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“I am no longer invisible, less than, or defined by my weight.”

» Read Fran’s Story

Do I have to exercise to be successful with the Lap Band?
Being physically active is a key element in living a longer, healthier, happier life. It can help relieve stress and provide an overall feeling of well-being. Physical activity can also help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight and lower your risk for chronic disease. The benefits of physical activity may include:

  • Improved self-esteem and feelings of well-being;
  • Increased fitness level;
  • Development and maintenance of strong bones, muscles, and joints;
  • Prevented weight gain
  • Increased endurance and muscle strength;
  • Enhanced flexibility and posture;
  • Weight management skills;
  • Lowered risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and Type 2 diabetes;
  • Controlled blood pressure;
  • Reduced feelings of depression and anxiety.

Physical activity and nutrition work together for better health, especially following an operation like lap band surgery. Being active increases the amount of calories burned. As people age their metabolism slows, so maintaining your energy balance requires moving more and eating less.

While 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity physical activities provide health benefits, being active for longer or doing more vigorous activities can yield even greater health benefits. If your goal in addition to weight loss is to improve your overall health, you may want to consider adding exercise to your daily routine. Even the simplest thing, like parking further away from a store you’re going into, can get you exercising.

Learn more about exercise and physical activity at our forum.

Are there any structured exercise programs you can recommend?
Yes, we recommend “Curves” Exercise program for women. Curves provides you with a complete cardio and strength training workout in just 30 minutes. With a system that can burn up to 500 calories and work every major muscle group, you get an efficient and effective workout every visit. It’s no wonder over 4 million women have chosen Curves to meet their health goals.

On our online Lap Band Discussion Forum and Facebook page, we have an entire section dedicated to physical activity and exercise. In this section you will find our popular “Walk Talk Series” — a 10 week walking program designed for the beginner exerciser (also modified for more advanced patients) that will lead you on daily walking routine to help you build your exercise habit. It also includes walking and nutritional tips. You will also find a selection of workouts (strength training, cardio, stretching, and flexibility) that can be printed or downloaded to your computer.

Does Dr. Kuri offer any exercise plans for Lap Band patients?
We have a patient education coordinator on staff who specializes in band-friendly exercises. She is very knowledgeable about what exercises benefit a banded patient and can give you many tips to improve your physical activity.You can find our patient education coordinator’s exercising plans and much more on our online patient forum. The patient forum is your own private library to many exercise routines, such as the popular Walk Talk series.View our section on Exercise & Healthy Living.
Will the Lap Band interfere with my physical activity?
The Lap Band will not interfere with your physical activity in any way! If you were physically active before, you will be able to continue to be so. In fact, you will find it much easier to participate in exercise due to your smaller size and increased energy level.