May 2014 Blog

May Menagerie

A few quick dates of note:

Thursday May 8^th at 630 pm is Game Night.  Game Night is a totally patient run evening of fun and games.  It begins with a pot-luck weight-loss friendly dinner and ends only when the laughs and good times do too.  You should definitely plan to attend and connect with old friends and make new ones.  I have NEVER talked to anyone who regretted going to Game Night. 

Thursday May 8^th and Tuesday May 20^th at 7 pm is Info Seminar.  If you know anyone who is contemplating or considering Lap-Band or Sleeve surgery send them along.  Info Seminar is a great way to learn more about weight loss surgery and to talk with a patient who has been through the experience.  Always happy to have current Bandsters and Sleevesters bring their interested friends and family.

Tuesday May 13^th and Thursday May 29^th at 7 pm is Support Group.  If you haven’t ever been to a Support Group or just haven’t been for a while you really must give it a try.  Every group begins with a fabulous educational program conducted by our team Nutritionists Jane and Linda.  The second half of the group is devoted to an open discussion of the issues.  Nothing is off limits and everything is up for discussions.  Come and talk or just sit and soak it up.  Either way you really must give Support Group a try.

Thursday May 22^nd at 7 pm is Sleeve Support Group.  Don’t miss our first ever Sleeve Support Group.  Of course everyone is welcome but this will be a night devoted to discussing Sleeve and the issues that Sleevesters face.  It is also a chance to meet fellow Sleevesters now numbering more than 30.  If you are a Sleevester, don’t miss this night.

Thursday May 29^th at 8 pm is Clothing Exchange.  This is a great chance to do your spring cleaning and empty your drawers and closets of all the clothes that are too big, too small, or just “not you anymore.”  Bring them to the office anytime between now and the 29^th.  We will fold them, sort them, and display them.  This is the 3^rd or even 4^th year that we have done this and it is a fun and fabulous adventure.  Thank you to Bandster extraordinaire Libby M without whom the Clothing Exchange would never happen.

Saturday June 14^th at 9 am is the Walpole Day 5K.  This is the 4^th or maybe even 5^th year that we have done this fabulous walk, run, race together.  Some of our Walpole Day 5K alums have even gone on to run MARATHONS!!!!!  This is a great way to get your summer exercise program off to a “running” start.  Remember-I finish last so no one else has to.  You’ve still got 6 weeks to get in shape and “Couch to 5K” is a great way to do it.  I really hope to see you there.  One year we had 40 “Bandsters” in the race.  I would love to beat that this year.

Wow, sitting down to write that all I realize there is a lot going on.  I hope you can find time to get involved.

Random thoughts:

We need MENTORS!!!!!  Anyone with Lap-Band experience who is willing to share with their knowledge is a worthy candidate.  Please let me know if you are interested.  It is impossible to overstate the importance of mentoring to the novice “bandster” or “sleevester.”  That said, the Mentor often gets as much or more out of the experience than the Mentee.

Jane continues to offer an incredible one Monday Night a month educational series.  Check out the schedule and register at the front desk.

The Bandalicious Cookbook is on this very website under “Blogs/News.”  You have got to check it out.  It is a 100+ page labor of love by Jane and the “bandsters.”  It is full of surgery friendly recipes, suggestions, and knowledge.  You are really missing out if you don’t take a look at the cookbook.

Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up:  for almost everyone it is a key to successful and sustained weight loss.  The more you follow-up the more weight you lose.  Plan to come at least monthly till you reach your goal and plan to come as needed but never less than annually to maintain your goal.  I really hope to see you again soon.

I am here to help.  Don’t be a stranger.  Email me anytime.  Call anytime.  Come to the office.

I wish you a magnificent May.

Adam