July 29, 2010

Thought I’d fill you all in on how BAD I was last weekend.

I mean, BAD. There were hot dogs, hamburgers, coleslaw, latkes, bacon, sausages, bagels, cream cheese and hashbrowns... not eaten all at the same time, mind you.

I was in Ottawa, visiting my mother and relatives and joining in on a couple of family birthday celebrations. Fun! I don’t know about your family, but we rely on a little something to add that “sparkle” to our get-togethers...

Booze.

What happens when you put a personal trainer together with a lot of booze? Mostly you just get a drunk personal trainer. But sometimes, if the stars align correctly, you get a workout.

A drunk workout. 

One of my relatives decided to challenge me to a plank competition. I beat her. Another relative – seconds later – challenged me again. I beat her.

Then, my grandmother – once again, seconds later – challenged me. What could I do? I accepted the challenge.

“Piece of cake,” I’m thinking.

So we planked. And planked. The lady can seriously plank!

Suddenly, the camera died and someone ran to get fresh batteries. I’m thinking, “How much longer do they expect me to hold these planks while they watch and laugh?”

I put my knees down.

And that is how I lost a plank challenge to my grandmother.

My family will never let me hear the end of it.
 

Labels/Tags: Dara Duff-Bergeron, Sweaty Mummy, Belly Bootcamp, Fit Family, personal trainer Toronto, Toronto personal trainer, prenatal fitness, postnatal fitness, postpartum weight loss, exercise, strength training, core training, plank

Posted by DaraD at 09:29:49 View Comments | Click Here to Comment

July 27, 2010

Heard of the “Slimband”?

Maybe you’ve heard of the generic term: laparoscopic band, or lap-band. It’s a drastic measure, intended only for the morbidly obese, to limit food consumption and allow for rapid weight loss. Here's how it works, briefly.  A small band is surgically placed upon the stomach to cut off a major portion of the stomach, leaving only a small pouch through which for food and liquid to pass.  Because this pouch can only hold a small amount of food, a lap-band patient becomes full very quickly.  Certain foods cause gastrointestinal issues with a lap-band and one's diet becomes very restricted.  The band is connected by a tube inside the abdomen to a "port" just under the skin in your stomach area.  Through this port a physician can inflate or deflate the balloon-like band to tighten or loosen its grip on your stomach, allowing you to eat less or more, accordingly. 

Hmmm.  Sounds fun.  And comfortable.

I have a client who has undergone laproscopic band surgery. Let's get this straight: it works. In a year, he’s lost approximately 120 pounds where he previously struggled, despite the coaching of both a personal trainer and a nationally renowned dietitian, to lose even a few pounds. A few weeks ago, he said to me: “Can you believe those Slimband commercials? They make it seem as if this surgery is alright for anybody who’s got even a few pounds to lose.”

It’s true... lap-band surgery is all the rage. Here’s how Slimband describes their service:

“Everyone can lose weight…the truth is it's hard to maintain a diet for any long period of time and once you hit your goal weight it's even tougher to find the motivation to stay there.... The Slimband program is a 2 step process that involves the surgical implantation of a small band around the stomach and a 4 year follow-up support plan that includes nutritional counseling, fitness programs and fill adjustments.”

Sounds easy, right? I mean, the “surgical implantation” really sounds like nothing, especially when you juxtapose it to 4 years of follow-up. Surely it’s as simple as heading in for a lunchtime Botox treatment (that’s another blog, by the way...).

What is this world coming to?  Got a few pounds to lose? Can’t stick with a diet? Undergo major abdominal surgery and spend 4 years of your life running from appointment to appointment trying to hold down even a quarter cup of food without vomiting. Piece of cake.

Not. Lap-band surgery is serious. It’s a major commitment. It requires lifestyle changes and can put a serious crimp on your social life. Just think of how many of our social events revolve around food. Now if all you can eat is a few small bits and you can’t hold down any liquid... better bring a lot of gum.

The latest news on lap-band surgeries: more and more teenagers are undergoing the procedure. Lap-band manufacturer, Allergan, is applying to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to receive permission to market the lap-bands to kids as young as 14. That means “advertise,” mummies. Do you want your teens coming after you for the latest Justin Beiber album and maybe some bariatric surgery?

Teenagers live in a strange universe, where the opinions of their peers and the influence of the media are dominating influences on their decisions. Can a child of 14 (or even 18 or 19) really make the decision to undergo and comply with major surgery requiring 4 years of follow-up care? Maybe more importantly, is lap-band surgery ever appropriate for someone who is still growing?  Many of us had "fat" phases during our child and teen years.  Most of us grow out of it; some of us don't.  Many of us adopt healthier habits as we age and learn about health, fitness and self-care.  We also continue to grow taller, build muscle, and develop mentally.  Is a severe calorie-restricted diet and years of medical supervision really the best weight-loss solution for an obese child?

Is the lap-band an appropriate weight loss method that should be available to all who can afford, and medically qualify for, the procedure? Or is lap-band surgery a last-ditch measure for adults whose health is at risk and who cannot (whether for psychological or physical reasons, or a combination of both) lose a sufficient amount of weight in order to lower their risk of disease and premature death?

Guess which side I fall on.

What do you think?

Labels/Tags: Dara Duff-Bergeron, Sweaty Mummy, Belly Bootcamp, Fit Family, personal trainer Toronto, Toronto personal trainer, prenatal classes, postnatal classes, postpartum weight loss, laparoscopic band, lap-band, Slimband, bariatric surgery, weight loss, diet

Posted by DaraD at 15:11:58 View Comments | Click Here to Comment

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