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Wednesday January 20 2010posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

This Winter, we changed our blogging software, and we're still working on re-integrating the new software to this space. In the meantime, feel free to check out the latest news at http://blog.moreoflife.com

Wednesday December 02 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center's Referral Rewards Program is a way for our patients to help their friends and reward themselves for the effort after their LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band Surgeries.

After surgery, patients can register for Weight Loss Surgical Center's Referral Rewards Program with a unique code given to them at their local clinic.

Next, patients begin to collect points. They earn 100 reward points just for signing up.

Tuesday December 01 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We have a winner in our LAP-BAND Auction for TLC for Children and Families. The winning bid came in at the reserve price, just in the nick of time last Wednesday afternoon before the 5 p.m. deadline.

The LAP-BAND Auction was launched on October 20 at TLC for Children and Families' gala auction. It seemed an unusual silent auction item will be among the gift and wine packages normally seen at a charity auction, but the auction would allow one lucky person to get a great deal on a LAP-BAND Surgery from Weight Loss Surgical Center.

Wednesday November 25 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We have added a small library of materials about the LAP-BAND System to our website so people can learn more about the LAP-BAND System before they come in for their initial consultation. The series includes 4 PDF documents (the LAP-BAND Brochure, the LAP-BAND vs. Gastric Bypass comparison chart, a LAP-BAND Fact Sheet and the LAP-BAND Program Guide). Visit our LAP-BAND Library to download your materials today!

Tuesday November 17 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

First, let me remind all our readers that we do not do gastric bypass surgeries. We specialize in adjustable gastric band surgeries, because we believe they are a safe and effective tool for weight loss when used correctly.

This morning I read this piece on the mortality rate of gastric bypass on one of my favorite sources for commentary on the latest weight loss surgery studies.

Monday November 16 2009posted by Heidi - Total Comments: 0

Does drinking water really help you lose weight? The answer is yes, and it's a lot more important to your weight loss journey than you may think!

Monday November 16 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

The TLC for Children and Families‘ special silent auction item - a LAP-BAND Surgery from Weight Loss Surgical Center is still available for bid until Nov. 25. Anyone who would like to place a bid should call me at 913-378-2109 for details.

Friday November 13 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

There have been reports about health concerns and high fructose corn syrup for years, and a new study indicates a link between hypertension and high fructose corn syrup.

At the University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center Diana Jalal, MD, led a study of 4,528 adults 18 years of age or older with no prior history of hypertension (high blood pressure). The team found that people who consumed more two and a half cans of a sugary soft drink raised their risk of high blood pressure readings. A report in Science Daily said:

Wednesday November 11 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center announced today that it will build a new specialty hospital to expand its services to more patients seeking the adjustable gastric band procedure for weight loss.

Weight Loss Surgical Center currently operates an ambulatory surgery center at 8101 W 135th Street in Overland Park. The new facility, to be located at 12850 Metcalf Avenue and named Blue Valley Hospital, will be licensed as an acute care hospital.

Thursday November 05 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A recent study confirms what many LAP-BAND patients already believed: We overeat if we eat too fast.

LAP-BAND patients know that they have to eat much slower than they did before the band for comfort's sake, but a study from Laiko General Hospital in Athens showed that speedy eating actually slowed the release of hormones that make you feel full.

"Our study provides a possible explanation for the relationship between speed eating and overeating by showing that the rate at which someone eats may impact the release of gut hormones that signal the brain to stop eating," said Dr. Alexander Kokkinos.

Wednesday November 04 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A new study is in the news today saying that morbidly obese adolescents could benefit from adjustable gastric band surgery, such as the LAP-BAND System or REALIZE Band Solution.

The study noted impoved glucose metabolism, and bone density or growth was not adversely affected. The idea of surgical weight loss options like adjustable gastric bands for adolescents is highly controversial, so we will surely see more about this in the news in the years to come.

Monday November 02 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

TLC's Auction was a great success, but it did not produce a "Buy it Now" bid for our LAP-BAND Surgery, and the reserve has not been met, so we're continuing the auction over the next few weeks via phone. Anyone who wishes to make a bid between now and November 25 at 5 p.m. can do so by calling me at 913-378-2109. I'll post updates any day we get bids.

Saturday October 31 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Here are the details on this month's Weight Loss Surgical Center LAP-BAND Support Groups.

As always, you are welcome to attend if you have already had LAP-BAND Surgery or REALIZE Band Surgery, if you are considering an adjustable gastric band and would like to learn more from people who already have one, if you have had other bariatric procedures and would like some extra support, or even if you're using traditional weight-loss methods and would like a supportive environment to help you through your weight loss challenges.

Here are the details for November:

Friday October 30 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

If you're reading this blog, you're probably concerned with weight issues and are probably already aware of the childhood obesity epidemic in this country. Halloween presents an interesting challenge for people who want to celebrate this autumn tradition but also want to set a good example when it comes to health.

Here are some treat ideas instead of sugary snacks:

Thursday October 29 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Those of us with extra weight often don't like yard work because it usually occurs in the heat of summer, but during the autumn, you can start to get your lawn and yourself into shape for next year.

1. Rake - If you have a lot of trees, this could be a weekly activity, and it involves several muscle groups.

Wednesday October 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

If you're looking for a LAP-BAND Surgeon or investigating LAP-BAND Surgery, you have probably noticed that most surgeons or practices encourage you to take a LAP-BAND Seminar before you can schedule an appointment.

Often, these LAP-BAND Seminars are held at conference rooms in hotels or other public facilities and feature a speaker discussing LAP-BAND Surgery and how it compares with other bariatric procedures, such as Roux-en-Y. Some surgeons charge money for the seminars, though most allow people in for free. At Weight Loss Surgical Center, we handle our LAP-BAND seminars differently.

Tuesday October 27 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

At TLC for Children and Families‘ gala auction on October 30, one unusual silent auction item will be among the gift and wine packages normally seen at a charity auction. At this auction one lucky person potentially will get a great deal on a LAP-BAND Surgery from Weight Loss Surgical Center.

Anyone attending the event can bid on the surgery, although the actual recipient of the surgery must be able to meet surgical requirements.

Monday October 26 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center has added a new Twitter page so Twitter users can follow our blog from the site and more easily share articles and information from us with their friends.

Feel free to leave us messages or ask questions there, on our Facebook profile or in our online Weight Loss Support Group Forum.

Tuesday October 20 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 5

We contacted the winner of our Mom Deserves More of Life LAP-BAND Giveaway yesterday, and she has agreed to come in to meet with the surgeon to discuss the next steps in her LAP-BAND journey. We'll make a public announcement of who the winner is soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

Thank you to everyone who entered their mothers or loved ones in the contest. There were a lot of very moving stories that made the selection process an emotional time for us. I also want to especially thank the finalists who came in for medical screenings and interviews last week. Thank you so much for sharing your time and stories with us. We met a lot of wonderful and interesting people with great life experiences and powerful aspirations. Just because we selected the winner, please don't think that it's your last opportunity to get more of life.

Monday October 19 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 2

Weight Loss Surgical Center's marketing rep from Johnson & Johnson, David Brucker, came to this month's Overland Park Support Group meeting to discuss the REALIZE Band's support website REALIZE mySUCCESS. He shared with the group a clinicial study that revealed that people who use the REALIZE mySUCCESS website were able to lose an additional 10 percent of their excess weight compared to their peers who did not use the site.

Support group participants learned about how to take advantage of the site's food, weight and excercise logs and how to use the online tools to communicate with their REALIZE Band care provider.

Friday October 16 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Many people assume that insurance does not cover LAP-BAND surgeries, but that is not entirely true. In the past, it may have been "too new," or "too experimental," despite its FDA approval, but most insurance companies offer weight loss surgery - including LAP-BAND surgery - benefits on some plans.

Unfortunately, the insurance plans covering LAP-BAND surgery tend to be the top-of-the-line or premium packages that get overlooked by employers during recessions, or they are an add-on benefit that gets taken off to reduce costs. Fortunately, at Weight Loss Surgical Center, we have a staff of insurance specialists who will study your plan and work with your insurer to make sure you meet all the qualifications, and they will even file appeals for you if you are denied so that you can get any benefits that you have coming to you under your plan.

Thursday October 15 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A couple months ago I posted a list of bloggers who had LAP-BAND surgeries and used their blog for support, motivation and accountability.

I regularly search for new blogs and I find all kinds of interesting suggestions and conversations happening on the Internet about losing weight with LAP-BAND Surgeries. Here's my question to you: have you considered adding your voice?

Saturday October 10 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

If you're at all like me, then a trip through the store from now through the end of the year is a dangerous proposition, with all kinds of tempting seasonal treats and Reeces Peanut Butter Cups taking on new forms from turkeys to trees. How can a person lose weight between now and the new year with all the temptation obstacles between now and then?

1. Celebrate in moderation. Don't torture yourself on the special days. Sample everything you want to taste, but don't pig out on anything. The next day, however, get back to business as usual and follow your rules of portion control and content.

Friday October 09 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Many people have insurance plans that change in December, so if you're planning to pay for LAP-BAND surgery with insurance, now would be a good time to take the next steps to get approval before your plan changes, especially if your new plan doesn't include bariatric benefits.

On the flip side, if you don't have baritric surgery benefits (including LAP-BAND Surgery), now may be a good time to talk to your HR department about getting them added on to next year's plan.

Wednesday October 07 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Members of the military and their famlies have LAP-BAND Surgery benefits through their insurance plan, TRICARE. This recent news release details more information about the military TRICARE plan covering LAP-BAND Surgery.

“TRICARE covers procedures that have been proven safe and effective, and are accepted by the medical community,” said John Kugler, chief medical officer, TRICARE Management Activity. “For some beneficiaries, gastric surgery may be the right course of action to preserve their health.”

Tuesday October 06 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

If you hang out long enough on the Internet, you'll find a lot of people talking about LAP-BAND failure without much explanation. I always warn people to dig a little deeper into those stories, because they might actually be stories about people not following their doctor's orders in regards to the band or they could be promoted by surgeons supporting other weight loss procedures.

Though the majority of people with LAP-BAND devices have good success with them, there are some people who struggle. If you're one of those people, consider these ideas before giving up on your band:

Thursday September 24 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Our Patient Advocate Terri Kingery was interviewed yesterday by our friends at Star 102 to talk about our Mom Deserves More of Life LAP-BAND Giveaway.

Here is a link to her interview, where she talks about her own success (Nine pounds away from her goal!) and even gives us a taste of her jingle-singing skills.

Wednesday September 23 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center's Overland Park LAP-BAND Support Group finished its Summer Get-A-Weigh Competition last weekend, with the competitors who made it through the competition losing more than 10 percent of their total body weight.

Group member Pat was named the winner of the competition for losing more than 15 percent of his body weight since the contest began in June. He said he's feeling great because of the weight loss. Now he and his wife will get to enjoy the fruits of his labor at the Elms Spa and Resort in Excelsior Springs, Mo., for a 2-night spa package. Congratulations, Pat! See more from him in the Overland Park thread of our Weight Loss Support Group Forum.

Sunday September 20 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

For those of you who use Facebook, the REALIZE Band can now be found on Facebook. You can become a fan of the device and view videos, read news and learn more about the REALIZE Band.

And while you're out there on Facebook, don't forget to become fans of Weight Loss Surgical Center, too.

Friday September 18 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

In our online weight loss support group forum, our Wichita Nurse Practitioner, Lou Miller, writes that Weight Loss Surgical Center's Wichita clinic has added new daytime meeting options to serve our patients there better.

In addition to the group's regular meeting time on the first Thursday of the each at 7 p.m. at the Genesis Health Club at 854 N. Socora, the group now has two new monthly options: the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Weight Loss Surgical Center in Wichita clinic at 3460 N. Ridge Road, Ste 100 in Wichita.

Thursday September 17 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Radio listeners in the Kansas City area may have already heard that Weight Loss Surgical Center is currently accepting nominations for our "Mom Deserves More of Life" LAP-BAND giveaway this month. Listeners are encouraged to submit nominations for the mother or mother-figure in their life for the opportunity to get more of life by losing weight with a LAP-BAND surgery.

People can register at Star 102, Q 104, or KFKF by Sunday, September 27th, 2009 (11:59pm CST). 15 finalists will be selected on Monday, October 12, 2009 with the grand prize winner selected and notified on Monday, October 19, 2009. Please note the official rules if you enter a submission.

Tuesday September 08 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Maybe this is a sign of an improving economy: Allergan is re-launching their LAP-BAND® Commercials nationwide on September 14. They had taken a hiatus from national advertising most of this year, and I'm glad to see them back in the spotlight.

Maybe this latest push will help more people make the life-improving decision to have LAP-BAND Surgery so they can lose weight, improve their health and get more of life.

Monday September 07 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Even though most LAP-BAND Patients know not to drink water (or any other liquid) with meals, lest the fluid carry the food right through the band, but it is very important to remember to get plenty of water outside of meal times.

Consider the following five facts about water and weight:

Sunday September 06 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Getting the most weight loss with your LAP-BAND requires you to actively engage and work with it. You should learn about how it works with your body, as much as possible. The band treats each person a little differently, so it’s good to talk to others about what works for them. Their experience can be extremely valuable on your weight loss journey.

How valuable? How about an extra 25 lbs in weight loss?

Saturday September 05 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Here are some tips, modified from a recent Indianapolis Star story. Some LAP-BAND patients may find these tips useful.

1. Stick to water, as much as possible. Cut out any sugary drinks, especially.

Friday September 04 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Here's some news you probably could have guessed: artificial sweeteners do nothing to help you lose weight.

A professor from the University of Liverpool found that artificial sweeteners behave in a similar way to real sugar by activating sensors in the gut key to glucose absorption. Though the soda does not have glucose to absorb, it encourages your body to absorb more glucose from the food you regularly eat. The article explains this could be why so many diet soda drinkers are unsuccessful at losing weight.

Thursday September 03 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Women who are considering having children may want to take note of the news this week regarding weight loss surgery and the health of children they have after surgery.

Don't worry, the news is good.

Wednesday September 02 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

The new and improved RealizemySuccess.com officially launched last week! If you already have a REALIZE Band or are considering choosing the REALIZE Band as an alternative to the LAP-BAND device, please visit http://www.realizemysuccess.com to log in and register.

There are a lot of great resources & features on REALIZE mySUCCESS for you to be successful losing weight. Here are a few:

Friday August 21 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

As I look for inspiration for things to post, I like to read stories of other people's LAP-BAND Success. Many banded people have their own weight loss blogs, so I thought I would share some of my regular reads with you so that you can expand your reading list, too.

Oh, and if you find one you like, be sure to look for their site feed or RSS (Really Simple Syndication). You can subscribe to those site feeds so that you get everything new they post without having to remember to go back to the site. You do this by using an RSS reader. I really like Google Reader, but there are a lot of options out there. So if one of these blogs appeals to you, be sure to look for its feed so you can find it again easily.

Thursday August 20 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Most LAP-BAND Surgeons are very good at LAP-BAND Surgery. They've attended medical school, special trainings and they likely have years and years of experience. However, before your surgery, you might consider asking your surgeon these questions to make sure he or she is the right surgeon for you:

1. Is the operating room set up for heavy people? Be sure they have tables and equipment capable of safely holding someone your weight. Be sure the operating room staff regularly works with obese people and is trained to deal with special circumstances that arise during high-BMI surgeries. Also, see if the anesthesiologist specializes in obesity cases.

Monday August 17 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center's Overland Park Support Group has lost another 100 lbs in its second month of its Get-A-Weigh Challenge. The group has lost a total of 204.6 lbs since June, and those who weighed in this month averaged 8.8 lbs lost, compared with an average of 7.7 lbs lost per person between June and July.

The weight loss benefits of a support group are well documented, with a 2008 study showing that patients who attend support groups lose 10 percent more of their excess body weight than those who don't. The same holds true at Weight Loss Surgical Center, where our average patient in recent months has lost an average of 6.4 lbs, though August's support group average was well over the expected 10% support group bonus, probably because of the weight loss challenge we're doing this summer.

Saturday August 15 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 2

1. You'll gain all your weight back when you take the band off -- This is false. The truth is that, even though the band is removable, it is designed to be a life-long implant, helping you to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life. Most of our patients love their band and would not even consider removing it.

2. You can't eat sugar -- We hear this a lot, because of some confusion with gastric bypass patients. Gastric band patients can have sugar, though we don't recommend a lot of it. With bypass, the sugar goes through your digestive tract more quickly and results in what is commonly called a dumping syndrome, whenever the sugary food hits the colon. With an adjustable gastric band, all food -- even sugar -- goes through your entire, natural digestive tract.

Friday August 14 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

An Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that a pizza shop must pay for an injured employee's LAP-BAND Surgery. Read a full article about the story at Courthouse News Service.

The man weighed 340 lbs when a freezer door accidentally hit him, and he fell while at work. While recovering from the painful injury, the man gained an extra 380 lbs, putting him over the safe limit for the back surgery he needed. The court ruled that because his weight before the accident and recovery would not necessarily have excluded him from the surgery he needed that there was a cause-effect relationship between his injury and his need for a LAP-BAND Surgery.

Thursday August 13 2009posted by Ginny - Total Comments: 0

From the Whole Foods Market, The Whole Deal August/September 2009 issue.

Wednesday August 12 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

This article has popped up a couple times in my daily Internet searches and I just realized that it contains a tasty tidbit for people looking new protein options.

The author of the article talks about how tuna can be a good food for LAP-BAND Patients, but only if you skip the water-packed stuff. She makes the point that fish oils can be healthy, and they also make passage through the LAP-BAND restriction much easier than the dryer, water-packed versions of the fish.

Monday August 10 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We've all heard that losing weight is simple: eat healthy and excercise, right? Things are never as simple as they seem. We already know that a healthy diet is much more complex than what we learned in Jr. High health class. And now, there is some information arguing against the excercise part of the weight-loss equation.

Today, Time Magazine is running an article on why excercise may actually hinder weight loss. It goes on to note that cardio workouts are still good for the heart, but they don't always do much for your waist.

Friday August 07 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Dyann, our LAP-BAND Care practitioner in Des Moines, posted an interesting link in the Des Moines LAP-BAND forum, and I thought I would re-post it here for everyone to see.

The link goes to the Weight Loss Surgery Channel and features a video of Bariatric Chef Dave preparing food that works well with people after LAP-BAND Surgery. Check out his LAP-BAND Pouch-friendly recipes here.

As always, if you have an interesting LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band resource, or local weight loss tips, feel free to share them in our online LAP-BAND support group forum.

Thursday August 06 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

People have LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band surgeries because there are a great number of personal and health benefits that come with losing weight.

Here are five big ones:

Tuesday August 04 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Professional golfer John Daly has been getting a lot of press since his return. We've even discussed John Daly's LAP-BAND Surgery on this blog. Partly, it's due to his colorful personality, but it's also because he's down 80 lbs in the six months since his LAP-BAND Surgery.

"I'm a proven fact that you don't have to go run and work out and do all that to lose weight," Daly said. "This Lap-Band thing, this technology is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

Monday August 03 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

When you're losing weight, there are a lot more things you can measure for progress than weight alone. Body weight can fluctuate pretty dramatically during a week, and sometimes the scale can seem to be glued to the same number for weeks at a time.

But there are many other things you could measure to find success.

Saturday August 01 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

If you live in Kansas City area (Overland Park and Independence), St. Louis, Topeka, Springfield, Wichita, Des Moines or Omaha, you are more than likely very familiar with the jingle: "Less of you, more of life, Weight Loss Surgical Center."

This month that jingle has found a new home on our latest television advertisements encouraging people to take the next step if they are interested in losing weight with LAP-BAND® Surgery or a REALIZE™ Band.

Thursday July 30 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center's regional clinics have seven LAP-BAND Support Group Meetings this month for patients to meet with clinic staff, learn more about the band and learn from each others' experiences.

This month has some exciting topics and the creation of a new LAP-BAND Support Group in Omaha.

Check this schedule for the meeting closest to you:

Wednesday July 29 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A post yesterday on Lifehacker discussed NEAT Activities and how they help people lose weight. NEAT stands for Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenisis.

They reference research done at the Mayo Clinic, which was highlighted in a recent article in the Washington Post. The research shows that healthy-weight people tend to fidget much more than overweight people, to the tune of about 350 calories per day!

Monday July 27 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

According to a new report in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, women who lost weight with weight loss surgery saw a reduction in cancer risks normally associated with obesity.

The study followed 1482 severely obese patients who had bariatric surgeries and compared them with similar women who had not had a bariatric procedure.

Saturday July 25 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Here's a feature from the Hartford Courant about a girl who got a LAP-BAND to help her lose weight and improve her health, even though she was a teenager at the time of surgery.

Allowing teens to have gastric bands is a controversial topic as medical experts try to determine if the health benefits outweigh the potential risks of allowing someone who is not an adult to get the band. At 5'6" and 278 lbs, the girl in this LAP-BAND story had a BMI of 45, and her family decided it was worth it. As of this summer, she was down to 208 lbs, just in time for prom.

Friday July 24 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 2

1. You haven’t tried hard enough – Most of our patients have tried every diet, exercise program or supplement in the book. Unfortunately, most of those attempts eventually fail, and people get discouraged and fall into old habits until they’re ready to try again.

Monday July 20 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Weight Loss Surgical Center's Banded Together Weight Loss Support Group in Overland Park lost two percent of its combined body weight between the June and July meetings for a total of 94.8 lbs.

The group is taking part in a 3-month-long weight loss challenge called the Weekend Get-A-Weigh, and this month's weigh-in revelaled some exciting results.

Friday July 17 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

After someone looses 50 or 100 pounds with LAP-BAND adjustable gastric band, they’ll definitely be in some new clothes, but their closet is full of a lot of old items. Here are a few ideas on what to do with the clothes that fit the old you better than the new you:

Wednesday July 15 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Our latest community video features Weight Loss Surgical Center medical practitioners discussing what patients should expect after surgery.

If you're considering a LAP-BAND® or REALIZE™ gastric band surgery, you should take a look and hear what our gastric band professionals have to say.

Sunday July 12 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We've added another new video to the the gastric band community section of our site. This time, Weight Loss Surgical Center medical professionals talk about challenges some patients may face while trying to lose weight with an adjustable gastric band.

The staff discuss how they can help patients through difficult times and get them back on the track to success.

Thursday July 09 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

In the newest video added to the Weight Loss Surgical Center video page in our gastric band community site, we have added a segment where our medical providers discuss some of their favorite patient success stories.

You can really hear how proud Weight Loss Surgical Center providers are when their patients have good success and start to get more of life!

Monday July 06 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We have launched a new gastric band video section in our website's community, featuring frequently asked questions being answered by gastric band professionals from Weight Loss Surgical Center.

The video page has launched with four videos, and new ones will be added periodically over the next week.

Thursday July 02 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

In July, Weight Loss Surgical Center has seven local, live support group meetings to help gastric band patients or people considering getting either a LAP-BAND® or REALIZE™ gastric band. The groups meet at our Overland Park and Wichita clinics in Kansas, our Des Moines clinic in Iowa and our Springfield, Independence and St. Louis clinics in Missouri.

Check out the dates below and follow their links to community forum discussions about each event:

Wednesday July 01 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

We've added Kathy's LAP-BAND story to the featured success stories on the website. Kathy is a patient from our Springfield, Missouri, clinic. When we interviewed her she had lost 60 lbs and was full of energy.

Friday June 26 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

If you're a participant in the Weight Loss Surgical Center Community Forum, but you don't want to put your picture up in your profile, you can brag about your success using some new images available on the LAP-BAND AP® System page on Facebook.

Wednesday June 24 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Paula is our most recently posted LAP-BAND Success story from Weight Loss Surgical Center's Springfield clinic.

Friday June 19 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

Did you know that Weight Loss Surgical Center is on Facebook®? If you're already a Facebook member, you can click the button to the Weight Loss Surgical Center page on Facebook.

Wednesday June 17 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

Ashley is another patient from our Springfield, Missouri, clinic to share her LAP-BAND Success Story. Ashley is 20 years old and is making the most of the energy she's feeling after losing 60 lbs.

Wednesday June 10 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

We've added Kay's LAP-BAND story to the featured success stories on the website. Kay is a Springfield, Missouri, clinic patient who has lost almost 200 lbs 2.5 years after her LAP-BAND surgery with Weight Loss Surgical Center.

Saturday June 06 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Big John Daly is a big-time professional golfer, but he's not as big as he used to be thanks to a LAP-BAND® surgery. Daily had always struggled with his weight and had reportedly refused to participate in the formal British Open Championships Dinner, saying "you can't get this fat boy into a suit."

"I had to do something about my weight, and I did it the right way, the safe way," Daly said in a recent interview with GolfDigest.com.

Thursday June 04 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

Studies show that losing weight with an adjustable gastric band can signficantly improve high blood pressure (hypertension), even before patients reach their goal weights.

Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine followed a group of gastric band patients over two years to determine at what point weight loss could improve certain medical conditions. The study showed that 81.8 percent of patients who had lost 40 to 50 percent of their excess weight had brought down their blood pressure.

Thursday June 04 2009posted by Ginny - Total Comments: 1

I believe that meal preparation should be as easy as possible for the active lifestyles we lead! For added protein top off this salad with chopped grilled chicken or a sliced hard boiled egg.

Tuesday June 02 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A local Weight Loss Surgical Center gastric band nurse practitioner and a representative from the surgery center will be at Des Moines' Start! Heart Walk on Saturday, June 6, to take walking pledges and to answer questions about Weight Loss Surgical Center and its adjustable gastric band procedures.

The Heart Walk is this Saturday, June 6th, from 8-11 a.m., on the west terrace of the Iowa state capitol.

Wednesday May 27 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 1

Dr. Julie Heise is the Director of Anesthesiology at Weight Loss Surgical Center, where she specializes in bariatric anesthesia.

Obese or morbidly obese patients face a higher risk for anesthetic complications due to anatomic variation and comorbidities that often accompany obesity. Obesity is associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea and asthma. Both surgery and anesthesia place stress on the cardiac, pulmonary, and other organ systems.

Friday May 22 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A medical study last year showed that people who lost weight with adjustable gastric bands, such as the LAP-BAND® or the REALIZE™ Band, were able to resolve their type-II diabetes.

Wednesday May 20 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

It's less than two weeks until Weight Loss Surgical Center opens its newest clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 1. The new clinic, located at 625 North 114th Street in Omaha opens on Monday, June 1 and begins seeing patients that week.

Monday May 18 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

In June, Weight Loss Surgical Center has seven local, live support group meetings to help gastric band patients or people considering getting either a LAP-BAND® or REALIZE™ gastric band. The groups meet at our Overland Park and Wichita clinics in Kansas, our Des Moines clinic in Iowa and our Springfield, Independence and St. Louis clinics in Missouri.

Check out the dates below and follow their links to community forum discussions about each event:

Thursday May 14 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

Some patients are concerned about how to talk with friends and family about getting an adjustable gastric band. A recent Dear Abby column featured a lot of good advice from readers, talking about their experiences with social situations after weight-loss surgery.

Read more: Dear Abby.

Tuesday May 12 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A study in the May issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology says that children and teens are at higher risk for allergies if they are obese.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey said that obese children and teens were 26 percent more likely to have allergies of any sort, and they had a 59 percent higher risk for developing food averages, compared with normal-weight children.

Wednesday April 29 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A recent study in the archives of surgery says that bariatric surgery centers without Center of Excellence designation are as safe as those with the designation.

Tuesday April 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

A recent article from Reuters out of London indicates that losing weight may help improve your own environmental impact.

Tuesday April 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 2

There’s nothing to fear about dining out with a gastric band if you prepare yourself in advance. It’s all in how you avoid extra-large portions and make healthy choices.

Tuesday April 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

While most surgeons would not consider a patient unless their BMI was at least 35, with weight related health conditions, other band practices, such as Weight Loss Surgical Center will consider patients with BMIs as low as 30 in some cases.

It seems that everyone in America is worried about weight. It comes as no surprise that Weight Loss Surgical Center employees often hear about people who really want a LAP-BAND® Surgery, even if they only had a body mass index of 29. The good news is that even without a band, you can learn some simple lessons to help you lose weight like banded patients do.

Tuesday April 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

People who are considering weight loss surgery have a lot of choices these days, and the choices can be confusing. Most of us have heard about gastric bypass or LAP-BAND® surgeries, and recently we’ve heard more and more about the new Realize™ Band.

Tuesday April 28 2009posted by Adam - Total Comments: 0

When patients with a gastric band hit a plateau in weight loss, they often become frustrated and give up. Here are some tips for Weight Loss Surgical Center patients to get the most out of your band, even when you’ve hit a plateau:

1. Don’t give up. Remember that the band is not just a surgery, but a lifestyle. You should continue to follow the rules, and don’t sabotage your success with milkshakes or other unhealthy treats that can slip past the band.