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With the rise of fad diets, alternative medicines, and unusual exercise routines that seem too good to be true, it can be difficult to separate weight loss fact from fiction. Believe it or not, there are some easy lifestyle changes to help you lose weight and keep it off. The easiest changes that help people lose weight are small, progressive lifestyle changes that are less extreme and will last longer than the next dietary fad.

Making daily changes to lose weight

You might wonder why lifestyle changes are the most effective methods for weight loss. In short, their reason for success relies on adherence. Have you ever tried a fad diet? You can probably remember how difficult it was to follow. Most fad diets last a few weeks to a few months. Now, imagine following that fad diet for the rest of your life?

If that scenario sounds awful, then you aren’t alone. No one can follow these alternative weight-loss routines forever, which is why any changes you make need to be sustainable. Sustainability will not only lead to shedding the weight but also keeping it off. In addition, simple changes to lose weight will likely improve your overall quality of life as well.

Incorporating an exercise routine

One of the very first things that you should do is determine an exercise routine. Lap-Band® patients work with a team of dedicated professionals to assess their current level of fitness and how to improve it. You shouldn’t overwhelm yourself with marathon training six times a week; instead, you can slowly work exercise into your schedule with brisk walks and light strength exercises.

The key to a great exercise routine is selecting something you enjoy. Lap-Band patients select exercises that feel great and keep them interested. Selecting these exercises will make you more likely to do them over the long run. Whether you hope to become an expert yoga master or hike the trails in your hometown, slowly incorporate an exercise routine that excites you.

Healthier eating choices for weight loss

It’s no secret that healthier eating choices are a necessity for weight loss, but it can be difficult to properly manage your relationship with food. Swinging too far in the direction of healthy eating, and cutting out all the foods you love, may cause you to backslide. The best course of action, and the one recommended for Lap-Band patients, is to round out your diet without making sacrifices.

Weight loss shouldn’t force you to sacrifice foods you love. Among the easy changes to lose weight is making slightly healthier eating choices. You might begin by identifying some healthy foods you love, creating meals around those foods, and cooking more meals at home. You may also start making substitutions like swapping out fries for an equally-delicious baked potato or subbing a bag of chips for a handful of your favorite nuts instead. The goal isn’t to eliminate your favorite foods, but instead to consume them mindfully and in moderation.

Making mental health a priority

Finally, mental health is a priority for Lap-Band patients. Many people use food as a coping mechanism or may have a poor relationship with food. Prioritizing mental health is a simple change for losing weight and can make all these steps much easier. The Lap-Band program provides support in many ways, all to increase adherence to your goals and help you keep the weight off for good.

You can get started with the Lap-Band Program, and start taking control of your weight loss, by watching our free online seminar. Learn more about the Lap-Band process and see how it differs from other procedures.

One of the least-discussed keys to weight loss is support. Lap-Band® patients find support from a variety of sources, but none are more important than that which they receive from their team. Before discussing how the Lap-Band Program uniquely offers support, you should first know what comprises weight-loss support and what makes it so important for long-term results.

What is weight-loss support?

Those who are committed to losing weight find support in many places. Some people might find it from a partner or family members, using their encouragement to support lifestyle changes. Others can find weight-loss support groups. These groups are a collection of individuals who share similar goals and struggles. A weight-loss support group can provide support in the form of encouragement and accountability.

Finally, the Lap-Band Program provides patients with support from a staff of medical professionals. Lap-Band professionals offer support in the ways previously mentioned but can also provide expert knowledge on aspects of weight loss like nutrition and exercise.

Why weight-loss support is critical

Now that you know what a weight-loss support group is, you should also know what makes these support systems so crucial for long-term weight loss. Weight-loss support can provide some much-needed tools that promote weight loss.

Emotional Support – Weight loss can come with ups and downs. This process, like anything in life, can present unique struggles. When these struggles occur, it always helps to have someone close who can provide comfort and reassurance.
Accountability – You may not receive emotional support and accountability from the same source, but both are equally important. That’s why those trying to lose weight should make sure they have a system of accountability. Weight-loss support can keep you accountable and help you adhere to goals even when you feel like abandoning them.
Expert Guidance – Weight-loss support groups can provide some expert advice, but the Lap-Band Program excels at it. Lap-Band patients can glean many benefits from their team’s knowledge about the science and methods for effective weight loss. Some of this knowledge may translate to diet changes, moderate exercise routines, and mental health referrals.

Support with the Lap-Band

With the Lap-Band you can receive comprehensive support from a variety of experts. Surgeons, and their teams, have provided support for over one million patients. To find out more about the Lap-Band program, and what you can expect, register for our free online seminar.

Intermittent fasting is undoubtedly the newest trend in dieting and nutrition. While skipping a meal isn’t detrimental to your health, those trying to lose weight need to be aware of the dangers of skipping meals. While skipping meals and fasting intermittently can be good for your body, it can be detrimental if you alter your behavior in response.

The rise of skipping meals

You’ve heard of intermittent fasting. People find the 16:8, 12:12, and 20:4 on their social feeds or from chatting with friends. With any new trend in health, it’s important to get a well-rounded view of the positives and negatives before weaving it into your lifestyle. Before we answer the question, “Is skipping meals bad for you?” we first should understand the effects of skipping meals and intermittent fasting.

Why people are skipping a meal

It’s important to know that the science of this practice is new. While people have been fasting for a long time for personal or religious reasons, the mechanisms surrounding fasting are still under observation. In preliminary studies, however, fasting has been shown to help control blood sugar, fight inflammation, and manage blood pressure.

The key debate involves the claims surrounding skipping meals and weight loss. Fasting can indeed put you at a caloric deficit, which enables weight loss. While this may sound like an easy win for those trying to lose weight it does come with some potential issues.

The dangers of skipping meals

Fasting can also hinder your caloric intake. While the fasting mechanism is great for losing weight, some common resulting behaviors may cause you to reverse your progress.

First, it’s important to understand that intermittent fasting doesn’t enable you to eat more unhealthy foods. While the quantity of calories you get is important, the quality also matters. It’s not uncommon for those skipping meals to dine on unhealthy foods for the meals they do eat. Three, well-rounded meals might be replaced by a singular trip to your favorite fast-food restaurant. This behavior is more common than you might think and can lead to various nutrient deficiencies that stall your progress.

The second behavior you should know is the tendency to overeat. If you have a large appetite, it might be better to space out meals and snacks throughout the day. If you wait until one meal to satiate yourself, there is a chance that you’ll exceed your daily caloric intake in one sitting. You might think that this is extremely difficult, given the quantity of food you would need to eat. It’s important to remember that unhealthy foods are much more calorically dense. One trip to your favorite restaurant can total thousands of calories.

Lastly, adherence may also pose an issue. If you adopt any of these other behaviors and find that intermittent fasting isn’t right for you, you may be back to eating three unhealthy meals per day.

Don’t sacrifice the foods you love

Losing weight shouldn’t require you to sacrifice the foods you love. If you want to skip meals, be sure you’re doing it solely for the health benefits. Many people fall into the trap of skipping three healthy meals in favor of one unhealthy meal, but this won’t lead to success. The key to lasting, effective weight loss is to enjoy the foods you love, but to do so in moderation.

For those who don’t know how to enjoy foods in moderation, the Lap-Band® Program can help. After receiving the Lap-Band, you will also receive expert care and guidance on how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing the foods you love. Get started by finding a Lap-Band surgeon near you.

You’ve probably heard adaptive fitness discussed in the context of individuals who have suffered accidents or have disabilities that impact the way they move. However, adaptive fitness can also be an important part of your weight-loss journey after the Lap-Band® procedure.

Adaptive fitness includes exercises that are modified to accommodate people with temporary or permanent disabilities. When it comes to exercising after the Lap-Band procedure, trainers use adaptive fitness to develop plans for individuals who may have trouble doing certain exercises due to their weight.

The importance of exercise after Lap-Band

Individuals who undergo bariatric surgery, like the Lap-Band Program, are overweight or obese. During the aftercare process, exercise will be an important part of encouraging healthy weight loss, along with a balanced diet, portion control, hydration, and healthy sleep habits. For overweight and obese individuals who have just started their weight-loss journey, completing certain exercises may be difficult or impossible

For instance, you may not be able to squat deep enough to benefit from the move. Some poses may be uncomfortable because of the pressure they put on your joints, or you may have trouble getting up off the floor repeatedly for certain exercises.

How adaptive fitness can help you exercise after Lap-Band surgery

Adaptive fitness is all about doing moves that are comfortable. This means focusing on low-impact exercises that take your range of movement into consideration. After your Lap-Band surgery, you should start slow and work up to more difficult exercises once you are more comfortable. If you have limited mobility in certain areas due to excess weight, work on building strength in other areas.

Many of our patients find exercising in water to be easier on their joints. It’s a great way to work on cardiovascular fitness in a supported, low-impact environment. Other examples of adaptive fitness exercises include doing push-ups against the wall instead of the ground and staying seated while performing exercises. After Lap-Band, you should start your fitness journey by working on increasing your stability and flexibility.

Exercise will not only help you lose weight after Lap-Band—it will also help relieve stress and anxiety and improve your self-esteem and mood. Just remember, there’s a difference between pain and muscle soreness. If you feel stabbing or sharp pain during exercise, stop immediately and contact your doctor.

Learn more about the Lap-Band Program with our free online seminar, or check out the Lap-Band blog for more tips on diet and fitness after bariatric surgery.

Refreshing your workout routine doesn’t have to be complicated. A previous article recently touched on four ways to rejuvenate your exercise regimen. For those looking for more specific changes, this second part of the original article can give you more interesting workout ideas to help you keep things exciting.

Interesting workout ideas for cardio

Cardiovascular exercise is essential for burning calories, but hitting the treadmill isn’t the answer for everyone. Luckily, there are many types of cardio from which you can choose. If the traditional treadmill isn’t for you, you can try the elliptical or cycling. Those who take to the water may instead try their hand at rowing or swimming, which are great for breaking a sweat. If you’re hoping to stick with your machinery of choice but still need a change of pace, you can instead incorporate high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into your routine.

All these exercises serve the same purpose: burning calories, reducing fat, and improving cardiovascular health. After considering the options and trying something new, a fun workout is easy to find. You might even find a passion for an alternative form of exercise and begin practicing it regularly. If you’re having trouble, Lap-Band® patients can consult with their team to find fun ways to exercise safely and effectively.

Fun strength exercise ideas

When people think of strength exercises, they often picture barbells or rows of dumbbells at their gym. But people cultivate strength in multiple ways, and these ways may provide some fun types of exercise to keep things stimulating. Traditional lifting isn’t the only way to build muscles and enhance your metabolism; instead, there are many interesting strength training exercises for you to try.

Jazzercise is just one example of exercises you can use to cultivate strength. People who try it often compliment this form of exercise for its combination of dance, strength, and resistance training. Some people may be hoping to shed the weights altogether. For these people, bodyweight exercises can offer a similar level of strength, remove monotony, and be done almost anywhere. If you want something far out of the ordinary, there are always interesting exercises like calisthenics, isometrics, and plyometrics.

Incorporating fun workout ideas

Cardiovascular exercise and strength training are critical for weight loss. But the same routines can quickly become tedious. Lap-Band Patients can use the expertise of their support team to adopt new exercises and keep their routine interesting. When you feel your current practice is waning, you can talk with your physician about incorporating new activities into your routine.

When you want to know more about the Lap-Band and the Lap-Band Program, you can register for our free online seminar.

When considering bariatric surgery, one of the most common concerns people have is their ability to get pregnant after the procedure. Is pregnancy possible after weight-loss surgery? The short answer is yes—bariatric surgery can even help ease some obesity-related pregnancy risks. However, for those planning for both bariatric surgery and pregnancy in the future, the Lap-Band® Program may offer some distinct advantages over other forms of bariatric surgery.

Pregnancy after weight-loss surgery

With any type of bariatric surgery, people who are or may soon become pregnant should not undergo the procedure. After procedures like the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, pregnancy is possible, but it’s recommended you wait at least 12–24 months for your weight to stabilize. You will need to take precautions to safeguard the health of you and your future child, and the pregnancy will need to be closely managed by your health care provider.

Unlike the Lap-Band Procedure, the gastric sleeve and gastric band surgeries are malabsorptive—they alter your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food. As such, they often require extensive supplement routines to prevent nutritional deficiencies. To ensure your child is getting the nutrients they need, your weight-loss team will need to monitor your nutrition throughout your pregnancy, which may require more supplements.

Pregnancy after the Lap-Band procedure

For those who plan to get pregnant, the Lap-Band Program may be the right choice. As with other surgeries, it’s recommended you wait 12–24 months before getting pregnant. You will lose the majority of your weight in the first year after surgery, so getting pregnant can be counterproductive to your weight-loss goals.

Because the Lap-Band is fully adjustable to your unique and changing needs, it can remain in place during pregnancy. Depending on your specific situation, your doctor may recommend loosening it to allow of larger portions or emptying it entirely before giving birth. If, for any reason, the Lap-Band needed to be removed during your pregnancy, the procedure is completely reversible.

One of the greatest benefits for people considering the Lap-Band is that the surgery doesn’t involve a partial amputation of the stomach or digestive tract, unlike the gastric sleeve or bypass. This means the Lap-Band is not a malabsorptive procedure, making it easier for your body to continue getting the nutrients it needs. Lap-Band patients typically only take a daily multivitamin post-surgery—you may need additional vitamins and minerals during pregnancy, but you won’t need to worry about the expensive, extensive supplement routines associated with other types of weight-loss surgery.

The benefits of pregnancy after losing weight with the Lap-Band

Losing weight with the Lap-Band can result in a safer overall pregnancy. There are several obesity-related pregnancy complications, the risk of which may be reduced by losing weight pre-pregnancy. These complications include:

Gestational diabetes
Hypertension
Longer labor
Increased risk for C-section
High birth weight
Postpartum hemorrhage

In addition, obesity can negatively affect fertility—losing weight may mean faster and more successful conception. The Lap-Band can also help you maintain healthy portion control during your pregnancy, helping you stay on track with your overall weight-loss goals.

To learn more about the advantages of the Lap-Band Program, watch our online seminar. Ready to get started on your weight-loss journey? Find a Lap-Band surgeon near you.

Readers may have caught the seven tips for success with the Lap-Band® from an earlier article. For those who want more guidelines for success, this article will cover four more recommendations for those embarking on their weight-loss journey with the Lap-Band Program.

Vary your exercise routine

Exercise will help you manage your weight over time, but certain routines can grow stale. Luckily, you can vary your exercise routine to find novelty. If you’re becoming tired of traditional cardio and weightlifting, you can accomplish the same goals with different exercises. Those who usually stick to the treadmill can instead take up swimming, while those who grow bored of weights can switch to calisthenics or plyometrics.

Some alternative forms of exercise can keep you active and allow you to develop new skills. Practices like yoga, tai chi, or dancing can keep you on the path to weight loss and give you an exciting activity in which you can find novelty and community.

Focus on your mental health

Your mental health is critical while undertaking your weight-loss journey. If you ever feel that your mental health is trending downward, you may resort to old habits, even using food as a comfort in stressful times. During your journey with the Lap-Band, it’s essential to closely monitor your mental health and take steps to support it.

When patients opt for the Lap-Band, their team will incorporate a few practices that enhance mental health. These practices might include things like journaling, meditation, or finding additional sources of support. Of course, the changes to your diet and exercise habits will also improve your mental health–further supporting your weight-loss journey.

Follow your team’s advice

Patients who undergo bariatric surgery with the Lap-Band Program benefit from having a team of experts at their side. One of the best things bariatric patients can do is heed the advice of their team and work with them to experience the maximum results.

After receiving the Lap-Band, your support team will work with you to establish healthy habits like diet, exercise, and self-care. Staff within the Lap-Band Program are experts; they know the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Additionally, these staff members understand the most successful methods for achieving your goals and making them last as long as you continue your journey.

Stick with the Lap-Band Program

One of the most significant predictors of success is adherence. If you stick to the Lap-Band Program after receiving the Lap-Band surgery, you’ll continue to see results if you are diligent. Effective weight loss is a marathon; it may take months or even longer to achieve your goal weight. However, if you can adhere to the program, you’ll almost certainly see results over time.

Are you interested in starting your weight-loss journey with the Lap-Band? Get started by learning more about this bariatric procedure by viewing the free online seminar.

Last year we published an article on the concept of food cues—what they are and how to recognize them. In case you missed it, food cues are triggers that cause the desire to eat, whether you’re hungry or not. They come in almost every form, including visual, olfactory, auditory, and emotional. This includes everything from boredom to the smell of a cooking burger, to neon signs advertising fast food.

Food cues are everywhere. Unrecognized and unmanaged, they can lead to mindless eating, which, in turn, can lead to weight gain. In this article, we turn out attention to strategies to help you manage your food cues and keep them from sabotaging your healthy weight loss.

Your personal food cues

The first step to developing strategies to combat your food cues is understanding your personal triggers. Not everyone responds to food cues in the same way. Wherever you are in your weight-loss journey, spend a few weeks analyzing your desires to eat and identifying what triggers those urges.

Maybe driving past your favorite café cues you to stop for a sugary coffee and pastry. Maybe watching a movie automatically cues you to pop some popcorn, even if you just ate dinner. Or maybe, your emotions play a role in your desire to eat, with negative feelings triggering you to reach for a snack. Whatever your personal food cues are, identifying them and understanding their causes will make it much easier to develop strategies for managing them.

How to overcome food cues

Eliminate the food cue

For some food cues, it may be possible to avoid, replace, or even entirely eliminate the cue. If seeing that café on your way to work is a trigger, take a different route to eliminate the cue. If having an unhealthy treat around the house cues you to eat, stop buying the food. It’s also shown that people tend to eat more when they use larger dishes—adapt that food cue by using smaller plates and bowls for your meals.

Wait, water, walk

The 3 Ws are a fantastic strategy for managing food cues:

Wait: set a timer for ten minutes. Sometimes waiting out the urge to eat will allow the trigger to fade on its own.
Water: pour a glass of water. Thirst can feel very similar to hunger, so some extra hydration may quell the food cue.
Walk: go for a short walk. Physical activity is a great distractor from hunger and can help clear the urge from your mind.

Hunger cues, not food cues

If you’re still unsure whether you’ve been triggered by a food cue or if you’re actually hungry, turn to the physical signs of hunger. Food cues trigger “emotional hunger,” as opposed to “physical hunger.” As the name implies, physical hunger has physical signs you can recognize, not just psychological urges. These signs include:

Empty-feeling or “growling” stomach
Headache or light-headedness
Irritability
Inability to focus
Fatigue or low energy
Shakiness or weakness

Healthy weight loss with the Lap-Band® Program

Along with diet and exercise, understanding and managing your personal food cues are vital parts of your weight-loss journey. However, for some people, healthy eating habits and exercise may not be enough to reach their desired weight. If you have a BMI of 40—or 30 with at least one obesity-related comorbidity—and have a history of unsuccessful weight-loss via diet and exercise, the Lap-Band® Program may be your next step to a healthier lifestyle.

The Lap-Band is an adjustable gastric band that is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. This sections off a smaller stomach “pouch,” which helps control your feelings of hunger, as well as the amount of food you can consume. The Lap-Band Program features a faster recovery than other bariatric procedures, as well as sustainable, long-lasting weight loss. Learn more about how the Lap-Band Program works, or find more tips for weight-loss success on our blog.

Drinking enough water should be a priority for everyone, but for people who’ve had weight-loss surgery, like the Lap-Band® Procedure, hydration is especially important. Dehydration is one of the most common reasons bariatric patients return to the hospital after their surgery. However, getting the proper amount of water can be difficult for bariatric patients who are still adjusting to their smaller stomach size and new eating habits. Whether you’re a recent Lap-Band patient or just beginning your weight-loss journey, try these tips for staying hydrated.

How dehydration affects your health and weight loss

Not only can dehydration negatively affect your health, but drinking the proper amount of water can actually aid in your weight loss. Dehydration leads to fatigue, leaving you with less energy to exercise and making you more likely to make unhealthy food choices. Water is instrumental in almost every bodily function, including metabolizing food. Low water levels means your digestion rate is slowed, which can increase your difficulty in losing weight.

Water acts as a natural appetite suppressant, causing the feeling of fullness. Hunger and thirst also feel very similar, so before you reach for a snack, try drinking a glass of water to see if it reduces your hunger.

Staying hydrated after the Lap-Band procedure

During the Lap-Band procedure, an adjustable gastric band is placed around the upper section of the stomach. This creates a small pouch that can hold a limited amount of food and fluid, helping you control your feelings of hunger. While the Lap-Band does lead to lasting, sustainable weight loss, it will also require you to make some adjustments to stay properly hydrated.

Sip, don’t chug

Drinking too fast and too much at once can cause nausea and vomiting after your weight-loss surgery. Instead, aim to sip your water throughout the day. If this isn’t a habit for you, try using a hydration tracker app or timer to remind you to meet your goals.

Don’t drink with meals

To avoid over-filling your stomach pouch, avoid drinking 30 minutes before and after your meals. This also helps prevent washing food through your stomach pouch.

Avoid dehydrating and carbonated drinks

Try to avoid dehydrating drinks like coffee, caffeinated soda, and alcohol. If you want variety in your fluids, try adding fruit to your water for some extra flavor. Steer clear of carbonated drinks, too—all those bubbles can cause bloating and stomach discomfort.

Know the signs of dehydration

One of the most important tips for staying hydrated after starting the Lap-Band Program: know the signs of dehydration.

Extreme thirst
Dizziness
Fatigue
Dark yellow urine
Light-headedness or headache
Dry lips and mouth
Confusion
Elevated pulse
Infrequent urination

Of course, you shouldn’t wait until you notice these signs to drink water, but knowing the symptoms can help you prevent your dehydration from getting worse.

Looking for more tips for success after your Lap-Band procedure? Visit our website for all the resources you need to get on track to a healthier lifestyle.

When it comes to losing weight, there are plenty of options for surgical bariatric procedures, like the Lap-Band®. However, it can be difficult to know when you qualify as a candidate for bariatric surgery. There are several factors you should consider when addressing your eligibility for Lap-Band, including your BMI, behavioral health, and mental health.

Qualifying for bariatric surgery: body mass index

Your BMI, or body mass index, plays a large role in determining your eligibility for bariatric surgery. Qualifications vary based on the type of procedure. Most procedures require a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35 or higher if you have one or more obesity-related conditions. However, the Lap-Band has been approved for patients who have a BMI of 30 with one or more comorbidities. These comorbidities include obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis, among others.

Qualifying for bariatric surgery: behavioral and mental health factors

In addition to your BMI, there are multiple behavioral and metal health factors that should be considered when determining your eligibility for the Lap-Band Program.

Motivation

Weight loss doesn’t occur without hard work. Diet and exercise are a vital part of weight-loss success after surgery. Before starting the Lap-Band Program, assess your motivation to determine whether you’re committed to making the necessary lifestyle changes.

Weight-loss history

When considering your eligibility, your doctor will also consider your past experiences with diet and exercise. Bariatric procedures like the Lap-Band are not “quick fixes” to lose weight. If traditional diet and exercise have not worked for you in the past, then the Lap-Band may be an option.

Eating behaviors

It’s important to understand that the Lap-Band Program isn’t just about losing weight—it’s a step toward a healthier lifestyle. Your relationship with food should also be examined to understand how your eating habits will have to change. For example, if you’re an emotional eater, you’ll need to come up with alternative ways to handle stress.

Mood disorders

Some mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, are associated with obesity. Untreated, these disorders can inhibit your weight-loss success after surgery. Like eating behaviors, they should be addressed before starting the Lap-Band Program.

Alcohol and drugs

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs play a role in weight-loss success. Unmanaged problems with consumption may impede weight loss and prevent you from qualifying for bariatric surgery.

Choosing the Lap-Band system

For those who qualify for bariatric surgery, the Lap-Band Program offers several distinct advantages. Among the surgical weight-loss options, the Lap-Band may be the best solution for gradual and sustainable weight loss. During the Lap-Band procedure, an adjustable silicone band is place around the upper portion of the stomach. This band is adjustable, allowing your weight-loss solution to change as your needs change. Because the Lap-Band procedure involves no partial amputation of the stomach or intestines, it’s also the only bariatric procedure that’s completely reversible.

To learn more about whether you qualify for the Lap-Band Program, register for our online seminar, or find a Lap-Band surgeon near you.