Lap-band weight loss surgery newsletter - December 2008

Stay on Track!

 

 

The one thing we have learned is to fill you faster. We don't want you sitting out there hungry, we want your band adjusted.  So, instead of waiting weeks between fills, if you feel you need to get in and have a band adjustment, call or email us.  We will get you in and adjusted quickly.

 

When it comes to "unfills," we get you in ASAP. A tight band is not a good thing, so we want you to come in as soon as you can for an unfill.  Even on surgery days we will have you come in and see you between patients.

 

What we don't want you to do is think that your band will get "loose."  Let us adjust it to a comfortable level.

 

Sorry for the wait

 

We know waiting for your doctor isn't fun. But sometimes patients take longer than one can imagine. Just as some days you may need a lot of attention from the doctor, know that we will give it to you.

 

So we have started a new scheduling system, and we have a nurse practioner who comes in and does some fills for us also. 

 

One Saturday a month we are open for fills and adjustments.

 

So, I apologize for any delay, and we will continue to try to do better. Our job is to help you get the weight off and keep it off.

There are those days, and those time when it is busier than others, especially if I  have been out of town for a bit. But, those times are rare.  So when is a good time to see us? When is the magic time? It is when you need an adjustment.  Do not wait, make an appointment. 

But please understand, as with any physician's office, if someone needs more time and attention, then they will get it. 

 

Volume not weight!

 

 

It is not the weight of food, but the volume that your stomach records. Patients who do well with the band measure everything.  They measure four ounces of protein (meat, fish, poultry for non-vegetarians) and never exceed that.

 

If that amount of protein, and six ounces of measured vegetables (not potatoes, not corn, not salad) do not keep a person satisfied for several hours, then the band needs to be adjusted!

 

If you do not measure, you will inreasingly eat more and more food until you are back to old habits.  So, start to measure.

 

The first few times you do it, your eyes will want more. So here are a few simple tricks:

 

Measure the food, and put it onto a small plate -- like a salad plate or a bread plate. Use smaller utensils.  Eat slowly. 

Eat the protein first. The longer the protein sits in the upper pouch the easier it is to stay satisfied with less food.

Once you are finished eating, or once you are at 30 minutes, then put it away. 

Get some new recipes -- with new recipes and new restaurants come new choices, and if you start out with new choices, you don't fall into bad habits.

 

Did you know that 77% of our patients who lose weight and keep it off exercise?

There are some simple things to do when starting an exercise program.

Click here to learn more about how to start and to stick with an aerobics program.

This month's support group won't be on the fourth Thursday, but it will be this Thursday, December 18th.

The topic will be "Putting it all together."

Our support groups are structured around the eight habits of successful weight loss surgery patients. At the end of the year our final support group is to go over all eight habits and sum them up.  We also go through "Healthy Holiday Habits."

This year we are going to start to broadcast a summary of the support group on our podcasts, available at www.drsimpson.net or www.southwestweightloss.com .  You can either download the podcast to listen to it on your ipod or burn it onto a C.D., or listen right from your computer.

We are also working on having our support groups on-line, so you can sign in and participate in a webinar. There are a lot of technical details to work out -- which means, if any of you were the high school A-V guy and really know this stuff, we could really use your help.

We have patients throughout the country, and it is our goal to provide you with the best support we can.  Throughout this year, we will focus our support groups around the eight topics. 

Typically our support groups meet twice a month, the second Tuesday, and Fourth Thursday -- although November and December always seem to change that.  During the summer we meet once a month.  We typically meet at Surgical Specialty Hospital either in the cafeteria or the second floor classroom.

Please join us, and if you can't join us -- listen to our podcast. Podcasts are a great way to learn more about your band, and how to take care of it.

Hope to see you on Thursday.