It is the New Year -- already!  For those who have their band - this is a great New Year - for those who don't this is the year to make your New Year's Resolutions come true!

 

The great thing about having lots of patients with the band is that we get to see all kinds of ways that the band works.  There isn't just one way - everyone finds their way, but there are a two simple habits that successful patients have that are the difference between getting to goal, and just losing weight.

When people talk about New  Year's resolutions - they often talk about goals, and not about how to get to that goal. Here are a few things that will  help you with those last pounds!

(a) If you don't have a band yet-- well, what are you waiting for? It is the best investment you can make-- the only investment where when you lose, you win!

(b) Healthy food only! - The changes that a person makes from eating primarily junk food to eating healthy food is one of the best that an individual can make. For some this means new cooking methods (not everything needs bacon grease ) and for others this means new restaurants. New recipes, and new foods - it is fun. Think that the old foods were responsible for you being where you are- and now it is time to make some new choices. There will be some foods you just cannot tolerate- but others might surprise you! Go for it. Make this the year of new food discovery!

(c) Measure your foods.  Portion control is the key to healthy weight loss, and the basis by which you lose weight and keep it off. The Lap-Band is the best tool for this because the band does what you cannot do -- it fools your brain into thinking that you have eaten more food than you have.  This has two profound effects: first, after two hours you are not hungry. Second, because your brain thinks you have had more it makes it easier to utilize your fat stores.  -- this is why the Lap-Band works when diets don't.  Losing weight is difficult, but with the band- you don't have to suffer with weight loss.

Not everyone needs plastic surgery after the lap-band - but some do. For some it is a nip or a tuck, and for some it is placing the breasts back on the chest.
Still there are questions. To help answer that we are asking our favorite plastic surgeon to come to the support group and answer questions. Dr. Mazzaheri is a board certified plastic surgeon, who is familiar with the lap-band. He has taken care of a number of our patients- and once a year he comes to our support group to answer questions about when is the appropriate time for surgery, and the surgical options. Plus, a slide show of how this reconstruction can be done.

February 25th support group at 6:30 p.m. - Surgical Specialty Hospital --

 

Sally was embarrassed -- she had not been to our office in over a  year and a half. She had been eating poorly, and not measuring her food.
But her co-worker encouraged her to come in, "Come on Sally, I got the band because of you, lets go in together."
She did -- that was six months ago. She thought that horrible things had happened to her band, since she felt she could eat anything -- and she did! She felt that she let her family down, her friends down, and herself down.
We got an upper GI-- and her band was in perfect position - no slip, and the band was WIDE open.  So we started her with a fill and with a bit of instruction:

(a) The band is not "restrictive" -- the band suppresses appetite. Eat a small amount and see how long it lasts

(b) The band won't stop you from eating more-- that's your job

(c) The band won't tell you what to eat

Six months later - three quick adjustments - and 35 pounds less.

What changed? "I did." Sally said.  "I had to get over myself and say that I wanted to use this band, and as soon as I realized it was never too late-- I was ready to go."

So - if you are ready  - we would love to see you here!

 

I can't thank my patients enough for their support this last year. There have been a lot of changes - some of them good (like weight loss) and some of them bad (like losing our dogs). 

Through it all you have been wonderful ! There will be more news in the future as we are looking to get a new therapy dog for the office.