In January 2008 as the results of a 2 year study that the Journal of the American Medical Association conducted it was evident that weight loss benefits diabetes however with the aid of the Lap-Band patients seem to have much more success than those patients without WLS.  During the two year study 60 patients newly diagnosed with having type II diabetes with a BMI (body mass index) between 30-40.  30 of the patients were placed on a diet along with an exercise plan which was increased over the period the study.  The other 30 patients were given the Lap-Band and a food plan along with undertaking an exercise plan which was also increased during the study.  From the 30 patients who did not receive the Lap-Band 4 of them had successfully treated their type II diabetes after two years, an overwhelming 22 out of the 30 patients who received the Lap-Band procedure had their diabetes effectively defeated.

Over the 2 year study Lap-Band patients successfully lost much more weight while patients who did not have the Lap-Band lost only 1.7% while the patients with the Lap-Band System lost 20.7% overall body weight, that is remarkably 10 times higher  compared to the patients who did not receive the Lap-Band.  Patients were compared shortly after 2 years the Lap-Band patients lost 62.5% of their excess body weight compared to the non surgical patients who lost only 4.3%.

After analyzing the study is was evident that the amount of weight loss is the leading factor to putting diabetes into remission for obese patients.  The less weight that a patient loses the less likely they are to go into remission with diabetes.  However the more weight a patient loses the more likely they are to go into remission with diabetes.  On average it was shown that patients that did not lose 10%  of their excess body weight did not receive the benefits of patients that lost more. However any weight loss for obese patients is helpful to health issues such as diabetes asthma high cholesterol.

Obtaining weight loss is not easy for obese patients.  Diabetes and other health issues make it very difficult to obtain.  The Lap-Band is one surgical less invasive way to benefit from obesity related illnesses.  It is the perfect aid to help assist in eliminating diabetes.  While most all obese patients have been on many diets throughout their struggle the Lap-Band can help them achieve their goals and also eliminate obese related illnesses.  Seek your physician’s advice on what is best for you if you feel that the Lap-Band is a good choice for you.

No, no, no is the answer to that question.  You are having surgery to help you out and for the most part you will do it.  The band does about 10% the other 90% is up to you.

You don’t have to start off with some far out kill yourself program, just something small that you like.  Walk around the block and when you’re confident about that move on to something a little more challenging.

Wii fit was one of the best darn things I bought after surgery and it really makes you sweat.  Even something simple as that can help kick start your weight loss.

Ask your doctor about what is best for you because you don’t want to start an exercise program without the advice of your doctor.  When he or she says its safe then go for it.

The best advice I can give you is if you think the band is a magic wand and will do all the work for you and that you have to do nothing then that is a misconception and you might want to rethink your options.

Start off with getting the mail, walking the dog, or just doing things you use to ask the kids to do for you.  You will be surprised just how much you didn’t do.  When you have lost a dramatic amount of weight and you no longer feel tired and are comfortable adding cardio and strength training to your routine that is when you are ready.

You do not have to have some expensive gym membership either.  Find a local place to swim.  Swimming is the most awesome exercise you can do for yourself.

Old milk jugs filled with water make some awesome weights and walking around your neighborhood is free.  You can do sit ups, push ups, leg lifts, squats, and run in place and pretending to jump rope is awesome as well and burns lots of calories.

You do not have to spend a fortune to exercise.  You may want to give up but always remember once you do it you will feel better.  You have to make yourself get to the point where you have some activity in your life.  Being a couch potato didn’t get you anywhere and it won’t get you any where with the band either.

You don’t have to become a gym rat and if you do want to join a gym, find one that doesn’t have a lot of show off buffed up guys and women.  Planet fitness is a good gym and they are all over the country.  They make it a point of telling people you are not here to show off.  They also have a 10 dollar a month membership which includes a trainer if you need one.

Good luck and get going it will be the best investment you made in yourself.

I had to work damn hard to lose those one hundred and twenty pounds, damn hard. I have to work even harder, a rigid diet and a strict exercise routine, to keep the pounds from coming back. Despite popular belief, losing weight as a result of a bariatric surgery is a long journey.
Along the way, you’ll find many green lights, things that are easier for you to do, and quite a few red lights as well, roadblocks that may cause you to stumble. For me, the biggest roadblock was the exercising. Eating wasn’t really my problem; I was so used to sitting on my butt all the time that getting off the couch really was a Herculean effort for me. Sticking to a routine was even harder.
Once my body had healed enough after the surgery (within a couple of weeks), I started with baby steps. Instead of asking my children to get the mail, I started walking to the mailbox myself. Each day, I would challenge myself to go a bit further than the mailbox. When I made it to the stop sign, several houses away and back without breathing hard, there was no stopping me. I even managed to talk to a few neighbors I had never spoken to before on my daily escapes.
With my diet, walking, and a water aerobics class I had signed up for, the pounds started dropping. Sure I miss my chocolate, my butter pecan ice cream, my cheese puffs, and my Mai Tais and my wine (you get the picture), but I like what I see in the mirror and I like the fact that I can play badminton with my kids in the backyard.
If I keep this up, I might even live long enough to be called, “Grandma” one day. It’s a never ending journey though that takes an everlasting commitment. My family and I are both glad that I chose to take it.

Of course that is completely the mental side of weight loss surgery, but did you know that weight loss surgery is also a lifesaver for the human body? Some people cannot lose weight through exercise and diet; for these severely obese people, weight loss surgery is their lifeline. The health benefits for this group of individuals are nothing short of amazing.

4 Ways Weight Loss Surgery Has Improved Health and Lives

Way 1: Weight loss surgery can help reduce or eliminate high blood pressure or hypertension. According to a 2004 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, almost 62% of weight loss patients who suffered from high blood pressure before their surgeries no longer had the condition after the procedure. 78.5% of those who had bariatric surgery showed a decrease in their blood pressure rates.

Way 2: Because most people lose weight after bariatric surgery, weight loss surgery has also shown results in reducing joint pain which is often caused by too much weight on the body frame.

Way 3: Weight loss surgery has a proven history of reversing Type 2 diabetes. Over 80% of the people who underwent weight loss procedures saw the condition completely gone within two year’s time. Obesity is the most significant, risk element associated with Type 2 diabetes.

Way 4: There are many severely, obese women who cannot conceive. They are infertile. Weight loss surgery can improve fertility by improving the ovulation cycle. Most obese women have irregular menstrual cycles, and this of course makes it hard for them to become pregnant.

If you can eat nutritiously and exercise consistently and lose weight that way, it is definitely the best way to go. Still, if that does not work for you, and you know, because you’ve tried it for years, then you should most definitely consider weight loss surgery as a possible lifesaver to improve your health and your life.

 1.      I am very obese with a BMI over 50 so I cannot have the Lap-Band surgery.

 Many doctors will try to tell you that because you are morbidly obese you can not possibly have the Lap-Band and be successful.  That is a lie (as Maury would say).  While having a BMI over 50 may take you longer to lose weight than someone who has a BMI of 40 it is not impossible with the Lap-Band.  The gastric banding has no part in the absorption process of your digestion making it less likely to become deficient in vital nutrients that your body needs.

 2.      Because I am having Lap-Band surgery I will never be able to have a baby.

 That is also a lie.  When you have weight loss surgery and lose weight, your body becomes a healthy weight therefore making you become fertile again.  Sometimes doctors will just tell you not to get pregnant until you have reached a stable weight.  The best part about the Lap-Band and becoming pregnant is you don’t have to worry about your baby not getting enough nutrients like with the By Pass.   It is also adjustable so you may get unfilled to meet the nutritional needs of your baby.

 3.      My health conditions will not be resolved with Lap-Band Surgery.

 Not only is being obese putting you at risk for high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, but it is also causing you to have no quality of life.  Having the Lap-Band surgery will lessen your health conditions if not take them away completely meaning less medications or none at all.  Studies have proven that people with type II diabetes in over 73% of cases it was resolved.  People with respiratory conditions have easier time breathing.  High blood pressure is reduced with weight reduction in most cases.

 4.       I will not get proper nutrition if I have Lap-Band surgery.

Really? Who can prove that one?  Nutrition has always been a concern with people who have the gastric by pass because of the way the surgery is performed.  With the Lap-Band nothing is surgically removed, nothing is rerouted like with the by pass so everything you take in will be absorbed.  Of course it is recommended to take a multi vitamin but as time goes on and you are able to eat normal portions, it is highly unlikely you will not get enough nutrition.  If anything you will be getting better nutrition than you did before you had surgery.

 5.      Weight loss is going to be fast so therefore it will not keep me healthy.      

 Wrong wrong wrong.  Weight loss with the Lap-Band initially can be quick, however over time it becomes 2-3 pounds a week just like a regular diet.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Getting adjustments keeps you feeling fuller longer so that you will not want to eat in between meals.

 6.      I will be on a liquid diet forever.

 How can you or anyone else live on liquids FOREVER.  No one.  You may or may not be placed on a liquid diet a few weeks before surgery and then a few weeks after.  This helps you to lose fat in your liver before surgery and after surgery so that you may have time to heal.

 7.      I don’t have to follow up with my doctor or follow his directions.

       Again this is wrong.  The first two years after surgery is crucial to obtaining your goal.  Good after care helps in your success and is something you should research thoroughly when looking for a surgeon.

 8.      I don’t have to change my way of eating or lifestyle

 This is definitely wrong.  You surely do have to change everything about your eating habits if you want to succeed.  You can’t eat ice cream and think you’re still going to lose weight.  Anything that slides down easy is usually not part of our diet.  If you are not ready or willing to commit yourself to eating healthy foods then you can not be successful.  It is also helpful to join a support group so that you may have others to fall back on when you are going through a tough time.

 9.      I am giving up my life for the Lap-Band.

 What you are really giving up is the old body that can not do the things it wants to do and giving you a new lease on life.  You will be able to move better, sleep better, and control your illnesses.  Out with the old and in with the new you.

 10.  I am putting myself through a dangerous surgery with the Lap-Band.

 With every surgery there is a risk.  Even with toe surgery there is always a risk but people confuse the Lap-band surgery with the by pass and all the complications that go with it.   You will have 1 to 5 incisions that are small and the biggest one where your port is placed.  The band is place around the upper portion of the stomach.  There is nothing being disturbed inside.  Your port will be sewn in the muscle.  The By Pass is much more risky than the Lap-Band.

Liquid dinners aren’t very appetizing, but there is a reason for them. Your gastric band has to adjust to your body right after the surgery. If you eat solid food, then your stomach would have to work to break it down, and this would disrupt the band positioning and possibly the stitches that help it stay in place.

The gastric band is used to restrict the amount of food that is held by the stomach. Overeating and eating the wrong types of foods can result in gastrointestinal issues and the malfunctioning of the band. This means that if you want to meet your weight loss goals, then you have to stick to your diet, no “ifs”, “ands”, or “buts”.

What to Expect after your Gastric Band Surgery

As mentioned earlier, you will be on a clear liquid diet. When your doctor feels that you are ready, you will move on to a semi-liquid diet. A semi-liquid diet consists of food that is no thicker than a very thin layer of mashed potatoes. Because the gastric band reduces the amount of food that can be held by your stomach, all the portions in your new diet will be extremely small and you will be eating four to six, tiny meals a day.

After the semi-liquid diet, you advance on to semi-solid meals. Since your stomach is basically relearning how to function, you should eat ever so slowly and chew your food exceptionally well. You must also remember to continue to get in your low calorie beverages throughout the day.

Finally, you will hit the final phase of your “new” lifestyle diet. This is the low fat, high protein phase. Your meals will still be restricted (there will always be foods and beverages you should avoid – generally the same ones you should have been avoiding even before the band procedure), but you will be able to eat solid foods now. This is the time for you to discover nutritious yet tasty meals that will help you succeed in obtaining your weight reduction goals.

 The whole idea of both surgeries is for the patient to eat less, feel full longer, and therefore lose weight.  The Gastric Banding or the Lap-Band has become more favorable of the three procedures.  Even though dramatic weight loss occurs in a short amount of time with these procedures, people are leaning towards the lap band because the risks involved are much less than with the By Pass.  With either surgery it is possible for 30% of the population to regain some of their weight due to lack of exercise and maintaining a healthy diet.  Some will just not conform to the life style change associated with weight loss surgery, so weight gain is inevitable.

 So which surgery is the better choice you ask?  While far more studies have been done on the By Pass then the Lap-Band because the By Pass has been around a lot longer, in similar studies done, The American Obesity Association reported that weight loss with the By Pass was between 50 to 60 % of excess body weight and maintaining that weight for 3 to 5 years.

 The same study was done with the Lap-Band and in its conclusion most people lost at least 25% of their excess body weight, some lost 50% and as little as 10% lost 70%.  These individuals also kept their weight off for a period of five years.

 When comparing these two surgeries it is not an exact science, however the time frame for keeping the weight off was pretty much the same in both studies.  The reason the Lap-Band has become the more favorable choice of the two surgeries is it is not as complicated as the By Pass.  The By Pass actually reroutes the large intestines (where most of your nutrients are absorbed causing nutritional deficiency), less time for healing, less time for missing work,  and most importantly causing less stress on the body.

 When deciding which surgery is best for you the more morbidly obese you are, leaning towards the By Pass has been more favorable because the weight loss with the Lap-Band has been less.  It is not impossible for someone with a lot of weight to lose to have the Lap-Band surgery; it may prove to be harder work than having the By Pass but the same results are not impossible.  Committing to a life style change is of the utmost importance when deciding on either surgery.  Healthy food choices and exercise is still the key to successful weight loss with either surgery.

Lap-Bands work by allowing you to feel satisfied after a small well balanced meal, and by keeping you satisfied for 4-5 hours afterwards.  However, they don’t do this immediately- most patients don’t notice any sort of change in their satisfaction level until they’ve had three or more fills.  When you are banded, you’ll have to follow your surgeon’s post-op diet in order to ensure that you heal well and do not stress your fragile stomach as it gets used to the band.  The time in between surgery and hitting good restriction is often known as “Lap-Band hell”.  You will need to be diligent about what you eat.  Fast forwarding to solid foods too soon could cause long-term or even permanent damage.  No matter how hungry you feel, you will need to control your eating and drinking.  Yes, plenty of people “cheat”- but as the saying goes, the only person you’re cheating is yourself!  Think of how proud you’ll be to look back and say “I went through x weeks of only having liquids, and I did it.”

Once you’ve moved past the healing stage and into everyday life with the Lap-Band, you should be feeling the benefits that the band provides you.  While you’re able to feel satisfied on smaller meals, you’ll still be 100% in charge of what you put in your mouth.  A hamburger with a bun or without a bun might fill you up in the same way, but you will need to make sure you’re eating the types of food your doctor told you to.  Many bandsters find that a high protein, lower carb diet helps them to stay satisfied throughout the day and keeps them from craving sweets.

There’s an ugly little truth that most pre-op patients don’t realize: the Lap-band doesn’t STOP you from eating something that you shouldn’t.  Often the foods that are the worst for us are those that go down the easiest.  Chips, ice cream, donuts, high calorie coffee drinks… they all slide right through the band.  Even more dense foods like pizza might not be a problem for you.  Some bandsters are able to eat just as much as they could pre-surgery- they just choose not to.  And that choice can be just as hard to make post-surgery as it was before you were banded!  This is why so many Lap-Band patients don’t end up losing all of their excess weight.  Once the newness of surgery wears off and you realize that your band will allow it, you will still need to practice self-control.

Many pre-op patients are told that they will no longer be “able” to eat certain foods (breads, dry meats, popcorn, etc.) and for some patients this proves true.  Other patients can still eat any of these “problem foods” with no ill effects.  Once you realize you can still eat a piece of bread when out to dinner, the floodgates might open for you.  Often patients like the prospect of not being able to eat their trigger foods, and can feel devastated when they learn that these foods still go down just fine.  What a challenge for a person who has gone under the knife, and possibly spent thousands of dollars, hoping that they’ll no longer be tempted by baked goods!

Lap-band patients need to boil their eating habits down to this:  Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.   Being banded is a huge life change, and our behaviors need to change along with our anatomy.  It’s important that we stick to our prescribed diets (while allowing ourselves an occasional treat) if we truly want to see that skinnier, happier face looking back in the mirror.  Always check with yourself to see if you’re making a good food choice.  Measure out your foods and use a small plate, as the eye usually under-estimates portion sizes.  Make good use of to-go bags at restaurants.  Have a bite of a treat food instead of a whole bowl.  Choose healthier cooking options.  Every little change for the better you make in a day will account for a change in your weight- for good.

So now we know the communication side of the Lap-Band story, now let’s look at what you have to do to live happily with your new friend wrapped around your stomach.

The Ins and the Outs

The first rule is sometimes stressed by your surgeon and sometimes not, but if you follow any rules, here is the one you should not ignore. Chew everything thoroughly! If you are the kind of person that takes a mouth full of food chews it three times and swallows, you and your Lap-Band are not going to get along well. The reason is simple to explain, before you had a band you could probably swallow a ping pong ball (don’t try it) and it would eventually make it to your stomach (you would not be happy with the journey).  Well the Lap-Band does not stretch at all so when that big mouthful of food reaches that little opening (usually smaller than a quarter) there is only one thing that will happen. The food is not going to pass the opening, it is going to block the opening for everything else that comes behind it and all that food is going to make the trip back up from where it came.  Lap-Band patients call this productive burping. It basically is not as violent as vomiting because your entire stomach is not involved in the process but it’s no fun and it never happens at an appropriate time.  Chew everything to the consistency of a paste and if you can’t make a paste out of it in your mouth, like if you are eating a fibrous steak or well done hamburger, then you are probably going to have problems when it reaches the band.

Your Lap-Band surgeon may also tell you that you should not drink liquids during meals and that is very good advice. Remember the Lap-Band is a mechanical process and the way it ideally works is that you swallow well chewed food and it sits in the upper portion of your stomach created by the band and it slowly passes through to the lower portion of the stomach. Liquids will likely prematurely wash through your food through the band and not provide you the delay and feeling of fullness that is the key to your success so do your very best to avoid liquids at least until 30 minutes after a meal. This will give you the best opportunity for success.

You have to be committed to the opportunity afforded by the Lap-Band because let’s be honest, whether you are having gastric bypass, realize band, Lap-Band or a sleeve, there is always a way to cheat. If you wanted to you could drink liquid chocolate all day long and you would never know you had a restriction of any kind.

This pre-operative diet is critical because its goal is to lower the amount of fat in your liver. This is needed for several reasons, the most important reason is that as the fat content of your liver reduces the easier and safer it will be to move the organ in order to access the stomach to implant the Lap-Band.

The other reason for the pre-op diet is that with a reduced weight and liver size your recovery time will be greatly reduced and you will be back on your feet sooner.

Your doctor will likely ask you to start the diet 10 to 14 days prior to your surgery, most pre-op diets consist of little to no carbs, so foods like rice, white breads, French fries will be out of the question. Carbs make your body overwork to break down them down. The key to preparing for surgery is to raise the amount of proteins like fish, chicken, lean beef that you eat and reduce complex carbohydrates and sugars at all costs. This will make for a happy, healthy liver.

As the Big Day Approaches

The next stage of the pre-op diet is the liquid diet, as your surgery date draws near your doctor will probably put you on a liquid diet that is made up of mostly clear liquids like chicken broth, Gatorade and a some liquid protein supplements. This will achieve the final stage of your pre-operative goals which will be to reduce further the size of the liver and shrink the area around your stomach. The less fatty areas around your stomach you have will be in direct proportion to any bleeding you have. Keep in mind minimal amounts of bleeding is to be expected but maintaining a low fat diet will reduce the amount even further.

A Diet to take Very Seriously

Remember, following your doctor’s instructions prior to your Lap-Band surgery is absolutely necessary and in your best interest from a safety standpoint and it’s also a great way to kick start your weight loss journey!

After your surgery, basically what you will do is reverse the diet process you just went through, so first clear liquids, then thick liquids, then some protein then finally carbs.