Why The LapBand is More like a Stove than a Fridge

Posted by Dr. Rachael Keilin a Texas based weight loss physician.

In the heart of every weight loss surgeon lurks a special
dream. We want all of our patients to lose weight, be
healthier and be happy.

Luckily our patients, by and large, have the same dream.
But somewhere between the dreaming and the reality it
seems like people get lost.

Just by decreasing portion size most people can lose about
half their extra weight. The band makes these smaller portions
easy to achieve. Sometimes it almost feels like the band
loses the weight for you.

But after that first 50% comes off, things get trickier. Smaller
portions alone are not enough to continue losing weight.  To reach
your ultimate goal, you’ve got to change what you eat, not just
how much.

I think of it like kitchen equipment. Your fridge will keep food
cold without any help from you whatsoever. But if you just
plop food down on the stove, it won’t cook all by itself.

The stove is a tool that provides heat for you to make a meal,
but it doesn’t cook the food. You still have to prepare the
ingredients, put them in a pot and stir them.

Can you cook a meal just by putting the food in the pot? No.
You need the tool -the stove- to help you. Weight loss is the same
way.

Many people can’t lose the weight without the help the
LapBand provides. But just like the stove won’t actually cook
the food for you, the band won’t choose the healthy meals
you need to reach your goal weight.

The LapBand helps control portion size, it helps you not feel
hungry while eating those smaller portions. But if you choose
to eat nothing but high-carb junk food, the band can’t force
you back on track.

If you don’t change what you eat in addition to how much
you’re eating, you’ll never reach that ultimate “OMG this is so
amazing!” dream weight.

So don’t use the band like a fridge, expecting it to work
without any input from you. Use it like the top of the line,
ultra-fabulous stove that it is. Put high quality food into it
and watch it help you whip up a gourmet meal beyond your
wildest imagination.

Tagged as: Food choices