No Temptations, No Calories, No Stress

There are many different ways that people succeed in losing weight. Some have no problem dropping pounds the first time on a diet, while others may not yet have found a solution that works for them. If you’re still looking, you might want to think about bariatric weight-loss surgery. Start by investigating the available options, then decide which one, if any, is right for you.

If you’re considering bariatric surgery for weight loss, take a look at the laparoscopic band, also known as a “Slimband.” This band is placed around the upper part of the stomach and then tightened in order to allow only a small amount of food to enter at one time. The result is that Slimbandpatients feel full more quickly, which subsequently decreases the amount of food they consume. The tightened band also causes food to move through the digestive system more slowly.

“Many people try a combination approach of exercise and diet, but still have difficulty losing weight,” says Slimband dietitian Arlene Moshe. This is often true of people who are obese and need to lose a significant amount of weight. For people with this issue, a surgical weight-loss consultation may be a good idea. The Slimbandteam works with each individual to customize a healthy program that supports gastric banding to make sure they have a long-term solution and not just a “quick fix.”

It’s the Slimband support program that really makes this a sound choice for permanent weight loss. Slimbandoffers the only actively managed post-weight-loss surgery support program in Canada. For a period of five years following the procedure, the patient-support team works with the patient to ensure their success. Patients work with the clinic’s dietitians and nurses to make sure they meet their weight-loss goals.

Another innovative feature of the Slimbandprogram is how the idea of community is built into it. Patients are given plenty of opportunities to meet and form connections to help each other. Then there’s the online MySlimband Community, which hosts several chats every month. For patients wanting to connect in person there are coffee nights that are held in locations across the country. Patients also receive email newsletters that provide helpful reminders, recipes and nutritional information. 

While Slimband is in no way a low-cost solution, it is one that gives long-term, lasting results. Moshe says that when one patient reflected on how much she had spent on diets, pills, cleanses and other “miracle solutions” she wished she had turned to Slimbandfirst. The clinic also offers a number of financing options to make the surgery affordable to people in any income bracket. 

Q&A: Arlene Moshe
We spoke with Slimband dietitian and post-op support manager Arlene Moshe about the procedure, fills and life post-surgery.

How do the band adjustments and fills work? 
The band is an inflatable silicone device that is placed around the top portion of the stomach to create a small pouch above the band. This pouch, the upper portion of the stomach, fills with food quickly. The band slows the passage of food from the pouch to the lower stomach. When the upper pouch registers as full, a message is sent to the brain that the entire stomach is full. This helps a person feel hungry less often, feel satisfied more quickly, eat smaller portions and lose weight over time. A “fill” refers to a small amount of saline that is administered with a small needle through a port that is connected to the band just under the skin. The saline enters the band and gently squeezes the stomach to create a smaller passageway for food to travel through. An actual fill takes less than 30 seconds and is painless.

Does everyone have to get fills, and how often?  
Slimband gives most patients their first fill in surgery. We wait five weeks to give the next fill. After that, fill appointments are every four weeks until the band is properly adjusted. Fills are given until the patient has reached a point where they can eat a lunch-sized plate of food, stay satisfied for two to three hours and are losing one to two pounds per week. I always tell patients who ask how many fills they will need that the amount is as unique as their fingerprint.  

Prior to surgery, patients are given various blood and dietary tests. What health conditions do potential clients have to meet in order to be eligible for the Slimband procedure? 
Generally, Slimband is for adults who have a BMI (body mass index) greater than 30, and have made several attempts at weight loss in the past. There would be a clear history of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting. As well, those who are overweight and already have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea are usually good candidates.

What sort of support can patients expect from Slimband after their surgery? 
Canadians are online now more than ever before, so we offer a wide range of online support tools in addition to the individualized support that our patients receive. Our online program features live webinars with our dietitians and registered nurses. We have the MySlimband Community with over 4,000 Slimband patients getting support from our staff and other patients.

All patients have access to the Slimtrakker, which is our wellness software allowing patients to log their food intake and take workshops on nutrition, stress management and physical activity. Finally, patients are able to chat online with the same nurses and dietitians they speak to on the phone for support. For individualized needs and check-in appointments, our customer support centre runs seven days a week; the team is there to answer questions, assess patient needs and put patients in touch with a nurse, dietitian or doctor if needed.

What are some dietary and lifestyle changes that you recommend/instruct your patients to make post-surgery?
Eat your protein first, eat solid food and make smarter choices more often! This becomes a mantra for all of our patients. The other rule of thumb we always reiterate is to remember the 80/20 rule. Even if they can eat the suggested meals and snacks for the band 80 per cent of the time, they will be successful. We also recommend patients slow down, eat slowly and enjoy their food. As well, try to reduce the amount of liquid calories they consume from specialty coffee drinks, fruit juices and high-calorie shakes. All of our patients are taught to eat five to six smaller, well-balanced meals and snacks throughout the day.

What are some general side-effects or changes that clients will notice after the surgery?
Since the gastric band only modifies the anatomy of the stomach, there’s no concern for malabsorption of nutrients. Many patients have told us that their food preferences changed after surgery in ways they never imagined, such as no longer desiring coffee or carbonated beverages.

Clients notice that they need to eat smaller amounts more often throughout the day and that the band forces them to eat slowly. Some patients discover it is not as easy for them to digest certain food such as sticky rice or white bread, but that whole-wheat or whole-grain counterparts are much better tolerated.

Chelsea Colwell, Saint John, N.B.
Year of Birth: 1984

Did you try other weight-loss techniques before choosing Slimband?

I tried gyms, shakes, pills, programs, wraps and teas, but after limited success, I would always revert back to my old ways, feeling like a failure and worse than when I started.

How much weight did you hope to lose from using Slimband, and how much did you end up losing? 
I dreamt of being just under 200 pounds like I was in high school. I’ve lost approximately 140 pounds and went from a sad 275 pounds to a happy 135-pound woman. 

How did you feel after the surgery?  
I was in no real pain, and could get back to my daily tasks fairly quickly. The surgery itself only lasted 30 minutes.

How has your life changed with Slimband? 
I used to just “exist” on the planet, never putting myself out there, living life in the background. I had no self-confidence or self-worth. Now I am living! I’m excited to try new things and am now on the outside the way I have always been on the inside.

Perpetua Hildrop, Leamington, Ont.
Year of Birth: 1940

How many years had you struggled with excess weight before choosing Slimband?
I guess it must be a good 15 years for sure — since I was 55.

Were you at all afraid to go through with the surgery at your age?
No, I really wasn’t. All I really thought about was how I wanted to be healthy again and enjoy everything life has to offer. I felt I owed it not only to myself but to my family as well.

How much weight had you hoped to lose with Slimband, and how much have you lost?
I was hoping for 140 pounds, and I thought at 5’6” that was perfect. I was 258 when I started and today I’m proud to say I have reached my goal weight of 140 pounds. 

How has your life changed with Slimband?
It’s been a 180-degree change. Before I had no energy and now I have so much more. I feel like the old me, when I was in my 30s. I’m 70! My children say to me, we have our mom back. •