Region 5 News

March Madness Brings New Challenges to Staying on Track with Diet and Exercise

(Las Cruces) -- I remember the day in November when all my insurance forms were finally approved, I completed all my pre-surgery tests and was finally given a surgery date of December 15 for my gastric bypass procedure.  Most people thought the most challenging part for me would be the Christmas and New Year’s holidays because of all the foods I would be missing out on. But I know that March Madness would be the most difficult part of this journey. 

I have been obsessed with the NCCA men’s basketball tournament for as long as I can remember.  I plan family vacations and my work schedule around the opening weekend making sure to never be too far from a television so I don’t miss one second of the action.  For the last 20 years this time of year has also been the time when I am most indulgent in the food I eat. My diet during the NCAA tournament usually consists of Snicker’s bars, popcorn, bratwurst and beer. This year that has to change.

I am at a very challenging point in my recovery from the surgery.  It’s been three months and my energy level has more than doubled from what it was before I had surgery and I am able to tolerate a lot of different food again.  I have advanced through several different stages of the diet included all liquid, pureed and semi-soft foods to now solid foods.  My appetite and cravings are also starting to come back. This can be a dangerous time because I feel like I can eat anything again, but both physically and mentally that is not the case. 

A physical concern at this point of the recovery process is the chance for a blockage in lower part of the stomach that prevents food from being able to be digested.  This is usually caused by not chewing foods properly or eating the wrong types of food.  Breads and hard to digest meats can be a culprit in a blockage.  A blockage can result in extreme pain and could result in the need for an endoscopy, which can often be as painful as the blockage itself. 

The emotional and mental challenges I am facing now are staying on track with the healthy habits I have developed over the last three months.  It took a tremendous amount of focus to develop my new eating and exercise habits and I am still a long way from my ultimate goals. 

Read more about March Madness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Health Observances

Mar.   Save Your Vision Month

           National Nutrition Month

           Colorectal Awareness Month

3 - 9   National Sleep Awareness Week

10-16 Brain Awareness Week

10-17 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness