Gastric band surgery has recently overtaken gastric bypass among many people looking to lose weight via surgical procedure. It’s less invasive, it’s quicker, and it can be reversed. Not to say it isn’t without its side effects, which may include (and has included) death from complications. Luckily, there are some doctors who understand these risks, and make sure that patients are aware of them before proceeding. Neelu Pal, an Indian immigrant, is one of these doctors. Well, she WAS one of these doctors.

Pal was a surgical resident at New York University Medical Center until recently. She couldn’t help but notice that a larger than normal number of patients were coming through the doors with weight issues, and being sent right back out with gastric bands. Knowing the risks involved, she began to call patients before their scheduled surgery dates to inform them of such risks. When her supervisors found out about this, she was promptly fired and essentially prohibited from practicing medicine in the United States.

Here’s where it gets a little murkier. Pal’s supervisors, Christine Ren and George Fielding are paid consultants for Allergan Inc. This is the company that manufactures “Lap-Band”, the brand name gastric band that holds well over half of the market, which is estimated to be nearly a $400 million industry. So to break this down, we have paid consultants for a lap band manufacturer running a medical facility, and firing a doctor who advises patients of the risks of surgery involving her supervisor’s products. Supervisors who have already been under fire for falsifying data on patients, and refusing to address other patients post operation complications. Complications like lack of urination, leading to toxicity, leading to death.

Pal has said that an estimated 30 gastric band procedures were performed daily at NYU Medical Center. Since being fired she has filed suit against NYU Medical, and enrolled in law school.

Top 5 Rules for Eating Right

Break your Plates
That’s right! Switch out those old large dinner plates with smaller dessert sized plates. This will keep you from trying to over fill a plate even when you know you’re not that hungry. It’s a mental thing, but it works. Clearing your plate is more satisfying when you realize you haven’t set fire to your diet.

Half and Half
A really simple rule to follow is making sure that all your meals are half fruits and/or vegetables. If you’re at a fast food chain “half french fries” is not a substitute. Instead, cut your meal in half and add sliced apples or other simple snacks to a quick afternoon snack. Uncooked fruits or vegetables are best and you’ll see results medically as well as physically.

Fewer Ingredients
It takes 20 minutes for your brain to tell your body that you’re full after you begin eating. So stop eating when you feel mostly full, or three quarters full and studies indicate that this simple step, along with eating more leisurely could drop up to 20 pounds in a year, that’s with no change in diet at all!

Stop It
When starting a diet it’s of vital importance to have a realistic goal in mind.  Whether it’s a long term or weekly goal, put it within reach.  Give yourself a challenge, but one you can defeat.  With this mindset you’ll be more likely to celebrate your success and continue doing what works best.  If you set out telling yourself that you’re going to lose 25 lbs in your first week, it will have more chance of also being your last.

Think about it
Most people don’t think about what to eat until they are hungry. This is thanks to fast food and microwavable meals. By taking 10 minutes (that’s just the time during commercials on a 1-hour long program) and planning a more nutritious day for your family, studies from UCLA show that more wholesome and nutritious meals and more vibrant health are the benefits to you and your loved ones. Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are all important reasons to think about what you eat.

The 5 Must-See Pit Stops on the Road to Weight Loss

Diet trends come and go as frequently as the sun rises and sets.  Each one has such amazing benefits in the early stages, but quickly seems to fizzle and fade all the while producing negative byproducts.  Different diets work for different people, but no matter which one works for you there are a few simple facts that are beneficial across the board.

Eat Slower

Untamed lightning is pretty fast, but did you know that it takes 20 minutes or more for the electrical signals that signify fullness to travel from your stomach to your brain?  When you eat faster, you eat more.  You’re likely to overshoot your calorie goals by leaps and bounds if you don’t take your time.  There are plenty of other negative effects from eating too quickly ranging from simple indigestion to far more serious long term issues in your digestive system.  If you eat slower, you chew slower and you’re likely to eat less.

Crash Diets

Crash and fasting diets can provide quick results, but the effects don’t often last.  When you lower your calorie intake to the degree that most of these call for, you significantly lower your rate of metabolism.  It works for a while, and makes perfect sense: if you have fewer calories to burn, you’ll burn them more slowly.  However, once you’re satisfied with your rapid weight loss and end the diet your body retains that rate of metabolism.  Therein lies the problem.  You return to eating as you did before, but your body’s metabolism stays at the same slow rate and the pounds will likely pile back on.

Skipping Meals

It may make sense at first thought that skipping a meal here and there will provide the same result as eating less.  This is another case of “great in theory, poor in execution”.  Skipping meals (especially breakfast) can lead to results similar to the crash diet.  If you skip a meal early in the day you’ll be likely to snack more frequently and lose track of those calories you’ve been keeping watch over.  Frequent, smaller meals or snacks are a great way to maintain your metabolism and curb hunger.

Frequent Weigh-Ins

Set Realistic Goals

When starting a diet it’s of vital importance to have a realistic goal in mind.  Whether it’s a long term or weekly goal, put it within reach.  Give yourself a challenge, but one you can defeat.  With this mindset you’ll be more likely to celebrate your success and continue doing what works best.  If you set out telling yourself that you’re going to lose 25 lbs in your first week, it will have more chance of also being your last.