Don’t Drop the Ball this Super Bowl

Super Bowl is this Sunday, February 5th and three things are guaranteed: a football game, funny commercials, and an abundance of food.

Researchers estimate that the average American will consume over 6,000 calories on Super Bowl Sunday. 6,000! That’s even more than Thanksgiving (the holiday known for inducing a food coma). For gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients consuming 6,000 calories in one day can be dangerous. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, cramping, and gastric pain are possible consequences of overeating.

Don’t drop the ball on your bariatric diet this weekend. Try your best not overeat. When you eat, remember to focus on protein first, then vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats. One easy way to control your calories on Super Bowl Sunday is to limit alcohol. Instead, stick to water or sparkling water for a no calorie beverage.

Whether you watch the game at home to go to a party, make sure there is food you can eat. If you attend a Super Bowl party, bring a dish that will easily fit into your gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band diet. We’ve gather a few ideas to help steer you toward your goal:

• Zucchini Chips
• Pizza Rounds
• Roasted Beet Hummus with Crudite
• Sweet Potato Skins
• Meatballs in homemade marinara sauce
• Turkey Tacos Lettuce Wraps
• Steamed Edamame
• Quick Lemon Garlic White Bean Dip with Cucumbers and Red Peppers
• Baked Chicken Wings
• Pizza Clouds
• Apple, Cheese, and Turkey Bites
• Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Verde

In addition to maintaining your bariatric diet, Super Bowl Sunday is a great day to get out and exercise. Get in a game of touch football or even just toss the football around with a friend or partner. Go for a run or walk or challenge a friend to a game of basketball or tennis. Work out your nervous pregame energy by busting out music and dancing while you get the house ready for company. Just get out and do it!

The above ideas are offered by Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA, a board certified general surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. Dr. Shillingford’s sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and lap band patients often travel to his Boca Raton office from nearby locations such as Miami, Parkland, and Delray Beach, but many also travel from Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and New York. Many of Dr. Shillingford’s bariatric patients are often looking for ways to control their eating habits, especially on food-centric occasions like Super Bowl Sunday. By being mindful of what you are eating and how much, you can make Super Bowl Sunday a clean and fun occasion.