April Showers Bring May Flowers

………there is always a silver lining, the glass is half full, hard work has its rewards-I could go on and on but you get the idea. The work we do with our bands whether it is coming in for follow up or going to Nutrition classes, taking small bites and chewing slowly, making good choices and separating liquids and solids, going to the gym or just moving more-has a downstream pay-off. Sometimes it just takes longer to realize it. Patience is a virtue and we are in the weight loss/weight maintenance business for the long haul. This is not a time limited or finish line oriented endeavor. This is forever. What is the difference between bandsters at their goal and bandsters just starting out? Absolutely nothing! Bandsters at their goal continue to do all the things that made them successful otherwise they won't stay at goal very long. Succeeding with the band means committing to a new lifestyle-the banded lifestyle. For most that means that bread, rice, pasta, fast eating, and large bites are things of the past.

Ahh April and the start of the baseball season. Hope springs eternal. Every team and every player gets a fresh start, a chance to improve, to impress, to win. This is also band season and the same opportunities are there for the motivated bandster. The days are warmer and longer. There is ample opportunity between now and the first November frost to get out and move. Walk, run, bike, hike, swim just get out and move. You have 8 months to enjoy the outdoors and the fresh air. Get out and do it. Saturday June 9th is Walpole Day and the sponsored 5K walk, jog, run. Last year we had 50 participants. This year I want 100! It is 2 months away so put it on your calendar, register with me or Jane, janesylvestre@massweightloss.com, and start training. A 5K is about 3 miles. The average person can walk a 20 minute mile. 3 miles and 1 hour. I am not asking for very much. I want 1 hour of your time on a Saturday morning and I am paying for it. I just want you up and out and moving.

The other day a patient reminded me of the Seven P's of planning and success: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Pitifully Poor Performance. That and the corollary: "Failing to plan is planning to fail" couldn't be more true of the LapBand experience. You have to have a plan for your follow-up, for your exercise, for your meals. Every single interaction with food has to be thought out, planned out, and executed to perfection. There can be no mindless eating. There can be no poor choices. You are responsible for what goes in your mouth. You and you alone. The band is there to help you feel satisfied with less BUT only when you make good choices! I and my team are there to coach you, support you, encourage you, and maintain your band but we can't come home with you. We can't supervise every bite or drive you to the gym. You have got to get motivated, get inspired, and live the banded life.

There is so much going on here at SWLS and not enough of you are taking advantage of it. Tuesday April 10th Dr. Jeffrey Darrow gave a fantastic talk about post-weight loss plastic surgery and reconstruction. It was educational and inspiring. 25 or so bandsters benefitted but many more could have. To learn more about Dr. Darrow and reconstructive surgery visit www.darrowcosmeticsurgery.com. Every Wednesday night is "the Adam's Family" on-line support group and chat. There are over 1100 bandsters in our "family," over 50 registrants to the chat room BUT only a dozen or so who routinely participate. The group is EVERY Wednesday night from 7-8 pm and is found at www.obesityhelp.com. The name of the group is "the Adam's Family." Sign in, check it out. I promise you'll be glad you did. Twice a month there are support groups here in the office. Once a month we have the Veterans Group for those bandsters who have had their band for a year or more. The next Veterans Group is Thursday May 3rd at 7 pm. Tuesday April 17th at 6 pm is our third Game Night. Game Night is an informal gathering of bandsters here at the office. It is a chance to play cards, scrabble, or whatever else you fancy in the casual company of fellow bandsters.

Dr. Gene Newman came to a recent support group and made what I thought was a great observation "if ALL that changes is your weight, it isn't enough!" His point was that while our weight is the major focus of our efforts we can't neglect the emotional, psychological, and social aspects of our lives and must acknowledge how our weight loss changes us and those around us. There are real, significant, and challenging issues that develop when we lose weight and if we don't recognize and deal with them it can jeopardize or long-term success. Dr. Newman and the rest of the team are always happy and available to help you deal with issues and stresses. Support group and on-line chat can be additional outlets and avenues to help manage these associated challenges.

As always, I wish you health, happiness and success and pledge to do my best to help you attain all that you strive for. I am always available on email adam@massweightloss.com, on my cell phone 508 801 7018 and of course through the office 508 668 4400. I look forward to seeing you again soon.