Tag Archives: balance

How Does Magnesium Help With Weight Loss?

Posted on July 23, 2018 by CFWLS

Magnesium is a mineral and everyone needs it. Is it a “magic bullet?” Maybe not quite but just about everyone can benefit from taking it. Most people don’t get enough magnesium. It’s very likely that if you got your blood levels checked your magnesium would be normal. It’s not your blood that needs magnesium. You need it in your tissues. Magnesium plays an essential role in over 300 bodily functions.

-You can’t produce ATP (energy) without magnesium. It’s essential to build strong bones.
-It also helps the formation of insulin-like growth factor, which is very important in muscle growth. So, we need it for growing muscles.
-It also helps improve stress hormones.
-It increases serotonin levels which helps with better sleep.
-It helps with overall relaxation and helps improve mood.
-It is very important for muscle relaxation. If you’re prone to muscle cramps or if you have a hard time going to sleep and can’t relax, magnesium can help.
-It’s also important in regulating blood sugar.
-It decreases inflammation, improves immune function, and improves and relieves constipation. -Magnesium is the working ingredient in Milk of Magnesia.

One of the things that can decrease your overall magnesium is caffeine. Phosphoric acid decreases magnesium. It’s in almost all sodas and steals magnesium so it’s not available in your tissues. Alcohol and chronic stress also steal magnesium. Some things we can avoid but others we can’t completely avoid.

The bottom line is that almost everyone can benefit from extra magnesium. So, how much or what should someone take? I encourage people to start with 500mgs a day. You may want to slowly increase that, especially if you’re prone to muscle cramps and tight muscles. You can take massive doses of magnesium as long as you have decent kidneys. So if you have kidney problems or poor kidney function then you do have to be careful with magnesium. If you don’t have kidney problems you can take big doses because your body will get rid of it if you get an excess. The way it gets rid of it is—well it relieves constipation! If you do have constipation just start taking 500 mgs of magnesium a day and just start increasing that.

Each day you can slowly go up. You’ll get to a level that keeps things regular for you. If you take too much, you’ll get loose bowl movements but that’s about it. I take about 1000 mgs of magnesium every day. If I stop taking it for a few days or I miss a few days I’m really prone to muscle cramps. If you’re prone to muscle cramps you know what I’m talking about. It’s misery! Magnesium probably isn’t the cure-all but it does help with better sleep, better mood, lowers stress, improves energy, improves flexibility, and prevents cramps. What’s not to like!?

And yes, we carry it in the Nutritional Store here at CFWLS! You can pick it up the next time you’re here or order it at: Mag-Potassium Aspartate – 100 Tabs

Will I Need to Take Vitamins and Supplements After Weight Loss Surgery?

Posted on June 11, 2018 by CFWLS

Yes, you will need to take vitamins. Supplements are helpful but not a requirement. Actually, whether or not you have weight loss surgery, you should be taking vitamins. Supplements can be helpful as well, especially if you are trying to lose weight. You should also make sure your vitamins/supplements are pharmaceutical grade so that the quality of their content is monitored and guaranteed. The nutritional store at the Center for Weight Loss Success only carries such vitamins and supplements and our patients love them. (www.cfwls.com)

The common vitamins that will likely be recommended for you (may vary depending upon the surgeon) include the following:

Multivitamins: Taking vitamins will be a lifelong commitment for all patients who have had weight loss surgery. In the beginning, you should take two chewable complete multivitamins each day. At one month after surgery, you may be able to progress to taking two regular vitamins daily. We recommend two vitamins each day during the first year when your weight loss is most rapid. After the first year, you should continue to take one multivitamin a day. Women may want to consider a prenatal vitamin if pre-menopausal.

B-Complex: Usually around 1 month after surgery, we recommend that you also add one B-Complex vitamin each day (or even 2 per day). The B vitamins assist in muscle and nerve functioning and have been shown to increase a person’s energy level over time. You cannot overdose on B vitamins. If you take in more than you need, you will simply rid yourself of any excess through your urine. It is common for B vitamins to cause your urine to be darker or a brighter yellow. This is normal. If you prefer, B-Complex is also available as an injection at the office as appropriate.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s): Take them – they’re just good for you. By taking fish oil supplements, Omega-3 fatty acids are ingested in their biologically active form. They can be directly used to support cardiovascular, brain, nervous system, and immune function. The mini-soft gels are smaller and have a natural lemon flavor to prevent a “fishy” after taste. Our product is ultra-filtered to guarantee removal of mercury and other possible contaminants. Most people should take 2-4 soft gels per day. They are also helpful to prevent constipation.

Magnesium-Potassium: During weight loss your body will tend to waste both magnesium and potassium. Both of these minerals are essential to normal muscular and cardiovascular function. Magnesium is involved in over 300 biological reactions throughout the body. It can help prevent/treat fatigue. If you are prone to muscle cramps – you need to add this supplement. Typical doses are 1-4 tablets daily with food.

Will I Have to Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery?

Posted on June 04, 2018 by CFWLS

The short answer is “Yes”. Exercise is extremely important following weight loss surgery because you will be losing weight at a rapid pace. Your body will try to fight this weight loss by attempting to store fat for this perceived starvation. Your body does this by burning muscle mass and storing fat. This is undesirable. To combat this effect, it is important to exercise regularly so that your metabolism is increased and your body burns fat rather than muscle mass.

If you decide to have weight loss surgery, you should seize this opportunity after surgery and integrate activity/exercise into your daily routine. This will not only help you through any plateaus, it will help you build muscle, enhance your metabolism and overall energy, and greatly influence your overall success.

I encourage walking beginning the day of surgery to improve circulation. Early walking forces the heart to pump blood throughout the body and prevents it from pooling in your legs which could cause clots that are potentially life threatening. The more walking you can do, the better. We ask that you avoid lifting heavy weights or doing sit-ups/abdominal crunches until you are at least 4 weeks from your surgery. Prior to that time, you may ride an exercise bike, or swim (not until 2 weeks from your surgery). When you choose your particular exercise program, make sure it incorporates weight training along with some form of aerobic/cardiovascular exercise.

Most everyone knows the benefits of exercise – it’s just doing it that is difficult. We all can find excuses (not enough time, not enjoyable/boring, inconvenient, lack of resources, don’t know how, etc…). The bottom line is that you must make time for exercise and make it a priority. This is easy to say, but hard to do.

The benefits of exercise are many. Some of these benefits include:

Decreased appetite
Decreased blood pressure
Decreased stress level
Reduced risk for development of heart disease
Reduced risk for colon and other cancers
Reduced depression and anxiety
Improved balance and independent living
Improved digestion
Improved self-esteem
Improved flexibility
Improved energy levels
Improved sleep pattern
Improved sexual satisfaction
Improved overall quality of life

So you may logically understand the benefits of exercise. If you still choose not to exercise, you must ask yourself “why?” Determine your roadblocks to exercise and then identify solutions to the roadblock. Once you “get the fever” for exercise after doing some form on a regular basis, you will wonder why you didn’t do it earlier. If you choose weight loss surgery, you are making a life changing decision. Maximize the benefits of this decision and commit to a regular exercise program. You will not regret it. Your weight loss will be enhanced and your overall quality of life improved.

It does take time and effort to get started. In addition, after you have had surgery, you may have some feelings of fatigue for the first one to three months after surgery. Until you can begin a more vigorous exercise program (4 weeks after surgery), walk as much as possible. If you are unable to walk due to a health problem/disability, perform as much upper body exercise as you can tolerate using light weights (until 4 weeks after surgery). If you have cardiac/respiratory problems, be sure to obtain clearance for starting an exercise program from your primary care physician and/or specialist.

Choose a fitness program that will work for you. It should be tailored to your specific needs, abilities, preferences and activities that you will enjoy. Otherwise, you will be tempted to quit.

Remember that at the Center for Weight Loss Success, we love making fitness fun and specialize in starting wherever you are. We work privately with our patients and offer three personal training sessions as a part of their Weight Management University for Weight Loss Surgery™ program. Our certified trainers love working with clients at all levels of fitness. You can also participate in our Group Fitness classes as a part of your program. Remember, you are not alone. Please use these resources available with your experienced bariatric surgeon/center to enhance your weight loss and improve your overall health and metabolism.

When starting a workout program, take it easy. Be sure to gradually work up to at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise three or more times a week. Stick to it and strive to make exercise a habit (usually considered a habit once performed regularly for at least three months)! You won’t see dramatic changes overnight but you will see dramatic changes over time.

When you exercise, be sure to warm-up prior to the activity and cool down/stretch after the activity. Do not lift too much weight (increase weight gradually), and remain hydrated – be sure to drink water before and after your workout.

Should Weight Loss Surgery be My Last Resort?

Posted on March 19, 2018 by CFWLS

You may think this is a strong statement but…ABSOLUTELY NOT! However, weight loss surgery shouldn’t be your first option either. The purpose here is not to create confusion but to reinforce the fact that for people who are morbidly obese and have tried other nutritional, behavioral and fitness programs without success, weight loss surgery can be a great option.

An ideal candidate is someone who is somewhere between 75 and 150 pounds over their ideal body weight. As your weight increases, generally so does the incidence of other health problems. With the additional weight and health problems, your risk for weight loss surgery increases significantly as well. Thus, you take the risks associated with surgery and increase them which is not the most desirable situation for your or your surgeon.

The fear and negative connotations surrounding weight loss surgery has significantly decreased since 1994 when I began my weight loss surgery career. Thank goodness! In addition, the procedures have evolved and become safer and more effective. However, the higher your BMI and co-morbid conditions (other health problems) the higher your surgical risk will be. In addition, the higher the BMI and co-morbid conditions, the higher the possibility is that you may not be a candidate for weight loss surgery.

Rhonda’s Opinion: I should have done surgery a long time ago before I yo-yoed all those years.

View our Weight Loss Surgery Webinar now!

My Greatest Challenges Are Behind Me – Enjoying Life Again After Weight Loss Surgery

Posted on August 07, 2017 by CFWLS

Meet Allen Fabijan – you may already know him as ‘Some Guy Named Allen’ from US106.1. What you may not know, is Allen chose weight loss surgery as a tool to help him improve his health and quality of life.

Allen has recently completed Weight Management University for Weight Loss Surgery™ here at Dr. Clark’s Center for Weight Loss Success. He has lost over 130 pounds since he began his journey to lose weight and improve his health. Join him as he shares his struggles and successes along the way!

“So maybe I’m different. I don’t know. The big things are always there. We know about heart disease. The little things were what made up my biggest challenges. Silly things like getting on an airplane and needing a seat belt extender made me feel bad. Or going to a restaurant and having to push the booth back. Or, just being uncomfortable in public situations where I shouldn’t have been uncomfortable. It was all the little tiny things that added up to the big things.”

“When you’re overweight, you know that you’re in trouble with your health. You know you’re making yourself lazy, tired, and you know you’re making yourself have heart problems and possibly diabetes. We hear that all the time, every day. But it was the little things that slowly worked themselves up into big things that lead me to decide ENOUGH is ENOUGH!”

To learn how weight loss surgery could change your life, watch our free webclass at: https://cfwls.com/weight-loss-surgery/free-online-weight-loss-surgery-seminar/

Top 10 Benefits of Yoga

Posted on February 23, 2015 by CFWLS

No matter what your fitness level is, yoga can help you in many ways. Not only does yoga affect the physical aspect of the body, it addresses the mind and spirit as well. Yoga exercises are a great way to help relieve the stress of your day and can bring a sense of well-being to your life. Now we all can use a little of that! Here are the top ten benefits of yoga.

Stress Relief – Yoga can help reduce the effects of stress on your body. One of the benefits of yoga is that it encourages relaxation and can lower the amount of cortisol (the stress hormone) in your body. Studies show that prolonged high levels of cortisol can lead to heart disease and other health problems.

Improved Circulation – Yoga will help improve your body’s circulation. In turn, with daily exercises, you will see the benefits of yoga with lowered blood pressure and pulse rates.

Increased Cardiovascular Conditioning – Even the gentlest style of yoga will help to lower your resting heart rate and increase your overall endurance. This is one of the important benefits of yoga to help improve the amount of oxygen taken in during the daily exercises.

Relief from Pain – Daily exercises of yoga can help ease the aches and pains of the body. Many people with very serious diseases have reported less pain after these daily exercises or meditation.

Better Breathing – You will learn to take deeper, slower breaths with daily exercises of yoga. It will help to increase your lung function and set off the body’s relaxation response. This can be one of the most powerful benefits of yoga.

More Flexibility – You will notice your level of flexibility will increase, which will help you with your range of motion. Sometimes in the yoga daily exercises, people cannot even touch their toes. The benefits of yoga will include lengthening the muscles, tendons and ligaments in your body to help you become more flexible.

Increased Muscular Strength – Yoga poses use all the muscles in your body and help you increase your strength level from head to toe. Yoga and daily exercises will help you strengthen your muscles close to the bones, which increase the support of your skeletal system.

Weight Management – You will see the benefits of yoga begin to affect your scale. Daily exercises are always recommended, but yoga helps reduce the level of cortisol in your body which aids in weight loss and weight maintenance.

Improved Mental Clarity and Focus – You can have greater coordination, memory skills, reaction times, and improved concentration skills by utilizing yoga for daily exercises. These benefits of yoga will extend far out of the yoga class.

Inner Peace – What more could you want. This is one of the primary reasons that people do daily exercises of yoga. This is one of the most important benefits of yoga and is also one of the more easy ones to attain.

If you haven’t tried yoga, you should! You may find it is just what you need.

Join us Thursday evenings at 6 p.m.—your first class is free!

Combating Stress – Meditation in Motion

Posted on January 05, 2015 by CFWLS

Now that the holidays are over, the stress in your life is gone and you have lots of time to devote to exercise. What do you mean, “Not really.”?

There is always going to be a certain amount of stress in your life. Some of the things that come your way are neither predictable or preventable. You may not actually be able to do anything to change these events but you have total control over your response to them and its effect on your body. By combating stress, you allow your body to restore and balance the delicate systems that lie within.

Your coping mechanisms work better if you’re not overly tired and have eaten properly so it’s important to keep to a regular sleep schedule and eating pattern. And don’t forget exercise! Physical activity also helps you combat stress. Anything you enjoy, whether it’s aerobic or strength training, will act as a stress-buster. Make exercise part of your stress management plan.

Your body releases endorphins, your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, as a result of physical activity. You don’t have to be a runner, any heart-pumping exercise will work.

Regular exercise lowers the symptoms related to mild depression and anxiety while increasing your overall health and your sense of well-being. Sleep can be improved with routine exercise. Stress, depression and anxiety often disrupt sleep but easing the stress levels can put you back in command.

Your mind responds to meditation in motion! Try it—after an hour of Zumba or Yoga, you will have forgotten what irritated you during the day. Repetitive motions that command your concentration keep you focused on a single movement and can help you remain calm and collected in everyday tasks. Who couldn’t use a little more energy and optimism?

Start by making a plan and take it slow. The gyms are full of people who burn out before January is over. This is a life-long habit you are building, not a 30-day program.
Set realistic goals (think back to Chapter 1 WMU™ ) and find a friend who enjoys the same activities to join you. You are more likely to stick with it if someone is waiting for you.
Try something new. Check out our fitness classes or consider personal training.
Put it on your schedule. 45-60 minutes, three days a week, you spend more time than that on Facebook.

You deserve to be happy, healthy & strong this year – and you can make it happen!

Making Home Workouts Fun!

Posted on October 27, 2014 by CFWLS

Everyone understands how great exercise is for you. Sometimes it’s just the issue of finding the time and/or the motivation. Or, it could be the matter of finances. Taking fitness classes at the gym can be very motivating, especially when a loud and inspiring Aerobics Instructor is commanding you to push “out of your comfort zone.” However, the gym scene is not for everyone. Some people find it an intimidating environment. So, how are you going to get your workout in?….. At home!!!

For most people, saying “I don’t have time to exercise” is obviously an excuse because it’s truly about FINDING the time. If you aren’t able to hit the gym, or are unable to free up time during your lunch hour, the final option is working out in the convenience of your own home. It takes motivation to either get up earlier in the morning, or commit to exercising when you get home. That means putting everything aside: dirty dishes, folding laundry, doing the bills, etc… There will always be distractions. Let’s start making home workouts fun!

A 30-minute home circuit workout can be done three times a week and will provide you with cardio and resistance. Circuit classes are fun and the time goes by quickly. This workout can be done without having to purchase any equipment! AND, you can watch your favorite TV program at the same time!

First, warm up for 5 minutes. Example: walking quickly in place or briskly around the house. Or, stand in place and do knee lifts and ham curls. Shoulder rolls, back rolls, and step touches. Stations are 45 seconds and should be performed three times. Catch your breath between stations as needed.

Station 1: PUSH-UPS (hands on the wall, a table, or a couch for modification)

Station 2: STAIRS (step up and down or run up and down)

Station 3: TRICEP DIPS (sitting on a couch)

Station 4: MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (hands on a table or couch for modification)

Station 5: SQUATS (either against the wall or in front of a chair or couch)

Station 6: PLANK HOLDS (hands on a table or couch for a modification)

Station 7: JUMPING JACKS (step out one leg at a time for a modification)

Station 8: RUN IN PLACE/HIGH KNEES

No workout should feel easy. Results come by pushing past your comfort zone and challenging yourself. The last 5 minutes is for cool down. Stretch all major muscle groups for 20-30 seconds. Stations should be switched out every few months to avoid exercise plateaus.

Finally, I would suggest purchasing a punching bag (the kind that sits on the floor). It adds fun and challenge to your circuit. Punching bags are great for your arms, legs, and core.

Only $9.99

Our Sit & Get Fit DVD offers 2 great workouts that you can do at home – 30 minutes of cardio fun and a 30 minute strength training session to build lean body mass – get yours today!

Don’t Just Sit There!

Posted on October 13, 2014 by CFWLS

It takes a little (okay, sometimes more than a little) effort to get up off of the couch or pull yourself away from the computer long enough to find your tennis shoes and head out for a walk. So, what’s the worst that can happen if you don’t get in regular exercise?

Physical inactivity may be a deadly as smoking! A study at Harvard University estimates that as many as 5.3 million deaths around the world in a single year could be directly attributed to lack of physical activity. The World Health Organization has ranked inactivity as the 4th major risk factor in personal health. It falls right behind high blood pressure, tobacco use and high cholesterol. Approximately 41% of Americans do not get enough exercise! Are you one of them?

James Levine, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic supports what Dr. Clark has told you. “We know that as soon as somebody gets out of their chair, their blood sugar improves, their blood cholesterol and triglycerides improve, and that’s very consistent. Every time you get up it gets better. Every time you sit down it gets worse.”

One way to keep track of your activity is to wear your pedometer. Your goal of 10,000 steps a day will keep you moving. Challenge yourself by increasing the pace as well. See if you can get 3,000 steps in a 30 minute walk.

Think of inactivity as an infectious disease—what can you do to prevent it? Your muscles and cardiovascular system need to be used to remain effective. 30 minutes a day with a minimum of 150 minutes of activity a week is suggested. 30 minutes a day seems like a great investment in your long term health. So get up & get moving!

Fitness Notes~

As the amount of daylight hours gets shorter, the type of activity you choose may change. Change can be good! We offer a great variety of exercise classes that are part of any WMU™ program and optional fitness center memberships are only $29 a month.

Love Your Body

Posted on September 29, 2014 by CFWLS

If you are like most of us, you probably spend a fair amount of time on your hair and/or makeup and maybe even more time staring into your closet for something to wear. But none of that really matters if you don’t love your body.

Think inside out! You are more than your outer shell. Every cell that you can’t see is counted upon to carry out whatever task you need every single day. These cells need water, good nutrition & exercise. Learn to love your body and watch it respond!

Love your heart – that’s where it all begins. The muscles of your heart keep you alive and you want them to be strong. Regular cardio exercise not only supplies oxygen to the red blood cells, it keeps the heart & lungs in shape! We encourage at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily. This can be something as easy as walking or a more challenging workout like kickboxing. You may have a wide range of activities that you enjoy so think of exercise as a way to increase the fun in your life.

Those legs do more than just look good in a skirt or shorts! They are your transportation and you have no time for a breakdown. Your legs have the largest and most powerful muscles in your body and deserve a little attention—squats, lunges and leg presses are only the beginning of things they can do. Strength training is a must to keep your lean body mass intact and performing its best.

Are you sitting down? The muscles that allow you to sit upright are wrapped around your mid-section in multiple directions. Core exercises are extremely important and relatively easy. Check out our YouTube site for lots of great options.

Give yourself a hug! Do you feel those muscles in your upper body? Are they as strong and toned as you would like them to be? I know that you’ve heard me say ‘Push-ups’ before but there is nothing that works that entire area better than the simple push-up. Any surface is fair game, whether it’s the back of a door, a counter-top or even the floor – go for it and give me 20! (Yes, 2 sets of 10 will work)

Love your body and it will treat you with results!

Thanks to Dr. Clark...