Vitamin Patches: Do They Work? A patch you place on your skin to absorb vitamins sounds enticing compared to taking an oral supplement. Yet this offering, while increasing in popularity, has drawn skepticism. Are vitamin patches effective, and if so, do they work for bariatric patients? Continue reading to discover the history of transdermal patches, …

Continue reading "Vitamin Patches: Do They Work?"

Weight Loss Injections Part 4: Victoza® & Saxenda® (Liraglutide) Victoza® and Saxenda® (liraglutide) are the same medication and are once-daily self-administered injections in single-use, disposable pens. Their differences include the following: Victoza® The FDA first approved Victoza® in January 2010 for adults with type 2 diabetes, then again in June 2019 for children (ten years …

Continue reading "Weight Loss Injections Part 4: Victoza® & Saxenda® (Liraglutide)"

Weight Loss Injections Part 3: Ozempic® & Wegovy® (Semaglutide) Ozempic® and Wegovy® share the same formula and manufacturer (Novo Nordisk). Both medications are also once-weekly self-administered injections in single-use, disposable pens. So, what are the differences between the two medications? Ozempic® Ozempic® was FDA-approved in December 2017 to treat type 2 diabetes, NOT obesity. Like …

Continue reading "Weight Loss Injections Part 3: Ozempic® & Wegovy® (Semaglutide)"

Weight Loss Injections Part 2: Mounjaro® (Tirzepatide) Mounjaro® is a once-a-week injection that the FDA approved to treat type 2 diabetes in May 2022. The medication’s official website states that the drug regulates blood sugar and decreases food intake. It also states that Mounjaro® is NOT a weight loss drug, despite its ability to reduce …

Continue reading "Weight Loss Injections Part 2: Mounjaro® (Tirzepatide)"

Weight Loss Injections Part 1: An Overview Whispers of a “miracle” weight loss drug among celebrities and socialites began in early 2022. Recently, the medication has garnered even more attention as articles on the “Ozempic® craze” point out the countless celebrities who have admitted (or denied) using it to help them lose weight faster than …

Continue reading "Weight Loss Injections Part 1: An Overview"

Thyroid Health: Obesity & Bariatric Surgery The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck and below the voice box. It's also one of six glands that create the endocrine system. According to the EPA, “The endocrine system, made up of all the body’s different hormones, regulates all biological processes in …

Continue reading "Thyroid Health: Obesity & Bariatric Surgery"

Your Bariatric Guide to a Happy, Healthy Christmas Whether you’ve recently had bariatric surgery or are years out, Christmas can be a difficult time to stay on track and prioritize your health. You’ll have to practice self-discipline and mentally prepare yourself for holiday events. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this Christmas season, don’t worry. This …

Continue reading "Your Bariatric Guide to a Happy, Healthy Christmas"

How to Navigate Thanksgiving After Bariatric Surgery Preventing weight gain is a challenge for everyone around Thanksgiving. Eating sweet potato pie, honey-glazed ham, turkey with stuffing, and other holiday dishes can take a toll on one's waistline. The good news is this is avoidable! Aim to maintain your weight with these steps to navigating Thanksgiving …

Continue reading "How to Navigate Thanksgiving After Bariatric Surgery"

Foods to Avoid After Bariatric Surgery Patients who undergo bariatric surgery are given a special diet to follow for the first 1 to 2 months after bariatric surgery. The post-bariatric surgery diet progresses in stages, starting with liquid foods and then slowly reintroducing solid foods when the body is able to accept them. Afterward, some …

Continue reading "Foods to Avoid After Bariatric Surgery"

How to Stay on Track This Halloween There’s no need to feel haunted by the sight of Halloween treats. While they can make staying on track with your weight management goals challenging, you can still enjoy this holiday season without losing focus on your health. Stay on track by following this guide, which includes how to …

Continue reading "How to Stay on Track This Halloween"

Breast Cancer & Bariatric Surgery October is breast cancer awareness month, which means it’s time to dedicate some time to raising breast cancer awareness, reminding women to get a mammogram, and donating resources to breast cancer research. As a bariatric supplement, support, and lifestyle company, ProCare Health would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge …

Continue reading "Breast Cancer & Bariatric Surgery"

How To Find Support Post-Bariatric Surgery For many people, bariatric surgery will be one of the hardest things they’ll ever do. While it’s a significant step towards a long and healthy life, many challenges can arise. These challenges include trouble sticking to a healthy diet, keeping the weight off, seeing yourself in a new body, …

Continue reading "How To Find Support Post-Bariatric Surgery"

Constipation After Bariatric Surgery One of the most common complaints people have after bariatric surgery is constipation. Bowel movement changes following weight loss surgery are indeed common side effects. Whether it be diarrhea or constipation, know that these side effects are very common and often not something to worry about, especially if you take the …

Continue reading "Constipation After Bariatric Surgery"

Dental Problems After Weight Loss Surgery Over the years, as weight loss surgery becomes more prevalent, more and more individuals are claiming that they are experiencing dental problems following the procedure. Medical literature suggests that these dental problems boil down to gastrointestinal issues post weight loss surgery. These issues range from malabsorption to gastroesophageal reflex. …

Continue reading "Dental Problems After Weight Loss Surgery"

How Much Protein Do I Need Every Day? Following bariatric surgery, protein intake should be one of your top priorities. Protein plays a role in every cell in your body. Thus, proteins are constantly breaking down and need replenishing. When you don’t consume enough protein, your body breaks down lean muscle to use as energy. …

Continue reading "How Much Protein Do I Need Every Day?"

How To Dress After Weight Loss Surgery If you’re reading this, odds are you’ve had weight loss surgery, or you’re going to have weight loss surgery. This is an exciting time in your health journey, but it can be challenging. Your body will be changing rapidly after surgery, and that can be a shock to …

Continue reading "How To Dress After Weight Loss Surgery"

How Can Smoking Affect Bariatric Surgery? Did you know that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, followed by obesity? You may be even more shocked to learn that current research suggests that between 12.9 to 38% of bariatric candidates are regular tobacco users. Unfortunately, bariatric surgery risks double …

Continue reading "How Can Smoking Affect Bariatric Surgery?"

How Long Should Bariatric Patients Take Vitamins? Following bariatric surgery, we recommend that a patient take daily vitamins for the rest of their life. You may have been wondering why is this a lifelong commitment? Especially after you have lost all the weight and are in a maintenance period. After surgery, your body has trouble …

Continue reading "How Long Should Bariatric Patients Take Vitamins?"

What Bariatric Vitamins Should I Be Taking After Surgery? So, you’ve taken a major step in bettering yourself for a long, healthy life. But, after bariatric surgery, what are the next steps in ensuring that you are successful on your journey? Besides the key elements of diet and exercise, one of the most important steps …

Continue reading "What Bariatric Vitamins Should I be Taking After Surgery"

7 Easy Ways You Can Reduce Inflammation Your body is an incredible machine that protects itself from harm and illness. If you were to catch a cold or sprain your ankle while exercising, your body will automatically begin taking charge to fight the infection or make the necessary repairs so you can get back on …

Continue reading "7 Easy Ways You Can Reduce Inflammation"

Top 5 Apps for Bariatric Surgery Patients Today, technology is more intuitive and helpful for pre- and post-op patients of bariatric surgery than ever before. This includes many convenient resources that are accessible at the tips of your fingers through your smartphone, tablet, or computer! You may have found yourself browsing for apps that focus …

Continue reading "Top 5 Apps for Bariatric Surgery Patients"

Setting Realistic Weight-Loss Goals After Surgery Losing weight isn’t an easy task – by having bariatric surgery, you’re taking a step towards living a healthier lifestyle. This is only the first step as the changes will be made to your digestive system, limiting the amount of food you can eat and the nutrients your body …

Continue reading "Setting Realistic Weight-Loss Goals After Surgery"

Holding Yourself Accountable for Your Weight Loss Weight loss surgery can be a life-changing experience. After surgery, when you are trying to lose weight, you may find that willpower alone isn’t enough to stay on track. Personal responsibility will help you be accountable for weight loss and will play a central role in the overall …

Continue reading "Holding Yourself Accountable for Your Weight Loss"

Relationship Challenges After Weight Loss Surgery Weight loss surgery will have profound effects on your life. After surgery, you will be following a new diet, participating in regular exercise, and following a postoperative plan. You may notice a new upbeat mood and improved self-esteem. All these changes can seem overwhelming as you transition to your …

Continue reading "Relationship Challenges After Weight Loss Surgery"

Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Weight Loss Surgery With bariatric or weight loss surgery, the most significant changes happen during the first year. To have a successful outcome, you will need to make several permanent lifestyle changes to your behaviors, eating habits, and activity patterns. Besides the impact that the surgery has on …

Continue reading "Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Weight Loss Surgery"

Addiction Awareness: Understanding the Risks After Bariatric Surgery After bariatric surgery, you are likely to lose a significant amount of weight, which can cause major adjustments to many aspects of your life. If you are like most, you will find some changes to be positive (new routines, a new outlook on life), while you may …

Continue reading "Addiction Awareness: Understanding the Risks After Bariatric Surgery"

Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery Are you ready to have a baby? If you’re a post-bariatric surgery patient, it can be nerve-racking to think about pregnancy after weight loss surgery. Fortunately, ProCare Health is here to tell you that post-bariatric pregnancy is possible! Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery: Is It Safe? Is pregnancy after weight …

Continue reading "Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery"

Intermittent Fasting After Weight Loss Surgery As a popular trend in the health and dieting industry, intermittent fasting is everywhere. From social media to television, everyone is talking about it - but does that mean it’s right for you? If you have a history of weight loss surgery, the answer may surprise you. What is …

Continue reading "Intermittent Fasting After Weight Loss Surgery"

Medication and Health Changes After Weight Loss Surgery Weight loss surgery is not a cure for obesity but rather a tool to help you lose weight, achieve a healthy body mass index (BMI), and live a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life. Bariatric surgery is a significant event in your weight loss journey, and this …

Continue reading "Medication and Health Changes After Weight Loss Surgery"

Wardrobe Changes After Weight Loss Surgery: How to Dress Your New Body Within the first year after bariatric surgery, your body will undergo several changes. Apart from following a new diet and exercising every day, there is another lifestyle change you’ll have to make. Dressing for the new you. Although buying new clothes is an …

Continue reading "Wardrobe Changes After Weight Loss Surgery: How to Dress Your New Body"

Dealing with Extra Skin and Body Shaping After Weight Loss Surgery After bariatric surgery, most patients lose so much weight that they develop loose, sagging skin. While you may lose weight, you are carrying extra skin that is uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. Remember that loose skin is a sign of your accomplishments. Try …

Continue reading "Dealing with Extra Skin and Body Shaping After Weight Loss Surgery"

A New Normal for Eating: How to Navigate Your Nutrition After Bariatric Surgery Your nutrition after bariatric surgery is vital for long-term weight loss success. After weight loss surgery, you will eventually transition to a normal diet with solid foods. While it may be tempting to take up your old eating habits, you need to …

Continue reading "A New Normal for Eating: How to Navigate Your Nutrition After Bariatric Surgery"

Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Weight Loss Surgery & Utilizing Support Systems No matter who you are, bariatric surgery can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. It can also lead to issues that negatively impact your mental health, body image, and weight loss after surgery. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, you …

Continue reading "Taking Care of Your Mental Health After Weight Loss Surgery & Utilizing Support Systems"

Post-Surgery Aftercare Weight loss surgery can bring unexpected as well as expected changes to your lifestyle and overall health. Post bariatric surgery, your weight loss can cause temporary hair thinning, you have a new diet to adjust to, and you may have to contend with loose skin after shedding excess weight. Plus, there are other …

Continue reading "Post-Surgery Aftercare"