Hey Bandsters!

We’ve had floods, heat waves, snowstorms and picture-perfect days. Despite the unpredictable spring weather, we’re sure of one thing: that you’re just as dedicated as ever to your weight loss and health. Like the weather, everyone has up and down days, and LapBandTalk.com is here to help. Take advantage of our monthly newsletter to get back in the swing of things if you need to! Here’s what you’ll find in this newsletter.

Bandster Poll – What is Most Important when Choosing a Bariatric Surgeon?

Member Spotlight – Meet LovetheNewMe!

Memorial Day Grilling – Celebrate the Bandster Way!

Enjoy the newsletter, and then come on over to LapBandTalk.com to talk about it and whatever else is on your mind! Feel free to drop us a line anytime – we love hearing from members! See you on the boards!

Sincerely,

Alex Brecher

Founder

LapBandTalk.com

Bandster Poll – What is Most Important when Choosing a Surgeon?

Choosing the right bariatric surgeon can increase your chances of success with weight loss surgery. What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a surgeon?

• Surgeon history: lots of experience, good weight loss results and safe surgeries

• The surgeon’s credentials and board memberships and a Center of Excellence

• Recommendations from your friends and good patient reviews

• It “feels” right – you intuitively trust the surgeon and feel comfortable at the facility

• The postoperative “aftercare” program is thorough

• Something else. Let us know in the discussion!

Make your choice and then explain it in the discussion using this link!

Member Spotlight: Meet LovetheNewMe!

This month’s member highlight is on LovetheNewMe, aka Diane or Love, from South Carolina. She’s 57 years old with two children and three grandchildren ages 7 to 13. This busy nurse is responsible for 250 employees and a Cardiac Critical Care Service Line. Her journey started in 2010. Her highest weight was 252 pounds, and she had joint pain, hypertension, asthma and sleep apnea.

When Diane decided to get the lap-band, she wanted it to work. She told everyone about her decision so that she’d feel accountable. Her goal was a healthy BMI, not an overweight or obese BMI that many weight loss surgery patients end up at and where she was one year post-surgery. Even though her doctors were pleased with her progress and her health was better, she wanted to eliminate her pain, get off her medications and achieve a normal BMI. She says, “I wanted to be one of those persons you see in infomercials stating, “Results not typical.”

She succeeded! She’s now at 120 pounds and a BMI of 22.7!

Diane has faced her share of challenges. She had to eat slower, chew more and measure portions. Another hurdle was learning to enjoy exercise. Her decision to hire a trainer not only helped her learn new exercises that could be interesting and challenging, but also to learn more about nutrition and goal-setting. A big moment for her was realizing that obesity is an addiction, and the lap-band worked for her because she wanted it to. She has traded her addition to food for an addiction to “exercise and a healthy life.”

Diane credits LapBandTalk.com with a lot of her success. As she says, “What better way to lose weight than with a group of friends who cut you no slack”? She appreciates the information on LapBandTalk.com and takes every opportunity to learn from experiences and people. She also has made deep friendships on the site. Her blog chronicles her journey truthfully.

She’s an optimist who believes that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Here is some of her advice.

• “Stop expecting the band to stop you from eating. The only person who can help you lose weight is you. You have to want to lose weight more than you want to eat that second dessert or that bag of chips.”

• Learn to love yourself and forgive yourself.

• Use positive affirmations.

Want more advice from Diane? Head on over to the boards, and LovetheNewMe will be ready to help! Thanks for your advice and for being in the Member Spotlight, Diane! Congratulations on your success and on achieving the high standards you set for yourself!

Do you want to be in the Member Spotlight? Do you want to meet another member? Let us know! Nominate yourself or another LapBandTalk.com member by posting on the forum. Or, if you’re shy, just send Alex Brecher a private message. We want to hear from you!

Memorial Day Grilling – Celebrate the Bandster Way!

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start to the summer grilling season. In your pre-surgery days, a barbecue might have meant ribs, rolls, coleslaw, baked Beans and cupcakes. Wash that down with a few beers or sodas, and hit the sofa to watch TV, and you have a diet disaster on your hands! What can the new, healthy you do?

• Go lean with Protein. Skip the ribs, hot dogs, beef hamburgers and chicken wings. Instead, opt for grilled chicken breast or fish.

• Bring your own. If you’re not sure that there’ll be something at the party that’s on your diet, bring your own. You can always bring a dish to share; other people will appreciate the healthy option, too!

• Stay low-cal. Choose the lower-fat, lower-sugar options, and watch your portion sizes. Skip the slaw and Desserts, and go for watermelon, raw vegetables or corn on the cob – without butter – instead. You might not be able to eat corn with the band. Other cooked vegetables and soft fruits can be safer choices.

• Watch your fluids. Drink Water or unsweetened iced tea instead of beverages with calories, and of course, don’t drink when you’re eating or within 30 minutes before or after.

• Enjoy the company. You’re at the party to socialize. Focus on being friendly and enjoying others’ company instead of on your food. You’ll be surprised at how much more you enjoy the get-together!

• Keep moving. Play volleyball, toss beanbags and go swimming if that’s what everyone else is doing. If you’re too shy to join in a competitive game, such as volleyball, stay involved by refereeing, cheerleading and chasing stray balls. Anything that keeps you moving is better for your weight loss than lying on the couch.

These are just a few tips. Don’t forget to get more ideas and share your own on the boards. Happy Memorial Day!

Big Book on the Lap-Band

Are you looking for more information on the lap-band? Check out our very own The BIG Book on the Lap-Band: Everything You Need To Know To Lose Weight and Live Well with the Adjustable Gastric Band! Written by LapBandTalk.com found Alex Brecher, this book is for you if you have the band or if you’re considering it or another weight loss surgery. It’s packed with information to take you along your weight loss journey. It’ll help you decide whether to get the lap-band, and guide you as you choose a surgeon, plan for your surgery and recover. If you’re already a lap-band patient, the Big Book will keep you motivated and give you tips to lose weight and stay healthy. Don’t miss it! Order your hard copy or ebook from LapBandTalk.com or Amazon.

That finishes up this month’s newsletter. We hope you enjoyed it, and we’re always happy to hear you feedback on the newsletter or anything else at LapBandTalk.com! Don’t forget that you can always check out the old newsletters, too. Thanks for reading the newsletter and being a member of our community.

Take care of yourself and each other.

Sincerely,

Alex

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Great news letter! Summer time is a more social time, which could be a food disaster, but making good choices and being prepared helps.

Thanks

Alex

Thanks again for another informative newsletter, Alex.

I adore Love aka Diane,LoveTheNewMe & LadyDi. She has been a continued source of inspiration and support to me. Great choice for the spotlight!