Begin a Safe Weight Loss Program Before and After Spine Surgery

Submitted by LSI on Mon, 10/11/2010 - 15:12

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A safe weight loss program is an excellent form of conservative treatment for painful spine conditions. Your spine is already responsible for supporting the majority of your body weight, so losing a few excess pounds can ease the burden on your spine – and potentially help reduce your symptoms.

Furthermore, a diet and exercise program is also a great idea after a spine surgery, since keeping that extra weight off will foster a faster recovery time, and also will help to keep your spine healthy and strong for years to come. Interestingly, October is "National Cook Book and Better Breakfast Month," which is a good reminder that there are many books on the market that provide helpful tips and recipes to start a safe weight loss program. Nutritional experts believe that the safest way to stay on track with a safe weight loss program is to stick with “the basics,” and manage the number of calories we take in and the number of calories we put out.

Typically, this simple formula can make a big difference in a short period of time. Here are some basic steps you can take to get started on this "in-and-out" theory of weight loss:

1) Drink plenty of water or other non-sugary drinks before you tear into that bag of potato chips. The liquid will help you feel full, so it will be easier to control your snack portions.

2) Be selective about nighttime snacks, which typically are consumed after dinner when most of us have already consumed enough calories for the day.

3) Eat several mini-meals during the day that contain healthy proteins, veggies, nuts, and fruits.

These are just a few easy ways you can get started with a healthy weight loss program before or after a spine surgery. While losing weight is never easy – especially before outpatient procedures that require you to fast for pre-op testing – the medical team at Laser Spine Institute can help by giving you more information about an appropriate diet and exercise plan you can put to practice, both pre-surgery and post-surgery.

To learn more, and to get information about the variety of revolutionary, minimally invasive procedures we perform at Laser Spine Institute that can help you rediscover your life without back and neck pain, contact us today. Also, be sure to join in the discussion on our Facebook page, where you can share weight loss tips with other members, get wellness advice, and more.

* Picture courtesy of Google Images http://www.wthr.com

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