January Jottings

Happy New Year to all. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and successful 2012.

This year has been an exciting one for me personally and professionally and I want to share a few of the highlights. Working roughly in reverse order, on December 17th we moved in to our new fabulous office at 278 Union Street in East Walpole. New Phone 508-668-4400, new fax 508-668-4420, and of course as always my cell 508-801-7018. The new office is the culmination of almost one year of hard and diligent work by my wonderful wife and business partner, Jordana, and our amazing General Contractor Bryan Haynes, of The Haynes Group. If you ever need construction work done, whether residential or commercial, Bryan is the man to call. Jordana is a great project manager but I won't share her. The office is big and bright and cheery and accessible. You really must come to visit, if only just to see the new space.

The same weekend that we moved, my son Sam was accepted early decision to college. Jordana and I are very proud of him and excited that all his hard work in high school has paid off with admission to his first choice college. As hard as it is to think of him leaving home and growing up, I am comforted by the knowledge that so many of you have gone through similar transitions. One of the really rewarding aspects of my job is that I get to talk with patients in detail about the challenges in their lives and so many of them revolve around their children-both young and old. I learn so much from these discussions and file so much away for use and comfort at a later time.

On November 3rd, 6 years to the day that I started doing Lap-Bands, I and my team did our 1000th Lap-Band procedure. There is no way we reach that milestone without the incredible work of my office and hospital team and the trust and commitment of the best patients on earth.

In September, my son Ari started his freshman year in high school. Could I be old enough that my baby is a high school freshman? Aghhh….. I guess I am. In fact I am old enough that just last week I turned 45. Last week I also "decided" that I would live to be 90 (G-d willing) and that I was thus exactly middle age. Ari has made a seamless transition to high school. He is excelling in the classroom and on the basketball court. He is getting great grades and was elected Captain of the Freshman Basketball Team. With my capable team of clinicians watching my back, I have been able to sneak out early a few afternoons to watch him play and it is so exciting.

The "family" grew in September with the addition of Marianne Matz, RN NP to our clinical team. Marianne is not only my cousin but a fabulous Nurse Practitioner who comes to us with over a decade of Primary Care experience. She also speaks Spanish and loves to work with patients to achieve their goals. If you haven't already had a visit with her, you really should. Marianne is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

June was the start of summer as well as the beginning of the Anne era. Anne Chiavegato, PA joined us from the Brockton Hospital Emergency Room. Trust me, if you can take care of heart attacks and car accidents, you can do a band fill or two. Anne is very experienced in patient care and has completely embraced the slower but just as impassioned care involved in treating Lap-Band patients. Anne is cool, calm, and collected. If you haven't had a visit with her, now is the time. Anne is in on Mondays and Tuesdays and often available for off hour emergencies.

April was Arthur's retirement and, though it was bitter sweet, we are all doing fine and happy for this wonderful transition. Dad has had a fabulous 9 months post-retirement. I think it has been everything he expected it would be and more. Right now, Mom and Dad are in Miami with relatives. He is soooo retired. Good for him. I am happy for him and hope that when my time comes I will be able to walk away with the same grace and lack of regret that Dad did.

Well that pretty much recaps the year. Though you've just read all the "big" news I sure would love to have you come in just to chat and catch up. I would love to know what is going on in your life. Remember, no matter how long you have been away, you can always come back. And you should always come back. The more you follow up the more weight you lose.

What follows is an essay I wrote for a local paper. I don't know if it will ever get published but I do think it is worth sharing. Hope you enjoy and find something of value. Best wishes for a wonderful 2012. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Food for Thought

Musings on Weight Loss in the New Year

As a Lap-Band surgeon who has helped over 1000 people to lose weight and maintain a happy and healthy relationship with food, I would like to offer a few helpful thoughts so that you too might do the same.

In Judaism there is an oft repeated parable about a student who asks of his wise professor "teach me the Torah while I stand on one leg." The professor responds "love thy neighbor as thyself as all the rest is commentary." Imagine that, the Five Books of Moses distilled in to 1 sentence. A similar approach works quite well for weight loss and weight maintenance-EAT CHICKEN, FISH, & BEEF, FRUITS & VEGETABLES-ALL IN MODERATION AND EXERCISE-all the rest is commentary.

Why chicken, fish, and beef? Because lean protein only contains 3.5 calories per gram of food compared to 4 calories per gram in carbohydrates, otherwise known as starch, and 9 calories per gram in fat. Protein, in contrast to carbohydrate and fat, is not stored. Your body uses the protein that it needs to build new tissue, especially muscle, and then excretes the rest. During digestion, protein is more likely to be filling and satisfying because it takes longer to digest and stays in the stomach longer.

Fruits and vegetables are good for you because they are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Fruits and vegetable have a high water content and other than a small amount of natural sugar are basically free of calories. It is best to eat fruits and vegetables fresh and raw. If you do cook them, steaming is best. Remember to leave off the butter, salt, and high calorie sauces. You don't need them.

Exercise is vital because it burns calories. When we consume more calories than we burn-we gain weight. When we burn more calories than we consume-we lose weight. Eat less and exercise more and weight loss is easy. I know, easy to say and hard to do but there's no reason not to try. Exercise doesn't need to be dramatic to be effective. You don't need a gym membership, a personal trainer, $100 sneakers, or a new sweat suit to exercise. Any activity that gets you moving more than you do currently is valuable. Take the stairs, park in the farthest spot away from your destination, go for short walks in your neighborhood or even just around your house. The key is just to get up and move.

A remarkable thing about weight loss is that a little goes a long way. 25 pounds of weight loss will typically improve a person's diabetes and high blood pressure as well as breathing, energy levels, and bone and joint discomfort even if that same person still needs to lose 50 pounds or more. Once a person starts losing and their health and happiness start increasing it becomes that much easier to stay on track, to eat well, to exercise, to keep losing, or if you are at goal to maintain.

For those who have tried to lose and been transiently successful weight loss surgery may be an option. The goal of weight loss surgery, whether it is a Lap-Band, By-Pass, or the newer Sleeve is to help a person not only lose weight but maintain a healthy weight. To be a candidate a person must be approximately 100 lbs overweight. Insurance will typically cover the surgery which is done laparoscopically and often involves only an overnight hospital stay. The best way to learn more about weight loss surgery is to attend an information seminar which all reputable weight loss centers offer on a free and ongoing basis.

I wish you a very happy and healthy 2012 and wish you great success on your weight loss journey.