DR. MAZEN ISKANDAR, DR. TIMOTHY KELLY, AND DR. WATSON ROY

“Eat small portions. Stick mostly to produce, lean protein & healthy carbohydrates.”

Why Weight-Loss Surgery Is Not the Easy Way Out

You can get great results with weight-loss surgery, but you’ll need to do the work

BY DR. MAZEN ISKANDAR, DR. TIMOTHY KELLY, AND DR. WATSON ROYE, WEIGHT-LOSS SURGEONS AT TEXAS SURGICAL SPECIALISTS

Some people have the mindset that weight-loss surgery is “cheating,” and that if they tried hard enough with diet and exercise, they would be able to lose weight and keep it off. The truth is, weight-loss surgery can be very effective in helping you lose weight and keep it off. But it’s not easy. To start, it’s a surgical procedure. “Minimally invasive techniques and laparoscopic tools can make it less invasive, with less risk of complications and a faster recovery. But it’s still an operation that changes your anatomy, and you’ll need time to heal,” said weight-loss surgeon Timothy Kelly, MD. You need to be mentally prepared for weight-loss surgery as well. You’ll need motivation to stick with your healthy lifestyle and patience and perseverance—it can take 18 to 24 months to reach your goals, and the rest of your life to maintain that weight. And weight-loss surgery doesn’t give you the all-clear to eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and as much as you want. “After weight-loss surgery, you need to be especially careful to eat foods that are high in nutrients, so you don’t develop any deficiencies,” said weight-loss surgeon Watson Roye, MD. BEFORE SURGERY

You’ll need to start shifting your diet toward the foods you’ll be eating after surgery. Plus, your doctor may want you to lose some weight before surgery. So, you may need to cut back on full-fat dairy, fatty meat, fried food, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. You may also need to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Your healthcare team may get you started on an exercise plan, and you may need mental health support to help you develop coping skills or address body image issues. RIGHT AFTER SURGERY

As you heal from weight-loss surgery, you’ll need to follow a clear liquid diet for a few days. Gradually, you can add in other liquids like decaf coffee and tea, skim milk, broth, and unsweetened juice. The next step is a pureed diet, where you can eat certain liquified fruits, veggies, and proteins for a few weeks. From there, you can move on to soft foods such as white fish, canned fruits, and softboiled eggs. About two months after your surgery, you can slowly start eating solid foods again. You may be encouraged to walk, stretch or practice some easy yoga poses as you recover. GOING FORWARD

“About four months after surgery, you should be able to eat normally. But your way of eating will be a ‘new normal’,” said weight-loss surgeon Mazen Iskandar, MD. You’ll have to eat small portions and stick mostly to produce, lean protein, and healthy carbohydrates. You’ll want to eat without drinking at the same time, so you don’t take in too much volume. And it’s a good idea to take 30 minutes to eat your meals, so the food enters your stomach slowly. You’ll also want to add exercise into your routine once you heal from surgery. As you get stronger, you may want to walk faster and for longer distances, and you might want to include other types of cardio or strength-training activities.

S A N T A F E for all

S E A S O N S

STORY & PHOTOS BY CINDY BURCH

If you have read my articles over the years you know Santa Fe is one of my favorite destinations, and this time of year is no exception. The fall season is also a perfect time for getting off the beaten path and venturing outside New Mexico’s famous city. If you fly into Albuquerque, take the 60 mile scenic route along the Turquoise Trail towards Santa Fe. You will quickly see why the landscape has inspired so many artists over the years. The old coal mining town of Madrid is the main attraction along the trail with an array of small shops and galleries now nestled into the bygone old buildings. We love to stop for lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern, where you will find the best green chili burger you have ever eaten. Renting a private casita is our favorite way to stay in Santa Fe. It allows you to experience it like a local. We love to wake up and brew our own coffee and just enjoy the beautiful architecture of a true adobe home with a full kitchen and outdoor living space. We venture to the farmers market on Saturday mornings at the Railyard and gather up beautiful vegetables, home baked breads, and fresh herbs to grill back at the casita. The two rental companies we like to use are Casas de Santa Fe (casasdesantafe. com) and Two Casitas (twocasitas.com). On our most recent trip we were guests at a beautiful private compound and shared some spectacular outdoor dinners with dear friends while meeting several other Texans who have second homes there.

If you prefer a hotel, the famous La Fonda is a great historic property to hang your hat. Another option is Auberge Resort which has recently undergone an extensive restoration of the landmark Bishop’s Lodge. Situated on over 300 acres, it borders the Santa Fe National Forest. Travel & Leisure has awarded Bishop’s Lodge the #1 resort in the West and Conde Nast rated it as one the best new hotels in the world for 2022. Only minutes from the downtown plaza, it is well worth stopping for a drink or dining at the resort’s restaurant, Skyfire, one evening. People ask me what all we do in Santa Fe and I tell them we never get tired of strolling the famous plaza. We grab Huevos Motulenos at Café Pasqual’s for breakfast or a big bowl of green chili stew for lunch at The Shed. We always visit Shiprock, a Native American art and textiles gallery owned by Waxahachie native Samantha Hamilton and her husband, Jed Foutz. On the north side of the plaza is the Palace of the Governors where Native American artisans set up everyday selling handmade jewelry and other crafts. We also enjoy strolling down Canyon Road where you will find some of the best art galleries in the country. There are also wonderful consignment and antique stores in Santa Fe. On days we want some scenery, we drive the high road to Taos and wind through the mountains soaking up the incredible views of the Carson National Forest and stop for lunch at Rancho de Chimayo. Other days we venture up towards the Santa Fe ski resort and stop at Ten Thousand Waves, the famous Japanese spa. The property is beautiful with lantern lined paths of piñon trees, trickling waterfalls and koi-filled ponds. Wrapped in a kimono, you can relax with a warm foot bath, book a private teak hot tub, or enjoy their sauna and steam rooms between massage treatments. There is also a wonderful Japanese restaurant there called Izanami. If you choose to visit Santa Fe at Christmastime it is nothing short of ‘magical’. I love walking through the snow smelling the waft of pinon wood in the crisp air and seeing the huge Christmas tree beautifully lit in the plaza. Attending the AspenSanta Fe Ballet’s annual The Nutcracker or participating in the Canyon Road Christmas Eve Farolito Walk is always among many holiday events and Midnight Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi is a beautiful experience. No trip would ever be complete in Santa Fe without dinner at Geronimo’s. The beautiful old adobe structure is quite literally one of my favorite restaurants in the world. We have enjoyed many celebrations there for over 20 years. Other favorite eateries include Sazon, La Choza, Arroyo Vino and Paloma. Santa Fe’s unique style is rich in culture, characterized by its thriving art community and its Pueblo Revival architecture, but all the surrounding areas are just as breathtaking, interesting, and worth experiencing. No matter the season, it is always a Land of Enchantment.

Cindy Burch