Lap-band weight loss surgery newsletter - July 2008

Gas prices, exercise and weight loss using Lap-band surgery

The most significant economic issue today is gas prices, followed closely by the housing issue. But, this presents some unique opportunity to our patients.

Among our Lap-band surgery patients who have made it to goal and stayed there, 77% have some form of exercise. Which, simply put, means that if you do not exercise, your chance of losing weight is not that great.

One way to exercise is to commute to work without using your car.

This provides a steady source of exercise that allows you to get to work, and allows you to exercise. In Arizona, most folks live far away from work (something that will have to change).

The daily commute may be too much for you, there is always the trip to the store. You can walk it -- daily - picking up fresh fruits and produce, and meats, and walking home. No car, daily walk, and less gasoline consumption.

Too often the automobile has substituted for exercise that should be a daily part of our life. Recently one of my staff members was talking about going to Costco because the prices were less expensive than the standard grocery store-- until the cost of gasoline was added, and that extra expense of gasoline negated the savings. Instead, the local store, the one that was close-- became less expensive, a pleasant walk, and a savings.

The large supermarkets, major centers, super centers, all came about because of the automobile. Being able to use cheap gasoline to go to a store miles away, forced more local stores to go out of business. Some of those smaller, local stores are now seeing a resurgence of business, as people discover the long drive to save a few cents will actually cost them more. Recently I needed a new telephone for the house, and went to a local drug store-- found it in a few minutes. I then was in a Target store, and when trying to find the phone section it took much longer-- smaller stores, easier to navigate -- and closer to home. So, get acquainted with your neighborhood store. Walk to them.

Lap-band Surgery patients who get to their goal make lifestyle changes

 - one of them is to begin to move more - to exercise.  You should add movement to your daily routine. You don't have to do it in a gym, or on a treadmill -- you can do it by changing your routine to incorporate more walking.

For our part-- our office will go to a four day work week -- we will close on Fridays, and be open more hours during the regular week.

It is not only how much -- it is what you eat

There are two changes that are critical to weight loss surgery patients. The first is to eat less. That is accomplished with weight loss surgery -- no matter what type, all weight loss surgeries have, as their core, eating less food.

But as important, is eating the right thing. Time and time again we have seen patients, who were steadily losing weight, and then change what they ate, to a more healthy food group, to discover that they lost more weight. Eating at fast food places become an exception, instead of a rule. Avoiding pastas and breads, and instead eating vegetables. Strict avoidance of sugars, candies, ice cream, and other items that are high in calories.

Successful patients know this -- that great food, high quality food-- produces the best results for healthy living. It costs you less-- really -- when you eat junk, you pay for it with your health

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