of any appointments scheduled with an affiliate so we can send them the necessary paperwork. For more information on our affiliates, please visit the Long Distance Patient Care section of our website.
Q. Why would a patient benefit from your Wellness Coach service? Is it mandatory for patients to meet with you?
A. As part of SWLC’s comprehensive post-operative care, I can help patients determine what area of wellness such as sleep, nutrition, fitness, or stress may be adversely impacting their success. As all patients differ, not all patients require my services. Patients use my services through a referral program from our nurses, dietitian and surgeons. The objective of the Wellness Coach program is to channel the goal focus toward effective weight management as a complement to the Lap-Band or Gastric Balloon. Wellness coaching can also help identify priorities, motivators, and obstacles & strategies to goal attainment. By working one-on-one with patients, I am able to create a relationship based on trust, friendship, comfort and reliability. In an effort to fulfill a patient’s vision of success, wellness coaching can offer accountability and enable patients to find their own solutions, build confidence and self-efficacy.
Q. What is the first step for a patient who is interested in SWLC’s weight loss programs?
A. At SWLC, we believe doing your research is an integral part in your decision making. For this same reason, we have created and developed an informative website to thoroughly educate patients on our services. To gain more information from a visual perspective, we encourage patients to watch our educational videos that illustrate the compositions of a Lap-Band and a Gastric Balloon. As a patient coordinator, I can further assist patients during their research process by answering any questions they may have, as well as connect them with one of our surgeons for a free assessment of their eligibility for one of our programs. SWLC distinguishes itself from other clinics by recognizing the importance of having a consultation directly with a surgeon. As all patients are unique, we request that patients fill out a Patient Questionnaire for our surgeon to review prior to the assessment.
If you would like to see your question on our next newsletter, please email us at info@swlc.ca!