Lap band side effects are common, but the allure of this surgery keeps people coming through the doors, and pays for many a doctor's vacation.

This is not to indict the medical profession (though other pages on this site seem to have no qualms about doing so…).  It is, however, a wake up call for those struggling with weight loss.

For some, the struggle to lose weight has plagued them for years.  Nothing seems to work, no diet makes a difference.  Exercise doesn't bring any appreciable results no matter how hard you work out, and you've just about given up hope.

Sometimes it seems like the only way out is to go under the knife.

But wait!

Before you take this dangerous and unnecessary route, know the facts.

• Nearly half of all patients require removal of their bands
• Almost 30% experienced band erosion
• A full 60% needed additional surgery

Lap Band side effects include loss of limb?

Mary Beth Ruphard was significantly over weight, enough to qualify for the surgery.  Unfortunately for her, there was a complication leading to a severe loss of circulation in her legs.  Ultimately, her legs died below the knee, and were removed in a later surgery.

While this loss is surely devastating, far worse is the risk of loss of life.  In fact, one group of clinics in California lost 5 patients since 2009.  These clinics routinely advertise the procedure on television, preying on the emotional state of the overweight.

The worst part is, many of these surgeries get no better results – or worse results considering the incidence of side effects following the lap band surgery.

"So how can I lose weight when nothing seems to work?"

If you look forward to a lifetime of nausea, no snacking, and a limited diet, gastric bypass surgery may be for you.

If, on the other hand, you'd like to avoid these side effects, consider the following alternative.

Lose weight in three easy steps

1. Severely restrict carbohydrates.This one can seem onerous at first, but in time you'll learn to find nutrient-rich alternatives that leave you satiated without packing on the pounds. Severely here is a relative term. Aim for 30% or less of total caloric intake from carbohydrates.
2. Eat more fat.Counterintuitive, yes, but the devil is in the details.  You don't want to add just any fat to your diet, and may wind up cutting fat consumption in total.  But you will certainly want to increase your consumption of healthy fats, including omega 3 fats, and other essential fatty acids.
3. Adding high intensity training to your routine.High intensity is relative.  For many, walking is a high intensity exercise.  And that's perfectly fine.  The key is to raise your heart rate for a short period, let it slow, then raise it back to the same level.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  To maximize your results, you will want to exercise for 20 minutes, 3 times per week.  Exercising more is counterproductive at this stage.

If you're looking for more information about diet and exercise, and how to use them to maximize your weight loss, search this site for more information.

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