Jeni is our registered dietitian. She recently relocated to Las Vegas to escape the long, cold winters of northern Idaho. In addition to being our nutrition specialist, she is also a certified weightlifting and sports performance coach. In her free time, she can usually be found in the gym, hiking with her dogs…or spending entirely too much money at Ikea.
Q: What is the most commonly asked question you get from our clients about the pre-op diet?
A: I receive many calls and emails from clients asking what they can ‘snack’ on in-between the protein shakes when they get hungry. Unfortunately, there is no snacking permitted during the two week pre-op diet. Some degree of hunger is normal and expected during the pre-op diet, however, if you find the hunger unbearable, you may certainly have another protein shake.
Q: Tell us the importance of vitamins and supplements after weight loss surgery?
A: One of the benefits of surgery is the dramatic decrease in the amount of food you can consume at any one given time, however this restriction also prevents you from being able to consume enough food to adequately meet all of your daily vitamin and mineral requirements. For this reason, postoperative vitamin and mineral supplementation is a lifelong requirement to prevent deficiencies.
Q: A lot of people have the misconception that you can never eat ‘good food’ after weight loss surgery. Is this true?
A: No, this is definitely not true! Weight loss surgery is a portion control tool, but it certainly doesn’t mean you have to only eat chicken and broccoli the rest of your life. Even your favorite foods can be eaten on occasion. The key is portion control. That’s the beauty of weight loss surgery!
Q: What do you like most about your job at Blossom?
A: My favorite part of my job has to be the amazing team of people and clientele I work with. When you work with great people, it’s a pleasure to come to work! I also love seeing people have success after their procedure and transform into a healthier version of themselves!
