Texas Lap Band Talk

Smart Lipo Laser Liposuction

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:50:00 +0000

More patients are asking about SmartLipo and having the procedure done. As you might know, we brought SmartLipo to Texarkana while looking for a solution to touch up small areas of fat remaining in areas such as the chin, arms, or abdomen. We have had several of our Lap Band patients undergo the procedure and also have many new patients. The laser lipolysis achieved by the SmartLipo machine destroys fat cells and allows for skin tightening as well. The ideal candidate is someone close to their ideal weight who wants to have one or more body areas sculpted and it has been popular with both men and women. The procedure is done in the office and you are awake for the entire procedure. So unlike regular liposuction in the hospital or surgery center, you don't need general anesthesia. Many patients go back to work within a day or two after having the procedure done. More information can be found on our site for Texas SmartLipo.

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:35:00 +0000

Lap Band nutrition tips, from our Lap Band group in Texarkana, serving Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Here it is, from Amy Carmelli, registered dietician Part 2 of her 3 part series on nutrition.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Water
The forgotten nutrient

We all know we need vitamins, minerals, and water to survive, so why is it that we often forget their importance?

Vitamins are essential, organic substances that we need in our diet for normal function, growth, and maintenance of body tissues. Vitamins are essential in our diet and without them our health can decline. Vitamins are divided into two forms – water soluble and fat soluble. Water soluble vitamins are B-vitamins and vitamin C. Water soluble vitamins taken in excess are excreted from the body in urine. Water soluble vitamins are also destroyed during cooking process. To decrease destruction of water soluble vitamins, it is recommend that we steam, stir-fry, or microwave foods that are high in water soluble vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins are Vitamins A, D, E, K are stored in our bodies so we are less likely to be deficient in these vitamins. Fat soluble vitamins provide a variety of functions in our bodies.
Minerals are divided into two groups – major and trace. Minerals come from plant and animal sources. They are vital to one’s health. Minerals we hear about most often are calcium, sodium, and potassium. Calcium, we all know, is essential to bone health. We need between 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day. Good sources of calcium are milk and milk products, canned fish, and fortified orange juice. Sodium is often associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Sodium is found in numerous foods – table salt, processed foods, chips, condiments, and sauces. We only need 1200-1500 mg of sodium a day. Many of us take in more than 4000 mg of sodium per day. Recommendations to decrease sodium in your diet include limiting processed foods and chips and using alternative low sodium seasoning when cooking. Potassium is another mineral we often here about. Potassium can be found in various foods – potatoes, tomatoes, beans, bananas, orange juice, milk, meat, and whole grains. Potassium must be balanced in our diet – too much or too little can cause life threatening side effects.
With vitamins and mineral both, the key is not too much and not too little of any one thing. For people who have had a lap band, vitamin/mineral supplementation is necessary due to the decrease portion sizes. Check with your doctor/surgeon or your dietitian if you question if you are taking the right vitamin/mineral supplement.

Water is often the forgotten nutrient. Water is one of the most important nutrients we take in. It helps with sodium-potassium pump, temperature regulation, and removal of waste products. We are often surprised by the amount of water we need versus the amount of water we actual drink. Adequate intake of water for most adults is 9 cups per day (1 cup = 8 ounces). Inadequate water/fluid intake leads to dehydration. Even mild dehydration increases fatigue and impairs performance. The key to help insure adequate fluid intake is to drink water throughout the day. You can not wait till the end of the day to drink 6-8 cups of water. Plan to drink 2 cups between each meal and before bedtime. This will insure adequate hydration.
Don’t forget the forgotten nutrient!
Next month – “Putting it all together to make a health diet”.
-------------------------
Notes from Dr Ron Hekier for our lap band surgery patients:
1)For vitamins, consider the "Vitaband" from Bariatric Advantage that can be found on the Bariatric Advantage Estore. This vitamin was specially formulated for Lap Band patients.

2)For water intake, be wary of the various vitamin waters and sports fluid replacement drinks. They may have many calories and you might have the unintended result of taking in more calories than you planned on. Plain water is the best, and no need to buy bottled water. Tap water is just as good, and in fact some bottled waters that you buy in a store are simply bottled tap water!

Lap Band fills.

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

From Dr. Rachael Keilin:

A word about Lap Band fills. When we see patients in our clinic in their routine follow up after Lap Band surgery they are often very interested in fills; how much they have, how much they will get today, how much they can have altogether. Dr. Hekier has said it before, but I think it bears repeating: fills are as individual as shoe size. One size does not fit all. One person can have a single fill and have no hunger between meals. Another person may need three, even five fills after their surgery to get to their “sweet spot.” (See the earlier posts on lap band surgery fills and lap band surgery sweet spot.) And also remember that there are five different sized bands out there and each one takes a different volume of fluid. Weight loss is individual for each person.

There is also a phenomenon we see fairly often, but really can’t explain well. Some people will have a delay in the “tightness” of a fill by as much as two weeks. This is why we won’t fill one day and then fill again three days later. Because there is sometimes a lag in the perception of hunger after a fill (and remember: it’s hunger control we’re aiming for, not bulimia!), we don’t want to end up over-filling patients, especially if they live out of town. Spitting into a cup is just not fun. You're meant to have gradual weight loss with the Lap Band from eating less. You're not meant to be on a liquid diet or pureed food diet. We want to eat more or less a regular diet, just eat a smaller amount of food so that you can lose weight.

While filling the band is certainly important, it is not the only reason we want to see you in the office and it is not the object of every visit. Based on what we hear you telling us about hunger, eating habits, frequency of productive burps (PB’s) and what foods you are-and aren’t-able to take in, we’ll decide whether to fill or not. Remember, sometimes it’s the mind that has to be adjusted, not just the lap band.

Don't forget to visit our site at Texas Lap Band.

You ate what?

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Just because you had the Lap Band surgery for weight loss does not mean you can keep eating poorly and expect to lose weight. There are often instances when patients tell me about the foods they are eating and I am shocked! Prinlges chips for snacks, sausage egg McMuffins for breakfast, pork rinds for snacks, ice cream; these are just a few I have heard recently. Remember anything is fine in moderation, but the calories have to go somewhere.
Pick healthy snacks; melba toast crackers , rice cakes or rice crackers instead of potato chips or pork rinds.

A protein shake or Slimfast Optima for protein in the morning instead of an sausage egg Mcmuffin.

Remember you have the power and the responsibility to eat healthier. The Lap Band won't do it for you.

Lap Band Dietician Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:50:00 +0000

At the last support group, Amy Carmeli the registered dietician and nutrition guru offered these points on nutrition. Many of you asked for a copy of her presentation and Amy has been kind enough to share it with us.
By the way, don't forget to show up to the Lap Band support groups. We have them set up for you at our expense so that you can benefit and get the most out of your Lap Band. We believe (and studies have shown) that weight loss surgery patients have better results if they have regular participation in support groups.
------------------------------------
What we have forgotten about basic nutrition
1st in 3 part series

Our bodies need carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin, minerals, and water to function properly. Each one has a specific and special function in our body.
Protein, water, some lipids, vitamins, minerals help regulate body processes. Carbohydrates, protein, and fat provide energy to fuel the body.

We all know the name carbohydrate. In recent years carbohydrates have become “evil” or “bad” foods. However, carbohydrates are our bodies preferred energy source. The key is to know which carbohydrates we should eat more of versus less.

Two basic types of carbohydrates are simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are foods like cakes, sweets, and fruit juices. Complex carbohydrates are foods like whole grain wheat products, fruits, beans, and starch vegetables. From the complex carbohydrates we also get two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Insoluble fiber increase fecal bulk and decrease intestinal transit time. Insoluble fibers are whole grains, all plants, wheat, rye, rice and vegetables. Terms associated with insoluble fiber are cellulose and hemicellulose, and lignins. Soluble fiber delays gastric emptying slows glucose absorption and can lower cholesterol. Examples of soluble fiber are oats, beans, citrus fruits, pectins, gums, and psyllium. An example of a complete fiber (soluble and insoluble) is an apple with the skin being insoluble and the inside being soluble.

Bottom line with carbohydrates – we need complex carbohydrates that contain soluble and insoluble fibers. Good choices are whole grain wheat, oats, vegetables, and beans.

With the lap band we talk a lot about protein. Consuming enough protein is vital for maintaining health. Protein is a key part of the blood, helping to regulate many body functions and can provide energy.

There are two types of proteins – complete or incomplete. Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids. Incomplete proteins must be combined together with another incomplete protein to provide benefit. It is basically an “all or nothing” idea. Without making a protein complete, by combining foods together, our body cannot support body growth and maintenance.
Complete proteins are eggs, meat, and milk.
Incomplete protein that can be combined to make complete proteins are: hummus and whole wheat bread, nut butter and whole wheat bread, rice and beans, green beans and sunflower seeds, beans and vegetable soups.

Food sources of protein
Tuna (3 ounces)
21.6 g Protein
Chicken (3 ounces)
21.3 g Protein
Beef chuck (3 ounces)
15.3 g protein
Yogurt
10.6 g protein
Beans and rice (1 cup)
10.2 g protein
Peanut butter and wheat bread
~10 g protein

Bottom line: We need adequate protein to maintain body functions. We can consume either complete protein foods or combine 2 incomplete protein foods to make a complete protein. Good sources of protein: meat, milk, eggs; or beans and rice.

Fat is what makes our food taste good and helps provide satiety (that full, satisfied feeling). Fat does play an important role in our body, but we actually need very little fat to provide these functions.

Fat can be broken into two groups of two: saturated fat and unsaturated fats; and essential fat and nonessential fat. The best fat to use in cooking is monounsaturated fat like canola, olive, or peanut oil. Fats that we want to limit are saturated fats, especially trans fat. Trans fat is found in foods like fried potatoes, bakery goods, and some margarines.

Essential fats that our bodies need are omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. These fats are found in salmon, tuna, sardines, trout, halibut, walnuts, and flax seed oils. We need these foods at least twice per week.

Bottom line: We should consume unsaturated fats in limited quantities and essential fat two times per week. Good choices: cooking with only olive, canola, or peanut oil; and consuming baked or grilled fish (listed above) two times per week.

Stayed tuned: next month we will discuss vitamins, minerals, and the forgotten nutrient water.

________________________
Addendum:
Some Lap Band patients might have restriction for meats and in order to have an adequate protein intake might need to find other sources of protein, including low-fat or non fat dairy products or protein supplements such as those offered on the Estore.

Hit a weight loss plateau with your Lap Band?

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:13:00 +0000

In our practice (including myself Dr. Ron Hekier, and my wife Dr. Rachael Keilin) we are learning as we go on. Having performed over 700 Lap Band procedures over the years we can notice trends in our patients. We have both noticed that a number of patients do very well with their weight loss for a year or so and then hit a weight loss plateau.

It seems to occur often in people who have lost two thirds of the weight we are trying to lose. For example, if you are trying to lose 100 pounds, you might hit the plateau after you lose about 65 pounds.

Here are some suggestions.

1) Are you getting enough calories spread out evenly throughout the day?

"What, I need to make sure I eat enough?" Absolutely. You need to eat to lose weight. Your body needs to be supplied with adequate energy otherwise it will store energy from the food you eat. Quick quiz what is the most efficient storage of energy in the body? That's right, fat tissue!So, are you eating at least 1200 calories a day? Are you eating regularly? Make sure you don't skip meals. 3 meals a day with small healthy snacks in between. Don't go more than 3 - 4 hours without eating anything. The

2) Are you exercising adequately?

This is usually the biggest problem. You hear people say they want to "increase their metabolism" and what they mean is that they want to burn more calories throughout the say. The only way to do this is to increase your level of activity. And not just leisurely walking, what Dr. Keilin calls "going out for a stroll." Exercise means getting your heart rate up, it means sweating. Work at it!

3) What is the composition of your food intake?

Out of the calories that you are eating are you getting adequate protein? Are you getting too much fat and carbohydrates? Make sure you are having an appropriate mix. Come to support group to speak with Amy, the dietitian, to help make proper choices. See her earlier post on Protein Power on this blog. Look at the products offerred by Bariatric Advantage to get some possible choices for protein supplements.

4) Have you forgotten the positive changes you have made?

Sometimes people forget that hard work it took to get them to their point of weight loss and they slack off and revert to old habits. Are you eating high calorie snack foods? Are you exercising less than you used to? Have you forgotten Betty's 10 Lap Band rules to stay in the box?

What works for you?
Leave a comment and share your thoughts with everyone!

Winner of Walk Away the Pounds Book and DVD!

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:49:00 +0000

Congratulations to GP! They are the winner of the drawing and were selected to win a free copy of "Walk Away the Pounds". Lap Band weight loss goes through several stages. The initial stage is often easier because your body will lose weight simply due to the decreased calorie count. But after the initial weight loss, you might find yourself "stuck" at a plateau. I think the way to snap out of it and get back on the downhill slope of weight loss is to embark on a regimen of proper protein intake, and exercise. Remember, without adequate protein (and most of you need between 40 - 60 grams per day) your body will lose muscle mass and you won't lose fat. Take a moment to check out our Estore at the website for protein supplementation sources. And don't forget some form of exercise. Stay tuned for the next blog entry.
Congratulations to GP! Jamie at our office will contact you to verify your address and we will send out Walk Away the Pounds soon.

Walk Away the Pounds: Free Book and DVD

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:44:00 +0000

Tonight at the Texarkana Lap Band surgery support group meeting, our program coordinator Betty gave away a copy of the book "Walk Away the Pounds". (It also comes with a DVD!) We have a few more copies that we want to give away to encourage you all to exercise and get healthier. As for our prior contests, leave your initials and date of surgery in the comments, and we will randomly pick a winner next week on Tuesday morning. Good luck!

What is the Lap Band sweet spot?

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:40:00 +0000

We often talk about the sweet spot, and one of our blog readers recently asked about it. In baseball the sweet spot refers to that spot on the bat upon which you hit the ball there is virtually no resistance or vibration of the bat.

In the Lap Band what we consider the 'sweet spot' is the ideal fill. If I had to think about a perfect sweet spot I'd have to tell you about a patient. One of our patients was 66 years old when he had his Lap Band surgery. Over the course of the first 9 months he lost over 90 pounds! But he was confused and every time we saw him he would say "Doc my Lap Band must be broken. I don't feel restriction, I can eat what I want, and I never have food come back up."
That is the perfect sweet spot. The Lap Band was adjusted to the point that he felt control of his hunger and was able to control his eating portion size, but he had no significant restriction preventing him from eating any particular food nor did he ever have any regurgitation of food.
Many people who had lap band surgery find the sweet spot elusive and some people end up with a fill greater than they need because they rely on the Lap Band for restriction rather than hunger control.
If you are having a tough time keeping many foods down or having more than a small number of PBs (productive burps) you might be too tight and need some fluid taken it.
To summarize, the Lap Band is meant to help you with hunger control. By limiting the amount of food you eat with smaller portions, you can reduce your caloric intake, and lose weight.

Winner of Ironwood Grill Gift Certificate

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Congratulations to NT, she was randomly selected and is the winner of the $50 gift certificate to the Ironwood Grill.
Remember living with the Lap Band should be fun and we want you to eat out and enjoy your meals.

Focus on the Lap Band helping you with hunger, don't focus on restriction.
Some tips to our winner NT, and to everyone with the Lap Band when you eat out:

Remember not to drink while you eat. (See the earlier blog Losing weight with the Lap Band surgery.)

Pick healthy foods.

Don't try to eat mushy foods that ball up in your mouth as you chew them such as white bread or soft tortillas.

Recognize the proper portion size. In most cases what you are served will last you for 2 or 3 meals, so box up one half to two-thirds of your meal right away so you won't be tempted to eat too much.

Do you have any tips to share? Leave them in the comments section.
And one last thing, our next contest, to be announced in a few days, will be for a popular exercise book and DVD. Stay tuned!

Reward for healthy eating. $50 for Ironwood Grill

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:08:00 +0000

Dr. Keilin and I (Dr. Hekier) are always on the lookout for healthy food choices for eating out. Let's face it, with so much fast food out there, it's hard to find a place to eat that offers plenty of healthy choices so we want to help you make the right choices for you and your Lap Band. Remember, your success with the Lap Band is our success.
We strongly recommend the Ironwood Grill in Texarkana. The Ironwood Grill has plenty of healthy choices, and most importantly it serves a vast variety of fresh food choices including fish, salads, and vegetable dishes.
Check out their menu online at http://www.ironwoodgrill.com/ and you will find many choices and see why we call it the best family restaurant in Texarkana. It's also a good place to have small parties since they have an outdoor patio and large sandbox for the kids to play in, and a private dining area indoors. We've been there a few times with our office and Lap-Band team from the hospital and everyone loved it.
We are giving away a $50 gift certificate to the Ironwood Grill. Just leave a comment with your initials and date of surgery, (so we can identify you) and we will randomly select a winner next Monday.
Good luck!

How much is in your friend's Lap Band? What size shoe do they wear?

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:16:00 +0000

The answer to the questions above? Who cares?!
I find it curious that people always ask "What's my fill? How much do I have?"
Then they rush home and put their fill volume on their ticker on http://www.lapbandtalk.com/ or http://www.obesityhelp.com/ and compare it with other people's fill volume.

Let's all remember that the Lap Band is an 'adjustable gastric banding system'. Notice that first word? Adjustable; it is adjustable for each person. A fill that works for you won't work for your friend, and vice versa. Trust me, I wish I knew what fill would work for you, because then I would give you one fill and one fill only, and we would see great weight loss results for you more quickly. However, the average person needs probably 3 or 4 fills until they are around their 'sweet spot' or what some call 'The Green Zone.' Not too tight, not too loose, but just right.

Next time some one asks, what is your fill volume, remember that makes as much sense as you seeing your friend wearing a nice pair of shoes and asking "Nice shoes, I want a pair just like that, what size are they?" Your friend's shoe size is different than yours, and so to will be their adjustment volume.

Winner of the Khalia Ali Lap Band book!

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:09:00 +0000

Congratulations to S.K.K., you are the winner of the Khalia Ali book, "Fighting Weight."
S.K.K.'s name was randomly drawn from among our entries.
We will send it out in the mail to you in the next couple of days.

Thanks to all those who entered. Stay tuned for our next contest in the next week or two to find out what freebie you might come up with!

For those of you that want to buy the Khalia Ali book on Lap Banding, it is available at Amazon.com by clicking on the icon below.

See you next time!

Win a free copy of Khalia Ali's Lap Band book

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:09:00 +0000

For those of you old enough to remember, Muhammed Ali was the self proclaimed greatest fighter of all time. Well, one of his daughters, Khaliah Ali has written a book called "Fighting Weight : How I Achieved Healthy Weight Loss with "Banding," a New Procedure That Eliminates Hunger--Forever.”

Her book is about her experience with the Band. At her heaviest, Khaliah Ali, who is 5 feet, 8 inches, weighed 325 pounds and said she'd spent most of her life yo-yo dieting in an attempt to lose the weight. She is down to about 150 pounds after her Lap Band surgery.

We are holding a drawing for a copy of the book for our patients.

To enter simply respond to the comment, and leave your initials and surgery date in your message. If you haven't had surgery yet, leave your initials and the date we first saw you in the office for an evaluation.

We will randomly draw a name from the list this weekend. Good luck!

Center of Excellence. Medicare Lap Band

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:54:00 +0000

We are proud to announce being designated a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. You can read more on our website at bariatric surgery center of excellence.
For those of you with Medicare seeking potential Lap Band surgery, you probably now that Medicare will only cover the surgery if performed by surgeons and hospitals designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence.

That's not all. Medicare has many requirements before surgery such as

- a 3 month medical weight loss program with a nutritionist
- involvement in an exercise program
- smoking cessation program for smokers
- psychological evaluation

and more possible workup required.

Please note that this is required by Medicare and the guidelines are strict. For all Medicare Lap Band patients you must start by contacting the Wadley Hospital Bariatric Coordinator Pam Daniel at 903-798-8872.

Tip for losing weight with the Lap Band!

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:12:00 +0000

This one is from Jeff Jones, one of our most successful patients who has lost over 150 pounds with the Lap Band. You can see his before and after Lap Band photos on our gallery page.
Jeff says he thinks about the Lap Band like an hourglass. Just like an hourglass slows down sand running through it, the Lap Band slows down food flowing through it. It doesn't stop it, but it slows it down.
What would happen if you added water to an hourglass? The water would mix with the sand and it would run through the hourglass very quickly. Jeff knows the same thing happens with the Lap Band. If you drink while you eat, the food can slide through the Lap Band quickly and you don't get the feeling of fullness and lack of hunger that the Lap Band is designed to help you with.
That is why we have always recommended to not drink while eating and waiting 30 to 60 minutes after eating until you drink again.
Remember what Jeff says, think about the hourglass, and don't drink when you eat!

New habits to help with Lap Band weight loss

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:15:00 +0000

I tell all of our patients that I think the key to weight loss with the Lap Band surgery is to develop new habits in our approach to eating.
You need to change how you eat, what you eat, and how much you eat.

1) How you eat.
Chew your food very well. 30 chews per bite of food. No eating quickly.
No drinking with eating. Wait 15 - 30 minutes after drinking until you eat. Then after you eat wait 30 - 60 minutes until drinking again. Think of an hourglass. Sand goes through an hourglass slowly, liquid goes through quickly. If you drink with your food, you wash the food through the Band and don't get the benefits of the Band.

2) What you eat.
You still have to watch what you eat. No high calorie drinks or shakes. Take it easy on the ice cream, and watch fried crispy foods that easily go through the Band like tortilla chips.

3) How much you eat.
Don't test the Band. This isn't about how much you can eat. It's about how little you can eat. The whole point of the Lap Band is to help you feel satisfied with small meals. When you prepare a meal, put it on a small saucer so you won;'t be tempted to eat more. If you are eating out, ask for a child's portion and a to-go box, and immediately put half of the meal in a to-go box.

Add your comment to let everyone know what tip works best for you.

Why we don't perform the Gastric Bypass surgery.

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:42:00 +0000

By now, most people know that our practice (Dr. Ron Hekier and Dr. Rachael Keilin) does not perform the gastric bypass surgery for weight loss, and we exclusively perform the Lap Band procedure for weight loss surgery.

Many years ago we began on our quest to offer weight loss surgery to our region of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. No one was performing weight loss surgery in Texarkana or nearby in our region. As physicians, too often we saw people ravaged by diseases brought on or worsened by being seriously overweight. Problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, and asthma to name just a few.

We knew that there is evidence that for most seriously overweight people, weight loss surgery could possibly be their only potential for getting the weight off and keeping it off.

Back several years ago the Lap Band was well behind the gastric bypass in popularity. But years ago, as we spent time to learn in depth about the two procedures, there was no doubt in our mind that Lap Band is the preferable procedure for several reasons.

Only the Lap Band is adjustable, so individual needs or individual patients can be met. Are you a woman who has become pregnant? No problem, with the Lap Band you can have an adjustment to allow you to eat more food so that you have more nutrition for you and your baby. The gastric bypass is a mostly permanent change.

The Lap Band is easily reversible. While not meant to be removed or reversed, some people gain piece of mind in knowing that their weight loss surgery can be reversed for any reason.

But most importantly was the safety profile. Unlike the gastric bypass, in the Lap Band there was is cutting across the stomach or intestines. In the gastric bypass, a small number of patients can have an internal leak across where there stomach or intestine was cut and reconnected, and if this happens it could be fatal.

Adjustable, reversible, safer. That's why we choose the Lap Band over the gastric bypass surgery for weight loss.

We welcome your thoughts, comments, or questions. Just press the comment link on below on the right.

Protein power for weight loss!

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 03:19:00 +0000

Courtesy of Amy Roberts, Registered Dietician

Protein is an important part of every diet. Proteins are considered to be “building blocks” as they are responsible for the growth and repair of tissue in the body. With a lap band, protein becomes more important and should be included daily. Because you will only be able to eat a small quantity of food (~1/2 cup) then you must be sure to consume adequate protein in your diet.

Proteins are complex organic compounds and broken down in either essential or nonessential amino acids. Our bodies require about 20 amino acids for the synthesis of its proteins. Our bodies make some amino acids, but there are 9 amino acids we must obtain through food sources.

Meat and other animal products, like eggs and milk, are sources of complete proteins. Other foods like grains, fruits, and vegetables have either incomplete, low protein or lack one of the essential amino acids. These foods are considered incomplete proteins. Incomplete proteins can be combined to make a complete protein. Combinations include rice and beans, milk and wheat cereal, and corn and beans.

It is recommended that people with lap bands consume adequate protein every day to prevent side effects associated with low protein intake – which include, but are not limited to, hair loss and poor wound healing. The amount of protein people need to consume varies with age, sex, current weight, and medical conditions. For people with lap bands, the recommendation is to consume at least 40 grams of protein per day. The Recommend Daily Allowance (RDA) is 56 grams for men and 46 grams for women.

Protein content of common foods:

Plant-Based Sources Protein Content (g)
Tofu, firm (½ cup) 10
Soymilk, plain (8 oz.) 10
Kidney beans, cooked (½ cup) 8
Refried beans, cooked (½ cup) 8
Pinto beans, cooked (½ cup) 7
Lima beans, cooked (½ cup) 5
Whole Wheat bread (1 oz. Slice) 3
Oatmeal, instant, cooked (1 cup) 6
Corn (1 cup) 5
Rice, brown (1 cup) 4.5
Pasta, cooked (1 cup) 6.5

Animal-Based Sources Protein Content (g)
Chicken, boneless, cooked (3 oz.) 27
Turkey, roasted (3 oz.) 25
Ground Turkey, cooked (3 oz.) 23
Ground Beef, lean, cooked (3 oz.) 24
Beef Sirloin, cooked (3 oz.) 24
Ham, cooked (3 oz.) 21
Tuna, canned in water (3 oz.) 23
Yogurt, low-fat, plain (8 oz.) 12
Frozen Yogurt (½ cup) 2.5
Milk, fat free (8 oz.) 8
Cheese (1 oz.) 7
Egg (1 medium) 6
Egg White (1) 3.5
Egg Substitute (¼ cup) 6
Cottage Cheese ( ½ cup) 14
Cod, cooked (3 oz.) 20
Salmon (3 oz.) 22
Shrimp, boiled (3 oz.) 21
Lobster, baked or broiled (3 oz.) 17
Sources: Health Canada, Nutrient Value of Some Common Foods (1999); Tufts University School of Medicine; Harvard University; USDA National Nutrient Data Bank

It is always best to get your protein from food sources, however, if you need a protein supplement, please discuss the different types with your physician or dietitian.

**Remember with protein and the lap band, you must drink adequate amounts of water daily! Try for 6-8 eight ounce glasses per day.

Lap Band Success Story

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:17:00 +0000

Some of the things that excite us the most are hearing the success stories from our Lap Band patients. You may hear these referred to as an "NSV" or "Non Scale Victory."

These are things that people have been able to achieve in their life, that without weight loss they would have never been able to do. Things that they couldn't do in a long time, despite multiple diets and other weight loss attempts. They have nothing to do with a number on a scale, but everything to do with your success as a Lap Band patient.

Here are some recent NSVs told to us by our patients

1) "Thrilled at being able to buy clothes off the rack at Walmart"

2) "I can run out to my car in the parking lot when it rains without getting short of breath"

3) "When I chase after my small children I don't get tired."

4) "I can ride horses again which I haven't done in years."

5) "I am wearing the same size jeans as my teenage daughter."

6) "I wore my wedding ring for the first time in 5 years"

7) "I walked in a Christmas parade with my daughter which I could not have done without the weight loss"

8) "Being able to fit in the roller coaster at Six Flags was something I wanted to do for years"

9) "Feeling comfortable enough to wear a bathing suit on a cruise"

10) "I got pregnant after years of irregular cycles and infertility!"

Add your NSVs by adding comments. Or add your goals for NSVs you want to achieve!

10 Rules for weight loss with the Lap Band

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 03:21:00 +0000

Here they are, Betty's world famous 'Stay in the box' rules with a few extra editorial notes in parentheses by Dr. Ron Hekier.

COMMIT TO THE RULES IN THE BOX
Lap Band
10 IMPORTANT RULES

1. Eat only 3 small meals a day, breakfast within 1 hr of getting up and your last meal 3 hrs before you go to bed. (Skipping breakfast is a bad idea; your body needs to have sufficient protein. If you are tight in the mornings, try a shake, or yogurt.)

2. Eat slow & chew thoroughly, 15 – 20 times a bite.

3. Stop eating as soon as you feel full do not challenge the lapband, see how little you can eat and be satisfied. (It's even better if you eat until you're not hungry, don't eat until you get a full feeling. That might be too much.)

4. DO NOT drink while eating. (30 min before and 1 hr after) No carbonated drinks. Avoid gulping, sip.

5. Do not eat between meals. (Only rarely should you have healthy snacks if you are getting hungry between meals. Or try a healthy liquid shake of some sort.)

6. Make good choices. Eat only good quality food. Solid food is more important than liquid food. The lap band will have no effectt if you only consume liquids as it will pass right through. (Protein is especially important. If you don't consume enough protein, your body will actually store calories as fat. You need to eat to lose weight!)

7. Drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of water a day.

8. Drink low calorie or zero calorie liquids.

9. Exercise daily You eat daily so you need to exercise daily.

10. Avoid doughy or sticky foods like white bread, pop corn, coconut, dried fruits as they can obstruct your band.

Which secret works best for you? Click on the comment link below to share your experiences.

Weight loss surgery insurance woes

noreply@blogger.com (Texas Lap Band Doc) — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 03:11:00 +0000

Why is it that so many insurance companies seem to put up roadblocks to cover weight loss surgery, and specifically the Lap Band surgery?
My personal opinion:

1) You can get away with discriminating against people with obesity.

Can you imagine an insurance provider denying care to someone in a car accident tellling them "You should have been a more careful driver", or to someone with skin cancer "It's your fault for getting sunburned as a child" or to someone with advanced breast cancer "It's your fault for not getting mammograms"? Of course not. But despite being recognized by the medical establishment as a disease, obesity is still viewed by many people in society as something other than a disease.

2) Living in the past by looking at experience with gastric bypass instead of Lap Band.

It's human nature to be more mindful of negative experiences than positive ones. Many people know of someone who has had horrible complications of gastric bypass surgery, even death. So they equate bariatric surgery with gastric bypass. The reality is that weight loss surgery is much safer now than it has ever been, in large part due to the introduction of the Lap Band procedure.

3) The insurance company doesn't view you as a long term investment.

Statsitics show that many, if not most people, will switch insurance companies every 2 - 3 years. Therefore from a financial standpoint, many insurance companies have no incentive to spend money on something now that will improve your health in the future, when you might be insured by their competitors. In fact, that would save their competitors money, because you would be healthier and less of an economic burden on your new insurance company.

We all look forward to the day when all insurance providers place the Lap Band surgery on equal footing with other procedures that improve your health.

For general info, view our main page Lap Band Surgery Texas