Mexico city – It’s one of the safest parts of America, and it’s getting safer.

It’s the U.S. – Mexico border, and even as politicians say more federal troops are needed to fight rising violence, government figures show it isn’t so dangerous after all. The top four big cities in America with the lowest rates of violent crime are all in border states: Austin, El Paso, Phoenix and San Diego, according to a new FBI report. And a U.S. Customs and Border Protection report shows that Border Patrol agents face far less danger than street cops in most U.S. cities.

The Customs and Border Protection study, obtained with a Freedom of Information Act request, show that 3 percent of Border Patrol agents and officers were assaulted last year, mostly when assailants threw rocks at them. That compares with 11 percent of police officers and sheriff’s deputies assaulted during the same period, usually with guns or knives. In addition, violent attacks against agents declined in 2009 along most of the U.S.-Mexican border for the first time in seven years.

“The border is safer now than it’s ever been,” said Customs and Border Protection spokesman Lloyd Easterling. He said one factor is that with fewer jobs available amid the U.S. recession, illegal immigration has dropped. And, responding to security concerns after 9/11, the Border Patrol has doubled its number agents since 2004. Nonetheless, border lawmakers and governors say their region is under siege and needs more troops. In response to the concerns from the border states, Obama Pledged to send 1,200 National Guard troops to help and spend an extra $500 million on border security.

His one-time rival for the presidency, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said he should send at least 6,000 troops, which he said are needed because Arizona leads the nation in marijuana seizures, had 368 kidnappings in 2008, and has the highest property crime rates in the U.S. But violent crimes in counties along the Mexican border are among the lowest in the nation per capita, and they’ve dropped by more than 30 percent in the last two decades.

Governors along the border say improved crime rates don’t counter their concerns. In Texas, “we respond to threats based on rick, not occurrence,” said Gov. Rick Perry’s spokeswoman Katherine Ce signer. And there are exceptions to the trend: Assaults on agents in the Laredo region increased from 44 in 2008 to 118 in 2009, and they increased in the neighboring Rio Grandee Valley as well.

Concerns about danger come, in part, from Mexico, where raging cartel violence has taken 23,00 lives in three years, often within view of the U.S. Border. There’s frequent talk of the potential for that violence to spread across the border, but so far it hasn’t happened to a significant degree. Mexico security measrures

Put A Little SPRING In Your Step

Spring is here! A time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and the perfect time to get started on new, healthy, fitness habits. Walking is a great way to get started.
The key is starting simple, setting realistic goals, and having some patience. Before you know it, you will be on the path to better health and fitness.

What is the #1 recommended safe workout for overweight people?
WALKING. It’s that straightforward. By starting with a daily walking routine of at least 30 minutes you can start to see results in as little as a week. Most people believe that you have to walk quickly in order to burn calories, but in fact, the opposite is true. By walking at a slower pace for a longer time, heavy people actually burn more calories than if they were walking at a faster pace.
In addition to the benefits of walking, there is little chance of injury, which makes it so recommended for overweight people trying to lose weight. Then, after a while, you can start to incorporate small weights to your walking for a little added intensity and diversity to your workout.

Get started today…you will feel great and be so proud of yourself!

Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

1# Rule of banding – just because you can – doesn’t mean you should.

There is no band tight enough to keep ice cream or chips from going down. A
Lapband controls the quantity – you still must control the quality.
Actually – there isn’t a weight loss surgery that is infallible – all have
good points and bad points. The Lapband and Sleeve are purely restrictive
procedures, they will restrict the volume of your stomach and you are
supposed to eat reasonably healthy. When I say reasonably – no one is
perfect – we all have good days and bad days, the goal is to strive for 95%
of your days to be good days. When you have a bad day don’t beat yourself
up – just make a conscious choice to try harder the next day.

Eating healthy – there is no reason to have certain foods in your house -
just as if you were an alcoholic or drug abuser you wouldn’t stock vodka or
pot in case a family member wanted them – you simply wouldn’t allow them in
the house. The same holds true for foods! Pringles are one of my trigger
foods – they are not allowed in my house regardless of circumstances. If
my sons want to OD on Pringles they need to do it in their homes, in their
cars or at work and not in front of me because I will fall off my wagon. I
don’t allow things like Cakesters, HoHos, Ding Dongs, crap that my grandkids
would love but will give them the same weight issues I have – I am opting
for better choices for them. Snacks of fresh berries, yogurt and granola,
raw vegetables or lean meats.

How many of you have OD’d on carrots, celery, pineapple, spinach salad,
broccoli, tuna, chicken? These are the foods that should be in your fridge
and your chances of eating too many carrots or apples are slim at best, you
will hork before you can eat so many that you will gain weight. Just like
drugs – say NO to ice cream in your freezer, pizza, or foods that you know
are trigger foods for you. Keep that white board on the side of your fridge
and change the listing daily of what is available in there for you for
snacks so when you are hungry or stressed – good choice ideas are right in
front of you. For me, bad choices happen when I am hungry, tired or
feeling vulnerable. I NEED this reminder of what is acceptable to grab and
eat.

Learn your triggers, find your weak points and craft a plan to avoid being
in circumstances that might allow you to make bad choices. Planning is so
essential to effective weight control, success isn’t just luck – it is great
planning, good execution of your plan and being able to examine your
mistakes when you deviate from your plan and using creative thinking to keep
yourself on track.

Success with weight loss surgery doesn’t just automatically happen, and it
isn’t the easy way out. Success is the result of examining your life and
habits without demeaning yourself and creating, crafting and executing a
plan for success that you can live with

Strategies for Success

I just came back from a Seattle WLS convention and am preparing for our Houston event. We talked at length about what helps us be successful and what things undermine our success and we came up with some strategies for success.

• Journal your food and feelings daily – keep an accountable finger
on your pulse daily!

• Never grocery shop on an empty stomach!

• Stay on the perimeter of the store – the inside isles are filled
with processed foods you don’t need! dairy, meat, fresh fruit, fresh
vegetables and good whole grain breads are on the perimeter.

• Use a white board on your fridge – when my kids lived at home I
posted daily what was for dinner and what was available in the fridge for snacks. If you know what is in there and have a variety of healthy snacks – you won’t be as tempted to fall off the wagon.

• 5- P’s – Poor Planning Predicts Poor Performance – translated -
plan your menus a week ahead- buy what you need to complete those menus. Be flexible enough to be able to switch Thursdays 10 min grilled chicken and veggies to Wednesday if you run short of time on a particular day. Start your meal preparation in the morning when you are rested and have eaten your breakfast. We live in a world where time gets away from us too easily – if the salad is made, the veggies prepped and a meat or protein dish prepped – your odds of sticking to your plan are significantly increased than if you walk in the door after a day from hell with hungry kids, a crabby husband and the pizza fridge magnet screaming your name.

• Don’t allow trigger foods into your home! You don’t keep alcohol
or drugs in front of an addict – don’t put pizza, chips, ice cream in your
home – this will actually help your children have healthier relationships
with food!

• Make sure you are well rested by setting boundaries on your
evening time. Don’t allow other people or events to intrude on your down time. Boundaries are important and successful people establish boundaries and guard them.

• Give yourself adequate time to eat with your family in a
stress-free environment. When you slam down food in a car with cranky kids is when you will PB or eat beyond full and be in pain.

• Get adequate exercise, walking the dog, cleaning your yard,
gardening, biking, hiking, – time doing any activity with children or
friends outside of your home.

• Don’t be afraid to ask loved ones for what you need – you don’t
have to be in this alone, your children/husband can help by peeling veggies, helping with chores if you explain to them that being overwhelmed is a trigger for heading off your path.

• Be kind to yourself – keep the voices in your head gentle and kind
- change is the result of being kind to yourself, self criticism defeats
you.

• Write up a disaster recovery plan – what you can do to put
yourself back on track – mine is a long list of small daily goals that are
achievable – results are cumulative.

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Nutrition and Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery alters the shape and size of the stomach pouch and many foods which you enjoy before WLS will no longer be appropriate for you. Therefore, it is important for you to follow the dietary and nutritional guidelines recommended by your doctor. The amount of each nutrient you need everyday is called the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and you have to follow that.

Good nutrition prior to surgery leads to effective wound healing, increases resistance to infection and lowers the mortality rate. Before WLS has been performed, the patient’s nutritional status must be improved by an appropriate dietary regimen to minimize surgical risks.

The nutrients that are considered important for a person undergoing surgery are:

1. Protein - needed to build and repair damaged tissues.
2. Carbohydrates and Fats - needed to spare protein and furnish energy.
3. Vitamins(Vitamin C,B and K ) - needed to healing wounds and promote blood clotting.
4. Minerals - needed  to aid wound healing and permit hemoglobin synthesis to replace blood loss.

The objective of post-operative diet therapy is to replace body losses as soon as possible. Energy and protein are major factors in achieving wound healing. Sufficient fluid is needed to avoid dehydration. Minerals and other vitamins also play a vital role in the recovery.

Immediately after surgery, you will need a liquid diet – water, soup, juice, lowfat milk and cooked cereals– for a few days. Then you can progress to pureed foods for about a month while your stomach heals. You can then progress to easy-to-chew foods like cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and ground or canned meats like chicken, ham and fish. The post operative diet may be liquid, soft or of regular consistency, but it must be high in calories, protein, minerals and fluids.

Protein

Approximately 60–80 g of daily protein is recommended for nutritional adequacy and for wound healing after surgery. Protein is available in fish, eggs, and many plant-based foods, such as soy products, nuts, and legumes. Frequent visits to nutritionist are required in the first few months after surgery in order to ensure protein nutrition is optimal.

Fluid

There must be sufficient fluids to replace potential losses from vomiting, fever and preventing dehydration. Up to seven liters of fluid in a day may be needed. Dehydration can be very dangerous to overall health, and it can also lead to constipation and poor absorption of medications and nutrients. Many food such as soups, contribute to the fluids consumed. 
Calories

If calorie intake is inadequate after WLS, protein will be used for energy rather than tissue rebuilding and wound healing.

Vitamins
Vitamin C is important to supply the cementing material of connective tissue, capillary walls and new tissue. Vitamin K is vital as it helps in blood clotting. Vitamin B complex functions as co-enzymes in carbohydrate and protein metabolism, the formation of hemoglobin, and the prevention of anemia. A daily dose of multivitamin with iron, B-complex supplement and calcium is needed for a patient after surgery for quick recovery. 

Minerals

Minerals are of great importance in the replacement of electrolytes. 

Consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in moderation

Patients after WLS should take fruits, vegetables and whole grains in a modified form to ensure adequacy of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Chopped fresh fruits can be taken with lowfat milk or soy milk in small quantities. Vegetables can be grated and added in soups and omelets. Steaming fruits and vegetables will also make meals easy to digest. 

Early postoperative food capacity is usually about less than half a cup. Patients must learn to eat small meals of nutritious foods in a regular interval. Failure to modify this habit will result in poor nutrition and inadequate calorie intake. 

To be truly successful after WLS, it requires lifelong changes in your eating habits in order to maintain losses and ensures that you are getting adequate nutrition with your limited food intake.

Cancer & Weight Loss Surgery In Women

Findings show that Bariatric surgery reduces the risk of cancer related ailments among women. Following the examination of more than 2000 obese women who had undergone surgery to lessen their stomach size, the researchers discovered that women who had opted for the procedure are less prone to cancer than who did not have the surgery.

If you are obese, you are more likely to develop certain health problems such as type2 diabetic, heart disease, cancer, sleep apnea etc. Now the question is how do you reduce your health related risks?

Cancer occurs when cells in one part of our body, such as kidney grow rapidly and spread to other parts of your body. When you are overweight, the risk of developing various types of cancer including breast, kidney, colon, and esophagus also grows up. It may be the fact that the fat cells generate hormones that affect the cell growth and lead to cancer.
Avoiding weight gain may prevent a rise in cancer risk. A new online research suggests that obese women who had undergone the weight loss surgery experience a 40 percent lower chance of cancer risk. However, the study shows no significant change has taken place in case of obese male.

Most participants in this study had done gastric bypass, some had done stomach stapling while a few had undergone gastric banding surgery. In a Gastric bypass surgery, the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach to restrain food intake. While gastric banding is placing an adjustable silicone band to squeeze the upper part of the stomach to create an inch-wide pouch, stomach stapling is a more restrictive technique which uses gastric staples to reduce the size of the stomach. A result of reduction in cancer risk was seen in all three techniques.

The more excess weight a woman carries, the higher their risk of cancer. Obesity along with alcohol use, depression or smoking may increase that risk more.  If women would be more conscious and manage their weight more effectively, a number of new cancer types could be avoided.

Contact Ready4achange for a safe and affordable weight loss surgery in Mexico.

PLASTIC SURGERY AFTER BARIATRIC SURGERY

Many people dream of losing weight and attaining that perfect body everyone craves. Yet only a small percentage of these people are able fulfill this dream by dieting and exercise alone. An overwhelming majority of people discover losing weight cannot be achieved by simply exercising. Fortunately, a viable option has emerged on the market that will reduce weight, and in less time: bariatric surgery. This method of surgery operates on the stomach and intestines areas to remove fat, and ultimately lose weight.

Plastic surgery and bariatric surgery share an equal role on the journey to a more attractive body. After bariatric surgery, especially in patients who have lost a tremendous amount of fat, the skin often fails to tighten, thus causing sagging and hanging. This sagging skin becomes visible around the arms, thighs, buttocks, and midsection, leaving these areas susceptible to skin infection, irritation, and pain. Unfortunately, dieting and exercising does not reduce the sagginess and tighten the skin back to its regular shape. Luckily, there is another way to do so. Plastic surgery is the most failsafe way to tighten the hanging skin – by removing specific portions of it. This procedure is called post-bariatric surgery and is designed to tighten areas of loose skin and make patients feel more confident about his/her appearance.

Post-bariatric surgery can provide improved body contours by removing the excess skin through procedures such as tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty), breast lift surgery (mastopexy), arm lift surgery (brachioplasty), thigh lift surgery, and body lift surgery (belt lipectomy). The most common post-bariatric body contouring surgery procedure performed is tummy tuck (abdomen reduction) surgery. It is followed by breast lift or breast reduction surgery. These procedures are performed on both men and women.

Another type of plastic surgery, known as face lift, removes excess skin and tightens it in and around the neck and face. If surgery is performed under the jaw line and in the neck area, it is known as a neck lift.

A cosmetic treatment known as Botox simultaneously treats both the neck and face area for any unwanted features, such as wrinkles. Botox injections temporarily paralyze the muscles responsible for facial wrinkles, especially frown lines on the forehead, under the skin. However, the effects of Botox are not permanent and only last for three to six months.

To reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Botox is injected – through a needle – into the appropriate part of the face to relax the specific muscles. During a face lift, incisions are made onto your skin to gently pull and lift wrinkles out. Face lifts require anesthesia and some cutting/stitching. It depends on individual choice, preference, and affordability to choose among the two.

The appropriate post-bariatric surgery procedure should only be considered after weight has been stabilized. Generally, eighteen months are required for the stabilization of weight, but this varies based on the individual’s weight before the procedure. Performing a skin tightening procedure prior to weight stabilization may result in the need for further skin tightening in the future.

Any surgical procedures involve some degree of risk and trade-off benefits. In plastic surgery there is a great possibility of visible scars. If one is unwilling to accept scars, he/she should not have this operation, as it is difficult to predict if and when the scars will diminish.

Contact us for Tummy Tucks and Plastic Surgery in Monterrey, Mexico

IVF and weight loss surgery

In Vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most innovative methods for managing infertility and makes use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to increase the chances that you will conceive. It is a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. This process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman’s ovaries and letting sperm fertilize them into a fluid medium. The fertilized egg is then transferred to the patient’s uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy.

For people who have been unable to conceive on their own IVF is a successful solution. IVF is a process to help men and women achieve the dream of having a child of their own. It was invented to help women that were infertile due to the blockage in the uterine tubes or disease in the uterine tubes. The five basic steps in an IVF treatment are super ovulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo culture and embryo transfer.

A women’s weight can affect her fertility. Obesity leads to decreased fertility in women with irregular menstrual period. Again, obesity results in an increased production of estrogen-this hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation, which is the basis of successful conception. As you lose weight, the hormonal effect of excess fat decreases. This may result in a substantial increase in your fertility.

Women who are obese and attempting to get pregnant using IVF can also expect better results if they lose weight. You might have a significantly improved chance for success if you reduce your weight through weight loss surgery.

Obesity in In vitro fertilization (IVF) patients has been associated with increased cycle cancellation rates, reduced live birth rates and increased miscarriages. Additionally, obese women are more likely to encounter delivery complications including preterm delivery, fetal macrosomia, increased need for induction of labor, greater utilization of instrumental delivery and a higher risk of emergency cesarean section. Therefore, obese women should consider the importance of weight reduction and adopt effective strategies before preconception.

Another issue related to body weight and IVF is safety for the patient at the egg retrieval. When a woman is significantly obese, the ovaries are usually pushed up high by the extra fatty tissue that is in the pelvis. At the time of IVF, the needle is pushed to reach the eggs in the ovaries and if the ovaries are too high, it will be very difficult to get the needle into the follicles to get the eggs out.

Another problem is that the ultrasound images become very hazy because of the extra tissue under the ovary. It is often very difficult to visualize clearly the ovaries and the egg containing follicles.

Woman, who is obese (BMI over 30 and higher) and undergoing fertility treatment, has less chance of success and higher chance of miscarriage rates. Prior to performing IVF, patients should know the impact of obesity on their IVF success rates. And losing weight through bariatric surgery can have a dramatic effect in terms of enhancing the chance of a successful pregnancy.

Proper exercise and diet are important for maintaining good health and proper weight. Obesity surgery may help couples have babies. Patients who underwent weight loss surgery improve the ability to conceive after they have IVF. Reproductive hormone levels are restored to normal only after weight loss surgery.

How to check if your surgeon is okay?

Morbid obesity is a wide spread problem and a rightly done bariatric surgery is a proper treatment. Surgical procedures vary considerably in complexity and specialized training is needed to perform them. It can lead to severe complications if not done correctly. You can go online, participate in surgery-related forums, discuss with your family doctor and previous patients of potential surgeons to get prior information about your surgeon.

Undergoing surgery is a serious step; you should not take it lightly. You can ask other health professionals to recommend for a specific practitioner. Mostly, patients begin with their primary care doctor. If you are looking for a bariatric surgeon, always make sure he/she is board certified in ‘surgery’ or ‘surgical critical care’. Make sure to check the surgeon’s qualifications and credentials and always consider having a second opinion.

Choose a surgeon who is communicative and candid about the risks and benefits of surgery and whose programs are based on long-term management and lifelong follow-up. Communication is your first step to check the credentials of your doctor. In case of any complication, you can expect your doctor to inform you first.

Ask your surgeon as many questions as you have in your mind to clarify your doubts. Any legitimate surgeon will not resent open and honest questions before you allow them to perform surgery.

Previous testimonials about your surgeon can also be a valuable asset to assess your doctor. For instance, you may need to know how your surgeon coped with patients of various complications. A chat with other patients can also give you some details about your surgeon.
Checking doctor’s credentials by words of mouth and your own background research will allow you to get the right surgeon. This will save a tremendous amount of time and good amount of money that could have been wasted for nothing.
Using Internet can also be a good way to check your surgeon as most of them have their own websites revealing their credentials and testimonials.

Procedures to check your bariatric surgeon

1. Get information on the present license status of the surgeon
2. Investigate if he/she has any criminal record or other complaints against them
3. Collect information from previous patients
4. Check the surgeon’s qualification and experience
5. Check the number of cases the surgeon has performed and the success rate

After you have chosen your surgeon, it is a good idea to compare him with others. This will definitely give you an idea and a right surgeon to serve you.

If you are seriously considering weight loss surgery, get as much information as you can about the procedure, the complications, the success and failure of the procedure and most importantly, about the credential of your surgeon.

Success of WLS depends upon changes in Lifestyle

Weight loss surgery is not the immediate solution to your obese body; it is a continuing process to lose weight by bringing changes in your lifestyle. To have long-term success and maintain a healthy body, you need to prepare yourself to make several lifestyle changes. Before considering weight loss surgery, you need to have a complete understanding and acceptance of the changes you will face.

Managing life after weight loss surgery requires significant lifestyle changes and modifications in daily habits. Weight loss surgery offers several benefits for the morbidly obese patients, who can no longer lose weight with drugs, diet changes and exercises. Still, even the most successful procedure demands an effective weight maintenance strategy after surgery to keep the patient in great shape and work towards a healthier lifestyle.

Significant weight loss will follow if a patient follows the recommended dietary, exercise and lifestyle guidelines set by your bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, therapist and other bariatric support staff.

Changing your eating habits and staying motivated will create not only amazing results, but also a healthier life that you will able to enjoy for many years to come.
Before surgery, you should prepare yourself for the steps you will need to take after you get the weight loss surgery done.

1. Diet-WLS involves significant modifications to your gastrointestinal tract. The patient needs to make changes to the diet after undergoing weight loss surgery. After either gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery, you will only be able to eat few bites in each meal. In order to ensure good nutrition and health, you must pay close attention to the types of food you eat. Foods that are well tolerated before surgery may cause discomfort afterwards. Take small bites, chew your food well and eat slowly, take a few minutes gap between each bite.

 Changing one’s eating habits is the most important lifestyle change. Eating lots of vegetables and fruits and drinking plenty of water can also make you feel fuller. Eat a balanced diet that is low in fat and high in protein. Protein is important for healing directly after surgery and also during weight loss in order to build tissues in your body.

It is important to set realistic goals that are specific and achievable. Regularly record what you do in your weight-loss program such as daily calorie intake and amount of physical exercise. Keeping track on your progress can also help you stay motivated.

2. Follow-up after surgery-This is a very important part of the success of the surgery. Regular follow-up visits must be maintained to prevent complications and achieve optimum weight loss. Depending on your diet after surgery, you may have nutritional deficiencies over the years. Therefore, you are required to get check-ups done periodically.

3. Exercise- After surgery, it is vital to adhere strictly to the proper dietary and exercise guidelines. Exercise is an essential component in your weight loss program. Patients often need 2 to 3 weeks of healing, rest and recovery before any type of formal exercise, but light walking is recommended after discharge from the hospital.

4. Stress management- Managing stress, emotions and anxiety without turning to food can be a challenge for any individual after surgery. Working with a therapist to tackle difficult emotional issues can make weight loss surgery more rewarding and help to lead a healthy lifestyle for a long-term.

5. Support groups- Participation in post-operative support groups can be beneficial for patients. Support groups provide patients an opportunity to discuss personal and professional issues.

After a weight loss surgery one need to take care of many things like making lifestyle changes that you have to stick to for the rest  of your life. If not, then the entire procedure can reverse itself and the weight will come back.