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About this blog

Helpful information (hopefully) for the the pre and post operative Lap-Band patient!

Entries in this blog

 

Band Vs. Capsules

Hello everybody! Last night we had another great support group meeting with our Lap-Band® patients, and an interesting topic was discussed. I wanted to see if there are any suggestions out there for pills in capsule form getting “stuck.” Basically, without having any other restriction issues with medications or food, this individual is getting capsules stuck in the middle esophagus, creating nausea, dry heaving, until the capsule has dissolved. What this individual has tried already: Lots of water when swallowing
Warm liquids (tea)
Opening capsule and putting inside into apple sauce (yuck)
Are there any other suggestions for swallowing capsules? Any information is helpful and I'll be sure to sing your praises!   Thanks and have a great week!
LAP-BAND Liaison

LAP-BAND Liaison

3
 

Outsiders Perspective: The Bbq Dilemma

Capital Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee has a new senoir leadership member. We had a welcoming celebration for him today in the cafeteria. A favorite local BBQ joint catered the event, and since I am on the activities committee, I helped dish the food out to everyone for an hour or so. I had fun doing it, and it was a great event overall. I am excited for our facility! The future looks bright for CRMC and the Bariatric Center.   That being said (and working in Bariatrics) I couldn't help but think (from an outsiders point of view) how hard event's like these could potentially be on a Lap-Band patient, especially a new Lap-Band patient. We have 2 lines of BBQ being served out as a form of celebration. What if you can't have BBQ? Or, even worse, what if you REALLY like BBQ, BUT you shouldn't have it, but want to be involved in the event? I mean, I try to eat healthy, but I fell weak to the temptation and grabbed a plate. Would it be cheating to a Lap-Band patient, even though the environmental pressures are so elevated it's almost considered "anti-social" not to participate?   Society doesn't make it easy to come to terms with obesity, and it makes it even harder to fight. It helps me remember how much hard work, dedication, and attention goes into pre/post opp lifetstyles of a Lap-Band patient. I don't claim to fully understand because I do not have a band inside of me. But I've struggled with weight loss and know it's trials. I am amazed at the strength and tenacity of those individuals fighting to improve in any way, and I tip my hat to you all. In my eyes, you are all warriors, surrounded on all sides, fighting back the masses, and winning!!!   As my Grandpa used to tell me, "Go get 'em tiger!" Grrr...
LAP-BAND Liaison

LAP-BAND Liaison

8
 

Capital Regional Bariatric Center - Upcoming Events

Hello everybody!     The Bariatric Center at Capital Regional Medical Center is happy to announce our March event dates below. If you are considering Lap-Band Weight Loss Surgery, interested in learning more, or would like to see what our support group is all about, then you are more then welcome to join us. Or, if you have a family member or friend that may benefit from Lap-Band Surgery, please give them my number (850) 325-5130. See below for more details:   Capital Regional Bariatric Center - Support Group   When: March 6th at 6:00PM - 7:30PM EST Where: Capital Regional Bariatric Center – 1889 Professional Park Cir. Suite 30A, Tallahassee, FL Contact: Becky Fanguy - Bariatric Coordinator (850) 325-5073     Lap-Band Weight Loss Seminar - Capital Regional Medical Center   When: March 15th at 6:00PM - 8:30PM EST Where: Capital Regional Medical Center – 2626 Capital Medical Blvd. Tallahassee, FL - First Floor Classroom Contact: Luke Thomas – Bariatric Liaison (850) 325-5130 Please call (850) 325-3627 to register. Or call me, and I'll do it for you!   Again, these are great learning opportunities, and anyone interested is welcome. For the seminar, please register, or contact me and I'll help you out!   Hope to see you there!   -Luke
LAP-BAND Liaison

LAP-BAND Liaison

0
 

Fitness Through Technology - Be Your Own Coach!

Fitness Through Technology - Be your own Coach! by, Luke Thomas - Bariatric Liaison, CRMC Smartphone’s are becoming a regular mainstay in society. Some haven’t adopted the Smartphone lifestyle yet. Others are glued to it like I am. The truth is more and more people of all ages are learning how to use their phones as personal organizers, cameras, video cameras, video gaming devices, online browsers, social media devices, financial managers, GPS’s, media players, e-readers… you’ve heard the slogan, “There’s an app for that.” Flurry Analytics, a technology analytics firm out of San Francisco, New York, and London recently did a study that says Americans spend an average of 1 hour and 34 minutes per day using mobile apps. This is 20 minutes more than actual web browsing (on a PC or laptop), which came in at 1 hour and 14 minutes. This means people are using Smartphone’s more than surfing the web on a home PC or laptop. Dr. Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. from The Mayo Clinic writes that the Department of Health and Human Services recommends getting at least 30 minutes a day of moderate aerobic activity (walking, swimming, mowing the lawn), or 15 minutes a day of vigorous aerobic activity (running and aerobic dancing [ex: Zumba]). It is also suggested that it is spread out over the course of a week. Want to hear something ironic? The statistics I cited in the paragraphs above are articles I looked it up on my Smartphone. Since were on the theme of time, it took me 3 minutes. Who cares? Why does this matter? What does it have to do with Bariatric patients? Some of you have either recently made a significant lifestyle change, or are considering making one with the Capital Regional Bariatric Centers Lap-Band® Program. Part of that lifestyle change is a life-long commitment to diet and exercise. Guess what? There’s an app for that! No, none that do the exercise and diet for you. I mean the commitment part. Rather, accountability towards your commitment. If you are a Smartphone user, it makes you wonder how much of that 1 hour and 34 minutes per day is being spent on something you would consider “productive” toward your weight loss goals. So, I made a list of mobile apps available on both iPhone, and Androids that I consider to be great tools to help you with your journey. I actually use some myself for my own fitness goals (and sometimes lack thereof)! Instant Heart Rate Pro – $0.99 (free version available) This is pretty nifty! It’s an app that you place your finger over the camera lens of your phone, and it monitors your heart rate; a great tool for any level of healthy living. You press the icon, hold it for 10 seconds, and that’s it. I use the free version, but you can go “Pro” for 99 cents. My Fitness Pal – Free – Luke’s Pick!!! I love this app and use it daily! It calculates your BMI. It calculates your BMR. It counts calories (over 1,000,000 food database from all restaurants). It lets you enter calories burned with exercise. It gives you reports on your progress. Plus, it’s free! Picked by Wired Magazine, and PC Magazine as Editors Picks for lifestyle apps. It’s easy, fun, and addictive! You can also log in from your home computer, which I prefer more than the app! My Tracks – Free I also use this app when I go out for a run, jog, or walk. It takes your map and GPS function and maps out your route as you go, recording distance, speed, and altitude. Sounds complicated, but the great thing about this app is all you do is click the app icon, and hit “start.” When you are done, hit “stop.” It does the rest for you. Eat This Not That - $4.99 Eating out is the bane of every diet. Based on the selling book series, this app lets you compare restaurant choices based on nutritional value, so you can make better choices based on information. It comes with a database of foods and nutritional value info so it streamlines the process of searching and comparing entrees, making it a little quicker for you. JEFIT Pro - $4.99 If you really want to take it to the next level, then JEFIT is worth the price. It has all the basic functions as My Fitness Pal, but dives into each workout by logging progress down to the set and rep, if you’re into that. It’s probably too intense for the beginner, takes a lot of time to enter information, and can be somewhat “un-user friendly” at times. Again, depends on what you want to us it for. There is a free version with limited functions available too. Ultimate Weight Watcher Diary - $3.95 This app gets a lot of good reviews, and pops up first on all of my searches for “Health and Fitness” apps. It states to be the most comprehensive application for those following a food value based plan (ex: Weight Watchers). Other Practical Apps: Basic Notepad App – Free Having a note pad app is great for quickly adding notes about health and fitness information you hear about (or anything really). I like to blog, and I compile information in what I call “blog blurbs” in my notepad app. Hint: If you are like me and hate texting, you can also download an app that lets you “talk-to-text.” Makes it a lot easier, quick, and hands free! Sometimes it misspells what you say, but for the most part it works great. Camera/Video Camera – Free (usually included on all phones) Things like before/after pictures, and video journals are important for motivation. Bar Code Scanner – Free Having a bar code scanner on your phone is great for checking prices, and nutritional value of food you intend to purchase. Also, some applications let you compare prices on certain items. For example; you are at a department store and you are looking at buying a set of 5lb dumbbells. You can scan the bar code on the item, and go online and compare that items prices. There are many more health and fitness apps out there. No matter what level you consider yourself “technically savvy” these apps are easy to get, easy to use, and sometimes free! These apps are by no means a necessity for a lifestyle dedicated to health and well being. Basically, you don’t NEED them to get results. However, similar to the Lap-Band® device, these apps are great tools to work with to achieve your weight loss, fitness, and wellness goals. They are great for logging benchmarks in your success, stay accountable, and getting great information quickly. So, after spending 1 hour and 34 minutes on your Smartphone, and 30 minutes exercising, you’re free to use the other 21 hours and 56 minutes however you choose!
LAP-BAND Liaison

LAP-BAND Liaison

3
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