After undergoing bariatric surgery, many patients anticipate a significant reduction in their hunger levels. While it’s true that appetite usually decreases due to the surgical reduction of the stomach’s size, feelings of hunger post-bariatric surgery can still persist. Understanding why you might feel hungry after surgery is crucial to managing it effectively and maintaining your […]

Undergoing bariatric surgery marks a pivotal step in your weight loss journey. To optimize your progress, incorporating into your daily routine smart snacking strategies for weight management is key. Healthy snacks not only stabilize blood sugar levels but also provide a much-needed energy boost and help in managing hunger between meals. However, it’s crucial to […]

Navigating a busy schedule often means that cooking can feel like a tiresome task at the day’s end. For those adjusting to life post-bariatric surgery, meal preparation is a key strategy to manage this challenge, ensuring that making healthy dietary choices doesn’t become an overwhelming burden. This article aims to provide useful tips on meal […]

The most successful post-bariatric patients follow the guidelines of their bariatric care team when it comes to knowing what foods to avoid after weight loss surgery. The number one reason for a weight-loss stall or weight regain is poor eating habits. There are many “rules” surrounding the post-bariatric diet, and it can quickly become overwhelming. […]

Healthy eating after weight loss surgery is critical to long term weight loss success. Food is fuel for your body. Scientific and medical research have shown that healthy nutrition can decrease your risk of developing specific medical conditions. When you understand the science behind the food you eat, choosing nutritious foods is easier. Yet changing old […]

Understanding how much to eat after bariatric surgery depends on many factors. However, one piece of advice given to anyone who goes through weight loss surgery is to eat protein. Protein is a huge part of your diet after weight loss surgery, and knowing how much to eat after bariatric surgery is a significant factor in […]

Eating after bariatric surgery has many different components, so truthfully, there is no perfect plan for everyone to lose weight. There are many diets and programs for weight loss, and of course, our bodies will respond differently to each. However, one main component for weight loss can apply universally for anyone trying to lose weight: […]

It is not unusual to become overwhelmed and confused when sifting through the latest nutritional data to improve your health after bariatric surgery. However, when it comes to improving your diet, sometimes the little steps can make a big difference. Here are five foods that you can substitute for healthier options to improve your overall […]

We have all heard of calories, but do you know what they actually do? Calories are what make our bodies run; they are the gas to our tank. Calories are needed for our organs to function and for our brains to work; they are what allow us to live. Remember, from last week’s blog, A Guide to Reading […]

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and food is usually a huge part of the celebration. Food is part of culture and heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, family recipes and ethnic or regional dishes are one of the things that makes holiday meals so special.

Carbohydrates are naturally occurring sugars, starches, and fibers found in food products. Like fats and protein, carbohydrates are a macronutrient, meaning a nutrient that must be consumed in relatively large amounts as fuel for the body. In fact, you may have heard that carbs are the body’s primary source of energy.

The bottom line is that the only way to lose weight is to create a calorie deficit by eating fewer calories than your body burns for energy. There are many ways to accomplish this, and targeting added sugars and replacing them with stevia is an easy and tasty fix.

Although I highly suggest patients avoid eating at fast food restaurant chains, there is bound to be a time when you are stuck in the drive-thru line at McDonald’s. Whether your spouse sent you on a run to pick up dinner after a long day at work or you are road-tripping it, I want to […]

After bariatric surgery, patients must make changes to their eating habits to avoid regain. This is to include eating fewer packaged and restaurant meals, which are traditionally high in calories and carbohydrates. However, eating out is inevitable and is often a focal point of social events with friends and family. So how can you avoid […]

We are halfway through December and as much as you may hate to admit it, you have probably slipped up a few times on your healthy eating and exercise regimen. But before you fall too far off the wagon, we want to give you some healthy tips for the reindeer (I mean remainder) of this […]

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and food is usually a huge part of the celebration. Food is part of culture and heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, family recipes and ethnic or regional dishes are one of the things that makes holiday meals so special.

It is no surprise that Halloween is the day that the most sugar is consumed in America. On average, children consume 3 cups of sugar on Halloween and the parents are not too far behind. As a bariatric patient who is less than one year post-op, we recommend you consume, on average, 40 grams of carbs a […]

The 4th of July is around the corner and for a bariatric patient, it can be a bit intimidating. Between the hamburgers and hot dogs, potatoes chips, and red white and blue cupcakes, the 4th of July (among other holidays) is a bariatric patients nightmare. So we have crafted these yummy yogurt popsicles that are […]

We all experience food cravings—and it seems as though the times we are trying to eat healthy and lose weight, the cravings intensify. Can anyone relate? Cravings are a natural feeling that can tell you about about your psychology or physiology and it is okay to give into them every once in a while—notice I said […]

Do you ever wonder how many calories you are consuming on Halloween with all the candy? Or how long you will have to workout to burn those calories you have just consumed? I have created a detailed infographic to show you just how many calories and carbs you are consuming with every sugary, chocolatey bite.

Grocery shopping can seem like a chore, especially if you are buying for a family or even trying to eat healthier in a world of uncrustables and cookies. When I first began this grocery shopping blog series, I took you on an adventure through the grocery store and you may have spotted me looking at […]

Grocery shopping and meal planning can be intimidating for patients who have just had weight loss surgery or are trying to lose weight. In our practice, we emphasize the importance of eating protein during every meal and eliminating carbohydrates, of all forms, from your diet. However, this can be easier said than done.  

This week we decided to take a trip to the grocery store to show you guys how to grocery shop like a pro! At Live Healthy MD, we get a lot of questions about what our patients can and can not eat before and after surgery. I am showing you all how to navigate the […]

For most individuals, summertime in Georgia means backyard barbecues, outdoor festivals and fairs, and lots of time with family and friends. This can also mean battling the temptation to eat whatever and whenever you want because “hey, you haven’t seen your Uncle Ernie in 5 years so you gotta enjoy this ice cream with him!”. […]



You’ve probably heard the term “whole food” used frequently within nutrition circles. There’s the very popular Whole30 Program, Eat Whole Food recommendations, and even the Whole Foods Market chain of grocery stores. But what exactly are whole foods? In general, whole foods are single ingredient foods that have had little or no processing. There are many […]

Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day. Although the science behind this statement has long been debated, breakfast can have a big impact on overall success when it comes to maintaining blood sugars and successful weight loss.

This is the moment we have all been waiting for! Our practice would like to introduce the first ever Live Healthy MD branded Cookbook: Eat Well and Live Healthy!

Winter has arrived, and for most people, this means healthy eating is just as frozen as your fingers in the morning. It is not uncommon to find yourself trying to justify the fact that there are “too many temptations around” with the idea that your “new years resolution will take care of the extra lbs.” […]

The holidays are a time when family and friends gather together, and food is usually a huge part of the celebration. As we learned back in elementary school, the Thanksgiving holiday itself commemorates a special feast shared between the Pilgrims and Indians. Food is part of culture and heritage, and there’s nothing wrong with that. […]

Halloween is just around the corner and we all know what that means. Candy. It can be hard to resist the temptation to open the bag of mini chocolate bars you planned on giving out to trick-or-treaters. And it can be even harder not to pick out your favorite treats once the kids get home […]

With lots of information on the internet about what you should and should not be eating, it is easy to consume the wrong information, especially for our patients who are looking to lose weight before or after bariatric surgery. Our team at Live Healthy MD has put together a list of common “healthy” foods that […]

With the crisp coolness in the air (for those who do not live in Georgia), it is hard to resist those warm sugary Starbucks drinks that appear each Fall. What many patients don’t realize is that their morning pumpkin spice latte or midday mocha macchiato are just as dangerous to their weight loss efforts as their […]

“Portion control” is a word that is frequently heard in the weight loss industry. Like any doctor or nutritionist will tell you, you can not successfully lose weight without limiting the amount of food you consume during each meal. Although the right portion size is different for every individual depending on your height, weight, gender, […]

If you want to lose weight, it is important that you eat lots of high protein foods. Not only is protein satisfying and allows you to feel full for longer periods of time, it also helps you to burn calories while you process the amino acids. Protein is the back bone for any weight loss […]