Has your doctor suggested you undergo LapBand surgery? If so, this is a suggestion you should give serious consideration to. When a doctor suggests LapBand surgery, he or she is usually doing so to protect your health and wellbeing. For those severely or morbidly obese, the LapBand system is not only a weight loss surgery, but a lifesaving procedure.

As previously stated, take your doctors suggestion to undergo LapBand surgery. However, after a close examination, you may feel as if LapBand is a procedure only for your dreams. This is mostly due to the costs. In the United States, the LapBand procedure costs between $15,000 and $20,000. Since you do not have this cash just lying around, you may wonder what your options are.

So, how can you cover the cost of LapBand surgery?

Insurance. Some health insurance companies will cover the cost of the LapBand procedure. You will, however, find many rules and restrictions. For example, if your doctor is only suggesting surgery, you may be denied coverage. On the other hand, if your doctor is stating that it is a lifesaving procedure due to morbid obesity, your insurance is more likely to cover the costs..

If your insurance provider will cover the cost of LapBand with specific criteria met, speak to your doctor. Information can be provided that will show that this weight loss surgery is the most cost effective approach for your care. For example, if you are 25 years old, the cost of diabetes supplies and checkups can easily exceed the onetime cost of LapBand, making it a wise choice for your insurance provider.

If you opt to pay for the LapBand procedure with cash, check, or debit card, you are considered a cash patient. This is opposed to a patient with medical insurance. Inquire about cash discounts. Many healthcare professionals have small, but helpful discounts available.

As previously stated, most Americans do not have $15,000 to $20,000 at their disposal. This means that you will need a way to come up with the cash if you do not have medical insurance or if coverage is denied. Do not stress, as it is easier than it sounds.

Save money. Saving money should be your first step in covering the cost of LapBand surgery. Even if you are on a budget, it is still possible to save money for surgery. Start by eliminating unnecessary purchases, such as your morning coffee at the local gas station or dining out. In fact, a great way to get started is to eliminate sweets from your diet or at least reduce them. Not only will you save money, but you will notice a natural weight loss.

It may take a year to two years for you to save enough money for the LapBand surgery, but saving money, as opposed to borrowing it, is the safest approach to take.

Borrow money from friends and family. If you have close friends or family members who are in the position to let you borrow money, ask. If they know your intention is to lose weight and lead a healthier life, most will be willing to help. Of course, be sure to discuss repayment. You will have more flexibility, but be sure to treat a loan from family and friends just like a bank loan.

Bank loan. Speaking of bank loans, you can request a personal loan. This is recommended as a last resort, but it is wiser than using a credit card. Remember, credit cards are ridden with fees, including late fees. You are likely to find a lower interest rate when acquiring a personal loan.

To acquire a personal loan, have good credit. Personal loans are unsecured, so your good credit will give your bank comfort. It is important to sell yourself. Make it known that your obesity is hindering your ability to stay healthy and work. By undergoing the LapBand surgery, not only will you lead and happier and healthier life, but you will be able to work without as many health disruptions. The ability to work signals a borrower who will make timely loan payments.

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LapBand Surgery: How to Find the Support You Need

If you suffer from severe to morbid obesity, your physician may recommend the LapBand surgery. If so, you should heed their suggestion. In cases of severe to morbid obesity, the LapBand procedure becomes more than just a weight loss surgery; it becomes a lifesaving device.

Once you receive approval from a LapBand surgeon, the process begins. Even if your surgery isnt scheduled for a month, preparation will begin almost immediately. In the two to three weeks pre-surgery, diet restrictions are a must. Patients are asked to refrain from eating or drinking before midnight. Post-surgery extreme diet restrictions are required. Patients start on a clear liquid diet then make the progression to full liquids, pureed foods, soft solids, and full solid foods. This is a very important, yet stressful procedure.

Since the LapBand system demands a lot from patients, it is not uncommon for patients to experience high stress levels and bouts of depression. To prevent this from happening, it is important to have a strong support system in place. But, where can you turn?

Your LapBand surgeon or surgical center. When choosing a LapBand surgeon, it is important to inquire about care. You want a surgeon who will do more than just operate. You need a surgeon who will properly prepare you for the procedure, educate you on each step of the surgery, and offer assistance for post surgery care. Surgeons know that the LapBand procedure is not just a surgery, but a lifestyle change. That is why many are willing to be your support throughout the entire length of the procedure.

Your primary care physician. If you have concerns about the LapBand surgery, speak directly to your surgeon. With that said, you may find support from your primary care physician. Two months after the LapBand, your surgical visits will decrease. Of course, additional appointments can be scheduled if pain and discomfort is experienced. If you just need medical advice or support, consider contacting your primary care physician.

Friends and family. The ability to receive support from a medical professional is important, but so is your support system at home. On average, home recovery takes about one week. During this time, you will be home from work. Minimal movement is okay, but you may need help from others. Not only will you need physical help, but emotional support. The changes and diet restrictions patients face following surgery can be overwhelming.

Support groups. Obesity has become a major problem in the United States. For that reason, there are many support groups available. These groups will vary. For example, there are groups for those looking to manage obesity and groups for those looking to overcome it. A LapBand support group is your best option. Speak to your LapBand surgeon, as some setup their own in-house support groups for patients.

Online support groups. If given the choice, opt for an in-person support group where you are able to meet face-to-face. This personalization can help give you comfort and reassurance. However, if this is not an option, consider online support groups. These groups can be found with a standard internet search.

Dietary experts. As previously stated, the biggest adjustment LapBand patients need to make is with their diet. For some, this may seem like an impossible task, as many do not know where to start. In that instance, a dietary expert is recommended. Let a professional help you slowly make the transition to a healthier lifestyle. Remember, weight loss is maximized when the LapBand is later combined with healthy eating and exercise.

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In this day and age, it really isn’t surprising that half of all Americans are overweight to some degree. Most people in this day and age have busy, hectic schedules, which mean that sticking to a diet is not easy, and neither is trying to work out on a regular basis. Still, this does not mean that all hope is lost. Here is some basic advice that should help you drop off those unwanted pounds by following easy diets and implementing exercise in your life.

The first piece of advice that you need to consider has to do with exercising. In fact any diet, much less an easy diet, should include exercising. You should always have your physical workout first thing in the morning when your stomach is still empty. There are a lot of different exercises that you can try such as walking on a treadmill, or going around the block a couple of times. Ten minutes of exercise is all you need to burn stored energy, especially fat, but you can also go for longer if you feel comfortable exercising for longer periods.

The next most useful tip that you should consider is to pay attention to when you snack. You should avoid snacking late at night, and stop eating all together at least three hours before you go to bed. This way you will burn off all the calories you consumed before bed, rather than storing those calories as fat when you go to bed. This simple step can have incredible results if you are serious about implementing it.

The third suggestion that you should consider has everything to do with coffee. If you absolutely have to drink coffee, make it black! Fancy coffee drinks with cream and sugar are fun and tasty, but they are also loaded up with calories. Just one of these bad boys will blow any easy diets your on right out the window. A good old simple cup of black coffee has nearly zero calories if any at all, so this is clearly a much wiser choice, and while black coffee is an acquired taste, you will get used to it with practice.

The next tip is to break your normal three meals a day into four or five smaller meals a day. Your metabolism requires constant fuel in order to burn fat. If you feed it several small amounts every day, your metabolism will stay much higher, much faster, and will burn more calories in the end.

Finally, you should cut down on your carbohydrate intake. This is going to have a very large impact on how quickly you lose weight using easy diets. By eliminating unnecessary breads, pastas and other starches, you will see a serious difference next time that you step on the scale. Take this advice and you will see what easy diet weight loss is all about.

There are no “easy diets” per say, but there are easy tips and steps that will help you lose weight. Forget those fad diets and crazy starvation diets and follow the aforementioned tips and hints instead.

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Instant weight loss, hmm, really? When I read this, do you know what immediately went through my mind? Things like instant pudding or instant rice. Where all you do is mix it up and in 5 minutes you have pudding or rice that you can serve your family. We all know that weight loss is not like that unless, of course, you are willing to cut off a limb.

If that is the decision you have made, may I make a suggestion that you start at the top and work your way down? This is the only way you will achieve instant weight loss.

Weight loss is a process, and depending on the amount of weight you have to lose, it could even be quite a lengthy process. You must make a commitment to yourself to change the way you eat and live. You have to eat a lot less than you do now and get regular exercise everyday for the rest of your life. I am never one for pulling punches so, listen up. If you do not get up off your lazy butt and get moving, you will die. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow but your life expectancy is getting shorter and shorter every minute you sit and veg in that recliner or on that couch.

Losing weight is not rocket science. All you need to do is burn off more calories every day than you take in. Simple. If you haven’t got a clue, and I think if you think that weight loss can be instant you really don’t, here’s what you do. Put on a pair of shoes, tie ’em up, get up, walk to the door, open it, step outside, and go for a walk around the block. Again, simple. The sooner you start, the sooner you will accomplish your goal. People do it all the time. There is no reason you can’t do it, too.

I know you, you are the type of person who will sit there week after week watching The Biggest Loser hoping that if you watch it long enough you will go to bed one night and wake up skinny. If it was that easy no one would be fat now would they? Or you think that by watching every week you will automatically lose weight by osmosis or something, right? Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Along with the exercise you need to learn how to eat right. Did I just hear you say you think that you do not eat that badly to begin with? Once again, you are wrong. If you ate correctly and in the right amounts you would not be fat, now would you? No, you wouldn’t be. So stop deluding yourself and get with the program. The next time you have a meal, dish up what you normally would then get another plate from the cupboard. Now, remove half of the food from the first plate and put it on the second plate, cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. Save it for your next meal. Then sit down at the table, with the TV off, and enjoy the food that is left on the first plate. Get a big glass of water to wash it all down with.

Yes, I said with the TV off. It has been proven time and time again that if you eat your meals in front of the TV you will subconsciously eat more than you think you do because you are not paying attention to what you are doing. So, start a new practice, clean off the table and before every meal, set the table with a plate, silverware and napkin for everyone in the household. Serve and eat your meal at the table. Have a conversation with your family and chew your food well. Instant weight loss, please…

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